Adapt
make something suitable for new use or a new situation; modify
something
alter or modify the text to suit television or stage
become adjusted to new conditions
e.g.: I adapted myself quickly to the new climate.She has
adapted herself to college life quite easily.The camera has been
adapted for underwater use.The clock was adapted to run on
batteries.The movie was adapted from the book of the same
title.
Adopt
to take by choice into a relationship;especially, to take
voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child
to take up and practice or use to accept formally and put into
effect to choose (a textbook) for required study in a course
to sponsor the care and maintenance of
e.g.: As he has no child of his own, he decided to adopt an
orphan.They adopted our production methods. He was adopted as an
infant.Did he adopt your point of view?We adopted some of the local
customs.The author Samuel Clemens adopted the name Mark
Twain.Adept
expert or skilled in somethingthoroughly proficient
e.g.: While Raj, and to a lesser extent Chitra, had solved
cryptograms in the newspaper, neither were particularlyadeptat
it.He's adept in several languages.He's an adept pitcher, and the
team is lucky to have him.
Synonymsadjustchooseproficient
Antonyms
neglect, refusedeny, disregardincapable, unskilled
"anticipate"to see as a probable occurrenceto think of (a future
event) with pleasure; look forward toto deal with beforehand; to
foresee and act in advance ofto react to (someone) abruptly,
especially to prevent someone fromcontinuing or progressingto serve
as a forerunner to or previous indication ofto use in advance, as
income not yet available.to pay (a debt) before it is due.to think,
speak, or write about a matter in advance.to mention (something)
before its proper timeto regard as likely; expect; foreseeto make
use of in advance of possession(Banking & Finance) to pay (a
bill, etc) before it falls due to cause tohappen sooner
e.g.:The organizers hadn't anticipated such large crowds at the
cricket match.I anticipated that you might be in a hurry.She
anticipated a pleasant hike in the country.We anticipated the storm
by boarding up the windows.Her research in the previous decade
anticipated these findings.He anticipated the fall in value by
selling early.I anticipated his punch by moving out of reach.Don't
anticipate the climax of the story.He anticipated that it would
happen.He anticipated his salary in buying a house.The spread of
nationalism anticipated the decline of the Empire.
"ascent"the act of ascending; climb or upward movement: the
ascent of hot gases.an upward slope; incline or gradient movement
back through time, as in tracing of earliergenerations (especially
in the phrase line of ascent)
Synonyms: (upward) slope, incline, rise, climb
Antonym: descent
e.g.:It was a tough course over a gradual ascent.The ascent grew
steeper.He pressed the button and the elevator began its slow
ascent.We clipped our ropes onto a cable and began the ascent, a
mixture ofhiking and climbing.My means of ascent and descent
consist simply in dilating or contractingthe gas that is in the
balloon ... (Five Weeks in a Balloon by JulesVerne)
"assent"the expression of approval or agreement as in a loud
murmur of assentofficial agreement or sanction
Synonyms: (verb) accede, accept, acquiesce, agree, consent,
concur (noun) agreement, accord, approval, permission,acceptance,
consent, compliance, acquiescence, concurrence
Antonym: dissent
e.g.:Any amendment must receive the assent of a majority of
those eligible tovote.Everyone respects our common law, our
unwritten rules that do not needparliamentary assent.Faith is more
than an intellectual assent to a set of ideas.The act was given the
Royal assent.The Prime Minister assented to the change.He gave his
assent to the proposed legislation.
"allay"
diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry); to make
more bearableor less severe
relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger)
Synonyms: reduce, diminish, decrease, lessen, assuage,
alleviate, mollify,mitigate, palliate,
Antonyms: increase, intensify, aggravate, exacerbate
e.g.:
A gentle breeze would allay the heat.
A small cupful of this medicine is to be taken once every
morning to allaypain.
The press statement seems to allay earlier anxieties about the
erosion offree speech.
Hopefully, the company's soaring stock price will allay the
concerns ofnervous stockholders.
After the terrorist attack, the president made a speech to try
and allay thenation's fears.
"articulate"
able to express ideas clearly and effectively; having or showing
the abilityto speak
fluently and coherently; clearly expressed and easily
understood
pronounce (something) clearly and distinctly
consisting of segments united by joints; jointed ( as in
articulateanimals/plants )
Synonyms: (adjective) eloquent, fluent, communicative,
effective,persuasive, vocal
(verb) vocalize, express, communicate, declare, state,proclaim,
announce
Antonyms: inarticulate, hesitant, unintelligible, ineloquent
e.g.:
She's an intelligent and articulate speaker.
He was very articulate about his feelings on the subject.
The baby is beginning to form articulate words and phrases.
He articulated each word with precision.
The mandible is a solid piece articulating with the head.
"awesome"
extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe (as in anawesome
sight)
expressing awe
(informal) extremely good; excellent
Synonyms: breathtaking, amazing, stunning, astounding,
astonishing,awe-inspiring,
stupendous, staggering, extraordinary,
incredible,unbelievable
Antonyms: unimpressive, unimportant, bad, trivial
e.g.:
The band is truly awesome!
They stood in awesome silence before the ancient ruins.
We marvel at the awesome spectacle of God 's creation.
This game features awesome 3D graphics.
With iconic bikes throughout most of the company's century old
history,Harley Davidson has become a truly awesome marque.
"awful"
very bad or unpleasant; extremely shocking; horrific
(of a person) very unwell or troubled
used to emphasize the extent of something, especially
somethingunpleasant or
negative; formidable in nature or extent (as in an awful
burden/an awful risk)
Synonyms: unpleasant, disgusting, nasty, terrible, dreadful,
ghastly,horrid, horrible, vile,
foul, abominable, appalling, horrendous, hideous,offensive,
objectionable,
obnoxious, repulsive, repugnant, odious
Antonyms: lovely, wonderful, excellent
e.g.:
I felt awful for being so angry with him.
She met with an awful accident that left her badly injured.
The place smelled awful.
I've made an awful fool of myself.
He had an awful day at the office.
It's an awful nuisance.
He's an awful bore.
You look awful, are you all right?
"aged"
having lived for a specified length of time; of a specified age
(as in youngpeople aged
14 to 18)
having lived or existed for a long time; of advanced age; very
old (as inaged men
with white hair)
pertaining to or characteristic of old age (as in aged
wrinkles)
brought to maturity or mellowness (as wine, cheese, or wood;
maturewell-aged cheeses)
the aged: old people (collectively)
Synonyms: elderly, old, mature, older, senior, ancient,
venerable
Antonyms: young, unripe, youthful, modern, new, recent
e.g.:
The University has a nursery facility for children aged six
months to fiveyears.
Who's involved in Help the Aged campaign?
The handmade teak wood table has a wonderful aged patina.
She nurses her aged mother.
Ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of the potential of aged
wines.
"ageless"
not ageing or appearing to age
lasting for a long time or forever
Synonyms: abiding, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting,
immortal,imperishable, lasting,
perennial, perpetual, timeless, undying
Antonyms: impermanent, temporary, antiquated, archaic, dated,
obsolete,outdated,
pass
e.g.:
The town retains an ageless charm.
This interest in radiating ageless beauty has given birth to a
burgeoningbeauty industry focusing on ways to ease the effects of
aging skin.
The ageless characteristic and durability of oak make it one of
the mostpopular woods for furniture makers.
Both systems are more than 2500 years old but remain ageless in
theirrelevance to modern times.
The ageless wisdom revealed through our scriptures has the power
totransform our life.
"authoritarian"
favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at
theexpense of personal
freedom
showing a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of
others;dictatorial.
Synonyms: autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian, despotic,
tyrannical,autarchic, draconian,
absolute, arbitrary, oppressive, repressive,
illiberal,undemocratic,
anti-democratic
Antonyms: democratic, liberal, lenient, permissive
e.g.:
He had an authoritarian manner.
The transition from an authoritarian to a democratic regime was
verydifficult.
Our liberal and authoritarian instincts each struggle for
attention.
In its place an increasingly authoritarian bureaucracy was
gaining strength.
"authoritative"
able to be trusted as being accurate or true
reliable
commanding and self-confident
likely to be respected and obeyed
(of a text) considered to be the best of its kind and unlikely
to beimproved upon
Synonyms: reliable, dependable, trustworthy, good, sound,
authentic, valid,well founded,
attested, certified, verifiable, definitive
Antonym: unreliable
e.g.:
The information given is not an authoritative interpretation of
the law.
This book provides a highly authoritative account and analysis
of key issueswithin the rapidly burgeoning field of cyber
crime.
This is likely to become the authoritative study of the
subject.
His voice was calm and authoritative.
"affluent"
(especially of a group or area) having a great deal of
money;wealthy
Synonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous, opulent
Antonym: poor, impoverished
e.g.:
Here was a fine opportunity to ensure that the less affluent
should benefitincreasingly from its wealth.
Young people from even the most deprived backgrounds were shown
to outshinetheir more affluent peers if they regularly read outside
school hours.
"effluent"
liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea (as
inindustrial effluent)
Synonyms: (liquid) waste, sewage, effluvium, outflow
e.g.:
To avoid the discharge of an excessively large liquid effluent
stream, waterrecycling should be investigated.
Do you know the cost of waste and effluent disposal to your
company eachyear?
Effluent discharges may be contaminated by antibiotics and
disinfectantswith unknown consequences for the natural
environment.
"agile"
able to move quickly and easily
able to think and understand quickly
relating to or denoting a method of project management, used
especially forsoftware development, that is characterized by the
division of tasks intoshort phases of work and frequent
reassessment and adaptation of plans
Synonyms: nimble, lithe, spry, supple, limber, sprightly,
acrobatic,dexterous, deft, willowy,
graceful, light-footed, nimble-footed, light on one'sfeet,
fleet-footed; More
Antonyms: clumsy, stiff, slow, dull
e.g.:
His vague manner concealed an agile mind.
Ravi was as agile as a monkey.
Agile methods replace high-level design with frequent
redesign.
"ascetic"
characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all
forms ofindulgence, typically for religious reasons
a person who follows an ascetic life
Synonyms: (adjective) austere, abstinent, abstemious,
non-indulgent, simple,spartan,
monastic, monkish
(noun) recluse, hermit, monk
Antonym: sybaritic/ sybarite
e.g.:
An ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labour kept him
in excellenthealth.
The monks lived a very ascetic life and their monastery became a
seedbed ofsaints.
He was not, however an ascetic, practising self-denial to an
extreme degreewithout regard for the circumstances at hand.
"alacrity"
brisk and cheerful readiness
Synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness
Antonym: apathy
e.g.:
She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
The curator pointed me to this book with alacrity, perhaps to
deflectcriticism into a safe sphere.
The young soldiers responded with alacrity, and marched into the
grounds.
"aesthetic"
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty
a set of principles underlying the work of a particular artistor
artistic movement as in
'the Cubist aesthetic'
Synonyms: graceful, elegant, exquisite, beautiful, attractive,
stylish,artistic, tasteful
Antonyms: inaesthetic, unaesthetic, tasteless, unattractive
e.g.:
The pictures give great aesthetic pleasure.
The law applies to both functional and aesthetic objects.
Aesthetic considerations sometimes have great weight.
These defects will no doubt be overcome as concrete grows in
popularity as abuilding material and its aesthetic treatment is
better understood.
"alienate"
make (someone) feel isolated or estranged
make (someone) become unsympathetic or hostile
Synonyms: estrange, isolate, detach, distance
e.g.:
The association does not wish to alienate its members.
The country folk would not feel comfortable in an urban
environment whichwould alienate its inhabitants.
(Law) transfer ownership of (property rights) to another person
or group
pass on, hand over
Synonyms: transfer, convey, devolve
e.g.:
They defended the tribes against attempts to alienate their
land.
They approached the government for aid in preventing the land
from beingalienated.
"acute"
(of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present
orexperienced to a severe or intense degree as in 'an acute housing
shortage'
(of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of short duration as
in 'acuteappendicitis'
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight as in
'an acuteawareness of changing fashions'
Synonyms: severe, critical, dreadful, grave, serious,
profound
astute, shrewd, sharp, ingenious, clever, intelligent,bright,
brilliant, smart,
intuitive, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious,penetrating,
insightful, incisive
Antonyms: negligible
e.g.:
His charming style and acute grasp of interesting detail gave
him afront place among contemporary writers.
This is an acute-angled triangle.
He died of an acute illness.
His need for medical attention was acute.
She had an acute sense of honour.
Eagles have very acute vision.
"ambiguous"
open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious
meaning
not clear or decided
Synonyms: equivocal, ambivalent, arguable, debatable
Antonyms: unambiguous, clear
e.g.:
The statement was ambiguous.
By making the imagery ambiguous, the poet allowed space for
individualinterpretation.
The recommendations of the committee are also weakened by lack
of detail andby vague and ambiguous wording.
Unfortunately an ambiguous phrase about the possession of such
weapons wentthrough, leading to years of argument about nuclear
deterrence.
Words often confused:
ascribe
to attribute to; regard a quality as belonging to
regard something as being due to (a cause)
regard a text, quotation, or work of art as being produced by or
belongingto (a particular person or period)
Synonyms: attribute, assign, accredit, credit, impute
e.g.:
She ascribed her feelings of jealousy to insecurity.
It is fairly common in mathematics to ascribe meaning to an
object withrespect to the context in which it appears.
Tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to business
leaders.
describe
give a detailed account in words
to show what something is by drawing a picture with words
mark out or draw (a geometrical figure)
Synonyms: report, narrate, recount, relate, chronicle
delineate, outline, sketch
e.g.:
He described his experiences in a letter to his parents.
On the diameter of a circle an equilateral triangle is
described.
The tip of the light pen described a circle.
Capricious: Adj.: Showing sudden change in attitude or
behaviour.
Synonyms: Unpredictable, Changeable
Antonyms: Stable, Consistent
A long face
If you have a long face, you look sad
He took one look at her long face and said "What's wrong?"
Words often confused:
aspersion
an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or
something
a damaging remark
Synonyms: disparagement, denigration, condemnation, censure,
castigation,derogation
Antonyms: adulation, approval, commendation, compliment,
flattery, praise
e.g.:
The campaign was filled with one aspersion after another.
I don't think anyone is casting aspersions on you.
dispersion
the act of scattering
the action or process of distributing things or people over a
wide area
a mixture of one substance dispersed in another medium
(Ecology) the pattern of distribution of individuals within a
habitat
(Physics) the separation of white light into colours or of any
radiationaccording to
Wavelength
Synonyms: diffusion, distribution
Antonym: accumulation
e.g.:
The dispersion of seeds was irregular because he sowed the seeds
by hand.
The study looks at the dispersion of earnings within OECD member
countries.
Accurate prediction of pollutant dispersion is an important area
ofenvironmental research.
If all the particles have a mutual repulsion then the dispersion
will remainstable.
The word "OK" was coined by Charles Gordon Greene. He used OK as
a jokingabbreviation for "Oll Korrect" in a satirical article about
grammar.
Words often confused:
arcane
refers to things known and understood by few people
Synonyms: mysterious, secret, hidden, concealed, covert,
clandestine,enigmatic, dark
Antonyms: common, known, commonplace
e.g.:
We are not a group of extremists dealing with arcane
rituals.
Given Oxford's status as an international research institution,
tutors canoften be found in quite arcane subject areas.
This seemingly arcane finding could be of significance in the
research paperyou are working on.
archaic
very old or old-fashioned; out of date; behind the times
(of a word or a style of language) no longer in everyday use
butsometimes used to impart an
old-fashioned flavour as in 'a term with a rather archaic ringto
it'
Synonyms: obsolete, obsolescent, anachronistic, old-fashioned,
outmoded,bygone, antiquated,
antique, superannuated, antediluvian
Antonyms: new, modern
e.g.:
The Oxford English Dictionary contains many words that are
archaic.
The old mainframe was archaic; customized programs had been
built piecemeal,with no way to share information.
Words often confused:
appraise
assess the value or quality of
assess the performance (of an employee) formally
Synonyms: assess, evaluate, estimate
e.g.:
They appraised the painting at 200,000.
There is a need to appraise existing techniques.
The artist painted a mural and stepped back to appraise his
handiwork.
Some companies are considering team appraisals instead of
appraisingindividuals.
apprise
inform or tell (someone); keep posted
Synonyms: inform, notify, brief, intimate
e.g.:
The officer apprised them of their rights.
I thought it right to apprise the manager of what had happened
in hisabsence.
Cruciverbalist: someone skilled at doing crossword puzzles
Words often confused:
Amuse
cause (someone) to find something funny
provide interesting and enjoyable occupation (for someone)
Synonyms: entertain
e.g.:
The children were amused by watching the kittens play.
He amuses the audience with his deadpan wit.
Bemused
Bewildered, preoccupied or lost in thought
Synonyms: confused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, muddled,
befuddled,disconcerted
e.g.:
He was bemused by the unexpected ending to the movie.
After listening to the confusing lecture, the student looked
bemused.
She wore a bemused expression on her face as she read a mystery
novel.
A fool's heart is in his tongue, but a wiseman's tongue is in
his heart.
Rich Man: If I start driving my car at sunrise, I'll not be able
to covereven half of my estate by sunset. Friend: Even I had such a
useless car butI sold it.
'Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your unguarded
thoughts' -Buddha.
"altar"
the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are
consecratedin communion
services
a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious
ritual,especially for making
sacrifices or offerings to a deity
e.g.:
He presented a pair of beautiful altar candlesticks to the old
church in hishome town.
When the priest called them to come forward they knelt before
the altar.
In the courtyard stood a sacrificial altar that had statues on
either side.
"alter"
change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively
small butsignificant way
make structural changes to (a building)
Synonyms: change, modify, convert, reshape, refashion, redesign,
restyle,revamp, rework, remake,
remodel, reconstruct, reorganize, vary, transform
e.g.:
They have plans to alter the kitchen.
You will need to alter the settings on your particular software
to gainaccess.
Genetic engineering techniques can alter the genetic makeup of
plants.
Glance-Glimpse- Both words mean 'a quick look'. There is however
adistinction-a glance is intentional, a glimpse is more by
chance.
allude
suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at; refer to
(of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or
style) in such away as to suggest a relationship with it
e.g.:
He alludes to Bernard Shaw in his paper.
The minister of finance only alluded to some of these points in
his budgetspeech.
She had a way of alluding to Jane Austen but never saying her
name.
elude
escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer),typically in
a skilful or cunning way.
avoid compliance with (a law or penalty)
(of an achievement or something desired) fail to be attained by
(someone)
Synonyms: evade, avoid
e.g.:
He tried to elude the security men by sneaking through a back
door.
She was tired but sleep still eluded her.
They need to ensure that tax evaders do not elude tough
penalties.
Success eluded him in spite of his best efforts.
adverse
preventing success or development;
unfavourable,disadvantageous
e.g.:
Some of these developments have been very encouraging, but some
have had avery adverse effect on all of us.
Her efforts to control the children have had an adverse effect
on thefamily.
Newer anticonvulsants with less adverse effects may present
better treatmentoptions.
averse
having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
e.g.:
The risk averse attitude of many local authorities is hampering
thedevelopment of world class facilities.
The elderly leader is not averse to change.
'Sit on the fence' is an idiom used when someone does not want
to choose ormake a decision.
aid
help, typically of a practical nature
financial or material help given to a country or area in
need
(verb) help or support (someone or something) in the
achievementof something
Synonyms: assistance, support; donations, funding
e.g.:
He saw the driver slumped in his seat and went to his aid.
It is illegal to aid and abet a suicide.
We have all seen over the years, aid pouring into some African
countries,only to vanish into thin air.
aide
an assistant to an important person, especially a
politicalleader
short for aide-de-camp
e.g.:
He was appointed as a presidential aide.
She worked as a nursing aide for several years.
The expression 'To knuckle down' originated from playing
marbles. Playersused to put their knuckles to the ground for their
best shots.
alternately
in reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in
alternateorder; taking turns
e.g.:
We paddled alternately so neither of us would get too tired.
This episode was a sequence of alternately wry and
emotionally-chargedconversations.
Arrange layers of cake and ice cream alternately in a glass dish
beforechilling it.
alternatively
having or choosing another option
e.g.:
Some exposure to programming is useful; alternatively you should
be able toshow some mathematical aptitude.
You could take a bus, or alternatively there are usually taxis
availableimmediately outside the railway station.
Clich(clee-shay)is a phrase which has been used so much that it
is nolonger interesting or effective. Eg.last but not the
least.
assure
tell someone something positively to dispel any
doubts;guarantee; promise
make sure of something
e.g.:
He assured me that there was a supermarket in the village.
She assured herself that the child was asleep before she left
the room.
Victory was now assured and so the coach could relax.
ensure
make certain that (something) will occur
make certain of obtaining or providing (something)
make sure that (a problem) does not occur; safeguard,
protect
e.g.:
The client must ensure that accurate records are kept.
Legislation must ensure equal opportunities for all.
It is vital to ensure that they are handled in such a way that
gives nogrounds for accusations of favouritism.
To lead a meaningful life, u need to cherish others, pay
attention to humanvalues and try to cultivate inner space-Dalai
Lama.
What's a teacher's favourite nation? Expla - nation.
acme
the highest point; point of culmination; peak
the point at which something is at its best or most highly
developed
e.g.:
She reached the acme of her career at a very young age.
That song seemed to her the acme of musical delight.
The Dutch school of painting is said to have reached its acme in
Rembrandt.
accomplice
a person who helps another commit a crime
partner in crime
Synonym: abetter
e.g.:
He took the bait and offered himself as a willing accomplice in
the transferof the funds.
Mr. X and his alleged accomplice were convicted for murder.
adulation
excessive admiration or praise
Synonyms: idolization, glorification, commendation, flattery
e.g.:
The popular singer found it difficult to cope with the adulation
of thefans.
She expressed disdain at the adulation the industry gives to
beauty overtalent, blaming it on the influence of the Academy
Awards.
Newspapers lavished adulation on the winning team.
allege
claim or assert that someone has done something illegal orwrong,
typically without proof
Synonyms: claim, insinuate, impute
e.g.:
He alleged that he had been assaulted.
Two lawsuits filed by former workers allege that the company
made everyeffort to cover up environmental crimes.
allegiance
loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause
Synonyms: loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, obedience, fealty
e.g.:
Those wishing to receive citizenship must swear allegiance to
the republic.
Qualifications rather than political or religious allegiance
carried weight.
altruistic
showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others
selfless and intended to help others
Synonym: unselfish
e.g.:
It was an entirely altruistic act.
Some people practice self denial by putting moral restraints on
themselvesfor altruistic motives.
ante-
(prefix) before in time or position; in front of; previous,
existingbeforehand; introductory to; preceding
e.g.:
antechamber, antenatal, antebellum, antecedent, antediluvian
anti-
(prefix) against, opposite of, counteracting
e.g.:
antibody, antisocial, anticlockwise, antidote,
anti-inflammatory,antibiotics, antipathy, anticlimax
antihistamine
armed
furnished with weapons, having an arm or arms
unarmed
not having a weapon
disarmed
to give up weapons, to take weapons from someone, to make
harmless
e.g.:
The man was armed with a gun.
He was unarmed when he entered the building.
The police caught that unknown man and immediately disarmed
him.
disarming
(of manner or behaviour) having the effect of allaying suspicion
orhostility, especially through charm; charming
e.g.:
He gave her a disarming smile.
able
to have the skill, intelligence, opportunity etc. needed to do
something
unable
not having the skill, knowledge, strength etc. to do
something
disable
to cause something be unable to work the normal way (such as the
part of thebody)
to make someone unable to do something
e.g.:
You must be able to speak English for this job.
He is unable to speak German.
His father was disabled in a car accident.
acquiesce
accept something reluctantly but without protest
e.g.:
Victims would not acquiesce in any process aimed at facilitating
an amnestyfor the terrorists who have escaped justice.
The old man's opponents were not prepared to acquiesce simply
because he wasa sick man.
acquiescence
the act or condition of acquiescing or giving tacit assent;
agreement orconsent by silence or without objection; compliance
e.g.:
Their best hope of avoiding war lies in their acquiescence.
His great sin is acquiescence in this secrecy.
alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
Synonyms: amenability, willingness, eagerness, readiness
Antonym: apathy
e.g.:
She accepted the invitation with an alacrity that surprised
me.
Having just acquired his driver's license that morning, the teen
agreed withalacrity to drive his uncle to the airport.
abject
(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum
degree
(of a situation or condition) extremely unpleasant and
degrading
(of a person or his/her behaviour) completely without pride or
dignity;self-abasing
Synonyms: wretched, miserable, hopeless, pathetic, pitiful,
pitiable,piteous, woeful, lamentable,
degrading
obsequious, grovelling, humiliating
Antonyms: commendable, noble, exalted, proud
e.g.:
The news of her husband's death plunged her into abject
misery.
Most prisoners had dreadful childhoods, raised in abject
poverty.
No words can express the contempt all decent people would feel
for suchabject cowardice.
The abject apology given by him as the head of the organisation
was hardlynecessary.
Root - a/an - not, without
Examples with meanings:
abyss - without bottom
achromatic - without colour
anhydrous - without water
Root - a - on
Examples with meanings:
afire - on fire
ashore - on the shore
aside - on the side
Root - ab/s - from, away, off
Examples with meanings:
abduct - carry away by force
abnormal - away from normal, not normal
absent - away, not present
Root - ac/ad - to, toward, near
Examples with meanings:
accelerate - to increase the speed of
accessible - easily entered, approached, or obtained
admittance - allowing into
Root - acro - top, height, tip, beginning
Examples with meanings:
acrobat - a skilled performer of gymnastic feats, as walkingon a
tightrope or
swinging on a trapeze
acronym - an abbreviation formed from the initial letters
ofother words and
pronounced as a word
acrophobia - fear of height
Root - act - do
Examples with meanings:
activity - something that a person does
react - to do something in response
interaction - communication between two or more things