ABATE to shorten To cast down To blunt

ABATEMENT diminution

ABHOR protest; disgust

ABIDE to sojourn to expiate

ABLE to uphold

ABRIDGEMENT a short play

ABROAD away, apart

ABROOK to brook, abide

ABSEY-BOOK a primer

ABSOLUTE positive, certain Complete

ABUSE to deceive

ABUSE deception

ABY to expiate a fault

ABYSM abyss

ACCITE to cite, summon

ACCUSE accusation

ACHIEVE to obtain

ACKNOWN 'to be acknown' is to acknowledge

ACQUITTANCE a receipt or discharge

ACTION-TAKING litigious

ACTURE action

ADDITION title, attribute

ADDRESS to prepare oneself

ADDRESSED prepared

ADVANCE to prefer, promote to honour

ADVERTISEMENT admonition

ADVERTISING attentive

ADVICE consideration, discretion

ADVISE sometimes neuter, sometimes reflective, to consider, reflect

ADVISED considerate

ADVOCATION pleading, advocacy

AFEARED afraid

AFFECT to love

AFFY to affiance To trust

AFRONT in front

AGAZED looking in amazement

AGLET-BABY the small figure engraved on a jewel

AGNISE to acknowledge, confess

A-GOOD a good deal, plenteously

A-HOLD a sea-term

AIERIE the nest of a bird of prey

AIM a guess

ALDER-LIEFEST most loved of all

ALE alehouse

ALLOW to approve

ALLOWANCE approval

AMES-ACE two aces, the lowest throw of the dice

AMORT dead, dejected

AN if

ANCHOR an anchorite, hermit

ANCIENT an ensign-bearer

ANGEL a coin, so called because it bore the image of an angel

ANIGHT by night

ANSWER retaliation

ANTHROPOPHAGINIAN a cannibal

ANTICK the fool in the old plays

ANTRE a cave

APPARENT heir-apparent

APPEAL accusation

APPEAL to accuse

APPEARED made apparent

APPLE-JOHN a kind of apple

APPOINTMENT preparation

APPREHENSION opinion

APPREHENSIVE apt to apprehend or understand

APPROBATION probation

APPROOF approbation, proof

APPROVE to prove To justify, make good

APPROVER one who proves or tries

ARCH chief

ARGAL a ridiculous word intended for the Latin ergo

ARGENTINE silver

ARGIER Algiers

ARGOSY originally a vessel of Ragusa or Ragosa, a Ragosine; hence any ship of burden

ARGUMENT subject

ARMIGERO a mistake for Armiger, the Latin for Esquire

AROINT found only in the imperative mood, get thee gone

A-ROW in a row

ARTICULATE to enter into articles of agreement to exhibit in articles

ASK to require

ASPECT regard, looks

ASPERSION sprinkling; hence blessing, because before the Reformation benediction was generally accompanied by the sprinkling of holy water

ASSAY attempt

ASSAY to attempt, test, make proof of

ASSINEGO an ass

ASSUBJUGATE to subjugate

ASSURANCE deed of assurance

ASSURED betrothed

ATOMY an atom Used in contempt of a small person

ATONE to put people at one, to reconcile to agree

ATTACH to seize, lay hold on

ATTASKED taken to task, reprehended

ATTEND to listen to

ATTENT attentive

ATTORNEY an agent

ATTORNEY to employ as an agent To perform by an agent

AUDACIOUS spirited, daring, but without any note of blame attached to it

AUGUR augury

AUTHENTIC clothed with authority

AVAUNT int. be gone, a word of abhorrence

AVE the Latin for hail; hence acclamation

AVE-MARY the angelic salutation addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary

AVERRING confirming

AVOID get rid of

AWFUL worshipful

AWKWARD contrary