audacious(aw-DAY-shuss):adj.recklesslyboldordaring;contemptuousof
law,religion,ordecorum;markedbylivelyoriginality
augur(AW-guhr):v. toforetell thefuture,especiallyfromomens;togive
promise
augment(awg-MENT):v.toaddtosomethingthat'salreadywelloradequate-
lydeveloped
austere(aw-STEER):adj.appearingsternandforbidding;unadorned,simple;
somber
authenticator(aw-THENNT-i-kay-tuhr):n.somethingthatprovesthetruthor
genuinenessofsomethingelse
autonomous(aw-TAHN-uh-muss):adj.markedbyorhavingtherightofself-
government;existing;capableofexisting,orbeingcarriedonindepen-
dently,withoutoutsidecontrol
avatar(AV-uh-tahr):n.anincarnationinhumanform;anembodiment;one
versionorphaseofa continuingentity
avidly(AV-id-Iee):adv.withkeeneagerness;withconsuminggreed
backlash(BACK-lash):n.suddenviolentbackwardmovement;strongnegative
reaction
banal(buh-NAL,BANE-uhl):adj.lackingoriginality;common,ordinary
bastion(BASS-chun):n.a projectingpartofa fortification;a fortifiedarea;a
stronghold
belie(bih-LIE):v.togivea falseimpression;tocontrastwith;tocontradict
bellicose(BELL-ih-kose):adj.favoringorinclinedtostartwarsorquarrels
belligerent(buh-LIDJ-uh-runt):adj. wagingwar;hostile,warlike
beneficiary(ben-uh-FISH-ee-ary):n.onewhobenefitsfromsomething;person
namedtoreceivebenefits,especiallymonetary
beset(bih-SET):v.totrouble,setupon,orhemin
bifurcate(BUY-fuhr-kate,buy-FUHR-kate):v.todivideintotwobranchesor
parts
bilateral(buy-LAT-uh-ruhl,buy-LATT-ruhl):adj.havingtwosides;affecting
twosidesorparties
blandadj.smoothandsoothing;showingnopersonalconcernorembarrass-
ment;dull
blatant(BLATE-nt):adj.offensivelynoisy;offensivelyconspicuous
blitzkrieg(BLITS-kreeg):n.warconductedwithgreatspeedorforce;sudden
orviolentoverpoweringbombardment
bogus(BOW-guss):adj.notgenuine
boisterous (BOY-struhss): adj. rowdy,stormy, marked byexuberapthigh
spirits
bolster(BOWL-ster):v.tosupport;toboost
boycott(BOY-cott):n.refusalbya grouptohavedealingswith,usuallyto
showdisapprovalortoforceacceptanceofcertainconditions
bristle(BRISS-uhl):v.totakeonanaggressiveattitudeorappearance
broachv.toopenuporbreakinto;toopena subjectfordiscussion
bruitabout(BREWT-uh-BOWT):v.totellandretella rumororreport
bumbling(BUM-buh-ling):adj.stumbling;speakingina falteringorstuttering
way
buoy(BOO-ee,BOY):v.tokeepafloat;tosupport;toraisesomeone'sspirits
burnish (BUHRN-ish):v. to rubwitha smoothingtool; to makeshiny,
especiallybyrubbing