Rarely Used Words Starting With A1

Aardvark • noun a badger-sized African burrowing mammal, with a tubular snout and a long tongue,
feeding on ants and termites.

— ORIGIN South African Dutch, from aarde ‘earth’ + vark ‘pig’.

Abeyance • noun (in phrase in/into abeyance) temporarily suspended or not used.

— ORIGIN from Old French abeer ‘aspire after’.

Abjure • verb formal swear to give up (a belief or claim).

— DERIVATIVES abjuration noun.

— ORIGIN Latin abjurare, from jurare ‘swear’.

Ablation • noun 1 the loss of solid material by melting, evaporation, or erosion. 2 the surgical removal of
body tissue.

— ORIGIN Latin, from auferre ‘take away’.

Ablution • noun the washing of one's body or part of it (as in a religious rite) plural : the act or action of
bathing

— ORIGIN Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin ablution-,
ablutio, from Latin abluere to wash away, from ab- + lavere to wash

Abrade • verb scrape or wear away.

— ORIGIN Latin abradere, from radere ‘to scrape’.

Abscind • verb (used with object) to sever.

— ORIGIN 1650–60; < L abscindere, equiv. to ab- AB- + scindere to divide, tear

Abstemious • adjective not self-indulgent, especially as regards eating and drinking.

— DERIVATIVES abstemiously adverb abstemiousness noun.

— ORIGIN Latin abstemius, from ab- ‘from’ + a word related to temetum ‘alcoholic liquor’.

Abstruse adjective difficult to understand; obscure.

— DERIVATIVES abstrusely adverb abstruseness noun.

— ORIGIN Latin abstrusus ‘concealed’.

Abut • verb (abutted, abutting) 1 be next to or share a boundary with. 2 touch or lean on.

— ORIGIN Old French abouter, from bouter ‘strike, butt’.

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By H.U.
Accost • verb approach and address boldly or aggressively.

— ORIGIN originally in the sense go or lie alongside: from French accoster, from Latin costa ‘rib, side’.

Accouchement • noun, plural -ments the confinement of childbirth; lying-in.

— ORIGIN 1800–10; < F, deriv., with -ment -MENT, of accoucher to give birth, be delivered, assist in
giving birth, OF: to lie down, take to bed, equiv. to ac- AC- + coucher to put to bed

Acculturate • verb absorb and integrate into a different culture.

— DERIVATIVES acculturation noun.

Acerbic • adjective 1 sharp and forthright. 2 archaic or technical tasting sour or bitter.

— DERIVATIVES acerbically adverb acerbity noun.

— ORIGIN from Latin acerbus ‘sour-tasting’.

Acidulous • adjective sharp-tasting; sour.

Acme • noun the highest point of achievement or excellence.

— ORIGIN Greek akme ‘highest point’.

Acolyte • noun 1 an assistant or follower. 2 a person assisting a priest in a religious service.

— ORIGIN Latin acolytus, from Greek akolouthos ‘follower’.

Acrid • adjective unpleasantly bitter or pungent.

— DERIVATIVES acridity noun acridly adverb.

— ORIGIN from Latin acer ‘sharp, pungent’.

Acrostic • noun a poem or puzzle in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

— ORIGIN Greek akrostikhis, from akron ‘end’ + stikhos ‘row, line of verse’.

Acrylonitrile • noun Chemistry. A colorless, flammable, poisonous, carcinogenic liquid, C3H3N, used for the
production of polymers and copolymers, as rubbers, fibers, and clear plastics for beverage containers.
— ORIGIN 1890–95; acryl(ic) + -O- + NITRILE

Actinium • noun a rare radioactive metallic chemical element found in uranium ores.

— ORIGIN from Greek aktis ‘ray’.

Actuate • verb 1 cause to operate. 2 motivate to act in a particular way.

— DERIVATIVES actuation noun actuator noun.

Acupressure • noun a system of complementary medicine in which manual pressure is applied to the body
at specific points along supposed lines of energy.
Adressograph • noun Trademark. a machine designed for the rapid, automatic addressing of mail in large
quantities.
Adenoid • noun Usually, adenoids. an enlarged mass of lymphoid tissue in the upper pharynx, often
obstructing breathing through the nasal passages.
— ORIGIN 1830–40; < Gk adenoeid s.

Ad infinitum • adverb endlessly; forever.

— ORIGIN Latin, ‘to infinity’.

Adipose • adjective technical denoting body tissue used for the storage of fat.

— DERIVATIVES adiposity noun.

— ORIGIN Latin adiposus, from adeps ‘fat’.

Adjure • verb formal solemnly urge to do something.

— ORIGIN Latin adjurare, from ad- ‘to’ + jurare ‘swear’.

Adjutant • noun a military officer acting as an administrative assistant to a senior officer.

— ORIGIN from Latin adjutare, from adjuvare ‘help towards’.

Adroit • adjective clever or skilful in using the hands or mind.

— ORIGIN from French à droit ‘according to right, properly’.

Adventitious • adjective 1 happening according to chance. 2 Botany (of roots) growing directly from the
stem or other upper part of a plant.

— DERIVATIVES adventitiously adverb.

— ORIGIN Latin adventicius ‘coming to us from abroad’.

Advert • verb (advert to) formal refer to.

— ORIGIN Latin advertere ‘turn to’.

Adze • noun a tool similar to an axe, with an arched blade at right angles to the handle.

— ORIGIN Old English.

Aerodrome • noun Brit. a small airport or airfield.

Aetiology • noun 1 Medicine the cause of a disease or condition. 2 the investigation of cause or a reason.

— DERIVATIVES aetiological adjective.

— ORIGIN from Greek aitia ‘a cause’.

Affiance • verb (be affianced) literary be engaged to marry.

— ORIGIN Old French afiancer, from Latin affidare ‘declare on oath’.

Affreightment • verb (used with object) to charter (a ship) as a freight carrier.

— ORIGIN 1840–50; < F affréter (resp. by influence of freight), equiv. to a- A- 5 (< L ad- AD- ) + fréter to
hire a ship, deriv. of fret FREIGHT, OF < MD

Agate • noun an ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony.

— ORIGIN Greek akhates.

Agglutinate • verb firmly stick together to form a mass.

— DERIVATIVES agglutination noun.

— ORIGIN Latin agglutinare ‘cause to adhere’.

Agio • noun, plural -os. 1 a premium on money in exchange. 2 an allowance for the difference in value of
two currencies. 3 an allowance given or taken on bills of exchange from other countries, as to balance
exchange expenses.

— ORIGIN 1675–85; < It a(g)gio exchange, premium, ult. < MGk allágion, deriv. of Gk allágē lit.,
change, barter; cf. Venetian azo, ML lazius

Agog • adjective very eager to hear or see something.

— ORIGIN from Old French en gogues, from en ‘in’ + gogue ‘fun’.

Airlock • noun 1 a stoppage of the flow in a pump or pipe, caused by an air bubble. 2 a compartment with
controlled pressure and parallel sets of doors, to permit movement between areas at different pressures.

Akimbo • adverb with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards.

— ORIGIN probably from Old Norse.

Alacrity • noun brisk eagerness or enthusiasm.

— ORIGIN Latin alacritas, from alacer ‘brisk’.

Alcove • noun a recess, typically in the wall of a room.

— ORIGIN French, from an Arabic word meaning the vault.

Aleatory • adjective 1 depending on the throw of a dice or on chance. 2 relating to music or other forms of
art involving elements of random choice during their composition or performance.

— ORIGIN from Latin aleator ‘dice player’.

Alga • noun (pl. algae /aljee, algee/) any of a large group of simple plants containing chlorophyll but
lacking true stems, roots, and leaves, e.g. seaweed.

— DERIVATIVES algal adjective.

— ORIGIN Latin, ‘seaweed’.

Allonge • noun a paper annexed to a negotiable instrument, for endorsements too numerous or lengthy to be
contained in the original.

— ORIGIN 1860–65; < F: lengthening; see LUNGE 1

Allotrope • noun Chemistry each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist
(e.g. graphite, charcoal, and diamond as forms of carbon).

— DERIVATIVES allotropic adjective allotropy / lotr pi/noun.

— ORIGIN from Greek allotropos ‘of another form’.

Alluvium • noun a fertile deposit of clay, silt, and sand left by river flood water.

— DERIVATIVES alluvial adjective.

— ORIGIN Latin, from luere ‘to wash’.

Altimeter • noun an instrument which indicates the altitude reached, especially in an aircraft.

Amanuensis • noun (pl. amanuenses / manyooenseez/) a literary assistant, in particular one who takes
dictation.

— ORIGIN Latin, from servus a manu ‘slave at handwriting, secretary’.

Ambidextrous • adjective able to use the right and left hands equally well.

— DERIVATIVES ambidexterity noun ambidextrously adverb ambidextrousness noun.

— ORIGIN from Latin ambi- ‘on both sides’ + dexter ‘right-handed’.

Ambergris • noun a wax-like substance secreted from the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in
tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.

— ORIGIN from Old French ambre gris ‘grey amber’.

Amble • verb walk or move at a leisurely pace.

• noun a leisurely walk.

— ORIGIN Latin ambulare ‘to walk’.

Amity • noun friendly relations.

— ORIGIN Old French amitie, from Latin amicus ‘friend’.

Ammeter • noun an instrument for measuring electric current in amperes.

Amphora • noun (pl. amphorae /amf ree/ or amphoras) a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar or jug with two
handles and a narrow neck.

— ORIGIN Latin, from Greek amphi- ‘on both sides’ + phoreus ‘bearer’.

Analgesic • adjective relieving pain.

 • noun a pain-relieving drug.

Analogue • noun an analogous person or thing.

• adjective (also analog) based on a continuously variable physical quantity (e.g. voltage) rather than
digital information.

Anchorite • noun historical a religious recluse.

— ORIGIN Greek anakhoretes, from anakhorein ‘retire’.

Animadvert • verb (animadvert on/upon/against) formal criticize or censure.

— DERIVATIVES animadversion noun.

— ORIGIN Latin animadvertere, from animus ‘mind’ + advertere ‘to turn’.

Anion • noun Chemistry a negatively charged ion. The opposite of CATION.

— DERIVATIVES anionic adjective.

— ORIGIN from ANODE + ION.

Anneal • verb heat (metal or glass) and allow it to cool slowly, so as to toughen it.

— ORIGIN Old English, set on fire.

Annular • adjective technical ring-shaped.

— ORIGIN Latin annularis, from anulus ‘small ring’.

Antepenultimate • adjective last but two in a series.

Anterior • adjective 1 technical at or nearer the front. The opposite of POSTERIOR. 2 (anterior to) formal
before.

— ORIGIN Latin, comparative of ante ‘before’.

Anthropoid • adjective referring to the higher primates including monkeys, apes, and humans.

— ORIGIN from Greek anthropos ‘human being’.

Antilogy • noun, plural -gies. a contradiction in terms or ideas.

— ORIGIN 1605–15; < Gk antilogía controversy, discussion.
Antinomy • noun (pl. antinomies) a paradox.

Antipodes • plural noun 1 (the Antipodes) Australia and New Zealand (in relation to the northern
hemisphere). 2 (antipodes or antipode) the direct opposite of something.

— DERIVATIVES antipodal adjective Antipodean adjective & noun.

— ORIGIN from Greek antipodes ‘having the feet opposite’.

Antiquarian • adjective relating to the collection or study of antiques, rare books, or antiquities.

• noun (also antiquary) a person who studies or collects antiquarian items.

— DERIVATIVES antiquarianism noun.

Anvil • noun a heavy iron block on which metal can be hammered and shaped.

— ORIGIN Old English.

Anywise • adverb in any way or respect.

— ORIGIN bef. 1000; ME ani wise, OE on ǣnige wīsan in any wise.

Apical • adjective technical relating to or forming an apex.

— ORIGIN from Latin apex ‘peak, tip’.

Apocryphal • adjective 1 widely circulated but unlikely to be true: an apocryphal story. 2 of or belonging
to the Apocrypha.

Apologia • noun a formal written defence of one’s opinions or conduct.

— ORIGIN Latin, ‘apology’.

Apoplexy • noun (pl. apoplexies) 1 dated unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral
haemorrhage or stroke. 2 informal extreme anger.

— ORIGIN Greek apoplexia, from apoplessein ‘disable by a stroke’.

Appal • verb (appalled, appalling) 1 greatly dismay or horrify. 2 (appalling) informal very bad or
displeasing.

— DERIVATIVES appallingly adverb.

— ORIGIN Old French apalir ‘grow pale’.

Appellation • noun formal a name or title.

— ORIGIN Latin, from appellare ‘to address’.

Appertain • verb 1 (appertain to) relate to. 2 be appropriate.

— ORIGIN Latin appertinere, from pertinere ‘pertain’.

Apposite • adjective very appropriate; apt.

— ORIGIN from Latin apponere ‘apply’.

Approbation • noun approval; praise.

— DERIVATIVES approbative adjective approbatory adjective.

— ORIGIN Latin, from approbare ‘approve’.

Appurtenance • noun an accessory associated with a particular activity.

— ORIGIN Old French apertenance, from Latin appertinere ‘belong to’.

Apropos • preposition with reference to.

— ORIGIN French à propos.

Apse • noun a large semicircular or polygonal recess with a domed roof, typically at a church’s eastern end.

— DERIVATIVES apsidal /apsid’l/ adjective.

— ORIGIN Greek apsis ‘arch, vault’.

Aqualung • noun a portable breathing apparatus for divers.

Aquiline • adjective 1 like an eagle. 2 (of a nose) curved like an eagle’s beak.

— ORIGIN Latin aquilinus, from aquila ‘eagle’.

Aboreal –adjective 1 of or pertaining to trees; treelike. 2 Also, arboreous. living in or among trees. 3
Zoology. adapted for living and moving about in trees, as the limbs and skeleton of opossums, squirrels,
monkeys, and apes.

— ORIGIN 1660–70; < L arbore(us) of trees (arbor tree + -eus -EOUS ) + -AL 1

Architrave • noun 1 (in classical architecture) a main beam resting across the tops of columns. 2 the frame
around a doorway or window.

— ORIGIN French, from Latin trabs ‘a beam’.

Argot • noun the jargon or slang of a particular group.

— ORIGIN French.

Armature • noun 1 the rotating coil of a dynamo or electric motor. 2 any moving part of an electrical
machine in which a voltage is induced by a magnetic field. 3 a piece of iron acting as a keeper for a magnet.
4 Biology the protective covering of an animal or plant. 5 archaic armour.

— ORIGIN Latin armatura ‘armour’.

Armorial • adjective 1 of or pertaining to heraldry or heraldic bearings. 2 bearing a coat or coats of arms: a
set of armorial china. • noun a book containing heraldic bearings and devices.
— ORIGIN 1570–80; ARMORY + -AL 1

Arrant • adjective utter; complete.

— DERIVATIVES arrantly adverb.

— ORIGIN variant of ERRANT, originally in phrases such as arrant thief, meaning outlawed, roving
thief.

Artifice • noun the use of cunning plans or devices in order to trick or deceive.
 — ORIGIN Latin artificium, from ars ‘art’ + facere ‘make’.

Asinine • adjective extremely stupid or foolish.

— DERIVATIVES asininity noun.

— ORIGIN Latin asininus, from asinus ‘ass’.

Askance • adverb with a suspicious or disapproving look.

— ORIGIN of unknown origin.

Asperity • noun (pl. asperities) 1 harshness of tone or manner. 2 a rough edge on a surface.

— ORIGIN Latin asperitas, from asper ‘rough’.

Aspersion • noun (often in phrase cast aspersions on) an attack on someone’s character or reputation.

— ORIGIN originally denoting the sprinkling of water at baptism: Latin, from aspergere ‘sprinkle’.

Aspic • noun a savoury jelly made with meat stock.

— ORIGIN French, ‘asp’, from the colours of the jelly as compared with those of the snake.

Asseveration • noun formal a solemn or emphatic declaration or statement.

— DERIVATIVES asseverate verb.

— ORIGIN Latin, from asseverare, from severus ‘serious’.

Assonance • noun resemblance of sound between words arising from the rhyming of vowels only (e.g.
sonnet, porridge) or from use of identical consonants with different vowels (e.g. cold, culled).

— DERIVATIVES assonant adjective.

— ORIGIN from Latin assonare ‘respond to’.

Asunder • adverb archaic or literary apart.

— ORIGIN Old English.

Atrophy • verb (atrophies, atrophied) 1 (of body tissue or an organ) waste away. 2 gradually become less
effective or vigorous.

• noun the condition or process of atrophying.

— DERIVATIVES atrophic / troffik/ adjective.

— ORIGIN from Greek atrophia ‘lack of food’.

Attenuate • verb 1 reduce the strength, effect, or value of. 2 make thin or thinner.

— DERIVATIVES attenuation noun.

— ORIGIN Latin attenuare ‘make slender’.

Attrition • noun 1 gradual wearing down through sustained attack or pressure. 2 wearing away by friction.

— DERIVATIVES attritional adjective.

— ORIGIN Latin, from atterere ‘to rub’.

Auger • noun a tool resembling a large corkscrew, for boring holes.

— ORIGIN Old English nafogar; the n was lost by wrong division of a nauger.

Augur • verb be a sign of (a likely outcome).

• noun (in ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted the significance of natural signs.

— ORIGIN from Latin, ‘diviner’.

Aureole • noun 1 (in paintings) a radiant circle surrounding a person to represent holiness. 2 a circle of
light around the sun or moon.

— ORIGIN from Latin aureola corona ‘golden crown’.

Auric • adjective Chemistry. of or containing gold in the trivalent state.

— ORIGIN 1830–40; < L aur(um) gold + -IC

Auricle • noun 1 the external part of the ear. 2 an atrium of the heart.

— ORIGIN Latin auricula ‘little ear’.

Autarchy • noun 1 economic independence or self-sufficiency. 2 an economically independent state or

society.

— DERIVATIVES autarkic adjective.

— ORIGIN from Greek autarkes ‘self-sufficiency’.

Autonomics • adjective 1. Physiology a. Of, relating to, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system. b.
Occurring involuntarily; automatic: an autonomic reflex. 2. Resulting from internal stimuli; spontaneous.

Aver • verb (averred, averring) formal assert to be the case.

— ORIGIN Old French averer, from Latin verus ‘true’.

Avocation • noun a hobby or minor occupation.

— ORIGIN Latin, from avocare ‘call away’.

Avoirdupois • noun a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces or 7,000 grains. Compare with
TROY.

— ORIGIN from Old French aveir de peis ‘goods of weight’.

Avuncular • adjective like an uncle in being friendly towards a younger person.

 — ORIGIN from Latin avunculus ‘maternal uncle’.

Awl • noun a small pointed tool used for piercing holes.

— ORIGIN Old English.

Awning • noun a sheet of canvas stretched on a frame and used to shelter a shop window or doorway.

— ORIGIN of unknown origin.

Axil • noun Botany the upper angle where a leaf joins a stem.

— ORIGIN Latin axilla.

Reference

Compact Oxford Dictionary

Dictionary.com