(adj.) unselfish

1. The altruistic volunteer donated much time and energy in an effort to raise funds for the children’s hospital.

Amalgam

(n.) a mixture or combination (often of metals)

1. The art display was an amalgam of modern and traditional pieces.  

2. That ring is made from an amalgam of minerals; if it were pure gold it would never hold its
shape.

(v.) to mix, merge, combine

1. If the economy does not grow, the business may need to amalgamate with a rival company.
2. The three presidents decided to amalgamate their businesses to build one strong company.

(v.) to collect together; accumulate

1. Over the years the sailor has amassed many replicas of boats.
2. The women amassed a huge collection of priceless diamonds and pearls.

(adj.) not clear; uncertain; vague

1. The ambiguous law did not make a clear distinction between the new and old land boundary.

(v.) to improve or make better

1. A consistent routine of exercise has shown to ameliorate health.
2. We can ameliorate the flooding problem by changing the grading.

(n.) a positive change

1. The amendment in his ways showed there was still reason for hope.

(adj.) friendly

1. The newcomer picked the most amiable person to sit next to during the meeting.  

Amiss

(adj.; adv.) wrong; awry; wrongly; in a defective manner

1. Seeing that his anorak was gone, he knew something was amiss.  

2. Its new muffler aside, the car was behaving amiss.

(adj.) with no shape; unorganized; having no determinate form

1. The amorphous gel seeped through the cracks.  

2. The amorphous group quickly got lost.

3. The scientist could not determine the sex of the amorphous organism.

Amortize

(v.) to put money into a fund at fixed intervals

1. The couple was able to amortize their mortgage sooner than they thought.  

Anachronism

(n.) something out of place in time (e.g., an airplane in 1492)

1. The editor recognized an anachronism in the manuscript where the character from the 1500 boarded an airplane.

2. He realized that the film about cavemen contained an anachronism when he saw a jet cut across the horizon during a hunting scene.

Analogy

(n.) similarity; correlation; parallelism

1. The teacher used an analogy to describe the similarities between the two books.

2. Comparing the newly discovered virus with one found long ago, the scientist made an analogy between the two organisms.

Anaphylaxis

(n.) an allergic reaction

1. The boy’s severe anaphylaxis to a series of medications made writing prescriptions a tricky proposition.

Anarchist

(n.) one who believes that a formal government is unnecessary

1. The yell from the crowd came from the anarchist protesting the government.
2. The anarchist attempted to overthrow the established democratic government of the new nation and reinstate chaos and disarray.

Anchorage

(n.) something that can be relied on

1. Knowing the neighbors were right next door was an anchorage for the elderly woman.

Anecdote

(n.) a short account of happenings

1. The speaker told an anecdote about how he lost his shoes when he was young.

(n.) a feeling of hatred or ill will

1. Animosity grew between the two feuding families.

Anoint

(v.) to crown; ordain;

1. A member of the monarchy was anointed by the king.

Anomaly

(n.) an oddity, inconsistency; a deviation from the norm

1. An anomaly existed when the report listed one statistic, and the spokeswoman reported another.

2. In a parking lot full of Buicks, Chevys, and Plymouths, the Jaguar was an anomaly.

(adj.) nameless; unidentified

1. Not wishing to be identified by the police, he remained anonymous by returning the money he had stolen by sending it through the mail.

Antagonism

(n.) hostility; opposition

1. The antagonism was created by a misunderstanding.

2. The rebellious clan captured a hostage to display antagonism to the new peace treaty.

(n.) a strong dislike or repugnance

1. Her antipathy for large crowds convinced her to decline the invitation to the city.

2. The vegetarian had an antipathy toward meat.

Apathy

(n.) lack of emotion or interest

1. He showed apathy when his relative was injured.  

2. The disheartened peasants expressed apathy toward the new law which promised new hope and prosperity for all.  

Apocalyptic

(adj.) pertaining to a discovery or new revelation

1. Science-fiction movies seem to relish apocalyptic visions.

Apocryphal

(adj.) counterfeit; of doubtful authorship or authenticity

1. The man who said he was a doctor was truly apocryphal.

(v.) to satisfy; to calm

1. A milk bottle usually appeases a crying baby.

(adj.) suitable; apt; relevant

1. Discussion of poverty was apposite to the curriculum, so the professor allowed it.

2. Without reenacting the entire scenario, the situation can be understood if apposite information is given.

Apprehensive

(adj.) fearful; aware; conscious

1. The nervous child was apprehensive about beginning a new school year. 

(adj.) approving or sanctioning

1. The judge showed his acceptance in his approbatory remark.