ISEE Middle Level Vocabulary > Group 24
absolve
set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility
accelerate
increase in amount or extent
acclaim
praise enthusiastically and publicly
accumulate
gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of
acrid
angry and bitter
adapt
become adjusted to new conditions
adjacent
next to or adjoining something else
affliction
something that causes pain or suffering
ajar
(of a door or other opening) slightly open
akin
of similar character
alleviate
make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe
ambiguous
(of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning
ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
amiss
not quite right; inappropriate or out of place
animosity
strong hostility
annihilate
destroy utterly; obliterate
anonymous
(of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name
antagonize
cause (someone) to become hostile
anthology
a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing
apprehend
arrest (someone) for a crime
arbitrate
(of an independent person or body) reach an authoritative judgment or settlement
artifact
an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest
aspire
direct one’s hopes or ambitions toward achieving something
assimilate
take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully
assumption
a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof
astute
having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage
attribute
a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something
audacious
showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
authority
the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience
avert
prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence)
