assumption N. /假定，设想;采取/something taken for granted; taking over or taking possession of. The young princess
made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her assumption of power. assume, V.
assurance N. /担保，保证;确定;自信/promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence. When Guthrie gave Guinness his
assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guinness felt relieved. assure,V.
asteroid N. /小行星/small planet. Asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in
science fiction magazines.
astigmatism N. /散光/eye defect that prevents proper focus. As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered
from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
Word List 5 astral-barb
astral ADJ. /关于星的/relating to the stars. She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed. astringent ADJ. /收敛的/binding; causing contraction. The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made
swallowing difficult. also N.
astronomical ADJ. /巨大，广阔/enormously large or extensive. The government seems willing to spend astronomical
sums on weapons development.
astute ADJ. /聪明;敏锐/wise; shrewd; keen. The painter was an astute observer, noticing every tiny detail of her model's
appearance and knowing exactly how important each one was.
asunder ADV. /分裂，分开/into parts; apart. A fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder: the two partners finally
sundered their connections because their points of view were poles asunder.
asylum N. /庇护所/place of refuge or shelter; protection. The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a
new land.
asymmetric ADJ. /不对称/not identical on both sides of a dividing central line. Because one eyebrow was set markedly
higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.
atavism N. /反祖;隔代遗传/resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after passage
of two or more generations. The doctors ascribed the child's deformity to an atavism.
atheistic ADJ. /无神论/denying the existence of God. His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
atlas N. /地图集/a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables. Embarrassed at being unable to distinguish Slovenia from
Slovakia, George W. finally consulted an atlas.
atone V. /补偿;偿还/make amends for; pay for. He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime. atrocity N. /暴行/brutal deed. In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.
*atrophy N. /萎缩，变得没用/wasting away. Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
also V.
attain V. /获得;完成/achieve or accomplish; gain. The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain. attentive ADJ. /专心的，专注的;全神贯注/alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful. Spellbound, the attentive audience
watched the final game of the tennis match, never taking their eyes from the ball. A cold wind sprang up; Stan's attentive daughter slipped a sweater over his shoulders without distracting his attention from the game.
attenuate V. /削弱/make thin; weaken. By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines. attest V. /证明/testify, bear witness. Having served as a member of the Grand Jury, I can attest that our system of
indicting individuals is in need of improvement.
attribute N. /属性/essential quality. His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
attribute V. /归因于;解释/ascribe; explain. I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
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