Better vocabulary in 30 minutes a day(27th Nov)

abridge:shorten abbreviate

abstract, brief, epitome

It’s easy to write a long memo. To abridge it usually takes much longer.

abrogate: to give up, repeal, set aside

annul, void, nullify

Constantine refused when asked to abrogate his throne.

abstinence: self-denial, abstaining

Some religions prescribe abstinence from alcohol and certain foods during holy days

abstruse: hard to understand, concealed, mysterious

The workings of statisticians are too abstruse for those of us who are unfamiliar with mathematics

accretion: increase, increment, accumulation

The United States was formed by accretion of land bought or otherwise acquired from other countries.

acerbic: acid, biting, sarcastic

The district attorney was notorious for his acerbic dueling with defense lawyers.

acme: peak, the top, the best

Levi Strauss invented the acme of jeans.

Vintage grapes reach their acme when climatic conditions are also at their acme.

acrimony: bitterness, rancor, sharpness

Debates in the Congress are often full of acrimony rather than reason.

acrophobia: fear of heights

She has never visited the Grand Canyon or Sandia Mountain because she has acrophobia.

acropolis: city on a height

The magnificent Parthenon in Athens is the main attraction on the Acropolis.