2553-07-12

300 Absolutely Essential GRE words


1. aberrant = adj not usual or normal [=abnormal]

2. abeyance = n. in abeyance something such as a custom, rule, or system that is in abeyance is not being used at the present time
fall into abeyance (=no longer be used)

3. abscond = [intransitive] formal
1 to escape from a place where you are being kept
The boy absconded from a children's home.

2 to secretly leave somewhere, taking with you something that does not belong to you
He has to convince a judge that he wasn't going to abscond with the money.

4. abstemious = adj careful not to have too much food, drink etc
abstemiousness noun [uncountable]

5. admonish = [transitive] formal to tell someone severely that they have done something wrong
admonish somebody for (doing) something
The witness was admonished for failing to answer the question. admonishment noun [countable]

6. aesthetic = adj connected with beauty and the study of beauty:
From an esthetic point of view, it's a nice design.
a work of great aesthetic appeal
aesthetically adj aesthetically pleasing

7. aggregate = n, v, adj
1 the total after a lot of different figures or points have been added together
aggregate of
The smaller minorities got an aggregate of 1,327 votes.
In the aggregate (=as a group or in total), women outlive men by 7 or more years.
on aggregate British English (=when the points from two football games are added together)
Manchester United won 2-1 on aggregate.

2 [singular, uncountable]
technical sand or small stones that are used in making concrete

8. alacrity = UCN formal quickness and eagerness
with alacrity
She accepted with alacrity.

9. amalgamate=if two organizations amalgamate, or if one amalgamates with another, they join and make one big organization [= merge]
amalgamate something with/into/under something

The agency is expected to amalgamate with the National Rivers Authority.

10. ambiguous = something that is ambiguous is unclear, confusing, or not certain, especially because it can be understood in more than one way [≠ unambiguous]:
His role in the affair is ambiguous.
The language in the Minister's statement is highly ambiguous.

ambiguously adv
The legislation had been ambiguously worded.