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Manhattan Prep 1000 GRE Words: DefinitionsStudy online at quizlet.com/ 8mddh1.abaseDegrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, oresteem2.abateReduce, diminish3.abdicateFormally give up the throne (or some otherpower or responsibility)4.aberrantAbnormal, deviant5.abeyanceTemporary suspension, inactivity6.abhorDetest, regard with disgust7.abjureGive up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun(especially formally or under advocateSpeak or argue in favor of (verb); a personwho pleads for a cause or on behalf of anotherperson (noun)28.aerieDwelling or fortress built on a high place; thenest of a bird of prey, such as an eagle orhawk, built on a mountain or cliff29.aestheticConcerning the appreciation of beauty or goodtaste, pertaining to the science of what isbeautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of aparticular time and place (noun)30.affableWarm and friendly, pleasant, approachableRough, suitable for grinding or polishing (suchas sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance31.affectationFake behavior (such as in speech or dress)adopted to give a certain impressionSide-by-side. The more common "abreast of"means keeping up with, staying aware of, orremaining equal in progress with.32.aggrandizeMake greater; exaggerate33.aggregateGather together, amount to (verb);constituting a whole made up of constituentparts (adj)34.alacrityCheerful or speedy willingness35.albeitAlthough, even though36.alienateCause to become unfriendly, hostile, ordistantReduce or lessen; shorten by omitting partsthroughout while retaining the main ideaCutting off; sudden termination; the separationof leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant oranimal12.abscondDepart suddenly and secretively37.alleviateLessen, make easier to endure13.abstainHold back, refrain (especially from somethingbad or unhealthy); decline to vote38.aloofA deep and vast space or cavity; anythingprofound or infiniteDistant physically or emotionally; reserved;indifferent39.amalgamateBlend, merge, or unite14.abyss15.accedeAgree, give consent; assume power (usually as"accede to")40.ambiguousNot clear, hard to understand, open to havingseveral meanings or interpretations16.accretionGradual increase; an added part or addition41.ambivalent17.acerbicSour; harsh or severeUncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to dotwo contradictory things at once42.ameliorateImprove; make better or more bearable18.acidulousSlightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic43.amortize19.acmeSummit, peak, highest pointGradually pay off a debt, or gradually write offan asset20.activismThe practice of pursuing political or other goalsthrough vigorous action, often including protestsand demonstrations44.anachronism21.acumenKeen, quick, accurate insight or judgmentSomething that is not in its correct historicaltime; a mistake in chronology, such as byassigning a person or event to the wrong timeperiod22.adhereStick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief45.analgesiaPain relief; inability to feel pain23.admonishMildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to dosomething46.analogousComparable, corresponding in someparticular way (making a good analogy)adulterateMake impure by adding inappropriate or inferioringredients47.24.anarchyAbsence of law or government; chaos,disorder25.adumbrateGive a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal onlypartially; obscure48.annulMake void or null, cancel, abolish (usually oflaws or other established rules)adverseOpposing, harmful49.26.anodyneMedicine that relieves pain (noun); soothing,relieving pain (adj)

50.anointRub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as bya ceremony that includes applying oil tosomeone75.asepticFree from germs76.asperityRigor, severity; harshness or sharpness oftone; roughness of surface77.aspersionsDamaging remarks, defamation, slander51.anomalyDeviation from what is common;inconsistency52.antagonizeMake hostile or unfriendly78.assailAttack violently, assault53.antedateBe older than, precede in time; assign to anearlier date79.assiduousPersevering, diligent, constant80.assuageMake milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm81.attenuateWeaken or thin out82.attunedIn harmony; in sympathetic relationship83.audaciousVery bold or brave, often in a rude or recklessway; extremely original84.augmentMake larger85.auguryTelling the future, such as throughsupernatural means86.augustVenerable, majestic; inspiring admiration87.austereSevere in manner or appearance; very selfdisciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease;sober or serious54.55.antitheticalapathyDirectly opposed, opposite; involvingantithesis (the rhetorical act of placing twophrases opposite one another for contrast, asin love me or hate me)Not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interestor concern56.apocryphalOf questionable authenticity; false57.apostatePerson who deserts a party, cause, religion,etc.58.apostlePioneer of a reform movement (originally, anearly follower of Jesus)59.appositeHighly appropriate, suitable, or relevant60.appriseInform, give notice to88.autonomousSelf-governing, independent61.approbationPraise or approval, especially formal approval89.avarice62.appropriateSet aside or authorize (such as money) for aparticular purpose; take for one's own useInsatiable greed; a miserly desire to hoardwealth90.averDeclare or affirm with confidence63.arbiterJudge, umpire, person empowered to decidematters at hand91.avidEnthusiastic, dedicated, passionate;excessively desirous64.arcaneKnown or understood by only a few; obscure,secret92.axiomSelf-evident truth requiring no proof;universally or generally accepted principle65.archaicCharacteristic of an earlier period, ancient,primitive93.balkRefuse to proceed or to do something94.balloonSwell or puff out; increase rapidly95.banalLacking freshness and originality; cliché66.ardentVery passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic67.arduousVery difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure96.baneSomething that ruins or spoils68.arrogateClaim or take presumptuously or without theright to do so97.baseMorally low, mean, dishonorable; of little orno value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit69.articulateUsing language in a clear, fluent way (adj);speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)98.bayingHowling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf70.artifactAny object made by humans, especially thosefrom an earlier time, such as those excavatedby archaeologists99.belieContradict or misrepresent100.beneficentDoing good101.benignHarmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, orbeneficial; not cancerous102.bentPersonal inclination or tendency103.besiegeAttack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround104.bevyGroup of birds or other animals that stay closetogether; any large group105.bifurcateTo fork into two branches or divide into twohalves71.artlessFree of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine;lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured72.ascertainFind out with certainty73.asceticabstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a personwho leads an austere and simple life withoutmaterial pleasures, esp. someone who doesthis for religious reasons74.ascribeAssign or credit to a certain cause or source

106.bilkCheat or defraud133.catholicUniversal, broad-minded107.blightDisease that kills plants rapidly, or any causeof decay or destruction (noun); ruin or causeto wither (verb)134.causticCapable of corroding metal or burning theskin; very critical or sarcastic108.blitheJoyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as toignore more important concerns)135.censureStrong disapproval or official reprimand(noun); to issue such disapproval orreprimand (verb)109.bogusFake, fraudulent136.chauvinismFanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasmfor military glory; undue or biaseddevotion to any group, cause, etc.110.bolsterStrengthen or support111.bombastic(Of speech or writing) far too showy ordramatic than is appropriate; pretentious137.chicaneryTrickery, deception by knowingly falsearguments112.bonhomieFriendliness, open and simple goodheartedness138.chronologicalArranged in or relating to time orderboorRude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; apeasant or country bumpkin139.113.circumscribeStrictly limit a role, range of activity, orarea; in math, to be constructed around soas to touch as many points as possible114.brandishShake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon140.circumspect115.brookSuffer or tolerateCautious, prudent; careful to consider thecircumstances and consequences116.bucolicPertaining to shepherds; suggesting apeaceful and pleasant view of rural life141.clamberClimb awkwardly or with difficulty,scramble117.bufferSomething that shields, protects, absorbsshock, or cushions142.clamorNoisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; aloud, continuous noise118.bureaucracyGovernment characterized by many bureausand petty administrators or by excessive,seemingly meaningless requirements143.clinchMake final or settle conclusively; to fastenor hold together144.cloyingDisgustingly or distastefully sweet119.burgeonGrow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds orshoots (of a plant)145.coagulateCause a liquid to become solid or semisolidburnishPolish, make smooth and lustrous146.120.coalesceCome together, unite; fuse togetherbuttressSupport or encourage (verb); a support orprop, esp. projecting from and supporting thewall of a building (noun)147.121.codaFinal part of a musical composition; anending, esp. one that sums up what hascome before122.bygonePast, former (adj); that which is in the past(usually plural noun)148.cofferChest for storing valuables; financialresources, a treasury123.cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture ofsounds149.cogentVery convincing, logical150.colludeConspire; cooperate for illegal orfraudulent purposes151.commensurateThe same in size, extent, etc., equivalent;proportional152.compendiumConcise but complete summary; a list orcollection153.complacentSelf-satisfied, smug; overly content (andtherefore lazy, neglectful, or some otherbad quality)154.complaisantEager to please; cheerfully complying155.complementaryCompleting; fitting together well; fillingmutual needs156.compliantObeying, submissive; following therequirements124.calumnyMalicious lie intended to hurt someone'sreputation; the act of telling such lies125.canardRumor, a false or baseless story126.candidOpen, sincere, honest127.canonicalAuthorized, recognized; pertaining to thecanon, or body of accepted rules, standards orartistic works128.capriciousActing on impulse, erratic129.cardinalChief, most icize severely; punish in order to correct132.catalystCauser of change