Lines Matching refs:a
1 abbey - n. a monastery ruled by an abbot
11 academy - n. a school for special training
19 account - v. furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
20 accurate - j. conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with tota…
21 accusation - n. an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence
22 accuse - v. blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
28 adjacent - j. having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
29 administrator - n. someone who manages a government agency or department
39 album - n. a book of blank pages with pockets or envelopes; for organizing photographs or stamp col…
40 alcohol - n. a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent
43 alley - n. a narrow street with walls on both sides
44 alliance - n. a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other g…
46 altar - n. a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made
47 alter - v. cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
53 ambitious - j. having a strong desire for success or achievement
55 analogy - n. drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect
59 android - n. a robot designed to look and behave like a human being
65 apartheid - n. a social policy or racial segregation involving political and economic and legal dis…
71 appropriate - j. suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
74 arcade - n. a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side
75 arrange - v. put into a proper or systematic order
76 arrangement - n. an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arr…
77 arrival - n. the act of arriving at a certain place
78 arrogance - n. overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
81 assassination - n. murder of a public figure by surprise attack
82 assess - v. set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)
83 assets - n. anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company
84 asylum - n. a shelter from danger or hardship
85 auburn - j. (of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown
87 aura - n. a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing
88 austere - j. of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
91 authoritarian - n. a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner
92 autobiography - n. a biography of yourself
97 barring - n. the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
99 batter - n. a liquid or semiliquid mixture, as of flour, eggs, and milk, used in cooking
100 belle - n. a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
103 benign - j. not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
104 bid - n. a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
105 biography - n. an account of the series of events making up a person's life
107 blaze - n. a strong flame that burns brightly
109 bogus - j. fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
112 bore - n. a person who evokes boredom
114 boycott - n. a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest agains…
116 breach - n. an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)
118 brokerage - n. the business of a broker; charges a fee to arrange a contract between two parties
119 buffet - n. a meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves
120 bumper - n. a mechanical device consisting of bars at either end of a vehicle to absorb shock and p…
124 cabinet - n. persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and a…
125 caliber - n. a degree or grade of excellence or worth
126 campaign - n. a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
127 canon - n. a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fund…
129 caricature - n. a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
132 caucus - n. a closed political meeting
133 causal - j. involving or constituting a cause; causing
135 census - n. a periodic count of the population
138 chaos - n. a state of extreme confusion and disorder
139 characteristic - n. a distinguishing quality
141 citadel - n. a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle
144 coalition - n. an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
149 …m or ownership and production by the workers involved usually under the supervision of a government
150 collector - n. a person who collects things
151 collision - n. an accident resulting from violent impact of a moving object
153 commentary - n. a written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other…
154 commission - n. a special group delegated to consider some matter
155 commitment - n. the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action
157 commute - n. a regular journey of some distance to and from your place of work
167 …the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separat…
168 composer - n. someone who composes music as a profession
170 concede - v. admit (to a wrongdoing)
172 concession - n. a point conceded or yielded
173 confederate - j. united in a group or league
174 confidence - n. a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable
176 confront - v. oppose, as in hostility or a competition
177 conscience - n. a feeling of shame when you do something immoral
180 consensus - n. agreement in the judgment or opinion reached by a group as a whole
181 conservatism - n. a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in…
183 consistency - n. a harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts
185 conspiracy - n. a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot)
186 constituency - n. the body of voters who elect a representative for their area
188 consumer - n. a person who uses goods or services
198 contribution - n. a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
199 contributor - n. someone who contributes (or promises to contribute) a sum of money
204 corporate - j. of or belonging to a corporation
205 corps - n. a body of people associated together
207 cosmetic - j. serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose
209 counsel - n. something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
210 counterpart - n. a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another
212 course - n. a connected series of events or actions or developments
213 courtesy - n. a courteous or respectful or considerate act
215 critique - n. a serious examination and judgment of something
216 …continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause…
218 curator - n. the custodian of a collection (as a museum or library)
220 cynical - j. believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. s…
221 cynicism - n. a cynical feeling of distrust
223 debacle - n. a sudden and violent collapse
229 decree - n. a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a co…
232 defendant - n. a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the per…
234 defiance - n. a hostile challenge
237 demise - v. transfer by a lease or by a will
239 denominator - n. the divisor of a fraction
240 deposition - n. (law) a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually conducted in a lawyer's office
241 depression - n. a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low lev…
246 designate - v. give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
247 despair - n. a state in which all hope is lost or absent
254 dialogue - n. a discussion intended to produce an agreement
257 dilemma - n. state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally un…
258 diplomacy - n. subtly skillful handling of a situation
259 diplomat - n. a person who deals tactfully with others
264 discipline - n. a system of rules of conduct or method of practice
267 discover - v. see for the first time; make a discovery
270 disdain - n. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
277 dissent - n. a difference of opinion
278 distant - j. separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
279 distinction - n. a distinguishing difference
293 donate - v. give to a charity or good cause
294 donor - n. person who makes a gift of property
296 drought - n. a shortage of rainfall
299 earnest - j. characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
300 eccentric - n. a person with an unusual or odd personality
303 effect - n. a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
304 effective - j. works well as a means or remedy
306 efficient - j. able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively
307 elaborate - v. add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a lea…
311 embargo - n. a government order imposing a trade barrier
312 emblem - n. a visible symbol representing an abstract idea
319 employee - n. a worker who is hired to perform a job
320 employer - n. a person or firm that employs workers
324 encyclopedia - n. a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics
333 epidemic - n. a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same …
334 episode - n. a brief section of a literary or dramatic work that forms part of a connected series
335 equilibrium - n. a stable situation in which forces cancel one another
336 equity - n. the difference between the market value of a property and the claims held against it
338 error - n. a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
339 esquire - n. a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; pla…
340 essence - n. the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
341 evangelical - j. relating to or being a Christian church believing in personal conversion and the i…
343 evolution - n. a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a mo…
346 excerpt - n. a passage selected from a larger work
349 excursion - n. a journey taken for pleasure
350 exempt - v. grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to
357 expectancy - n. something expected (as on the basis of a norm)
364 explosive - n. a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of …
371 …ted person by one state or country to another (usually under the provisions of a statute or treaty)
377 facility - n. something designed and created to serve a particular function and to afford a particu…
378 faction - n. a dissenting clique
379 faulty - j. characterized by errors; not agreeing with a model or not following established rules
381 felony - n. a serious crime (such as murder or arson)
385 feud - n. a bitter quarrel between two parties
391 flag - n. emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
393 fleet - n. a group of warships organized as a tactical unit
395 flop - n. a complete failure
396 flourish - n. a showy gesture
398 ford - v. cross a river where it's shallow
399 forecast - n. a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop
402 formation - n. an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
406 forth - a. forward in time or order or degree
411 frequency - n. the number of occurrences within a given time period
412 fringe - n. a social group holding marginal or extreme views
414 frontier - n. a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
418 galaxy - n. (astronomy) a collection of star systems; any of the billions of systems each having ma…
419 gamble - v. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
420 gauge - n. a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of …
425 gesture - n. motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
426 gigantic - j. so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
428 glimpse - n. a brief or incomplete view
433 gravity - n. a manner that is serious and solemn
436 grove - n. a small growth of trees without underbrush
438 hack - n. a mediocre and disdained writer
441 harbor - v. hold back a thought or feeling about
442 hazard - n. a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
443 heir - n. a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
446 hollow - j. not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
454 hypothesis - n. a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but …
456 icon - n. a conventional religious painting in oil on a small wooden panel; venerated in the Easter…
457 ideology - n. an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
462 immigrant - n. a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there
465 immune - j. (usually followed by 'to') not affected by a given influence
467 implausible - j. having a quality that provokes disbelief
470 impose - v. compel to behave in a certain way
472 impulse - n. a sudden desire
473 inadequate - j. not sufficient to meet a need
474 incentive - n. a positive motivational influence
476 incident - n. a public disturbance
477 incidentally - a. of a minor or subordinate nature
480 inconsistent - j. displaying a lack of consistency
482 indefinitely - a. to an indefinite extent; for an indefinite time
483 indicator - n. a device for showing the operating condition of some system
493 influence - n. a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
498 injunction - n. (law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuin…
499 inland - a. towards or into the interior of a region
500 insight - n. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation
502 inspector - n. a high ranking police officer
504 instant - n. a very short time
505 insufficient - j. of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
510 intensive - j. characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form
511 intention - n. an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out
516 intervention - n. the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.)
521 investigator - n. a police officer who investigates crimes
526 involve - v. engage as a participant
533 judicial - j. belonging or appropriate to the office of a judge
537 juror - n. someone who serves (or waits to be called to serve) on a jury
538 justification - n. something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable…
541 knight - n. originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain…
542 knit - n. needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyel…
544 landmark - n. the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
545 landscape - n. an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
546 lapse - n. a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
547 laureate - n. someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wr…
550 legacy - n. (law) a gift of personal property by will
551 legislative - j. relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature
558 liberalism - n. a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws …
561 likelihood - n. the probability of a specified outcome
562 liking - n. a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
567 logic - n. the principles that guide reasoning within a given field or situation
568 logical - j. capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner
570 lucrative - j. producing a sizeable profit
574 magnet - n. (physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
580 mandate - n. an authorization to act given to a representative
582 maneuver - v. act in order to achieve a certain goal
583 manifesto - n. a public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political party or government)
590 masterpiece - n. the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
598 …n - n. continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a dee…
601 menace - v. act in a threatening manner
602 mentality - n. a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret …
603 mentor - v. serve as a teacher or trusted counselor
605 …etaphor - n. a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does …
606 metric - j. based on the meter as a standard of measurement
607 metropolis - n. a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administr…
608 metropolitan - j. relating to or characteristic of a densely populated urban area
612 miniature - j. being on a very small scale
614 ministry - n. a government department under the direction of a minister
617 misdemeanor - n. a crime less serious than a felony
618 missile - n. a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives
620 monarchy - n. an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
621 monastery - n. the residence of a religious community
623 monopoly - n. (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
624 morale - n. the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed
626 motto - n. a favorite saying of a sect or political group
630 myriad - n. a large indefinite number
631 myth - n. a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
632 mythology - n. myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or …
633 …rative - n. a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; pres…
634 narrator - n. someone who tells a story
635 naturally - a. according to nature; by natural means; without artificial help
636 naval - j. connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
641 nevertheless - a. despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
643 nomination - n. the condition of having been proposed as a suitable candidate for appointment or el…
644 nominee - n. a politician who is running for public office
645 norm - n. a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
650 observatory - n. a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena
654 occasion - n. a vaguely specified social event
659 opinion - n. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
660 opponent - n. a contestant that you are matched against
661 opportunity - n. a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
662 optimism - n. a general disposition to expect the best in all things
663 option - n. one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
665 ordeal - n. a severe or trying experience
668 outbreak - n. a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
669 outcry - n. a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
670 outrage - n. a feeling of righteous anger
672 outright - a. without reservation or concealment
675 overthrow - n. the termination of a ruler or institution (especially by force)
677 pact - n. a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
678 pageant - n. a rich and spectacular ceremony
680 pantheon - n. all the gods of a religion
681 paradox - n. (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
683 parish - n. a local church community
684 parliament - n. a legislative assembly in certain countries
685 parody - v. make a spoof of or make fun of
687 participate - v. become a participant; be involved in
696 penalty - n. a punishment for a crime or offense
697 penchant - n. a strong liking
698 pennant - n. a long flag; often tapering
699 pension - n. a regular payment to a person that is intended to allow them to subsist without working
700 pentagon - n. a five-sided polygon
709 personal - j. concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
710 … attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
711 personnel - n. persons collectively in the employ of a business
713 persuade - v. cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebo…
719 philosophy - n. any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation
720 physicist - n. a scientist trained in physics
722 pinch - n. a squeeze with the fingers
724 pioneer - v. open up and explore a new area
729 plea - n. a humble request for help from someone in authority
736 portfolio - n. a set of pieces of creative work collected to be shown to potential customers or emp…
740 potent - j. having a strong physiological or chemical effect
742 precedent - n. an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
745 predecessor - n. one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
746 predict - v. make a prediction about; tell in advance
747 prediction - n. a statement made about the future
749 preference - n. a strong liking
750 prejudice - n. a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
756 …n. written instructions from a physician or dentist to a druggist concerning the form and dosage o…
763 principal - n. the educator who has executive authority for a school
764 principle - n. a basic truth or law or assumption
767 privilege - n. a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
768 probation - n. (law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found gu…
770 procedure - n. a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved …
774 professor - n. someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
775 profile - n. an outline of something (especially a human face as seen from one side)
779 promenade - n. a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
781 prominent - j. having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
783 prone - j. having a tendency (to); often used in combination
786 protagonist - n. the principal character in a work of fiction
792 proxy - n. a person authorized to act for another
795 pundit - n. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
798 quarterly - a. in three month intervals
803 reaction - n. a response that reveals a person's feelings or attitude
804 readily - a. without much difficulty
806 recipient - n. a person who receives something
810 reconsider - v. consider again; give new consideration to; usually with a view to changing
814 refer - v. send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision
815 reflection - n. the image of something as reflected by a mirror (or other reflective material)
817 refuge - n. a shelter from danger or hardship
819 regime - n. the government or governing authority of a political unit
820 regional - j. related or limited to a particular region
822 relevant - j. having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
824 reluctance - n. a certain degree of unwillingness
827 …n history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth fro…
839 resource - n. a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
844 revelation - n. communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency
857 script - n. a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a perf…
865 sensation - n. a perception associated with stimulation of a sensory organ
868 sentence - n. the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
869 sentinel - n. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
870 sequel - n. a part added to a book or play that continues and extends it
871 sequence - n. serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern
872 … several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
874 severely - a. with sternness; in a severe manner
878 siege - n. the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while cont…
885 slight - n. a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
887 socialism - n. a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
894 souvenir - n. a reminder of past events
897 spectator - n. a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
898 specter - n. a ghostly appearing figure
899 spectrum - n. a broad range of related objects or ideas or activities
900 … idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason to reach a conclusion
904 statute - n. an act passed by a legislative body
908 …ates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition)
910 subsidiary - j. functioning in a supporting capacity
911 substantive - j. having a firm basis in reality and being therefore important, meaningful, or consi…
913 successor - n. a person who follows next in order
914 summary - n. a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form
923 symphony - n. a large orchestra; can perform symphonies
927 …the imposition of taxes; the practice of the government in levying taxes on the subjects of a state
930 telescope - n. a magnifier of images of distant objects
932 tendency - n. a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or c…
938 testament - n. a profession of belief
943 thesis - n. a formal paper advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a require…
948 transcript - n. something that has been transcribed; a written record (usually typewritten) of dict…
950 transition - v. make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another)
952 transmission - n. the act of sending a message; causing a message to be transmitted
956 tribune - n. a protector of the people
961 turmoil - n. a violent disturbance
962 typical - j. exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
965 unanimous - j. acting together as a single undiversified whole
972 urban - j. located in or characteristic of a city or city life
976 vacuum - n. a region that is devoid of matter
978 variation - n. an artifact that deviates from a norm or standard
980 vegetation - n. all the plant life in a particular region or period
983 version - n. something a little different from others of the same type
984 vertical - j. at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
985 …ower or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief ex…
987 violation - n. an act that disregards an agreement or a right
988 vista - n. the visual percept of a region
991 vogue - n. the popular taste at a given time
995 wherever - a. where in the world
996 wholly - a. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally …