Dictionary words mean, how what, why

lower  in  position,  estimation,  or  the like;  degrade.  abbess  n.  The lady  superior  of  a nunnery.  abbey  n.  The group of  buildings  which collectively  form  the dwelling-place of  a society  of monks  or  nuns.  abbot  n.  The superior  of  a community  of  monks.  abdicate  v.  To give  up (royal  power  or  the like).  abdomen  n.  In  mammals,  the visceral  cavity  between the diaphragm and the pelvic  floor; the belly.  abdominal  n.  Of,  pertaining to,  or  situated on the abdomen.  abduction  n.  A carrying away  of  a person against  his  will,  or  illegally.  abed  adv.  In  bed;  on a bed.  aberration  n.  Deviation from a right,  customary,  or  prescribed course.  abet   v.  To aid,  promote,  or  encourage the commission of  (an offense).  abeyance  n.  A state of  suspension or  temporary  inaction.  abhorrence  n.  The act  of  detesting extremely.  abhorrent  adj.  Very  repugnant;  hateful.  abidance  n.  An abiding.  abject  adj.  Sunk  to  a low condition.  abjure  v.  To recant,  renounce,  repudiate under  oath.  able-bodied  adj.  Competent  for  physical  service.  ablution  n.  A washing or  cleansing,  especially  of  the body.  abnegate  v.  To renounce (a  right  or  privilege).  abnormal  adj.  Not  conformed to  the ordinary  rule  or  standard.  abominable  adj.  Very  hateful.  abominate  v.  To hate violently.  abomination  n.  A very  detestable act  or  practice.  aboriginal  adj.  Primitive;  unsophisticated.  aborigines  n.  The original  of  earliest  known inhabitants  of  a country.  aboveboard  adv.  & adj.  Without  concealment,  fraud,  or  trickery.  abrade  v.  To wear  away  the surface or  some part  of  by  friction.  abrasion  n.  That  which is  rubbed off.  abridge  v.  To  make  shorter  in  words,  keeping the essential  features, leaning out minor  particles.  abridgment  n.  A condensed form  as  of  a book  or  play.  abrogate  v.  To abolish,  repeal.  abrupt  adj.  Beginning,  ending,  or  changing suddenly  or  with  a break.  abscess  n.  A Collection of  pus  in  a cavity  formed within  some tissue of  the body.  abscission  n.  The  act of  cutting  off, as  in  a  surgical  operation.  abscond  v.  To depart  suddenly  and secretly,  as  for  the purpose of  escaping arrest.  absence  n.  The fact  of  not  being present  or  available.  absent-minded  adj.  Lacking in  attention to  immediate surroundings  or  business.  absolution  n.  Forgiveness,  or  passing over  of  offenses.  absolve  v.  To free from sin or  its  penalties.  absorb  v.  To drink  in  or  suck  up,  as  a sponge absorbs  water.  absorption  n.  The act  or  process  of  absorbing.  abstain  v.  To keep oneself  back  (from doing or  using something).  abstemious  adj.  Characterized by  self  denial  or  abstinence,  as  in  the use of  drink,  food.  abstinence  n.  Self  denial.  abstruse  adj.  Dealing with  matters  difficult  to  be understood.  absurd  adj.  Inconsistent  with  reason or  common sense.  abundant  adj.  Plentiful.  abusive  adj. Employing  harsh  words or  ill treatment.  abut  v.  To touch at  the end or  boundary  line.  abyss  n.  Bottomless gulf.  academic  adj.  Of  or  pertaining to  an academy,  college,  or  university.  academician  n.  A member  of  an academy  of  literature,  art,  or  science.  academy  n.  Any  institution where the higher  branches  of  learning are taught.  accede  v.  To agree.  accelerate  v. To  move  faster.  accept  v.  To take  when offered.  access  n.  A way  of  approach or  entrance;  passage.  accessible  adj.  Approachable.  accession  n.  Induction or  elevation,  as  to  dignity,  office,  or  government.  accessory  n.  A person or  thing that  aids  the principal  agent.  acclaim  v. To  utter with  a  shout.  accommodate  v.  To furnish something as  a kindness  or  favor.  accompaniment  n.  A subordinate part  or  parts,  enriching or  supporting the leading part.  accompanist  n.  One who or  that  which accompanies.  accompany  v.  To go with,  or  be associated with,  as  a companion.  accomplice  n.  An associate in  wrong-doing.  accomplish  v.  To bring to  pass. accordion  n.  A portable free-reed musical  instrument.  accost  v.  To speak  to.  account  n.  A  record  or  statement  of  receipts  and expenditures,  or  of  business  transactions.   accouter  v. To  dress.  accredit  v.  To give  credit  or  authority  to.  accumulate  v.  To become greater  in  quantity  or  number.  accuracy  n.  Exactness.  accurate  adj.  Conforming exactly  to  truth or  to  a standard.  accursed  adj.  Doomed to  evil,  misery,  or  misfortune.  accusation  n.  A charge of  crime,  misdemeanor,  or  error.  accusatory  adj.  Of,  pertaining to,  or  involving an accusation.  accuse  v.  To charge with  wrong doing,  misconduct,  or  error.  accustom  v. To  make  familiar by  use.  acerbity  n.  Sourness,  with  bitterness  and astringency.  acetate  n.  A salt  of  acetic  acid.  acetic  adj.  Of,  pertaining to,  or  of  the nature of  vinegar.  ache  v.  To be in  pain or  distress.  Achillean  adj.  Invulnerable.  achromatic  adj.  Colorless,  acid  n.  A sour  substance.  acidify  v.  To change into  acid.  acknowledge  v.  To recognize;  to  admit  the genuineness  or  validity  of.  acknowledgment  n.  Recognition.  acme  n.  The highest  point,  or  summit.  acoustic  adj.  Pertaining to  the act  or  sense of  hearing.  acquaint  v. To  make  familiar or  conversant.  acquiesce  v. To  comply; submit.  acquiescence  n.  Passive  consent.  acquire  v.  To get  as  one's  own.  acquisition  n.  Anything gained,  or  made one's  own,  usually  by  effort  or  labor.  acquit  v.  To free or  clear,  as  from accusation.  acquittal  n.  A discharge from accusation by  judicial  action.  acquittance  n.  Release or  discharge from indebtedness,  obligation,  or  responsibility.  acreage  n.  Quantity  or  extent  of  land,  especially  of  cultivated land.  acrid  adj.  Harshly  pungent  or  bitter.  acrimonious  adj.  Full  of  bitterness.  acrimony  n.  Sharpness  or  bitterness  of  speech or  temper.  actionable  adj.  Affording cause for  instituting an action,  as  trespass,  slanderous  words.  actuality  n.  Any  reality.  actuary  n.  An  officer,  as  of an insurance company, who calculates  and states  the risks  and premiums.  actuate  v. To  move  or  incite  to  action.  acumen  n.  Quickness  of  intellectual  insight,  or  discernment;  keenness  of  discrimination.  acute  adj.  Having fine and penetrating discernment.  adamant  n.  Any  substance of  exceeding hardness  or  impenetrability.  addendum  n.  Something added,  or  to  be added.  addle  v.  To make  inefficient  or  worthless;  muddle.  adduce  v.  To bring forward or  name for  consideration.  adhere  v.  To stick  fast  or  together.  adherence  n.  Attachment.  adherent  adj.  Clinging or  sticking fast.  adhesion  n.  The state of  being attached or  joined.  adieu  inter.  Good-by;  farewell.  adjacency  n.  The state of  being adjacent.  adjacent  n.  That  which is  near  or  bordering upon.  adjudge  v.  To award or  bestow by  formal  decision.  adjunct  n.  Something joined to  or  connected with  another  thing,  but  holding a subordinate place.   adjuration  n.  A vehement  appeal.  adjutant  adj. Auxiliary.  administrator  n.  One who manages  affairs  of  any  kind.  admissible  adj.  Having the right  or  privilege of  entry.  admittance  n.  Entrance,  or  the right  or  permission to  enter.  admonish  v.  To warn  of  a fault.  admonition  n.  Gentle  reproof.  ado  n.  unnecessary  activity  or  ceremony.  adoration  n.  Profound devotion.  adroit  adj.  Having skill in the use of  the bodily  or  mental powers.  adulterant  n.  An adulterating substance.  adulterate  v.  To make  impure by  the admixture  of  other  or  baser  ingredients.  adumbrate  v.  To represent  beforehand in  outline or  by  emblem.  advent  n.  The coming or  arrival,  as  of  any  important  change,  event,  state,  or  personage.  adverse  adj.  Opposing or  opposed.  adversity  n.  Misfortune.  advert  v.  To refer  incidentally.  advertiser  n.  One who advertises,  especially  in  newspapers.  advisory  adj.  Not  mandatory.  advocacy  n.  The act  of  pleading a cause.  advocate  n.  One who pleads  the cause of  another,  as  in  a legal  or  ecclesiastical  court.  aerial  adj.  Of,  pertaining to,  or  like the air.