alley
alley (n)
A narrow street, garden path, walk, or the like.
alliance
alliance (n)
Any combination or union for some common purpose.
allot
allot (v)
To assign a definite thing or part to a certain person.
allotment
allotment (n)
Portion.
allude
allude (v)
To refer incidentally, or by suggestion.
allusion
allusion (n)
An indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it.
alluvion
alluvion (n)
Flood.
ally
ally (n)
A person or thing connected with another, usually in some relation of helpfulness.
almanac
almanac (n)
A series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information.
aloof
aloof (adv)
Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others.
altar
altar (n)
Any raised place or structure on which sacrifices may be offered or incense burned.
alter
alter (v)
To make change in.
alteration
alteration (n)
Change or modification.
altercate
altercate (v)
To contend angrily or zealously in words.
alternate
alternate (n)
One chosen to act in place of another, in case of the absence or incapacity of that other.
alternative
alternative (n)
Something that may or must exist, be taken or chosen, or done instead of something else.
altitude
altitude (n)
Vertical distance or elevation above any point or base-level, as the sea.
alto
alto (n)
The lowest or deepest female voice or part.
altruism
altruism (n)
Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.
altruist
altruist (n)
One who advocates or practices altruism.
amalgam
amalgam (n)
An alloy or union of mercury with another metal.
amalgamate
amalgamate (v)
To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body.
amateur
amateur (adj)
Practicing an art or occupation for the love of it, but not as a profession.
amatory
amatory (adj)
Designed to excite love.
ambidextrous
ambidextrous (adj)
Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease.
ambiguous
ambiguous (adj)
Having a double meaning.
ambitious
ambitious (adj)
Eagerly desirous and aspiring.
ambrosial
ambrosial (adj)
Divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious.
ambulance
ambulance (n)
A vehicle fitted for conveying the sick and wounded.
ambulate
ambulate (v)
To walk about
ambush
ambush (n)
The act or state of lying concealed for the purpose of surprising or attacking the enemy.
ameliorate
ameliorate (v)
To relieve, as from pain or hardship
amenable
amenable (adj)
Willing and ready to submit.
Americanism
Americanism (n)
A peculiar sense in which an English word or phrase is used in the United States.
amicable
amicable (adj)
Done in a friendly spirit.
amity
amity (n)
Friendship.
amorous
amorous (adj)
Having a propensity for falling in love.
amorphous
amorphous (adj)
Without determinate shape.
amour
amour (n)
A love-affair, especially one of an illicit nature.
ampere
ampere (n)
The practical unit of electric-current strength.
ampersand
ampersand (n)
The character &; and.
amphibious
amphibious (adj)
Living both on land and in water.
amphitheater
amphitheater (n)
An edifice of elliptical shape, constructed about a central open space or arena.
amplitude
amplitude (n)
Largeness.
amply
amply (adv)
Sufficiently.
amputate
amputate (v)
To remove by cutting, as a limb or some portion of the body.
amusement
amusement (n)
Diversion.
anachronism
anachronism (n)
Anything occurring or existing out of its proper time.
anagram
anagram (n)
The letters of a word or phrase so transposed as to make a different word or phrase.
analogous
analogous (adj)
Corresponding (to some other) in certain respects, as in form, proportion, relations.
analogy
analogy (n)
Reasoning in which from certain and known relations or resemblance others are formed.
analyst
analyst (n)
One who analyzes or makes use of the analytical method.
analyze
analyze (v)
To examine minutely or critically.
anarchy
anarchy (n)
Absence or utter disregard of government.
anathema
anathema (n)
Anything forbidden, as by social usage.
anatomy
anatomy (n)
That branch of morphology which treats of the structure of organisms.
ancestry
ancestry (n)
One's ancestors collectively.
anecdote
anecdote (n)
A brief account of some interesting event or incident.
anemia
anemia (n)
Deficiency of blood or red corpuscles.
anemic
anemic (adj)
Affected with anemia.
anemometer
anemometer (n)
An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind.
anesthetic
anesthetic (adj)
Pertaining to or producing loss of sensation.
anew
anew (adv)
Once more.
angelic
angelic (adj)
Saintly.
Anglophobia
Anglophobia (n)
Hatred or dread of England or of what is English.
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon (n)
The entire English race wherever found, as in Europe, the United States, or India.
angular
angular (adj)
Sharp-cornered.
anhydrous
anhydrous (adj)
Withered.
animadversion
animadversion (n)
The utterance of criticism or censure.
animadvert
animadvert (v)
To pass criticism or censure.
animalcule
animalcule (n)
An animal of microscopic smallness.
animate
animate (v)
To make alive.
animosity
animosity (n)
Hatred.
annalist
annalist (n)
Historian.
annals
annals (n)
A record of events in their chronological order, year by year.
annex
annex (v)
To add or affix at the end.
annihilate
annihilate (v)
To destroy absolutely.
annotate
annotate (v)
To make explanatory or critical notes on or upon.
annual
annual (adj)
Occurring every year.
annuity
annuity (n)
An annual allowance, payment, or income.
annunciation
annunciation (n)
Proclamation.
anode
anode (n)
The point where or path by which a voltaic current enters an electrolyte or the like.
anonymous
anonymous (adj)
Of unknown authorship.
antagonism
antagonism (n)
Mutual opposition or resistance of counteracting forces, principles, or persons.
Antarctic
Antarctic (adj)
Pertaining to the south pole or the regions near it.
ante
ante (v)
In the game of poker, to put up a stake before the cards are dealt.
antecede
antecede (v)
To precede.
antecedent
antecedent (n)
One who or that which precedes or goes before, as in time, place, rank, order, or causality.
antechamber
antechamber (n)
A waiting room for those who seek audience.
antedate
antedate (v)
To assign or affix a date to earlier than the actual one.
antediluvian
antediluvian (adj)
Of or pertaining to the times, things, events before the great flood in the days of Noah.
antemeridian
antemeridian (adj)
Before noon.
antemundane
antemundane (adj)
Pertaining to time before the world's creation.
antenatal
antenatal (adj)
Occurring or existing before birth.
anterior
anterior (adj)
Prior.
anteroom
anteroom (n)
A room situated before and opening into another, usually larger.
anthology
anthology (n)
A collection of extracts from the writings of various authors.
anthracite
anthracite (n)
Hard coal.
anthropology
anthropology (n)
The science of man in general.
anthropomorphous
anthropomorphous (adj)
Having or resembling human form.
antic
antic (n)
A grotesque, ludicrous, or fantastic action.
Antichrist
Antichrist (n)
Any opponent or enemy of Christ, whether a person or a power.
anticlimax
anticlimax (n)
A gradual or sudden decrease in the importance or impressiveness of what is said.
anticyclone
anticyclone (n)
An atmospheric condition of high central pressure, with currents flowing outward.
antidote
antidote (n)
Anything that will counteract or remove the effects of poison, disease, or the like.
antilogy
antilogy (n)
Inconsistency or contradiction in terms or ideas.
antipathize
antipathize (v)
To show or feel a feeling of antagonism, aversion, or dislike.
antiphon
antiphon (n)
A response or alteration of responses, generally musical.
antiphony
antiphony (n)
An anthem or other composition sung responsively.
antipodes
antipodes (n)
A place or region on the opposite side of the earth.
antiquary
antiquary (n)
One who collects and examines old things, as coins, books, medals, weapons, etc.
antiquate
antiquate (v)
To make old or out of date.
antique
antique (adj)
Pertaining to ancient times.
antiseptic
antiseptic (n)
Anything that destroys or restrains the growth of putrefactive micro-organisms.
antislavery
antislavery (adj)
Opposed to human slavery.
antispasmodic
antispasmodic (adj)
Tending to prevent or relieve non-inflammatory spasmodic affections.
antistrophe
antistrophe (n)
The inversion of terms in successive classes, as in the home of joy and the joy of home"."
antitoxin
antitoxin (n)
A substance which neutralizes the poisonous products of micro-organisms.
antonym
antonym (n)
A word directly opposed to another in meaning.
anxious
anxious (adj)
Distressed in mind respecting some uncertain matter.
apathy
apathy (n)
Insensibility to emotion or passionate feeling.
aperture
aperture (n)
Hole.
apex
apex (n)
The highest point, as of a mountain.
aphorism
aphorism (n)
Proverb.
apiary
apiary (n)
A place where bees are kept.
apogee
apogee (n)
The climax.
apology
apology (n)
A disclaimer of intentional error or offense.
apostasy
apostasy (n)
A total departure from one's faith or religion.
apostate
apostate (adj)
False.
apostle
apostle (n)
Any messenger commissioned by or as by divine authority.
apothecary
apothecary (n)
One who keeps drugs for sale and puts up prescriptions.
apotheosis
apotheosis (n)
Deification.
appall
appall (v)
To fill with dismay or horror.
apparent
apparent (adj)
Easily understood.
apparition
apparition (n)
Ghost.
appease
appease (v)
To soothe by quieting anger or indignation.
appellate
appellate (adj)
Capable of being appealed to.
appellation
appellation (n)
The name or title by which a particular person, class, or thing is called.
append
append (v)
To add or attach, as something accessory, subordinate, or supplementary.
appertain
appertain (v)
To belong, as by right, fitness, association, classification, possession, or natural relation.
apposite
apposite (adj)
Appropriate.
apposition
apposition (n)
The act of placing side by side, together, or in contact.
appraise
appraise (v)
To estimate the money value of.
appreciable
appreciable (adj)
Capable of being discerned by the senses or intellect.
apprehend
apprehend (v)
To make a prisoner of (a person) in the name of the law.
apprehensible
apprehensible (adj)
Capable of being conceived.
approbation
approbation (n)
Sanction.
appropriate
appropriate (adj)
Suitable for the purpose and circumstances.
aqueduct
aqueduct (n)
A water-conduit, particularly one for supplying a community from a distance.
aqueous
aqueous (adj)
Of, pertaining to, or containing water.
arbiter
arbiter (n)
One chosen or appointed, by mutual consent of parties in dispute, to decide matters.
arbitrary
arbitrary (adj)
Fixed or done capriciously.
arbitrate
arbitrate (v)
To act or give judgment as umpire.
arbor
arbor (n)
A tree.
arboreal
arboreal (adj)
Of or pertaining to a tree or trees.
arborescent
arborescent (adj)
Having the nature of a tree.
arboretum
arboretum (n)
A botanical garden or place devoted to the cultivation of trees or shrubs.
arboriculture
arboriculture (n)
The cultivation of trees or shrubs.
arcade
arcade (n)
A vaulted passageway or street; a roofed passageway having shops, etc., opening from it.
archaic
archaic (adj)
Antiquated
archaism
archaism (n)
Obsolescence.
archangel
archangel (n)
An angel of high rank.
archbishop
archbishop (n)
The chief of the bishops of an ecclesiastical province in the Greek, Roman, and Anglican church.
archdeacon
archdeacon (n)
A high official administrator of the affairs of a diocese.
archaeology
archaeology (n)
The branch of anthropology concerned with the systematic investigation of the relics of man.
archetype
archetype (n)
A prototype.
archipelago
archipelago (n)
Any large body of water studded with islands, or the islands collectively themselves.
ardent
ardent (adj)
Burning with passion.
ardor
ardor (n)
Intensity of passion or affection.
arid
arid (adj)
Very dry.
aristocracy
aristocracy (n)
A hereditary nobility
aristocrat
aristocrat (n)
A hereditary noble or one nearly connected with nobility.
armada
armada (n)
A fleet of war-vessels.
armful
armful (n)
As much as can be held in the arm or arms.
armory
armory (n)
An arsenal.
aroma
aroma (n)
An agreeable odor.
arraign
arraign (v)
To call into court, as a person indicted for crime, and demand whether he pleads guilty or not.
arrange
arrange (v)
To put in definite or proper order.
arrangement
arrangement (n)
The act of putting in proper order, or the state of being put in order.
arrant
arrant (adj)
Notoriously bad.
arrear
arrear (n)
Something overdue and unpaid.
arrival
arrival (n)
A coming to stopping-place or destination.
arrogant
arrogant (adj)
Unduly or excessively proud, as of wealth, station, learning, etc.
arrogate
arrogate (v)
To take, demand, or claim, especially presumptuously or without reasons or grounds.
Artesian well
Artesian well (n)
A very deep bored well. water rises due to underground pressure
artful
artful (adj)
Characterized by craft or cunning.
Arthurian
Arthurian (adj)
Pertaining to King Arthur, the real or legendary hero of British poetic story.
artifice
artifice (n)
Trickery.
artless
artless (adj)
Ingenuous.
ascendant
ascendant (adj)
Dominant.
ascension
ascension (n)
The act of rising.
ascent
ascent (n)
A rising, soaring, or climbing.
ascetic
ascetic (adj)
Given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion.
ascribe
ascribe (v)
To assign as a quality or attribute.
asexual
asexual (adj)
Having no distinct sexual organs.
ashen
ashen (adj)
Pale.
askance
askance (adv)
With a side or indirect glance or meaning.