Study Material for TOEFL Preparation | Alphabet A

abacus: frame with balls for calculating
abate: to lessen, to subside
abdication: giving up control, authority
abdomen: stomach and bowels
aberration: straying away from what is normal
abeyance: suspended action
abhor: to hate, to detest
abide: be faithful to; endure
abjure: promise or swear to give up
abraded: rubbed off, worn away by friction
abrasion: rubbing, scraping, wearing off
abrogate: repeal or annul by authority
abscond: to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest)
abstruse: difficult to comprehend; obscure
abundant: plentiful
abut: border on
abysmal: bottomless, extreme
acarpous: effete, no longer fertile, worn out
accentuate: give more force or attention to
acclaimed: welcomed with shouts and approval
accolade: praise, approval
accretion: the growing of separate things into one
acquiesce: in agree (without protest)
acquisition: smth acquired, acquiring
adamant: kind of stone; inflexible
adhere: remain faithful, stick fast to
adhesion: adhering, support
adjacent: lying near, next
admonitory: containing warning
adorn: add beauty; decorate
adulteration: making unpure, poorer in quality
affinity: close connection, relationship
aggravate: make worse; irritate
agile: active, quick-moving
ail: trouble; be ill
alacrity: eager and cheerful readiness
alienate: estrange
allegiance: duty, support, loyalty
alleviate: make (pain) easier to bear
alloy: to debase by mixing with something inferior
aloof: reserved, indifferent
amalgamate: mix, combine, unite societies
ambidextrous: able to use the left hand or the right equally well
ambiguous: doubtful, uncertain
ambivalent: having both of two contrary meanings
ameliorate: improve, make better
amendment: improving
amicable: friendly
amortize: end (a debt) by setting aside money
amplify: make large or fuller, increase the strength
animosity: strong dislike
annul: put an end to
anticlimax: sudden fall
antidote: medicine used against a poison or a disease
antithetical: direct opposing
apartheid: brutal racial discrimination
apathetic: indifference
aplomb: self-confidence
apostate: one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
apotheosis: deification, glorification to godliness
appease: make quiet or calm
apprehensive: grasping, understanding; fear, unhappy feeling about future
apprise: give notice to, inform
approbation: approval
appropriate: take for one's own use, acquire, set aside
apropos: appropriate to the situation; apt
apt: well-suited, quick-witted
arabesque: a complex, ornate design
arabesque: whimsical
arbitrate: decide by arbitration
arboreal: of connected with trees
ardently: with full of ardor
ardor: enthusiasm
arduous: steep, difficult ascent; laborious
argot: jargon, slang
arrant: in the highest degree
arrogance: proud, superior manner of behaviour
articulate: speak distinctly, connect by joints
ascend: go or come up
ascent: the act of ascending
ascertain: get to know
ascetic: practicing self-denial, austere, stark
ascribe: consider to be the origin of or belonging to
asperity: roughness, harshness, ill temper, irritability
aspersion: slander
assail: with attack violently
asset: valuable quality, smth that has money value
assiduous: diligent, hard-working, sedulous
assuage: make smth (pain, desire) less
assumption: smth supposed but not proved
asterisk: the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters)
astringent: substance that shrinks
astute: clever; quick at seeing to get an advantage
atonement: repayment; death of Jesus
attenuate: make thin. weaken, enervate
audacious: daring, foolishly bold, impudent
augury: omen, sign
august: majestic, venerable
auspice: protection or support, patronage
auspicious: favorable, successful, prosperous
austere: severely moral and strict; simple and plain
auxiliary: helping, supporting
aver: affirm, assert, prove, justify
aversion: strong dislike
avid: eager, greedy
avow: admit. Declare openly