My lesson

to grow less in intensity or degree

abate

to reduce in length; to condense

abridge

not concrete; theoretical

abstract

difficult to understand

abstruse

1) related to education 2) not practical or directly useful

academic

able to be reached

accessible

announce with great approval

acclaim

1) provision of housing 2) settlement or compromise 3) process of adjusting to someone or something

accommodation

recognize the status or rights of

acknowledge

agree without protesting

acquiesce

sharply bitter in taste or odor

acrid

bitter in words or manner

acrimonious

1) quickly perceptive 2) keen 3) brief and severe

acute

someone who follows a leader or supports a cause

adherent

1) legally take a child as one's own 2) choose to follow an approach or idea 3) assume a position or attitude 4) formally accept (suggestion, report)

adopt

having skill or resourcefulness in coping with situation

adroit

one who resists or opposes

adversary

unfavorable; preventing success

adverse

force negatively affecting one's well-being

adversity

speak in favor of

advocate

dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful

aesthetic

positive statement

affirmation

1) have enough money to pay for 2) provide

afford

make more bearable

alleviate

indirect or hinted reference

allusion

unselfishly concerned for the well-being of others

altruistic

having several possible meanings, and therefore unclear

ambiguous

having conflicting emotional attitudes

ambivalent

lacking shape or definition

amorphous

1) increase in volume or intensity 2) add details to clarify or broaden (a story or report)

amplify

showing a likeness or similarity

analogous

political and social disorder; state of being without a governing body or leader

anarchy

active ill will

animosity

something not easily classified or that deviates from the norm

anomaly

active resistance

antagonism

deep-seated dislike

antipathy

direct opposite

antithesis

lack of concern, especially about things that others find important

apathy

cause to grow calm or subside

appease

1) request 2) act of putting something to use 3) diligent attention 4) relevance

application

1) be thankful for 2) increase in worth 3) be thoroughly conscious of

appreciate

1) fear of future evil 2) understanding 3) arrest

apprehension

take possession of for one's own use (possibly without the authority or right to do so)

appropriate

determined by impulse or whim

arbitrary

characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time

archaic

1) expressing oneself clearly 2) express an idea clearly 3) pronounce distinctly

articulate

1) confident statement 2) demand for other people's acceptance or respect

assertion

characterized by careful, persistent attention (to a task)

assiduous

1) sooth 2) make less intense

assuage

1) something taken for granted as true or sure to happen, without proof 2) act of taking possession

assumption

characterized by shrewdness and clear-sightedness

astute

waste away

atrophy

1) inherent quality 2) explain by pointing out a cause

attribute

make larger or more numerous

augment

not controlled or governed by outside forces

autonomous

1) prevent 2) turn away

avert

give a false impression

belie

to cause someone or something to seem less

belittle

disposed to do good

benevolent

1) gentle in disposition 2) not malignant

benign

support or prop up

bolster

shortness of expression

brevity

shore up using an external support

buttress

deliberately planned

calculated

open honesty

candor

1) greatest amount or number something can hold 2) amount that something can produce 3) power to understand or to perform 4) specified position

capacity

give up resisting

capitulate

something that causes an event or change to occur

catalyst

highly critical

censorious

harshly criticize

censure

highly intellectual; pertaining to the cerebrum

cerebral

compellingly charming

charismatic

careful to consider possible consequences or dangers

circumspect

1) refer to or quote, especially to justify a position 2) praise 3) summon somenoe before a court

cite

1) pertaining to ordinary citizens, as opposed to the church or military 2) courteous and polite

civil

1) phrase dulled in meaning by repetition 2) trite theme

cliche

use or threat of force to compel someone to obey

coercion

strongly appealing to reason

cogent

logical consistency; quality of sticking together

coherence

tendency to stick together

cohesion

work together

collaborate

pertaining to conversational or common speech

colloquial

honor the memory of

commemorate

gather or put together

compile

satisfaction with one's person, possessions, or accomplishments

complacency

1) something that completes or fills up 2) number or quantity needed to make something complete 3) make something complete or perfect

complement

1) state of conforming to or fulfilling requirements 2) readiness to yield to a wish or command

compliance

mental calmness

composure

1) something composed of the union of separate parts or elements 2) walled-in area containing separate buildings 3) make up into a whole 2) combine ingredients 3) make something bad worse

compound

completely covering (a field of subject)

comprehensive

1) acknowledge something to be true 2) admit defeat 3) give formally as a privilege

concede

1) action of focusing one's total attention 2) gathering of people to things close to one another 3) relative amount of a substance

concentration

1) something granted in response to a demand 2) acknowledgment 2) preferential rate 4) right granted to use property for a specific purpose

concession

covering a great deal in few words

concise

1) physical or material in nature, as opposed to abstract 2) real 3) specific

concrete

1) express agreement with an opinion 2) happen together

concur

treat as if harmless or unimportant

condone

1) state of obeying regulations or standards 2) behavior that matches the behavior of most others in a group

conformity

throw into confusion or bewilder

confound

deduce by guessing

conjecture

agreement arrived at by a group as a whole

consensus

1) absence of contradictions 2) dependability 3) degree of thickness

consistency

embarrassed awkwardness; repression of feelings

constraint

1) argue earnestly 2) struggle in rivalry

content

1) angry disagreement 2) point made in a debate or argument 3) competition

contention

1) reduce in size 2) become affected by (a disease)

contract

tend to meet or come together

converge

1) verdict that someone is guilty of a crime 2) strongly held belief 3) freedom from doubt

conviction

support with evidence

corroborate

tendency to believe too easily

credulity

decisive factor; example against which others are measured

criterion

having a secret meaning

cryptic

deserving blame

culpable

hastily done

cursory

sap the strength of

debilitate

expose as false or exaggerated

debunk

express strong disapproval of

decry

1) courteous regard for another's wishes 2) respect owed to a superior

deference

1) statement of a word's exact meaning 2) clarity of sound or image being reproduced 3) distinctness of outlines, boundaries

definition

most complete; providing a final answer

definitive

injurious (especially to health)

deleterious

set forth in detail

delineate

proclaim as evil

denounce

represent using words or a picture

depict

express strong disapproval of (putting down)

deprecate

laugh scornfully

deride

lacking in originality

derivative

1) emotional remoteness 2) group sent away (on a military mission, etc) 3) process of separation

detachment

1) firmness of purpose 2) calculation 3) decision

determination

something that discourages

deterrent

causing injury or damage

detrimental

not straightforward; departing from accepted conduct

devious

form in one's mind

devise

intended to teach or convey information

didactic

1) both wordy and poorly organized 2) spread out

diffuse

departure from the main subject

digression

choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives

dilemma

steadiness of effort; persistent hard work

diligence

reduction in size

diminution

metnally quick and observant

discerning

make known; cause to be seen

disclose

1) disagreeable to the ear 2) not in harmony

discordant

1) minimize the significance of 2) reduce in price

discount

formally discuss a subject at some length; hold a conversation

discourse

destroy confidence in; hurt the reputation of

discredit

inconsistency or disagreement between facts or claims

discrepancy

1) treating people of different classes unequally 2) able to see subtle differences

discriminating

view with scorn or contempt

disdain

slight aversion or lack of willingness

disinclination

1) let go from employment 2) refuse to accept or consider

dismiss

sneer at

disparage

condition of inequality

disparity

cause to break up or spread widely apart

disperse

1) final arrangement 2) temperamental makeup or mood

disposition

fond of arguing

disputatious

scatter (as in sowing seeds)

disseminate

withhold agreement

dissent

1) state of being worthy or excellent 2) perception of a difference

distinction

tending to move or draw apart

divergent

1) a teaching or belief, in general 2) a particular principle being taught

doctrine

1) create a detailed record 2) provide written evidence to support statements

document

positive in asserting one's opinion (especially when it's unwarranted)

dogmatic

marked by a lack of activity; temporarily quiet, as if sleeping

dormant

1) hesitating in opinion 2) causing doubt to arise; of doubtful quality

dubious

double-dealing

duplicity

composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources

eclectic

1) national condition of monetary supply, goods production, etc 2) prudent management of resources 3) efficiency or conciseness in use of words, etc

economy

instruct in moral matters; benefit spiritually

edify

excessive sense of self-importance; lack of consideration for others

egotism

expand or work out something in detail

elaborate

in high spirits

elated

draw out (a response or reaction)

elicit

forceful and persuasive speech

eloquence

throw light upon; make clear

elucidate

hard to grasp or capture

elusive

1) make more beautiful 2) make a story more interesting by adding (generally fictious) details

embellish

high in reputation

eminent

attempt to equal or outdo

emulate

give support to

endorse

1) pledge to do something (especially, to marry) 2) hire someone to perform a service 3) attract and keep attention 4) induce someone to participate 5) take part in 6) attack

engage

make more attractive or effective

enhance

puzzling or unexplainable situation or event

enigma

active ill will (generally mutual)

enmity

mention one by one

enumerate

lasting only a short time

ephemeral

perfect example or embodiment

epitome

dealing fairly with everyone

equitable

intentionally misleading; open to more than one interpretation

equivocal

containing a mistake

erroneous

possessing great knowledge

erudite

increase or intensify the severity of

exacerbate

selected passage (written or musical)

excerpt

1) put into effect 2) carry out 3) put to death (someone condemned by law)

execute

serving as a model worthy of imitation

exemplary

serve as an example of (verb)

exemplify

not subject to a duty or obligation

exempt

treating all aspects of a subject or topic

exhaustive

clear from blame

exonerate

governed by self-interest

expedient

speed up the progress of a process; accomplish with promptness

expedite

serving to explain or interpret something

explanatory

clearly defined; leaving nothing implied

explicit

1) deed or action; particularly a brave deed 2) make use of, sometimes unjustly

exploit

serving to clarify or interpret something

expository

not belonging to or pertinent to something

extraneous

release from a difficulty

extricate

1) manufacture or build 2) make up to mislead or deceive

fabricate

help bring about; make less difficult

facilitate

1) natural ability to do something with ease 2) ease in performing 3) something (building, equipment) set up to perform a function

facility

1) inherent mental or physical power 2) teaching staff

faculty

logically unsound

fallacious

move or act hesitantly or unsteadily

falter

extreme devotion to a belief cause

fanaticism

capable of being done

feasible

1) opposite of literal 2) representing forms taken from life (in paintings, etc)

figurative

conspicuously bad

flagrant

waver

fluctuate

following a formula or set procedure

formulaic

1) person who establishes (an organization, business) 2) fall completely 3) sink

founder

1) rubbing against 2) clash of wills

friction

carefulness in spending money or using resources

frugality

incapable of serving any useful purpose

futile

1) broad, general statement derived from specific instances 2) vague, indefinite statement

generalization

particular variety of art or literature

genre

1) arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc) 2) marked out with lines (for measuring)

graduated

1) pertaining to visual art 2) relating to visual images 3) vividly portrayed

graphic

give pleasure to

gratify

1) uncalled for 2) given freely without any charge

gratuitous

1) force that attracts a body toward the earth's center 2) seriousness or critical nature

gravity

crafty or cunning deception to achieve a goal

guile

easily deceived, overly ready to believe

gullible

interfere with

hamper

able to withstand harsh conditions

hardy

opinion contrary to popular belief or to accepted religion

heresy

arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body organized into ranks

hierarchy

1) slow down or make difficult 2) prevent

hinder

of the same nature or kind

homogeneous

use sparingly; manage carefully

husband

extravagant statement (usually not meant to be taken literally)

hyperbole

pretending to be virtuous

hypocritical

based on assumptions or hypotheses

hypothetical

individual trait, usually odd in nature

idiosyncrasy

not authorized by law

illicit

not real; causing an illusion

illusory

of no particular importance

immaterial

not subject to change

immutable

make worse

impair

having no flaws

impeccable

cause delay in progress or movement

impede

1) piece of equipment 2) put into effect

implement

1) something hinted at or suggested 2) likely consequence 3) close involvement

implication

in a manner exhibiting a lack of attention

inadvertently

1) not essential 2) accidental

incidental

highly direct and decisive

incisive

arouse to action

incite

tending to include or take in all

inclusive

1) so opposed in nature as to be unable to coexist 2) unable to work together in combination

incompatible

logically inconsistent

incongruous

having no significance

inconsequential

incapable of being reformed

incorrigible

incapable of becoming tired

indefatigable

serving to point out or reveal something

indicative

charge with a crime

indict

1) unmoved or unconcerned by 2) neither good nor bad 3) characterized by impartiality

indifferent

1) not marked by making careful distinctions 2) done at random

indiscriminate

1) move someone to do something by persuasion 2) bring about 3) conclude through inductive reasoning

induce

1) lacking power to move 2) chemically inactive

inert

unable to be moved or stopped

inexorable

deduction

inference

resourcefully inventive

ingenious

firmly established by nature or habit

inherent

existing from birth

innate

not likely to harm or injure

innocuous

introduction of something new

innovation

incite to an action

instigate

narrow, provincial point of view

insularity

1) commitment to moral and ethical principles 2) state of being whole

integrity

1) come between in order to prevent or alter 2) occur between (events, periods of time)

intervene

1) communicate indirectly or delicately 2) make known

intimate

make fearful

intimidate

not easily managed or controlled

intractable

exhibiting courage

intrepid

overwhelm

inundate

become accustomed to something unpleasant or unwelcome

inure

turn upside down or inside out

invert

caused or characterized by anger

irate

1) resulting in an unexpected and poignantly incongruous or unwanted outcome 2) satiric

ironic

free from blame

irreproachable

sound in judgment

judicious

state of being placed side by side or close together

juxtaposition

1) set on fire 2) inspire (an emotion)

kindle

1) very intricate or difficult 2) full of knots

knotty

1) something very intricate or bewildering in structure 2) place made up of twisting passages and blind alleys

labyrinth

express sorrow

lament

make the subject of ridicule

lampoon

1) potential but not yet manifest 2) dormant

latent

occurring or produced in abundance

lavish

state of being likely to happen

likelihood

1) loiter or dawdle 2) continue to exist, although losing strength

linger

very elevated in character; rising to an impressive height

lofty