Book excerpt: 2600 Useful Formal Words and Their Meanings Formal words are used in the official language. These words are used in ‘official’ or formal writing. In this book, you will study and learn useful formal words, the names of parts of speech they belong to and their meanings. || Sample This: Formal Words -- A 01 -- abandonment [n.] -- (a). the act of leaving a person, place or thing without intending to return | (b). the act of giving up a practice, a course of action or a way of thinking completely and permanently [synonyms: desertion, forsaking] 02 -- abate [v.] -- to become less strong or widespread; to make something less strong or widespread. [synonyms: decline, subside] 03 -- abhorrence [n.] -- a feeling of strong hate for a way of thinking or behaving for moral reasons [synonyms: detestation, disgust, hatred, loathing, repugnance] 04 -- abstemious [adj.] -- not allowing yourself to indulge too much in enjoyable activities such as eating food or drinking alcohol [synonym: ascetic] 05 -- abstraction [n.] -- (a). a general idea or quality rather than a real person, object, event or situation | (b). the state of thinking deeply about sth and lacking concentration or not paying attention to what is happening around one. [synonyms: absentmindedness, inattentiveness, distractedness] 06 -- abstruse [adj.] -- complicated and difficult to understand especially when it could be explained in an easier way [synonyms: perplexing, puzzling] 07 -- abut [v.] -- (of an area of land or a building) to be next to sth or to have a common boundary with the side of sth [synonym: adjoin] 08 -- abyss [n.] -- (a). a very deep wide crack or opening in the ground 09 -- acclamation [n.] -- loud, noisy and enthusiastic approval or welcome [synonyms: approbation, commendation] 10 -- ache [v.] -- (b). to have a strong desire for sb/sth or to do sth 11 -- acme [n.] -- the highest point or stage of development, achievement or the most excellent example of sth [synonyms: peak, summit, zenith] 12 -- acolyte [n.] -- a person who attends, follows and helps a leader 13 -- aesthete [n.] -- a person who has a love, understanding, sensitivity and appreciation of works of art and beautiful things 14 -- affecting [adj.] -- producing strong feelings of distress, pity, regret, sorrow, or sympathy, etc. 15 -- aged [adj.] -- very old; grown old [synonym: matured] 16 -- aggrandize [v.] -- to increase power, wealth, importance or status of a person or country [synonyms: enhance, extend] 17 -- airy [adj.] -- (a). showing no worry about sth or not treating sth as serious | (b). -- not serious or practical 18 -- akin [adj.] -- (a). having some of the essential same qualities [synonym: similar] | (b). related by blood 19 -- allusive [adj.] -- containing a word or phrase that makes a reference to a specific person, event, place, etc. in an indirect way 20 -- aloft [adv.] -- high up in or into the air; far above the ground [synonym: overhead] 21 -- amid (prep.] -- (a). in the middle or course of something (b). surrounded by sth 22 -- amity [n.] -- a friendly relationship [synonyms: concord, harmony] 23 -- anew [adv.] -- (a). again but in a new or different and more positive way | (b). once more [synonym: again] 24 -- anodyne [adj.] -- not likely to cause disagreement or offense; not expressing strong opinions [synonyms: bland, insipid] | (b). capable of relieving pain 25 -- antagonistically (adv.) -- In a manner that shows or feels dislike or opposition [synonym: hostility] 26 -- arcane [adj.] -- strange, secret and mysterious and therefore knowable or understandable only to a few people [synonyms: esoteric, unfathomable] 27 -- artifice [n.] -- the clever use of tricks to cheat or deceive sb [synonyms: deception, pretense] | (b). a skilled piece of workmanship 28 -- audacity [n.] -- rude, shocking or disrespectful behavior [synonyms: cheek, daring, impudence, nerve] 29 -- august [adj.] -- respected, dignified and impressive [synonyms: imposing, majestic] 30 -- aureate [adj.] -- (a). (especially of language) decorated or elaborated in a complicated way | (b). made of gold or having the color of gold [synonym: golden] 31 -- aver [v.] -- to state firmly that sth is certainly true [synonyms: assert, avow] 32 -- avow [v.] -- to publicly express your opinion about sth in a firm way [synonym: affirm]