GRE Word List 3
| 1.amenities | convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English amenite, from Latin amoenitat-, amoenitas, from amoenus pleasant 1 a : the quality of being pleasant or agreeable b (1) : the attractiveness and value of real estate or of a residential structure (2) : a feature conducive to such attractiveness and value 2 : something (as a conventional social gesture) that conduces to smoothness or pleasantness of social relationships 3 : something that conduces to comfort, convenience, or enjoyment |
| 2.amiable | agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly | Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin amicabilis friendly, from Latin amicus friend; akin to Latin amare to love 1 archaic : PLEASING, ADMIRABLE 2 a : generally agreeable <an amiable comedy> b : being friendly, sociable, and congenial - ami·a·bil·i·ty /"A-mE-&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun - ami·a·ble·ness /'A-mE-&-b&l-n&s/ noun - ami·a·bly /-blE/ adverb synonyms AMIABLE, GOOD-NATURED, OBLIGING, COMPLAISANT mean having the desire or disposition to please. AMIABLE implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with <an amiable teacher not easily annoyed>. GOOD-NATURED implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon <a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in>. OBLIGING stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful <our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room>. COMPLAISANT often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness <was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair>. |
| 3.amicable | peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement | Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin amicabilis : characterized by friendly goodwill : PEACEABLE - am·i·ca·bil·i·ty /"a-mi-k&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun - am·i·ca·ble·ness /'a-mi-k&-b&l-n&s/ noun - am·i·ca·bly /-blE/ adverb synonyms AMICABLE, NEIGHBORLY, FRIENDLY mean exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism. AMICABLE implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel <maintained amicable relations>. NEIGHBORLY implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle <neighborly concern>. FRIENDLY stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations <sought friendly advice>. |
| 4.amiss | wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. | Function: adverb 1 a : in a mistaken way : WRONGLY <if you think he is guilty, you judge amiss> b : ASTRAY <something had gone amiss> 2 : in a faulty way : IMPERFECTLY |
| 5.amity | friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English amite, from Middle French amité, from Medieval Latin amicitas, from Latin amicus friend -- more at AMIABLE : FRIENDSHIP; especially : friendly relations between nations |
| 6.amnesia | loss of memory | Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek amnEsia forgetfulness, alteration of amnEstia 1 : loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression, or illness 2 : a gap in one's memory 3 : the selective overlooking or ignoring of those events or acts that are not favorable or useful to one's purpose or position - am·ne·si·ac /-zhE-"ak, -zE-/ or am·ne·sic /-zik, -sik/ adjective or noun |
| 7.amnesty | pardon (allowed by government to political criminals) | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Greek amnEstia forgetfulness, from amnEstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember -- more at MIND : the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals - amnesty transitive verb |
| 8.amoral | nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong | Function: adjective 1 a : being neither moral nor immoral; specifically : lying outside the sphere to which moral judgments apply <science as such is completely amoral -- W. S. Thompson> b : lacking moral sensibility <infants are amoral> 2 : being outside or beyond the moral order or a particular code of morals <amoral customs> - amor·al·ism /-&-"li-z&m/ noun - amo·ral·i·ty /"A-m&-'ra-l&-tE, "a-, -(")mo-/ noun - amor·al·ly /"A-'mor-&-lE, (")a-, -'mär-/ adverb |
| 9.amorous | moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances | Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin amorosus, from Latin amor love, from amare to love 1 : strongly moved by love and especially sexual love <amorous women> 2 : being in love : ENAMORED -- usually used with of <amorous of the girl> 3 a : indicative of love <received amorous glances from her partner> b : of or relating to love <an amorous novel> - am·o·rous·ly adverb - am·o·rous·ness noun |
| 10.amorphous | formless; lacking shape or definition | Function: adjective Etymology: Greek amorphos, from a- + morphE form 1 a : having no definite form : SHAPELESS <an amorphous cloud mass> b : being without definite character or nature : UNCLASSIFIABLE <an amorphous segment of society> c : lacking organization or unity <an amorphous style> 2 : having no real or apparent crystalline form : UNCRYSTALLIZED <an amorphous mineral> - amor·phous·ly adverb - amor·phous·ness noun |
| 11.amphibian | able to live both on land and in water; N. | Function: noun Etymology: ultimately from Greek amphibion amphibious being, from neuter of amphibios 1 : an amphibious organism; especially : any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (as frogs, toads, or salamanders) intermediate in many characters between fishes and reptiles and having gilled aquatic larvae and air-breathing adults 2 : an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water - amphibian adjective |
| 12.amphitheater | oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena | Function: noun Etymology: Latin amphitheatrum, from Greek amphitheatron, from amphi- + theatron theater 1 : an oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats ranged about an open space and used in ancient Rome especially for contests and spectacles 2 a : a very large auditorium b : a room with a gallery from which doctors and students may observe surgical operations c : a rising gallery in a modern theater d : a flat or gently sloping area surrounded by abrupt slopes 3 : a place of public games or contests - am·phi·the·at·ric /"am(p)-f&-thE-'a-trik also "am-p&-thE-/ or am·phi·the·at·ri·cal /-tri-k&l/ adjective - am·phi·the·at·ri·cal·ly /-tri-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 13.ample | enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space | Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): am·pler /-p(&-)l&r/; am·plest /-p(&-)l&st/ Etymology: Middle French, from Latin amplus 1 : generous or more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity <there was room for an ample garden> 2 : generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need <they had ample money for the trip> 3 : BUXOM, PORTLY <an ample figure> synonym see SPACIOUS, PLENTIFUL - am·ple·ness /-p&l-n&s/ noun - am·ply /-plE/ adverb |
| 14.amplify | increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph | Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing Etymology: Middle English amplifien, from Middle French amplifier, from Latin amplificare, from amplus transitive senses 1 : to expand (as a statement) by the use of detail or illustration or by closer analysis 2 a : to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity) : INCREASE b : to increase the strength or amount of; especially : to make louder c : to cause (a gene or DNA sequence) to undergo amplification intransitive senses : to expand one's remarks or ideas synonym see EXPAND |
| 15.amputate | cut off part of body; prune (a limb) | Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -tat·ed; -tat·ing Etymology: Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare, from am-, amb- around + putare to cut, prune -- more at AMBI- : to remove by or as if by cutting; especially : to cut (as a limb) from the body - am·pu·ta·tion /"am-py&-'tA-sh&n/ noun |
| 16.amok | (amuck) in a state of rage; Ex. run amok | Function: noun Etymology: Malay amok : a murderous frenzy that occurs chiefly among Malays |
| 17.amulet | charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck | Function: noun Etymology: Latin amuletum : a charm (as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to protect the wearer against evil (as disease or witchcraft) or to aid him |
| 18.anachronism | an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic | Function: noun Etymology: probably from Middle Greek anachronismos, from anachronizesthai to be an anachronism, from Late Greek anachronizein to be late, from Greek ana- + chronos time 1 : an error in chronology; especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other 2 : a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place; especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present - anach·ro·nis·tic /&-"na-kr&-'nis-tik/ also ana·chron·ic /"a-n&-'krä-nik/ adjective - anach·ro·nis·ti·cal·ly /&-"na-kr&-'nis-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb - anach·ro·nous /&-'na-kr&-n&s/ adjective - anach·ro·nous·ly adverb |
| 19.analgesic | causing insensitivity to pain; N. | Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek analgEsia, from an- + algEsis sense of pain, from algein to suffer pain, from algos pain : insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness - an·al·ge·sic /-'jE-zik, -sik/ adjective or noun - an·al·get·ic /-'je-tik/ adjective or noun |
| 20.analogous | comparable; similar | Function: adjective Etymology: Latin analogus, from Greek analogos, literally, proportionate, from ana- + logos reason, ratio, from legein to gather, speak -- more at LEGEND 1 : showing an analogy or a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy 2 : being or related to as an analogue synonym see SIMILAR - anal·o·gous·ly adverb - anal·o·gous·ness noun |
| 21.analogy | similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -gies 1 : inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will prob. agree in others 2 a : resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : SIMILARITY b : comparison based on such resemblance 3 : correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form 4 : correspondence in function between anatomical parts of different structure and origin -- compare HOMOLOGY synonym see LIKENESS |
| 22.anarchist | person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority | Function: noun 1 : one who rebels against any authority, established order, or ruling power 2 : one who believes in, advocates, or promotes anarchism or anarchy; especially : one who uses violent means to overthrow the established order - anarchist or an·ar·chis·tic /"a-n&r-'kis-tik, -(")när-/ adjective |
| 23.anarchy | absence of governing body; state of disorder | Function: noun Etymology: Medieval Latin anarchia, from Greek, from anarchos having no ruler, from an- + archos ruler -- more at ARCH- 1 a : absence of government b : a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority c : a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government 2 a : absence or denial of any authority or established order b : absence of order : DISORDER <not manicured plots but a wild anarchy of nature -- Israel Shenker> 3 : ANARCHISM |
| 24.anathema | solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize | Function: noun Etymology: Late Latin anathemat-, anathema, from Greek, thing devoted to evil, curse, from anatithenai to set up, dedicate, from ana- + tithenai to place, set -- more at DO 1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed -- usually used as a predicate nominative <this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen -- S. J. Gould> 2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : the denunciation of something as accursed c : a vigorous denunciation : CURSE |
| 25.ancestry | family descent; ADJ. ancestral | Function: noun 1 : line of descent : LINEAGE; especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent 2 : persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ANCESTORS |
| 26.anchor | secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage | Function: noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English ancre, from Old English ancor, from Latin anchora, from Greek ankyra; akin to Old English anga hook -- more at ANGLE 1 : a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom 2 : a reliable or principal support : MAINSTAY 3 : something that serves to hold an object firmly 4 : an object shaped like a ship's anchor 5 : an anchorman or anchorwoman 6 : the member of a team (as a relay team) that competes last 7 : a large business (as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall - an·chor·less /-l&s/ adjective - at anchor : being anchored [anchor illustration] |
| 27.ancillary | serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N. | Function: adjective 1 : SUBORDINATE, SUBSIDIARY <the main factory and its ancillary plants> 2 : AUXILIARY, SUPPLEMENTARY <the need for ancillary evidence> - ancillary noun |
| 28.anecdote | short story of an amusing or interesting event | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural anecdotes also an·ec·dota /"a-nik-'dO-t&/ Etymology: French, from Greek anekdota unpublished items, from neuter plural of anekdotos unpublished, from a- + ekdidonai to publish, from ex out + didonai to give -- more at EX-, DATE : a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident |
| 29.anemia | condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic | Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek anaimia bloodlessness, from a- + -aimia -emia 1 a : a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume b : ISCHEMIA 2 : lack of vitality |
| 30.anesthetic | substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia | Function: adjective 1 : of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia 2 : lacking awareness or sensitivity <unmoved and quite anesthetic to his presence -- S. J. Perelman> - an·es·thet·i·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 31.anguish | acute pain; extreme suffering | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English angwisshe, from Old French angoisse, from Latin angustiae, plural, straits, distress, from angustus narrow; akin to Old English enge narrow -- more at ANGER : extreme pain, distress, or anxiety synonym see SORROW |
| 32.angular | sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner | Function: adjective Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French angulaire, from Latin angularis, from angulus angle 1 a : forming an angle : sharp-cornered b : having one or more angles 2 : measured by an angle <angular distance> 3 a : stiff in character or manner : lacking smoothness or grace b : lean and having prominent bone structure - an·gu·lar·ly adverb |
| 33.animadversion | critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval | Function: noun Etymology: Latin animadversion-, animadversio, from animadvertere 1 : a critical and usually censorious remark -- often used with on 2 : adverse criticism |
| 34.animated | lively; spirited | Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -mat·ed; -mat·ing 1 : to give spirit and support to : ENCOURAGE 2 a : to give life to b : to give vigor and zest to 3 : to move to action 4 a : to make or design in such a way as to create apparently spontaneous lifelike movement b : to produce in the form of an animated cartoon synonym see QUICKEN |
| 35.animosity | active enmity | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English animosite, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French animosité, from Late Latin animositat-, animositas, from Latin animosus spirited, from animus : ill will or resentment tending toward active hostility : an antagonistic attitude synonym see ENMITY |
| 36.animus | hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition | Function: noun Etymology: Latin, spirit, mind, courage, anger 1 : basic attitude or governing spirit : DISPOSITION, INTENTION 2 : a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will 3 : an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung -- compare ANIMA synonym see ENMITY |
| 37.annals | records arranged in yearly parts; history | Function: noun plural Etymology: Latin annales, from plural of annalis yearly -- more at ANNUAL 1 : a record of events arranged in yearly sequence 2 : historical records : CHRONICLES 3 : records of the activities of an organization |
| 38.anneal | reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass) | Function: verb Etymology: Middle English anelen to set on fire, from Old English on[AE]lan, from on + [AE]lan to set on fire, burn, from Al fire; akin to Old English [AE]led fire, Old Norse eldr transitive senses 1 a : to heat and then cool (as steel or glass) usually for softening and making less brittle; also : to cool slowly usually in a furnace b : to heat and then cool (nucleic acid) in order to separate strands and induce combination at lower temperature especially with complementary strands of a different species 2 : STRENGTHEN, TOUGHEN intransitive senses : to be capable of combining with complementary nucleic acid by a process of heating and cooling |
| 39.annex | attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one | Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French annexer, from Old French, from annexe joined, from Latin annexus, past participle of annectere to bind to, from ad- + nectere to bind 1 : to attach as a quality, consequence, or condition 2 archaic : to join together materially : UNITE 3 : to add to something earlier, larger, or more important 4 : to incorporate (a country or other territory) within the domain of a state 5 : to obtain or take for oneself - an·nex·ation /"a-"nek-'sA-sh&n/ noun - an·nex·ation·al /-shn&l, -sh&-n&l/ adjective - an·nex·ation·ist /-sh(&-)nist/ noun |
| 40.annihilate | destroy | Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -lat·ed; -lat·ing Etymology: Late Latin annihilatus, past participle of annihilare to reduce to nothing, from Latin ad- + nihil nothing -- more at NIL transitive senses 1 a : to cause to be of no effect : NULLIFY b : to destroy the substance or force of 2 : to regard as of no consequence 3 : to cause to cease to exist; especially : KILL 4 a : to destroy a considerable part of <bombs annihilated the city> b : to vanquish completely : ROUT <annihilated the visitors 56-0> intransitive senses, of a particle and its antiparticle : to vanish or cease to exist by coming together and changing into other forms of energy (as radiation or particles) - an·ni·hi·la·tion /-"nI-&-'lA-sh&n/ noun - an·ni·hi·la·tor /-"lA-t&r/ noun - an·ni·hi·la·to·ry /-'nI-&-l&-"tOr-E, -"tor-/ adjective |
| 41.annotate | comment; make explanatory notes | Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -tat·ed; -tat·ing Etymology: Latin annotatus, past participle of annotare, from ad- + notare to mark -- more at NOTE intransitive senses : to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment transitive senses : to make or furnish annotations for (as a literary work or subject) - an·no·ta·tive /-"tA-tiv/ adjective - an·no·ta·tor /-"tA-t&r/ noun |
| 42.annuity | yearly allowance | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ities Etymology: Middle English annuite, from Middle French annuité, from Medieval Latin annuitat-, annuitas, from Latin annuus yearly 1 : a sum of money payable yearly or at other regular intervals 2 : the right to receive an annuity 3 : a contract or agreement providing for the payment of an annuity |
| 43.annul | make void | Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): an·nulled; an·nul·ling Etymology: Middle English annullen, from Middle French annuller, from Late Latin annullare, from Latin ad- + nullus not any -- more at NULL 1 : to reduce to nothing : OBLITERATE 2 : to make ineffective or inoperative : NEUTRALIZE <annul the drug's effect> 3 : to declare or make legally invalid or void <wants the marriage annulled> synonym see NULLIFY |
| 44.anodyne | drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement | Function: adjective Etymology: Latin anodynos, from Greek anOdynos, from a- + odynE pain; probably akin to Old English etan to eat 1 : serving to assuage pain 2 : not likely to offend or arouse tensions : INNOCUOUS |
| 45.anoint | consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony) | Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French enoint, past participle of enoindre, from Latin inunguere, from in- + unguere to smear -- more at OINTMENT 1 : to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance 2 a : to apply oil to as a sacred rite especially for consecration b : to choose by or as if by divine election; also : to designate as if by a ritual anointment - anoint·er noun - anoint·ment /-m&nt/ noun |
| 46.anomalous | abnormal; irregular | Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin anomalus, from Greek anOmalos, literally, uneven, from a- + homalos even, from homos same -- more at SAME 1 : inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected : IRREGULAR, UNUSUAL 2 a : of uncertain nature or classification b : marked by incongruity or contradiction : PARADOXICAL synonym see IRREGULAR - anom·a·lous·ly adverb - anom·a·lous·ness noun |
| 47.anomaly | irregularity | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -lies 1 : the angular distance of a planet from its perihelion as seen from the sun 2 : deviation from the common rule : IRREGULARITY 3 : something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified |
| 48.anonymity | state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties 1 : the quality or state of being anonymous 2 : one that is anonymous |
| 49.antagonism | hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist | Function: noun 1 a : opposition of a conflicting force, tendency, or principle <the antagonism of democracy to dictatorship> b : actively expressed opposition or hostility <antagonism between factions> 2 : opposition in physiological action; especially : interaction of two or more substances such that the action of any one of them on living cells or tissues is lessened synonym see ENMITY |
| 50.antecede | precede | Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -ced·ed; -ced·ing Etymology: Latin antecedere : PRECEDE |
| 51.antecedents | preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens, from Latin, what precedes, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go 1 : a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun (as John in "Mary saw John and called to him"); broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute 2 : the conditional element in a proposition (as if A in "if A, then B") 3 : the first term of a mathematical ratio 4 a : a preceding event, condition, or cause b plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life 5 a : PREDECESSOR; especially : a model or stimulus for later developments b plural : ANCESTORS, PARENTS |
| 52.antediluvian | antiquated; extremely ancient | Function: adjective Etymology: ante- + Latin diluvium flood -- more at DELUGE 1 : of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible 2 : made, evolved, or developed a long time ago <an antediluvian automobile> - antediluvian noun |
| 53.anthem | song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English antem, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphona, from Late Greek antiphOna, plural of antiphOnon, from Greek, neuter of antiphOnos responsive, from anti- + phOnE sound -- more at BAN 1 a : a psalm or hymn sung antiphonally or responsively b : a sacred vocal composition with words usually from the Scriptures 2 : a song or hymn of praise or gladness |
| 54.anthology | book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -gies Etymology: New Latin anthologia collection of epigrams, from Middle Greek, from Greek, flower gathering, from anthos flower + logia collecting, from legein to gather; akin to Sanskrit andha herb -- more at LEGEND 1 : a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music 2 : ASSORTMENT <an anthology of threadbare clichés of ... bistro cuisine -- Jay Jacobs> - an·tho·log·i·cal /"an(t)-th&-'lä-ji-k&l/ adjective |
| 55.anthropoid | manlike; resembling a human being; N. | Function: noun Etymology: Greek anthrOpoeidEs resembling a human, from anthrOpos 1 : APE 1b 2 : a person resembling an ape <the howling anthropoids of the Hookworm Belt -- H. L. Mencken> - anthropoid adjective |
| 56.anthropologist | student of the history and science of humankind | Function: noun Etymology: New Latin anthropologistogia, from anthrop- + -logia -logy 1 : the science of human beings; especially : the study of human beings in relation to distribution, origin, classification, and relationship of races, physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture 2 : theology dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings - an·thro·po·log·i·cal /-p&-'lä-ji-k&l/ adjective - an·thro·po·log·i·cal·ly /-ji-k(&-)lE/ adverb - an·thro·pol·o·gist /"an(t)-thr&-'pä-l&-jist/ noun |
| 57.anthropomorphic | having human form or characteristics | Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin anthropomorphus of human form, from Greek anthrOpomorphos, from anthrOp- + -morphos -morphous 1 : described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes <anthropomorphic deities> 2 : ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things <anthropomorphic supernaturalism> - an·thro·po·mor·phi·cal·ly /-fi-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 58.anticlimax | letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting | Function: noun 1 : the usually sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous idea; also : an instance of this transition 2 : an event (as at the end of a series) that is strikingly less important than what has preceded it |
| 59.antidote | remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English antidot, from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidotos, from feminine of antidotos given as an antidote, from antididonai to give as an antidote, from anti- + didonai to give -- more at DATE 1 : a remedy to counteract the effects of poison 2 : something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts <an antidote to the mechanization of our society> - antidote transitive verb |
| 60.antipathy | aversion; dislike or opposition | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -thies Etymology: Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from antipathEs of opposite feelings, from anti- + pathos experience -- more at PATHOS 1 obsolete : opposition in feeling 2 : settled aversion or dislike : DISTASTE 3 : an object of aversion synonym see ENMITY |
| 61.antiquated | obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated | Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -quat·ed; -quat·ing Etymology: Late Latin antiquatus, past participle of antiquare, from Latin antiquus : to make old or obsolete - an·ti·qua·tion /"an-t&-'kwA-sh&n/ noun |
| 62.antiseptic | substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ. | Function: adjective Etymology: anti- + Greek sEptikos putrefying, septic 1 a : opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay; especially : preventing or arresting the growth of microorganisms (as on living tissue) b : acting or protecting like an antiseptic 2 : relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics 3 a : scrupulously clean : ASEPTIC b : extremely neat or orderly; especially : neat to the point of being bare or uninteresting c : free from what is held to be contaminating 4 : coldly impersonal <an antiseptic greeting> - an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 63.antithesis | contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural an·tith·e·ses /-"sEz/ Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek, literally, opposition, from antitithenai to oppose, from anti- + tithenai to set -- more at DO 1 a (1) : the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (as in "action, not words" or "they promised freedom and provided slavery") (2) : OPPOSITION, CONTRAST <the antithesis of prose and verse> b (1) : the second of two opposing constituents of an antithesis (2) : the direct opposite 2 : the second stage of a dialectic process |
| 64.anvil | iron block used in hammering out metals | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English anfilt, from Old English; akin to Old High German anafalz anvil; akin to Latin pellere to beat -- more at FELT 1 : a heavy usually steel-faced iron block on which metal is shaped (as by hand hammering) 2 : INCUS |
| 65.apathy | lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic | Function: noun Etymology: Greek apatheia, from apathEs without feeling, from a- + pathos emotion -- more at PATHOS 1 : lack of feeling or emotion : IMPASSIVENESS 2 : lack of interest or concern : INDIFFERENCE |
| 66.ape | imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner) | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English apa; akin to Old High German affo ape 1 a : MONKEY; especially : one of the larger tailless or short-tailed Old World forms b : any of two families (Pongidae and Hylobatidae) of large tailless semierect primates (as the chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, or gibbon) -- called also anthropoid, anthropoid ape 2 a : MIMIC b : a large uncouth person - ape·like /'Ap-"lIk/ adjective |
| 67.aperture | opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin apertura, from apertus, past participle of aperire to open 1 : an opening or open space : HOLE 2 a : the opening in a photographic lens that admits the light b : the diameter of the stop in an optical system that determines the diameter of the bundle of rays traversing the instrument c : the diameter of the objective lens or mirror of a telescope |
| 68.apex | tip; summit; climax; highest point | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural apex·es or api·ces /'A-p&-"sEz, 'a-/ Etymology: Latin 1 a : the uppermost point : VERTEX <the apex of a mountain> b : the narrowed or pointed end : TIP <the apex of the tongue> 2 : the highest or culminating point <the apex of his career> synonym see SUMMIT |
| 69.aphasia | loss of speech due to injury or illness | Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, from a- + -phasia : loss or impairment of the power to use or comprehend words usually resulting from brain damage - apha·sic /-zik/ noun or adjective |
| 70.aphorism | pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic | Function: noun Etymology: Middle French aphorisme, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, aphorism, from aphorizein to define, from apo- + horizein to bound -- more at HORIZON 1 : a concise statement of a principle 2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : ADAGE - aph·o·rist /-rist/ noun - aph·o·ris·tic /"a-f&-'ris-tik/ adjective - aph·o·ris·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 71.apiary | a place where bees are kept | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ar·ies Etymology: Latin apiarium, from apis bee : a place where bees are kept; especially : a collection of hives or colonies of bees kept for their honey |
| 72.aplomb | poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence | Function: noun Etymology: French, literally, perpendicularity, from Middle French, from a plomb, literally, according to the plummet : complete and confident composure or self-assurance : POISE synonym see CONFIDENCE |
| 73.apocalyptic | prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse | Function: adjective 1 : of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse 2 : forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world : PROPHETIC 3 : foreboding imminent disaster or final doom : TERRIBLE 4 : wildly unrestrained : GRANDIOSE 5 : ultimately decisive : CLIMACTIC - apoc·a·lyp·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 74.apocryphal | (of a story) widely believed but untrue | Function: adjective 1 : of doubtful authenticity : SPURIOUS 2 often capitalized : of or resembling the Apocrypha synonym see FICTITIOUS - apoc·ry·phal·ly /-f&-lE/ adverb - apoc·ry·phal·ness noun |
| 75.apogee | highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee | Function: noun Etymology: French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogeios, apogaios far from the earth, from apo- + gE, gaia earth 1 : the point in the orbit of an object (as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth; also : the point farthest from a planet or a satellite (as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it -- compare PERIGEE 2 : the farthest or highest point : CULMINATION <Aegean civilization reached its apogee in Crete> - apo·ge·an /"a-p&-'jE-&n/ adjective [apogee illustration] |
| 76.apolitical | having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs | Function: adjective 1 : having no interest or involvement in political affairs; also : having an aversion to politics or political affairs 2 : having no political significance - apo·lit·i·cal·ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb |
| 77.apologist | one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia | Function: noun : one who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something |
| 78.apoplexy | stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain | Function: noun Etymology: Middle English apoplexie, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin apoplexia, from Greek apoplExia, from apoplEssein to cripple by a stroke, from apo- + plEssein to strike -- more at PLAINT : STROKE 5 |
| 79.apostate | one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy | Function: noun : one who commits apostasy - apostate adjective |
| 80.apothecary | druggist; pharmacist | Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -car·ies Etymology: Middle English apothecarie, from Medieval Latin apothecarius, from Late Latin, shopkeeper, from Latin apotheca storehouse, from Greek apothEkE, from apotithenai to put away, from apo- + tithenai to put -- more at DO 1 : one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes 2 : PHARMACY |
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