A Set5

arraign	v. ~ sb (law ) bring a criminal charge against sb; bring sb to court for trial
array	v. place (esp armed forces, troops, etc) in battle order
arrears	n. money that is owed and should have been paid earlier
arrhythmic	lacking rhythm or regularity
arrogance	a feeling or an impression of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims
arroyo	a brook; a creek a water-carved gully or channel
arsenal	n. place where weapons and ammunition are made or stored
artery	n. any of the tubes carrying blood from the heart to all parts of the body
artful	adj. cunningly clever at getting what one wants; crafty
articulate	adj. able to express one's ideas clearly in words
artifacts	something created by humans usually for a practical purpose; especially :an object remaining from a particular period
artifice	n. clever trickery; deception
artisan	a manually skilled worker
artless	adj. simple and natural; without deceit
ascendancy	n. ~ (position of) having dominant power or control
ascertain	v. discover (sth) so that one is certain; get to know
ascetic	adj. not allowing oneself pleasures and comforts; having or involving a very austere life
ascribe	v. ~ sth to sb/sth consider sth to be caused by, written by or belonging to sb/sth
aseptic	adj. free from bacteria that cause a thing to become septic; surgically clean
ashen	adj. like ashes in colour; very pale
asinine	adj. stupid or stubborn
askance	adv. look
askew	adj. , adv not in a straight or level position; crooked
asperity	n. harshness or severity, esp of manner
aspersion	slanderous remark
aspirant	n. ~ (fml ) person who is ambitious (for fame, promotion, success, etc)
aspiration	n. ~ ~ (to do sth) strong desire or ambition
aspire	v. ~ after/to sth desire strongly to achieve sth; have ambition for sth
assail	v. ~ sb (fml ) attack sb violently or repeatedly
assay	n. testing of esp metals for quality
assent	n. ~ (fml ) agreement; approval
assert	v. make others recognize (sth) by behaving firmly and confidently
assessment	n. action of assessing
assiduous	adj. showing constant and careful attention
assimilate	v. (cause sth to) become absorbed into the body after digestion
assuage	v. make (sth) less severe; soothe
assumption	n. thing accepted as true or as sure to happen, but not proved
assurance	n. confident belief in one's own abilities and powers
asteroid	n. any of many small planets revolving round the sun, esp between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
astigmatism	n. defect in an eye or a lens that prevents correct focusing
astral	adj. of or from the stars
astringent	n. substance, used medically or in cosmetics, that makes skin or body tissue contract and so stops bleeding
astronomical	adj. of astronomy
astute	adj. clever and quick at seeing how to gain an advantage; shrewd
asunder	adv. into pieces; apart
asylum	n. safety; refuge
asymmetric	adj. not having parts that correspond to each other in size, shape, etc; lacking symmetry
atavism	n. reappearance in a person of a characteristic or quality that has not been seen in his family for many generations
atheistic	adj.
atone	v. ~ (fml ) act in a way that compensates for a previous wrong, error, etc