asperity
asperity (n)
Harshness or roughness of temper.
aspirant
aspirant (n)
One who seeks earnestly, as for advancement, honors, place.
aspiration
aspiration (n)
An earnest wish for that which is above one's present reach.
aspire
aspire (v)
To have an earnest desire, wish, or longing, as for something high and good, not yet attained.
assailant
assailant (n)
One who attacks.
assassin
assassin (n)
One who kills, or tries to kill, treacherously or secretly.
assassinate
assassinate (v)
To kill, as by surprise or secret assault, especially the killing of some eminent person.
assassination
assassination (n)
Murderer, as by secret assault or treachery.
assay
assay (n)
The chemical analysis or testing of an alloy ore.
assent
assent (v)
To express agreement with a statement or matter of opinion.
assess
assess (v)
To determine the amount of (a tax or other sum to be paid).
assessor
assessor (n)
An officer whose duty it is to assess taxes.
assets
assets (n)
pl. Property in general, regarded as applicable to the payment of debts.
assiduous
assiduous (adj)
Diligent.
assignee
assignee (n)
One who is appointed to act for another in the management of certain property and interests.
assimilate
assimilate (v)
To adapt.
assonance
assonance (n)
Resemblance or correspondence in sound.
assonant
assonant (adj)
Having resemblance of sound.
assonate
assonate (v)
To accord in sound, especially vowel sound.
assuage
assuage (v)
To cause to be less harsh, violent, or severe, as excitement, appetite, pain, or disease.
astringent
astringent (adj)
Harsh in disposition or character.
astute
astute (adj)
Keen in discernment.
atheism
atheism (n)
The denial of the existence of God.
athirst
athirst (adj)
Wanting water.
athwart
athwart (adv)
From side to side.
atomizer
atomizer (n)
An apparatus for reducing a liquid to a fine spray, as for disinfection, inhalation, etc.
atone
atone (v)
To make amends for.
atonement
atonement (n)
Amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury.
atrocious
atrocious (adj)
Outrageously or wantonly wicked, criminal, vile, or cruel.
atrocity
atrocity (n)
Great cruelty or reckless wickedness.
attache
attache (n)
A subordinate member of a diplomatic embassy.
attest
attest (v)
To certify as accurate, genuine, or true.
attorney-general
attorney-general (n)
The chief law-officer of a government.
auburn
auburn (adj)
Reddish-brown, said usually of the hair.
audacious
audacious (adj)
Fearless.
audible
audible (adj)
Loud enough to be heard.
audition
audition (n)
The act or sensation of hearing.
auditory
auditory (adj)
Of or pertaining to hearing or the organs or sense of hearing.
augment
augment (v)
To make bigger.
augur
augur (v)
To predict.
Augustinian
Augustinian (adj)
Pertaining to St. Augustine, his doctrines, or the religious orders called after him.
aura
aura (n)
Pervasive psychic influence supposed to emanate from persons
aural
aural (adj)
Of or pertaining to the ear.
auricle
auricle (n)
One of the two chambers of the heart which receives the blood from the veins.
auricular
auricular (adj)
Of or pertaining to the ear, its auricle, or the sense of hearing.
auriferous
auriferous (adj)
Containing gold.
aurora
aurora (n)
A luminous phenomenon in the upper regions of the atmosphere.
auspice
auspice (n)
favoring, protecting, or propitious influence or guidance.
austere
austere (adj)
Severely simple; unadorned.
autarchy
autarchy (n)
Unrestricted power.
authentic
authentic (adj)
Of undisputed origin.
authenticity
authenticity (n)
The state or quality of being genuine, or of the origin and authorship claimed.
autobiography
autobiography (n)
The story of one's life written by himself.
autocracy
autocracy (n)
Absolute government.
autocrat
autocrat (n)
Any one who claims or wields unrestricted or undisputed authority or influence.
automaton
automaton (n)
Any living being whose actions are or appear to be involuntary or mechanical.
autonomous
autonomous (adj)
Self-governing.
autonomy
autonomy (n)
Self-government.
autopsy
autopsy (n)
The examination of a dead body by dissection to ascertain the cause of death.
autumnal
autumnal (adj)
Of or pertaining to autumn.
auxiliary
auxiliary (n)
One who or that which aids or helps, especially when regarded as subsidiary or accessory.
avalanche
avalanche (n)
The fall or sliding of a mass of snow or ice down a mountain-slope, often bearing with it rock.
avarice
avarice (n)
Passion for getting and keeping riches.
aver
aver (v)
To assert as a fact.
averse
averse (adj)
Reluctant.
aversion
aversion (n)
A mental condition of fixed opposition to or dislike of some particular thing.
avert
avert (v)
To turn away or aside.
aviary
aviary (n)
A spacious cage or enclosure in which live birds are kept.
avidity
avidity (n)
Greediness.
avocation
avocation (n)
Diversion.
avow
avow (v)
To declare openly.
awaken
awaken (v)
To arouse, as emotion, interest, or the like.
awry
awry (adv/adj)
Out of the proper form, direction, or position.
aye
aye (adv)
An expression of assent.
azalea
azalea (n)
A flowering shrub.
azure
azure (n)
The color of the sky.
Baconian
Baconian (adj)
Of or pertaining to Lord Bacon or his system of philosophy.
bacterium
bacterium (n)
A microbe.
badger
badger (v)
To pester.
baffle
baffle (v)
To foil or frustrate.
bailiff
bailiff (n)
An officer of court having custody of prisoners under arraignment.
baize
baize (n)
A single-colored napped woolen fabric used for table-covers, curtains, etc.
bale
bale (n)
A large package prepared for transportation or storage.
baleful
baleful (adj)
Malignant.
ballad
ballad (n)
Any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form.
balsam
balsam (n)
A medical preparation, aromatic and oily, used for healing.
banal
banal (adj)
Commonplace.
barcarole
barcarole (n)
A boat-song of Venetian gondoliers.
barograph
barograph (n)
An instrument that registers graphically and continuously the atmospheric pressure.
barometer
barometer (n)
An instrument for indicating the atmospheric pressure per unit of surface.
baritone
baritone (adj)
Having a register higher than bass and lower than tenor.
bask
bask (v)
To make warm by genial heat.
bass
bass (adj)
Low in tone or compass.
baste
baste (v)
To cover with melted fat, gravy, while cooking.
baton
baton (n)
An official staff borne either as a weapon or as an emblem of authority or privilege.
battalion
battalion (n)
A body of infantry composed of two or more companies, forming a part of a regiment.
batten
batten (n)
A narrow strip of wood.
batter
batter (n)
A thick liquid mixture of two or more materials beaten together, to be used in cookery.
bauble
bauble (n)
A trinket.
bawl
bawl (v)
To proclaim by outcry.
beatify
beatify (v)
To make supremely happy.
beatitude
beatitude (n)
Any state of great happiness.
beau
beau (n)
An escort or lover.
becalm
becalm (v)
To make quiet.
beck
beck (v)
To give a signal to, by nod or gesture.
bedaub
bedaub (v)
To smear over, as with something oily or sticky.
bedeck
bedeck (v)
To cover with ornament.
bedlam
bedlam (n)
Madhouse.
befog
befog (v)
To confuse.
befriend
befriend (v)
To be a friend to, especially when in need.
beget
beget (v)
To produce by sexual generation.
begrudge
begrudge (v)
To envy one of the possession of.
belate
belate (v)
To delay past the proper hour.
belay
belay (v)
To make fast, as a rope, by winding round a cleat.
belie
belie (v)
To misrepresent.
believe
believe (v)
To accept as true on the testimony or authority of others.
belittle
belittle (v)
To disparage.
belle
belle (n)
A woman who is a center of attraction because of her beauty, accomplishments, etc.
bellicose
bellicose (adj)
Warlike.
belligerent
belligerent (adj)
Manifesting a warlike spirit.
bemoan
bemoan (v)
To lament
benediction
benediction (n)
a solemn invocation of the divine blessing.
benefactor
benefactor (n)
A doer of kindly and charitable acts.
benefice
benefice (n)
A church office endowed with funds or property for the maintenance of divine service.
beneficent
beneficent (adj)
Characterized by charity and kindness.
beneficial
beneficial (adj)
Helpful.
beneficiary
beneficiary (n)
One who is lawfully entitled to the profits and proceeds of an estate or property.
benefit
benefit (n)
Helpful result.
benevolence
benevolence (n)
Any act of kindness or well-doing.
benevolent
benevolent (adj)
Loving others and actively desirous of their well-being.
benign
benign (adj)
Good and kind of heart.
benignant
benignant (adj)
Benevolent in feeling, character, or aspect.
benignity
benignity (n)
Kindness of feeling, disposition, or manner.
benison
benison (n)
Blessing.
bequeath
bequeath (v)
To give by will.
bereave
bereave (v)
To make desolate with loneliness and grief.
berth
berth (n)
A bunk or bed in a vessel, sleeping-car, etc.
beseech
beseech (v)
To implore.
beset
beset (v)
To attack on all sides.
besmear
besmear (v)
To smear over, as with any oily or sticky substance.
bestial
bestial (adj)
Animal.
bestrew
bestrew (v)
To sprinkle or cover with things strewn.
bestride
bestride (v)
To get or sit upon astride, as a horse.
bethink
bethink (v)
To remind oneself.
betide
betide (v)
To happen to or befall.
betimes
betimes (adv)
In good season or time.
betroth
betroth (v)
To engage to marry.
betrothal
betrothal (n)
Engagement to marry.
bevel
bevel (n)
Any inclination of two surfaces other than 90 degrees.
bewilder
bewilder (v)
To confuse the perceptions or judgment of.
bibliomania
bibliomania (n)
The passion for collecting books.
bibliography
bibliography (n)
A list of the words of an author, or the literature bearing on a particular subject.
bibliophile
bibliophile (n)
One who loves books.
bibulous
bibulous (adj)
Fond of drinking.
bide
bide (v)
To await.
biennial
biennial (n)
A plant that produces leaves and roots the first year and flowers and fruit the second.
bier
bier (n)
A horizontal framework with two handles at each end for carrying a corpse to the grave.
bigamist
bigamist (n)
One who has two spouses at the same time.
bigamy
bigamy (n)
The crime of marrying any other person while having a legal spouse living.
bight
bight (n)
A slightly receding bay between headlands, formed by a long curve of a coast-line.
bilateral
bilateral (adj)
Two-sided.
bilingual
bilingual (adj)
Speaking two languages.
biograph
biograph (n)
A bibliographical sketch or notice.
biography
biography (n)
A written account of one's life, actions, and character.
biology
biology (n)
The science of life or living organisms.
biped
biped (n)
An animal having two feet.
birthright
birthright (n)
A privilege or possession into which one is born.
bitterness
bitterness (n)
Acridity, as to the taste.
blase
blase (adj)
Sated with pleasure.
blaspheme
blaspheme (v)
To indulge in profane oaths.
blatant
blatant (adj)
Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous.
blaze
blaze (n)
A vivid glowing flame.
blazon
blazon (v)
To make widely or generally known.
bleak
bleak (adj)
Desolate.
blemish
blemish (n)
A mark that mars beauty.
blithe
blithe (adj)
Joyous.
blithesome
blithesome (adj)
Cheerful.
blockade
blockade (n)
The shutting up of a town, a frontier, or a line of coast by hostile forces.
boatswain
boatswain (n)
A subordinate officer of a vessel, who has general charge of the rigging, anchors, etc.
bodice
bodice (n)
A women's ornamental corset-shaped laced waist.
bodily
bodily (adj)
Corporeal.
boisterous
boisterous (adj)
Unchecked merriment or animal spirits.
bole
bole (n)
The trunk or body of a tree.
bolero
bolero (n)
A Spanish dance, illustrative of the passion of love, accompanied by caste nets and singing.
boll
boll (n)
A round pod or seed-capsule, as a flax or cotton.
bolster
bolster (v)
To support, as something wrong.
bomb
bomb (n)
A hollow projectile containing an explosive material.
bombard
bombard (v)
To assail with any missile or with abusive speech.
bombardier
bombardier (n)
A person who has charge of mortars, bombs, and shells.
bombast
bombast (n)
Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects.
boorish
boorish (adj)
Rude.
bore
bore (v)
To weary by tediousness or dullness.
borough
borough (n)
An incorporated village or town.
bosom
bosom (n)
The breast or the upper front of the thorax of a human being, especially of a woman.