asperity(uhs PER it ee) n. roughness or harshness of surface, weather, sound, or
temperament
- The asperityof the moon’s surface is approximated in Idaho’s Craters of the
Moon National Monument. - The area of the United States known as tornado alley is infamous for the
asperityof its summer weather.
[asperities pl.]
aspiration(AS pir AY shin) n. 1. a strong desire or ambition; 2. breathing in, as
of dust or pollen into the lungs - It was always Henry’s aspirationto become a doctor.
- It is essential to wear a mask when sanding to lessen the risk of dust
aspiration.
assail(uh SAYL) vt. 1. to attack physically, or with arguments; assault; 2. to
begin working (on a task) with vigor - Joshua assailedthe walls of Jericho with trumpets—or so the story goes.
- The opposing party assailedthe ruling party’s budget bill with alacrity.
- Jason assailedthe job of drywalling the bathroom with an energy his father
lacked. - The sound from the boom box assailedSally’s ears.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. attack]
assimilation(uh SIM il AY shin) n. the absorption and incorporation of one
thing into another - It is up to our digestive tracts to perform assimilationof the nutrients from
the food that we ingest. - Assimilationof diverse cultures is what has made the United States the
melting pot of modern civilization.
[(to) assimilate vt.]
assuage(uh SWAYJ) vt. 1. to lessen; allay (for example, pain); 2. to calm; pacify
(for example, anger); 3. to relieve hunger or thirst - Take two aspirin or acetominophen if you are an adult and are seeking to
assuagethe pain of a headache. - Checks arriving on time might help to assuagethe dissatisfaction of the
company’s laborers. - Take a canteen full of water with you on a hike to assuagethe thirst that is
bound to come.
[-d, assuaging] [Syn. relieve]
aver(uh VOER) vt. to declare to be true; affirm; state positively - A witness at a trial must averthat everything he or she will say will be true.
- Don’t averthat Bob was where he says he was, unless you witnessed it
yourself.
•I averthat I am getting a headache.
[averred, averring] [Syn. assert]
A: GRE Words 251