Page 260 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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A: GRE Words
251
asperity (uhs PER it ee) n. roughness or harshness of surface, weather, sound, or
temperament
• The asperity of the moon’s surface is approximated in Idaho’s Craters of the
Moon National Monument.
• The area of the United States known as tornado alley is infamous for the
asperity of its summer weather.
[asperities pl.]
aspiration (AS pir AY shin) n. 1. a strong desire or ambition; 2. breathing in, as
of dust or pollen into the lungs
• It was always Henry’s aspiration to become a doctor.
• It is essential to wear a mask when sanding to lessen the risk of dust
aspiration.
assail (uh SAYL) vt. 1. to attack physically, or with arguments; assault; 2. to
begin working (on a task) with vigor
• Joshua assailed the walls of Jericho with trumpets—or so the story goes.
• The opposing party assailed the ruling party’s budget bill with alacrity.
• Jason assailed the job of drywalling the bathroom with an energy his father
lacked.
• The sound from the boom box assailed Sally’s ears.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. attack]
assimilation (uh SIM il AY shin) n. the absorption and incorporation of one
thing into another
• It is up to our digestive tracts to perform assimilation of the nutrients from
the food that we ingest.
• Assimilation of diverse cultures is what has made the United States the
melting pot of modern civilization.
[(to) assimilate vt.]
assuage (uh SWAYJ) vt. 1. to lessen; allay (for example, pain); 2. to calm; pacify
(for example, anger); 3. to relieve hunger or thirst
• Take two aspirin or acetominophen if you are an adult and are seeking to
assuage the pain of a headache.
• Checks arriving on time might help to assuage the dissatisfaction of the
company’s laborers.
• Take a canteen full of water with you on a hike to assuage the thirst that is
bound to come.
[-d, assuaging] [Syn. relieve]
aver (uh VOER) vt. to declare to be true; affirm; state positively
• A witness at a trial must aver that everything he or she will say will be true.
• Don’t aver that Bob was where he says he was, unless you witnessed it
yourself.
•I aver that I am getting a headache.
[averred, averring] [Syn. assert]