| absentee ballot |
a ballot to be marked and delivered to an election official before election day because the voter will be unable to be at the polls on that day. |
| adviser |
a teacher or other person in an official capacity who gives advice on certain matters, esp. those of an educational or vocational nature. [1/2 definitions] |
| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| Alger Hiss |
a lawyer and U.S. public official accused in 1948 of having acted as a Communist spy in the 1930s. Convicted in 1950 on counts of perjury related to the investigation, Hiss was sentenced to five years in prison but maintained his innocence until his death (b.1904--d.1996). |
| alma mater |
the official song or anthem of a school, college, or university. [1/2 definitions] |
| ambassador |
a high-ranking official sent by one nation to another either to carry out a specific diplomatic mission or to serve in residence there. [1/3 definitions] |
| Amharic |
the official language of Ethiopia, which is part of the Semitic language family. |
| apartheid |
a policy of racial segregation, esp. the official segregation of blacks and whites as it existed in the Republic of South Africa from 1948 until 1994. |
| appraisal |
an estimate, esp. by an official or expert, of the value of property, such as a house, land, work of art, or jewelry for the purpose of taxation, sale, or the like. [1/2 definitions] |
| approbation |
blessing or official sanction. [1/2 definitions] |
| approve |
to give official sanction to. [1/3 definitions] |
| archdeacon |
a church official ranking just below a bishop and responsible for the administration of a diocese. [1/2 definitions] |
| audit |
an often official examination of records or financial accounts to check their accuracy, or the report of such an examination. [1/4 definitions] |
| augur |
one who predicts the future or tries to obtain hidden knowledge by interpreting signs and omens, esp. an ancient Roman religious official with such a duty; soothsayer. [1/5 definitions] |
| Australian ballot |
an official ballot that carries the names of all candidates for public offices, along with any propositions to be voted on, and is distributed at polling places, to be marked in secret. |
| authoritative |
accepted as correct, true, or reliable as a source of information; official. [1/2 definitions] |
| authorized |
endowed with official permission or authority; given legal approval. |
| bailiff |
a British official similar to a sheriff. [1/2 definitions] |
| banish |
to cast (someone) permanently out of a country by official action. [1/2 definitions] |
| bank card |
an official card, esp. a credit card or ATM card, issued by a bank to a customer and used in transactions. |
| bank holiday |
an official holiday in the UK, when banks and other businesses are closed. |