Aberration (n): ab-uh-rey-shuhn
An aberration is an incident or way of behaving that is not nornal = deviation
A childless woman was regarded as an aberration, almost a social out cast
Abeyance (n): uh-bey-uhns
If something is in abeyance, it is not operating or being used at the present time = on hold, suspension
The project was kept in abeyance for long time
Ablution (n): uh-bloo-shuhn
A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite = washing
After morning ablutions, he proceeded to the pooja room
Abnegation (n): ab-ni-gey-shun
when you do not allow yourself to have or do something that you want = self-denial, renunciation
His abnegation of drinking saved his life
Abstinence (n): ab-stuh-nuhns (5)
Abstinence is the practice of abstaining from something such as alcoholic drink or sex, often for health or religious reasons = keep away
The doctor recommended total abstinence from salted foods
Accessory (n): ak-ses-uh-ree
If someone is guilty of being an accessory to a crime, they helped the person who committed it, or knew it was being committed but did not tell the police = additional
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds
Acclamation (n): ak-luh-mey-shuhn
Acclamation is a noisy or enthusiastic expression of approval for someone or something = praise
The announcement of a holiday met with a hearty acclamation
Acclivity (n): uh-kliv-i-tee
an upward slope, as of ground; an ascent = slope
I tried to go up the acclivity but could not, with the moped
Accolade (n): ak-uh-leyd
If someone is given an accolade, something is done or said about them which shows how much people admire them = tribute, praise
She received a Grammy Award, the highest accolade in the music business
Accord (n): uh-kawrd (10)
An accord between countries or groups of people is a formal agreement, for example to end a war = agreement
Scientific evidence was not in accord with the facts uncovered by the police
Accomplice (n): uh-kom-plis
Someone’s accomplice is a person who helps them to commit a crime = helper in crime
Chetean along with his accomplice suresh was arrested on charges of robbery
Accretion (n): uh-kree-shuhn
An accretion is an addition to something, usually one that has been added over a period of time = growth, increase
The accretion of wealth gave power to the Ambani’s family
Acerbity (n): uh-sur-bi-tee
Acerbity is a kind of bitter, critical humour = bitter
The acerbity in his latest movie shocked a lot of people
Acoustics (n): uh-koo-stiks
relating to sound and the way people hear things
Acoustics is the scientific study of sound
Acme (n): ak-mee (15)
The acme of something is its highest point of achievement or excellence = highest point
Sachin’s 200 runs in one innings is considered as the acme of perfection
Acquiescence (n): ak-wee-es-uhns
Acquiescence is agreement to do what someone wants, or acceptance of what they do even though you do not agree with it = submission, compliance
He smiled at her with acquiescence
Acquittal (n): uh-kwit-l
Acquittal is a formal declaration in a court of law that someone who has been accused of a crime is innocent = leave
The acquittal of the hardcore criminal angered many people in the country
Acrimony (n): ak-ruh-moh-nee
Acrimony is bitter and angry words or quarrels = bitterness
The acrimony between the two parties finally resulted in a person’s murder
Acuity (n): uh-kyoo-i-tee
Acuity is sharpness of vision or hearing, or quickness of thought = keenness
The keen acuity of Ratan tata helped him to build a business empire
Acumen (n): uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh- (20)
Acumen is the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions = keenness
Owing to his business acumen, he quickly rose to the top
Adage (n): ad-ij
An adage is something which people often say and which expresses a general truth about some aspect of life = saying
According to the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words
Addiction (n): uh-dik-shuhn
Addiction is the condition of taking harmful drugs and being unable to stop taking them = habit
His addiction to alcohol soon caused him liver problems
Admonition (n): ad-muh-nish-uhn
An admonition is a warning or criticism about someone's behaviour = warning
She ignored the admonitions of her mother
Adroit (n): uh-droit
Someone who is adroit is quick and skilful in their thoughts, behaviour, or actions = skillful
She is a remarkably adroit and determined Business woman
Adulation (n): aj-uh-ley (25)
Adulation is uncritical admiration and praise of someone or something = acclaim, praise
Critics received the book with adulation
Advent (n): ad-vent
The advent of an important event, invention, or situation is the fact of it starting or coming into existence = arrival
The advent of natural gas for use in the ammonia process occurred in the early 1970s
Adversary (n): ad-ver-ser-ee
Your adversary is someone you are competing with, or arguing or fighting against = opponent, enemy
Dr Rosaiah’s political adversaries were creating a certain amount of trouble for him
Adversity (n): ad-vur-si-tee
Adversity is a very difficult or unfavourable situation = misfortune
He showed courage in adversity
Aegis (n): ee-jis
Something that is done under the aegis of a person or organization is done with their official support and backing = a shield, protection
Under the aegis of the MP, the contractor became rich in no time
Aeon (n): ee-uhn (30)
An aeon is an extremely long period of time = age, long period of time
Aeons ago, there were deserts where there is now fertile land
Affidavit (n): af-i-dey-vit
An affidavit is a written statement which you swear is true and which may be used as evidence in a court of law
If you lose the certificates, you can sign an affidavit and still retrieve the will
Affiliation (n): uh-fil-ee-ey-shuhn
If one group has an affiliation with another group, it has a close or official connection with it
The group has no affiliation to any political party
Affinity (n): uh-fin-i-tee
If you have an affinity with someone or something, you feel that you are similar to them or that you know and understand them very well = similarity
The Zoo manager has remarkable affinity with animals
Affirmation (n): af-er-mey-shuhn
If you affirm that something is true or that something exists, you state firmly and publicly that it is true or exists = declare
She nodded her head in affirmation
Affluence (n): af-loo-uhns or, often, uh-floo- (35)
Affluence is the state of having a lot of money or a high standard of living = wealth
The affluence of the family made them maintain 3 BMW cars
Affray (n): uh-frey
An affray is a noisy and violent fight, especially in a public place
He was charged with causing an affray
Affront (n): uh-fruhnt
If something affronts you, you feel insulted and hurt because of it = insult
His speech was an affront to many in the local community
Agenda (n): uh-jen-duh
You can refer to the political issues which are important at a particular time as an agenda
Does television set the agenda on foreign policy?
Agglomeration (n): uh-glom-uh-rey-shuhn
An agglomeration of things is a lot of different things gathered together, often in no particular order or arrangement = a jumbled heap, mass
The towns are on the way to becoming agglomerations of the poor
Aggregate (adj): ag-ri-geyt (40)
An aggregate amount or score is made up of several smaller amounts or scores added together = sum, total
The smaller minorities got an aggregate of 1,327 votes
Agility (n): uh-jil-i-tee
the ability to think and draw conclusions quickly; intellectual acuity = nimbleness
The exercises demanded agility
Agitation (n): aj-i-tey-shuhn
If someone is in a state of agitation, they are very worried or upset, and show this in their behaviour, movements, or voice = distress, strong feeling, excitement
She was in a state of considerable agitation
Agnostic (n): ag-nos-tik
An agnostic believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not Compare atheist = skeptic
When i started out my career, i am an agnostic
Agronomist (n): uh-gron-uh-mee
An agronomist is someone who studies the growing and harvesting of crops
Alacrity (n): uh-lak-ri-tee (45)
If you do something with alacrity, you do it quickly and eagerly = alertness
They accepted the offer with alacrity
Alchemy (n): al-kuh-mee
Alchemy was a form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages, which was concerned with trying to discover ways to change ordinary metals into gold
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy
Alcove (n): al-kohv
An alcove is a small area of a room which is formed by one part of a wall being built further back than the rest of the wall = a recess, a niche
A dining table was set up in an alcove
Alias (n): ey-lee-uhs
An alias is a false name, especially one used by a criminal
Using an alias, he had rented a house in MG road
Alimony (n): al-uh-moh-nee
Alimony is money that a court of law orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after they have got divorced Compare palimony = provision, sustenance
She is receiving alimony from her divorced husband
Allegory (n): al-uh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee (50)
An allegory is a story, poem, or painting in which the characters and events are symbols of something else Allegories are often moral, religious, or political = fable, parable
Mahabharatha is an allegory of the victory of good over evil
