Word Power

Word list 1.

amphitheater (british = amphitheatre) = oval-shaped theater

anathema = curse, ban

annul = cancel, nullify

anodyne = pain soothing

anoint = consecrate, to apply oil, especially as a sacred rite

anonymity = state of being anonymous, having no name

antediluvian = ancient, obsolete, pre historic

antithesis = direct opposite

apathetic = unconcerned, indifferent

aphasia = inability to speak or use words

aphorism = maxim, old saying

aplomb = poise, confidence

apocryphal = a doubtful authenticity, not genuine, fictional

apostate = one who abandons one’s faith

apotheosis = Deification, glorification

approbation = praise, official approval

archaic = Antiquated, from an earlier time

archipelago = group of islands

ardor (british = ardour) = great emotion or passion

arraign = indict, to call to court to answer a charge

arrogate = seize without right, to demand or claim arrogantly

ascendancy = powerful state

ascribe = to attribute

ashen = resembling ashes, or deathly pale

asinine = stupid

askance = to view with suspicion, scornfully

askew = crooked, tilted

aspersion = slander, false rumor, damaging report

assail = attack

assent = to express agreement

assiduous = hard-working, diligent, persistent

assuage = lessen (pain), to make less severe, ease

astringent = causing contraction, severe, harsh

asunder = apart, into different parts

atone = make amends for a wrong

august = noble, dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable

avow = declare

awry = crooked, askew, amiss

axiom = self-evident truth, premise, postulate

bacchanal = orgy, drunkenly festive

baleful = hostile, malignant, harmful with evil intentions

balk = hesitate, refuse, shirk, prevent

banal = trite, overly common

bane = poison, nuisance, something causing ruin

bastion = fort, fortification, stronghold

beguile = deceive, seduce, mislead

behemoth = monster, huge creature

beleaguer = besiege, to harass, plague

berate = to scold harshly

bestial = beast-like, brutal

bestow = to give as a gift, grant

bevy = group

bicker = quarrel, to have a petty argument

bilious = ill-tempered

bilk = swindle, cheat, defraud

blandish = to coax with flattering, grovel

blight = decay, afflict, destroy

blithe = Joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought

bombast = pompous speech

bourgeois = middle class

broach = bring up a topic of conversation

brusque = curt, rough and abrupt in manner

bulwark = fortification

burgeon = sprout or flourish

burly = husky, brawny

cabal = plot, a secret group seeking to overturn something

cadaver = corpse, dead body

cajole = encourage, coax, flatter

calumny = Slander, false and malicious accusation

canard = hoax, a lie

candor (british = candour) = frankness, honesty of expression

canvass = survey, examine thoroughly

capricious = fickle, impulsive, whimsical, without much thought

careen = swerve, to lean on one side

castigate = criticize, punish, chastise

cataclysm = catastrophe, disaster

cathartic = purgative, purifying, cleansing

catholic = universal, worldly

caucus = a small group within an organization or a meeting of such a group

cavil = quibble, raise trivial objections

cede = transfer ownership, to surrender possession of something

censorious = condemning speech, severely critical

chagrin = shame, embarrassment, humiliation

chalice = goblet, cup

chary = cautious, watchful, extremely shy

cherubic = sweet, innocent

chicanery = trickery, fraud, deception

chide = scold, express disapproval

chimerical = imaginary, impossible

choleric = easily angered, short-tempered

circumlocution = roundabout expression

circumspect = cautious, wary

circumvent = evade, avoid, to go around

citadel = fortress or stronghold

clamor (british = clamour) = noisy outcry

cleave = to split or separate, to stick, adhere

clemency = forgiveness, merciful leniency

cloister = refuge, to confine, seclude

coalesce = combine, to grow together

coddle = to pamper, baby, treat indulgently

cogent = well-put, convincing, logically forceful

cognate = from the same source, related

cognomen = family name, any name, nickname

colloquy = conference

collusion = conspiracy, collaboration, complicity

commodious = spacious

complicity = guilt by association, knowing partnership in wrong doing

compunction = remorse, regret

concur = To agree