GRE Words List Starting with A

abate	to lessen to subside
abdication	giving up control authority
aberration	straying away from what is normal
abet	help/encourage smb (in doing wrong)
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
abrogate	repeal or annul by authority
abscond	to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest)
abstruse	difficult to comprehend obscure
abut	border on
abysmal	bottomless extreme
acarpous	effete no longer fertile worn out
acclaimed	welcomed with shouts and approval
accolade	praise approval
accretion	the growing of separate things into one
accrue	accumulate
adamant	kind of stone inflexible
admonitory	containing warning
adorn	add beauty decorate
adulteration	making unpure poorer in quality
affable	polite and friendly
affinity	close connection relationship
aggravate	make worse irritate
agile	active quick-moving
agog	eager/excited
ail	trouble be ill
alacrity	eager and cheerful readiness
alcove	recess/partially enclosed place
ale	fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer
aleck	one who considers himself smarter than others
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
ambrosial	extremely pleasing to taste
ameliorate	improve make better
amortize	end (a debt) by setting aside money
anguish	severe suffering
animosity	strong dislike
antidote	medicine used against a poison or a disease
antithetical	direct opposing
apartheid	brutal racial discrimination
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
apropos	appropriate to the situation apt
apt	well-suited quick-witted
arabesque	a complex ornate design
arboreal	of connected with trees
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
ascertain	get to know
ascetic	practicing self-denial austere stark
ascribe	consider to be the origin of or belonging to
aseptic	surgically clean
asperity	roughness harshness ill temper irritability
aspersion	slander
assail	with attack violently
assiduous	diligent hard-working sedulous
assuage	make something (pain desire) less
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
attune	bring into harmony
audacious	daring foolishly bold impudent
augury	omen sign
august	majestic venerable
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