Word Smart, 6th Edition - e4thai.com

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ContentsCoverTitlePageCopyrightAcknowledgments

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Introduction

Chapter1:LearningNewWords

Chapter2:TheWords

Chapter3:TheFinalExam

Chapter4:SATKeyTerms

Chapter5:GREKeyTerms

Chapter6:WordRootsYouShouldKnow

Chapter7:CommonUsageErrors

Chapter8:Abbreviations

Chapter9:TheArts

Chapter10:Finance

Chapter11:ForeignWordsandPhrases

Chapter12:Science

Chapter13:TheAnswers

2

3

4

1

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Introduction

YourVocabularyHasBeenTalkingAboutYouBehindYourBackThe words you use say a lot about you. Knowing which words to use andunderstanding how to use them are both key to communicating effectively andaccurately.Peopleoftensayinfrustration,“IknowwhatImean,butIdon’tknowhowtosayit.”Iftherightwordsaren’tthere,therightideascan’tgetthrough.Yourvocabularyis the foundationof your ability to share your thoughtswith other people.When youimproveyourvocabulary,youimproveyourabilitytobringyourintelligenceandideastobearontheworldaroundyou.

“Big”WordsAren’tNecessarilyBetterWhenpeoplesaythatsomeonehasa“goodvocabulary,”theyusuallymeanthatheorshe uses a lot of important-sounding words—words like jactitation, demulcent, andsaxicolous.Butavocabularyconsistingofwords like these isn’tnecessarilya “good”vocabulary.Why?

Becausealmostnooneknowswhatjactitation,demulcent,andsaxicolousmean.Ifyouused thesewords in conversation, chances are no one listening to youwould knowwhatyouweretalkingabout.Big,difficultwordshaveimportantuses,butimprovingavocabulary involvesmuchmore thanmerely decorating your speech or your writingwithafewpolysyllabiczingers.

Thegoalofcommunication isclarity.Wewriteandspeak inorder tomakeourselvesunderstood.Agoodvocabulary isone thatmakescommunicationeasyandefficient.Onemarkofaneffectivespeakerorwriterishisorherabilitytoexpresscomplexideaswithrelativelysimplewords.

Most discourse among educated people is built on words that are fairly ordinary—wordsyou’veheardbefore,evenifyouaren’texactlycertainwhattheymean.Thebestway to improve your vocabulary isn’t to comb the dictionary for a handful of tonguetwisters to throw at unsuspecting strangers. Instead, you need to hone yourunderstandingofwords that turn upagain andagain in intelligent communication.Aperson who had a clear understanding of every word in an issue of theNew YorkTimes or theWall Street Journal would have a powerful vocabulary—a vocabulary

sophisticatedenoughtoimpressalmostanyteacher,admissionsofficer,colleague,oremployer.

WhyYouNeedThisBookAneffectivevocabulary isonethatenablesyoutoconvey ideaseasily.Doyouknowwhatinveteratemeans?Doyouknowthedifferencebetweenflauntandflout?Doyouknowwhyanartistmightbeinsultedifyoucalledhisorherworkartful?

Noneofthesewordsisparticularlydifficult.Buteachhasitsownmeaningormeanings.Ifyoumisusethesewords,youcommunicatethatyouareinoveryourhead.

Whenpeopleget intotroublewithwords, itusually isn’tbecausetheydon’tknowthemeaningofaseldom-usedwordlike termagantbutbecausetheyareconfusedaboutthemeaningofamuchmorecommonword—aword theyhear, read,andevenusewithregularity.

Takethewordperuse,forexample.Manypeoplethinkthatitmeans“skim”or“glanceover.”Butitdoesn’t.Infact,itmeansverynearlytheopposite.Toperuseadocumentistoreaditcarefully.

Thenumberofwordsyouknowislessimportantthanthecareyoutakeinlearningtheonesyoureallyuse.Speakingorwritingwelldoesn’trequireanenormousvocabulary—but it does require a confident one. And the way to gain confidence in yourvocabulary is tobuckledownand learn thewordsyouneed tomakeyourselfclearlyunderstood.

ThePrincetonReviewApproachThephilosophybehindThePrincetonReview issimple:We teachwhatyouneed toknowandtrytomakeitinterestingandfunatthesametime.Inpreparingstudentsforvariousstandardizedtests,wespendmuchofourtimeworkingonvocabulary.Despitewhat many people think, many “intelligence” or “aptitude” tests are largely tests ofvocabulary. The studentswho earn high scores on such tests are the studentswhoknowtherightwords.Thesuccessofourmethodisinpartaresultofoursuccess inteachingvocabulary.

Themethodswehavedevelopedareeasytouseand,webelieve,extremelyeffective.There’snothingparticularlystartlingaboutthembecausetheyrelymostlyoncommonsense, but they do work. And although they were developed primarily for students,these methods can be used by anyone who wants to build a stronger, smarter

vocabulary.

HowThisBookIsOrganizedThisbook isdivided into threemainsections. InChapter1,wedescribesomebasicprinciplesofvocabularybuilding.Wealsoexplain techniquesfor learningnewwords.Youshouldapplythesetechniquesasyouworkthroughtherestofthebook.Themorecarefullyyouwork,themorerapidlyyou’llenhanceyourabilitytousewordseffectively.

TheheartofWordSmartisChapters2and3.Chapter2 is the largestsectionof thebook,containingallofthewordswethinkthesavvystudentshouldknow.Eachwordisaccompanied by a definition and one or more examples intended to help youunderstand how to use the word properly. Many entries also include discussions ofrelatedwordsaswellasadditionalmeaningsorassociations.Scatteredthroughoutthebookarequickquizzesthatwillhelpyoustrengthenyourvocabularyskillsandassessyourprogressasyouwork.TheanswerstothesequickquizzesarefoundinChapter13.

Chapter3consistsof “TheFinalExam”coveringall thewords inChapter2.Youcanuse this test tohelp firmupyournewvocabularyknowledgeand tohelpensure thatyou’llretainallthenewwordsyou’velearned.Youcanalsousethetestasadiagnostictool.Bytryingyourhandat thequestionsbeforeworkingyourwaythroughthebook,you’ll give yourself a good idea of which words cause you themost trouble. And ifyou’repreparingforamajorstandardizedtestsuchastheSATorGRE,youandyourfriendscanuse theFinalExamasahandy reviewdevice.All of theanswers to thedrillsinthissectioncanbefoundinChapter13.

Thethirdandfinalsectionofthisbook,Chapters4through12,containspecializedlistsof words, including need-to-know words for the SAT and GRE. These lists, whichcontainthemostfrequentlytested(orappearing)wordsontheSATandGRE,aretheonesweuse tohelpstudentsboost their verbalscoreson theseexams.Sometimessimplyknowingthataparticularwordisincludedononeoftheselistsisenoughtoleadstudentstoacorrectansweronthetest.

Other specialized lists include frequently misused words, useful foreign words andphrases,commonabbreviations,andwordsassociatedwithscience,finance,andthearts.Ifyoulearnthewordsontheselists,you’ll improveyourreadingcomprehensionaswellasincreaseyourunderstandingofvariousdisciplines.

HowtoUseThisBook

Don’ttry toreadthisbook inasinglesitting.You’ll learnmuchmore ifyoutackle italittleatatime.Youmayfeelcomfortablewithanumberofthewordsalready.Youdon’tneedtospendmuchtimeonthose,butbecertainyoureallydoknowawordaswellasyouthinkyoudobeforeyouskipahead.Someof themostembarrassingvocabularyblundersoccurwhenweboldlymisusewordswefeelcertainweunderstand.

ThewordsinWordSmartarearrangedalphabetically.You’llfindaQuickQuizevery10words or so. Youmay find it convenient to tackle words in themain list in 10-wordchunks,pausingateachQuickQuiztomakecertainyouhaveretainedwhatyoujustlearned.Don’tforgettocheckyouranswers.

If you’re trying to build your vocabulary in preparation for a test, you should set aschedule for yourself and workmethodically from beginning to end. If you’re simplytryingtoimproveyourvocabulary,youmayfinditmoreinterestingtodipintothetextatrandom.Youcanalsousethebookasacompaniontoyourdictionarytozeroinonthemeaningsofnewwordsyou’veencounteredinreadingorinconversation.

Whenyoufinishthisbook,youwillhaveasolidvocabularythatcanhelpyouineveryfacetofyourlife—studyinginaclassroom,communicatingatwork,evenkickingbackwithabookonyourcouch.Butdon’tstopthere.Continuetoexpandyourvocabularybymasteringthenewwordsyouencounter.

Let’sbegin!

CHAPTER1

LearningNewWords

BuildingaVocabularyIsChild’sPlayYoungchildrenlearnnewwordsbyimitatingthespeakersaroundthem.Whenathree-year-oldhearsanewword thatcatchesher interest,shemayuse it repeatedly foradayortwountilshefeelscomfortablewithit.Sheestablishesitsmeaningfromcontext,often by trial and error. She adds newwords to her vocabulary because she needsthemtomakeherselfunderstood.

Children have an easier time learning newwords thanmost adults do. Aswe growbeyondchildhood,ourbrains seem to lose theirmagical ability to soakup languagefromtheenvironment.Butadultscanstilllearnagreatdealfromthewaychildrenlearnnewwords.

Youngchildrendon’tlearnthemeaningsofnewwordsbylookingthemup.Sometimestheyaskgrown-upsdirectly,butmoreoften theysimply infermeanings fromcontext.Theyfigureoutwhatnewwordsmeanbypayingattentiontohowtheyareused.

Youneedtodothesame.Bereceptivetonewwordsbyactivelyseekingtounderstandthem.When you encounter an unfamiliarword in the newspaper, don’t skim over it.Stopandtrytofigureoutwhat itmeans.Thewordsthatsurrounditshouldprovideafewclues.Putyourmindtowork.

AWordIsUsefulOnlyIfYouUseItChildrenlearnwordsbyusingthem.Adultswhowanttobuildtheirvocabulariesmustdothesame.Youcan’tincorporateanewwordintoyourvocabularyunlessyougiveitathoroughworkoutandthenkeepitinshapethroughregularexercise.Usenewwordsoverandover—atthedinnertable,atschool,inconversationwithfriends—evenattheriskofmakingmistakes.

Ifyouareastudentpreparingtoentercollegeorgraduateschool,learningnewwordscanhelpyouperformbetterontestsliketheSATandGRE,improvingyourchancesofbeingadmittedtomorecompetitiveschools.Anaddedbonus is thatyourwritingandspeaking skills will improve along with your vocabulary, which can help you in yourclassesaswell.Nonstudentsmayhaveothervocabularyneeds,butthesamegeneralrulesapply.Aswithmanyotherthings,youhavetousevocabularyifyoudon’twantto

lose it. Remember that the size and quality of a person’s vocabulary correlatepowerfullywithhisorhersuccessinschool,atwork,andbeyond.

Read,Read,Read!Thebestwaytobuildasolid,sophisticatedvocabularyistoreadvoraciously.Carefulreadingnotonlybringsyouintocontactwithnewwordsbutalsoforcesyoutouseyourbraintofigureoutwhatthosenewwordsmean.Ifyoureadwidelyenough,youwillfindthat your vocabulary will build itself. New words are contagious if you give yourselfenoughexposureto them.Readinganygoodbook isbetter foryourvocabulary thanwatchingtelevision.Readingwell-writtenmagazinesandnewspaperscanhelp,too.

UseaDictionaryWhenyou read,youwillundoubtedlycomeacrosswordsyoudon’tknow,andsomewillbecritical to themeaningof thepassages inwhichtheyappear. Ifyou’reseriousaboutunderstandingwhatyouread,aswellasimprovingyourvocabulary,you’llhavetousethedictionary.

Thenaturalwaytolearnwordsistoseehowotherpeopleusethem—thatis,toseeorhear theword incontext.Whilecontextmaytellyouhowtouse theword, relyingoncontextisnotwithoutpitfalls.

First,whenyouhearanewword,youcan’tbecertain thespeaker’spronunciation iscorrect.Youalsocan’tbecertainthewordisbeingusedcorrectly.Evenskillfulwritersandspeakersoccasionallymisuse language.Awriterorspeakermayevenmisuseawordintentionally,perhapsfordramaticorcomiceffect.

Even more important, many words have multiple meanings and connotations.Sometimesthedifferencebetweenonemeaningandanotherisslight;sometimesitissignificant. Even if you deduce the meaning from the context, you have no way ofknowingwhetherthemeaningyou’vededucedwillapplyinothercases.

Finally,contextcanbemisleading.Taketheword formidable, forexample.Whenyouhearthisword,youmaythinkofitinthecontextof“aformidableopponent.”Thismightleadyoutobelievethatformidablemeanssomethinglike“skillful”or“aggressive.”Butthose definitions miss the mark, as formidable actually means “frightening” or“menacing.”Seehowcontextcanbemisleading?

Thepointhereistounderstandthelimitsofcontextandalwaysconsultadictionaryifyou’renotsureofthemeaningofaword.

WhichDictionaryShouldYouUse?Like cars, not all dictionaries have the same features. Dictionaries can range fromchildren’seditionswithlotsofpicturestohumongous,unabridgeddictionarieswithlotsof entries in tiny type. (By the way, abridged means “shortened.” An unabridgeddictionaryisonethatincludesalmosteverysinglewordintheEnglishlanguage!)Andthenthere’sthe20-volumeOxfordEnglishDictionary.

Formostpeople,however,agoodcollege-editiondictionary is sufficient. (A “college”dictionaryisnotforuseincollegeonly;thephrase“collegedictionary”issimplyaroughindicationofthevocabularylevelofthereadersforwhomthedictionaryisappropriate.)

We encourage you to get in the habit of carrying a portable dictionary with youwhereveryougo,sothatwhenyouencounterawordyoudon’tknow,youcanlookitup on the spot. Of course, we don’t expect you to lug around a huge hardcoverdictionary;tryasmallpaperbackcopyorevenadictionaryappthatcanbedownloadedtoyoursmartphoneortablet.Werecommendusingahard-copydictionary,aslookingupawordinarealbookcreatesatactilememorysothatyouwillhaveabetterchanceof remembering the meaning of the word. But ultimately, you should you use thedictionarythatworksbestforyou;that’sthebestapproachforgettingwordstostick.

WhatAretheFeaturesofaGoodDictionary?We used several dictionaries in verifying the definitions and usages that appear inWordSmart.Let’stakealookatasampledictionaryentry:

a•bridge (əbrij’),v.t.,a•bridged,a•bridg•ing.1. toshortenbycondensationoromissionwhile retaining thebasiccontents: toabridgea longnovel.2. toreduceorlesseninduration,scope,etc.;diminish,curtail.3.todeprive;cutoff[1350–1400; ME abregge, abrigge < MF abreg(i)er < ML abbreviare toshorten. See ABBREVIATE] —a•bridg’a•ble; esp. Brit., a•bridg’á•ble, adj.—a•bridg’ér,n.—Syn.1.condense,abstract.Seeshorten.2.contract.

Nowlet’sexaminethisentrypartbypart:

a•bridgeThe main entry—the dot separates the words into syllables. Sometimes themain entry includes stress marks to tell you which syllables to stress inpronouncingtheword.

(əbrij’)The pronunciation—every dictionary includes a pronunciation key up front to

explain symbols like the upside-down e known as a schwa and pronounced“uh.” Ifawordhasmore thanoneacceptablepronunciation, theentrywill listthem.Alwaysobservethepronunciationofawordwhenyoulookitup.Ifyouknow

howtopronounceaword,you’remorelikelytouseit.(Ifyoudon’tknowhowtopronounceaword,you’remorelikelytoembarrassyourselfatcocktailparties.)Andthemoreyouuseaword,themorelikelyyou’llbeabletorememberit.

v.t.Partof speech—thisabbreviationmeans thatabridge isaverb,specificallyatransitiveverb.A transitiveverb isone thatcarriesaction fromasubject toadirectobject.

Forexample,inthesentenceThedogatethebook,theverbatecarriesactionfromthedog to thebook.Similarly, inTheeditorabridged thebook, theverbabridgedcarriesactionfromtheeditortothebook.Anexampleofan intransitiveverb is tosleep. InThedogsleeps, the verb

doesnotcarryanyactionfromthesubject(dog)toanyotherthing.

a•bridged,a•bridg•ingForms—theseentriesletusknowthatweshouldnotethespellingsofdifferentforms of the word abridge. Notice, for example, that we drop the e beforeaddinging.

1. to shorten by condensation or omission while retaining the basic contents: toabridgealongnovel.

The most common definition of the word. Some dictionaries include helpfulphrasesorsentencestoshowyouhowtousethewordincontext.This feature is quite useful. The example tells us that we would not use

abridgethisway:ThetailorabridgedSusan’slongskirttomakeitamini.

2.toreduceorlesseninduration,scope,etc.;diminish,curtail.3.todeprive;cutoff.

Otherdefinitions,generallyinorderofimportance—sometimesadefinitionwillincludeclosesynonyms.

[1350–1400;MEabregge,abrigge<MFabreg(i)er<MLabbreviare toshorten.SeeABBREVIATE]

Theetymology—somedictionariesincludetheetymologybeforethedefinitions.You don’t have to be a linguist, but the word abridge developed from

medieval Latin to Middle French to Middle English: abbreviare (meaning “toshorten”),inmedievalLatinbecameabreg(i)erinMiddleFrench,whichbecameabreggeorabriggeinMiddleEnglish,whichfinallybecameabridge.

Theetymologysuggeststhatwelookupabbreviate.Ifyouhavethetime,youshoulddoso.Itwillreinforceyourunderstandingofabridge.We will discuss etymology in more detail later because it is a powerful

mnemonic.(Lookitup!)

—a•bridg’a•ble;esp.Brit.,a•bridge’á•ble,adj.—a•bridg’ér,n.

Otherpartsofspeech,alongwithanalternative(British)spelling.

—Syn.1.condense,abstract.Seeshorten.2.contract.

Anabridged(!) listofsynonyms—thenumbersrefer to theprecedingorderofdefinitions. The entry suggests that we look up shorten. Not all dictionariesincludethisfeature,though.

Don’tStopwiththeDefinitionThe editors of the dictionary advise us to look up shorten if we want a betterunderstandingofabridge,solet’sdojustthat:

short•en (shôr’tən),v.t.,1. tomakeshortorshorter.2. to reduce,decrease,take in, etc.: to shorten sail. 3. to make (pastry, bread, etc.) short, as withbutter or other fat. —v.i. 4. to become short or shorter. 5. (of odds) todecrease.—short’ener,n.—Syn.SHORTEN,ABBREVIATE,ABRIDGE,CURTAILmeantomakeshorterorbriefer.SHORTENisageneralwordmeaningtomakelessinextentorduration:toshortenadress,aprisoner’ssentence.Theotherthreewords suggestmethods of shortening. TO ABBREVIATE is to make shorter byomissionorcontraction:toabbreviateaword.TOABRIDGEistoreduceinlengthor size by condensing, summarizing, and the like: to abridge a document.CURTAILsuggestsdeprivationandlackofcompletenessbecauseofcuttingoffpart:tocurtailanexplanation.

Thisentrydistinguishesshorten fromanumberof synonyms, includingabridge. Thedigressiontookanotherminuteorso,butwe’vecomeawaywithabetterunderstandingof themeaningsandtheirnuances. (Look itup!)Wewillconsidersynonyms indetailwhenwediscusshowtouseathesaurus.

WhyDon’tEntriesinWordSmartLookLikeStandardDictionaryEntries?We’vetriedtomakeWordSmarteasiertoreadandunderstandthanabigdictionary.

Don’t get uswrong.We use dictionaries,we rely on dictionaries, but sometimeswewish that lexicographers (those fun-loving people who write dictionaries) wouldcommunicateinbasicEnglish.

For each word inWord Smart, we give you a basic definition. Sometimes a closesynonym isenough.Thenwegiveyou—and this is important—asentenceor twosothatyoucanseehowtousetheword.Ourentryforabridgereadsasfollows:

ABRIDGE(uhBRIJ) v toshorten;tocondense• Thethoughtfuleditorabridgedthemassivebookbyremovingtheboringparts.

Anabridgeddictionaryisonethathasbeenshortenedtokeepitfromcrushingdesksandpeople’slaps. Anabridgmentisashortenedorcondensedwork.

Theproblemwithmostdictionariesisthattheydon’ttellyouhowtousetheword.Youcanalwaysspotsomeonewhohaslearnednewwordsalmostexclusivelythroughthedictionary rather than throughgeneral readingsupplementedwithadictionary.Whenyouasksuchpeoplethedefinitionofaword, it’salmostas if theyfall intoatrance—their eyes glaze over as they rattle off the definition almost word for word from adictionary.

Sowhileit’simportanttouseadictionary,it’salsoimportanttothinkcriticallyaboutthewordsaswell,because…

Youwillnottrulylearnawordunlessyoucandefineitinyourownwords.

Tounderstandawordcompletely,tomakeawordyours,youshouldtrytodefineitinyourownwords.Don’tsettleforthedictionarydefinition.Forthatmatter,don’tsettleforourdefinition.

Makeupyourowndefinition.You’llunderstandthemeaningbetter.What’smore,you’llbemorelikelytorememberit.

Thesauruses:Don’tMisuse,Abuse,Exploit,Corrupt,Misapply,orMisemployThemAthesaurusisadictionary-likereferencebookthat listssynonymsformanywords.Athesauruscanbeanotheruseful tool inyourword-buildingcampaign,butonly if youuseitproperly.Manypeopledon’t.

Thesaurus abuse is common. Students often try to make their vocabularies seembigger than theyactuallyarebyusinga thesaurus tobeefup thepapers theywrite.(Neophyteschronicallyendeavortoinducetheirparlancetoportendmoremagisteriallybyemployinga lexiconof synonyms toamplify the theses they inscribe.)Theywritetheirpapersintheirownwords,andthentheypluginwordsfromathesaurus.That’swhat we did with the silly-sounding sentence in the parentheses above. You’d besurprisedhowmanystudentsactuallycomposetheirpapersthatway.

Still,aThesaurusCanBeUsefulAthesauruscanbehelpful—ifyouuseitproperly.

Thebestwaytouseathesaurusisasasupplementtoyourdictionary,asareferencework thatcanhelpyou find theword thatexpressespreciselywhatyouare trying tosay.Agoodthesaurusisintendedtohelpaspeakerorwriterdistinguishtheshadesofdifferencebetweenwordsofsimilarmeaning.

HowtoUsetheThesaurus:AnExampleLet’s say you’re trying to describe Randolph, someone who never lends money toanyone.Randolphexamineshismonthlybankstatementwithacalculatortomakesurethathisinteresthasbeenproperlycomputedtothepenny.Randolphissomeonewhowouldhavetothink longandhard ifamuggerpresentedhimwiththedilemma“Yourmoneyoryourlife.”

The firstword that comes tomind in describingRandolphmay becheap. Being thecarefulwriteryouare,youdecidetoseewhethercheapisthemostprecisewordyoucancomeupwith.

Inyourthesaurus,youfindthefollowingentry:

cheap adj. 1.Chicken is not as cheap as itwas: inexpensive, low-priced,economical, reasonable. 2. Talk is cheap: effortless, costless, easy. 3. Thecoatmaybeexpensive,butitlookscheap:shoddy,shabby,inferior,worthless,poor,second-rate,trashy,meager,paltry,gimcrack,flashy,gaudy,inbadtaste,

tawdry,tacky,common,inelegant.4.Spreadinggossipisacheapthingtodo:contemptible,petty,despicable,sordid,ignoble,wretched,mean,base.Slang:two-bit,vulgar,immoral,indecent.5.He’stoocheaptopickupthecheck:tight,

Theentrycheaplistsfiveprimarymeanings,eachprecededbyanillustrativesentence.Youscanthesentencesuntilyoufindtheoneyouwant:thelastone.Nowyouexaminethesynonyms.

tight:Okay,butperhapsit’stooinformalorcolloquial—mightbeconfusedwithotherdefinitionsofthewordtight.Forgetthisone.

stingy:Apossibility.

miserly:Let’ssayyou’renotexactlysurewhat thisonemeans.Youdecideto lookthisoneupintheregulardictionary.

penurious:Betterlookthisoneup,too.

tightfisted:Alittlebetterthantight,thoughperhapsstilltooslangy—you’llthinkaboutit.

close:Nope—toomanyotherdefinitions.

Beforeleavingthethesaurus,however,youdecidetocheckoutthelistingformiserlyandcomeupwiththefollowingadditionalwords:

parsimonious:Lookitup.

avaricious:Lookitup.

mean:Toomanyotherdefinitions.

grasping:Moreasynonymofgreedy.Randolph isn’t preciselygreedy.Hedoesn’twanttoaccumulatealot;hejustwantstoholdontowhathehas.Forgetthisone.

scrimping:Doesn’tsoundright—forgetthisone.

pinching:Nope.

penny-pinching:Betterthanpinchingalone,butcolloquial—maybe.

frugal:Lookitup.

illiberal:Toovague.

closehanded:Nah.

closefisted:Similartotightfistedandpenny-pinching,butnotasgood—drop.

selfish:Toogeneral—Randolphisselfishonlywithmoney.

ungenerous:Nope—Randolphisn’tparticularlygenerous,butyouwanttosaywhatheisratherthanwhatheisnot.

greedy:Youruledthisoutearlier.

niggardly:Lookitup.

near:Nope.

meager:Lookitup.

grudging:Notpreciselywhatyoumean.

Youdecideyouhaveenoughsynonyms toworkwith.Nowyouhave to lookupandverifydefinitions.

Youareleftwiththreesynonymsyouknow(stingy,tightfisted,andpenny-pinching)andsevenyoudon’tknow.Justtobeorderly,youlookupthesevenwordsalphabeticallyinyourdictionary:

avariciouscharacterizedbyavarice(insatiablegreedforriches;inordinatedesiretogainandhoardwealth);covetous

Nope,youdon’tmeangreedy.Avariciousisout.

frugal1.economicalinuseorexpenditure;prudentlysavingorsparing.2.entailinglittleexpense;requiringfewresources;meager,scanty.

The first definition means careful with money. Economical and prudent both havepositive connotations, but Randolph’s obsessionwithmoney is not something good.Theseconddefinitionisnottheonewewant—out.

meager1.deficientinquantityorquality;lackingfullnessorrichness;poor;scanty.2.havinglittleflesh;lean;thin.3.maigre.

Nope,noneoftheseseemstoconveythemeaningyouwant.

miserly of, like, or befitting amiser (onewho lives in wretched circumstances inordertosaveandhoardmoney);penurious;niggardly.

Well,thismightberight.YouhavetothinkaboutRandolphalittlemore.Whatarehiscircumstanceslike?Ishewillingtoliveinwretchedcircumstances?

niggardlyreluctanttogiveorspend;stingy.—Syn.1.penurious,miserly.

It’sapossiblity.Let’stakealookatthelastfewbeforeyoudecide.

parsimonious characterized by or showing parsimony; sparing or frugal, esp. toexcess.

Nowyouhaveestablishedthatparsimoniousmeansstingierthanfrugal.Thisseemstohitthemark.

penurious1.extremelystingy.2.extremelypoor;indigent.3.poorlyorinadequatelysupplied.

Thefirstdefinitionworks,buttheseconddefinitionseemstoimplyastinginessperhapsresultingfrompoverty.Thethirddefinitiondoesnotapply.NowyouhavetothinkagainaboutRandolph.Ishepooraswellascheap?Ifso,thisistherightword.

You’restillleftwithstingy,tightfisted,penny-pinching,miserly,niggardly,parsimonious,andpenurious.Oh,andthere’sstilltheblunt,ifunassuming,cheap,whichyoustartedwith.Whichwordistherightword?

Stingyistherightwordifyouwanttouseasimple,no-nonsenseword.

Tightfistedisthewordifyouwantsomethingalittlemoreslangyandgraphic.

Penny-pinchingisrightifyouwanttheimagetobealittlemoreexplicitthantightfisted.

Miserlycouldbetherightword,dependingonRandolph’slivingcircumstances.

NiggardlyistherightwordifRandolphismerelyreluctanttospendmoney.Ifhe’smorethanreluctant,thisisn’ttherightword.

Parsimoniousistherightwordifyouwantamultisyllabicsynonymforcheaporstingy.Fromthedefinitions,parsimoniousseemsmoreextremethanstingy.

PenuriousistherightwordifRandolphispooraswellasstingy.

Todecidewhichwordistherightword,youmustgivemorethoughttopreciselywhataspectofRandolphyou’retryingtocaptureandconvey.

Therightwordisnotmerelytheaccuratewordwiththeproperconnotations.

Wedon’twanttogetintowritingstyle,butotherconsiderationstokeepinmindwhen

choosingtherightwordincludethefollowing:

Rhythm,orCadenceWhichwordbestfitsinwiththeoverallflowofthesentenceandparagraph?Perhapsyouwanttoachievealliteration(Randolph isapretentious,penny-pinchingpoet)oracertainrhyme(AlimonydroveRandolphtoparsimony).

PartofSpeechMiserlyseemsokayasanadjective,butmiserlinessseemsalittleawkwardasanoun.

VocabularyLevelWhowillreadyourdescriptionofRandolph?Yourwordchoicemaybelimitedbyyourpotential readeroraudience.Other thingsbeingequal, thesimpleword is thebetterword.

VarietyIfyou’veusedcheapseveraltimesalreadyinthesamepieceofwriting,youmaywanttouseadifferentword.

RepetitionOntheotherhand,repeatingthesamewordmayhaveapowerfuleffect.

DramaticEffectAsimpleword inanacademicsetting,oranacademicword inasimplesetting,canhave a dramatic effect. Comic effects can also be achieved by using a word in aninappropriateorincongruouscontext.

EditingIsMoreThanChoosingtheRightWordWordSmartisabookonwordsratherthanonwriting.Still,wewanttonoteinpassingthatgoodeditingismorethansimplyreviewingthewordsyouuse.

Editing means refining your ideas. Editing means deciding on the ordering andpresentationofyourideas.Editingmeansdecidingwhichideasyou’regoingtopresentatall.

WhichThesaurusShouldIUse?Werecommendthatthethesaurusyouusebeonethatlistswordsalphabeticallyinthetext itself. Ideally, the thesaurus should include sample sentences that distinguish at

leastsomeofthedifferentshadesofmeanings.

ReadingThisBookReadingwidely—withthehelpofadictionaryandperhapsalsoathesaurus—isagreatwaytobuildavocabulary.Butit’salsoaslowway.Whichwordsyouencounterinyourreadingdependonwhichwordsthewritershappentouse.

That’swherewecomein.ThemainsectionofWordSmartisaconcentratedsourceofthewordsyouwanttoknow—thewordsyouneedtohelpyourselfbuildaneducatedvocabulary.We’vealsoincludedfunfacts,etymology,andusage,whichareintegraltothe vocabulary learning methods you’re about to encounter. If you want a bettervocabulary,youhavetoputthetimeandeffortin.

As you work through this book, you’ll undoubtedly find that you need to tailor yourapproach to thewayyou thinkand learnbest.Youmaydiscover that foraparticularwordonemethodworksbestandthatforanotherwordadifferentmethodworksbest.That’sfine.

Thebestmethodformemorizingwordsisthemethodthatworksbestforyou.

We’llshowyouthemethodswehavefoundtobethemostsuccessfulforourstudents.Usetheoneoronesthatsuityoubest.

BasicMethod#1:TricksandMnemonicsAmnemonic isadeviceor trick thathelpsyou remembersomethingspecific.Gradeschoolers are sometimes taught to remember the spelling ofarithmetic by using thefollowingmnemonic:ARatInTheHouseMightEatTom’sIceCream.Thefirstletterineach word in this silly sentence stands for the letters in arithmetic. Remember thesentenceandyourememberhowtospelltheword.

Mnemonicscanappealtoourears,too.Howaboutthehistorymnemonic:Infourteenhundredninety-two,Columbussailed theoceanblue…?Or thespellingmnemonic: ibeforeeexceptafterc,andinwordsthatsaya,asinneighborandweigh?

YouAlreadyKnowHowtoUseMnemonicsWhetheryourealize itornot,youusemnemonicsall thetime.Whenyoumakeupalittlegametorememberyour lockercombinationorafriend’sbirthday,you’reusingamnemonic.

HowDoMnemonicsWork?Allmnemonicsworkinthesameway:theyforceyoutoassociatewhatyou’retryingtorememberwith something that youalreadyknow,orwith something that iseasier tomemorize.Patternsand rhymesareeasy tomemorize,whichexplainswhysomanymnemonicsusethem.

Incidentally, it may also explain why rhyming became a part of poetry. The earliestpoetsandballadeersdidn’twritedown theircompositionsbecausemanydidn’tknowhow to write. Instead, they kept the poems in their heads. Among other things, therhymesattheendsofthelinesmadethepoemseasiertoremember.

BasicMethod#2:SeeingIsRememberingLettinganewwordsuggestavividmentalimagetoyouisapowerfulandeffectivewayto remember that word. Mental images are really mnemonics, too. They help youremember.Theemphasishere isonsuggestivementalpictures rather thanon trickyabbreviationsorcoincidencesofspelling.

Let’s lookatanexample.We’ll startwithawordwe’vealreadyused in this chapter:abridge.Asyouknow,toabridgeistoshortenorcondense.

What imagepops intoyourmindwhenyouthinkof thewordabridge?That’seasy:a

bridge.Nowyouneedtopicturesomethinghappeningonortothatbridgethatwillhelpyourememberthemeaningofthewordabridge.Yourgoalistocreatesuchavividandmemorable image in your mind that the next time you encounter abridge in yourreading,you’llinstantlyrememberwhatitmeans.

To be useful, your imagemust have something to dowith themeaning of thewordratherthanmerelywiththewayitsoundsorlooks.Ifyoumerelythinkofabridgewhenyouseeabridge,youwon’thelpyourselfrememberwhatyouwanttoremember.

Whatyouneedisanimagethatsuggestsshorteningorcondensing.Adinosaurtakingabigbiteoutofthemiddleofabridge?Carpenterssawingit?Theimageyouchooseisuptoyou.

AndNowforAnotherExample…Another useful word is gregarious, which means sociable, enjoying the company ofothers.Whatimagespringstomind?Reallythinknow.

Can’t think of an image? Be creative. A party animal is gregarious. How aboutimaginingapartyanimalnamedGregArious.Don’t stopwithhisname.Youneedapicture.SogiveGregafunnyhat,anoisemaker,andsomepolka-dotdancingshoes.Or put a lampshade on his head. Think of something that will make you think ofsociabilitythenexttimeyouseeGreg’snameinabookoramagazineyouread.ThemorerealyoumakeGregAriousseeminyourimagination,thelesstroubleyou’llhaverememberingthemeaningofgregarious.

TheCraziertheMentalImage,theBetterIt’sbettertochooseaninterestingmentalimagethatyou’llremember.Ifyouchooseanimagethatisblandorboring,youmayhavetroublerememberingtheword.Interesting,evenweird,mentalimagesaremorelikelytostickinyourmemory.

MemoryAidsShouldBePersonalSometimeswe’llgiveyouamnemonicforthelistingsinWordSmart,butwewon’tdothisveryoften.Memoryaidsworkbestwhenyouhavetostrugglea little tocomeupwiththem.

Ifyoucomeupwithyourownmemoryaid, if it reallymeanssomething toyou, itwilllikelybecomeapermanentpartofyourmemory.

BasicMethod#3:EtymologicalCluesAlthough the English language contains hundreds of thousands of words, you will

discover thatmanygroupsofwordsare related inmeaningbecause theydevelopedfromacommonroot.Whenyourecognizethatagroupofwordssharesasimilarroot,youwillmoreeasilyremembertheentiregroup.

For example, take thewordmnemonic. You know now, if you hadn’t already, that amnemonic isadevicethathelpsyouremembersomething.We’regoingtoshowyoutwootherwordsthatarerelatedtothisword.

mnemonic:devicetohelpyouremembersomething

amnesty:ageneralpardonforoffensesagainstagovernment(anofficial“forgetting”)

amnesia:lossofmemory

Prettyneat,eh?Howaboutwordsfromanothercommonroot:

chronological:inorderaccordingtotime

synchronize:toputonthesametimetable

anachronism:somethingoutofplaceintimeorhistory

chronic:continuingoveralongtime

chronicle:chronologicalrecordofevents

chronometer:devicetomeasuretime

Sometimesit iseasierto learnawholeclusterofrelatedwordsthantocomeupwithmnemonicsforthemindividually.

TheAdvantagesofEtymologyLearningwordrootsisakeypartofetymology,thestudyoftheoriginofwordsandhowtheirmeaningshavechangedovertime.Aword’setymologytellsyousomethingaboutthemeaningoftheword.Additionally,etymologycanbesharedamongseveralwords,which can help you remember the meanings of clusters of related words. Learningetymologycanalsogetyouinterestedintheoriginofwordsandlanguageingeneral;etymologytellsyouthestoryofawordovercenturies.InChapter6youwillfindalistofthemostimportantrootswithnumerousexamplesfollowingeach.

ThePitfallsofEtymologyTheetymologyofawordwill tellyousomethingabouttheword,but itwill rarelygiveyou the full definition. Students often confuse a word’s etymology with its meaning,whichcanleadtoerrorsontests.

Take the word verdant, for example. At first glance, you may think this word isetymologically related to words like verify, verdict, verisimilitude, and veritable andguessthatthedefinitionofverdantmusthavesomethingtodowiththeconceptoftruthorreality.

Thisiscleverguesswork,butverdantactuallycomesfromadifferentfamilyofwords.Itcomes from thesameold rootasdoes theFrenchwordvert,whichmeansgreen. Ifthosesamecleverstudentshadrecognizedthatconnection,theymighthaverealizedthatverdantmeansgreenwithvegetation,asinaverdantforest.

Similarly,alotofwordsthatbeginwithped-havesomethingtodowithfoot:pedestrian,pedal, pedestal, pedometer, impede, expedite. Apediatrician, however, isnot a footdoctor.Apediatrician isadoctor forchildren.Apodiatrist is a footdoctor. (Thewordpediatrician is, however, related to the word meaning a strict teacher of children:pedagogue.)

Etymologyisapowerfultooltorememberwordsthatyoualreadyknow,butitcan’talwaysbereliedupontodeterminethemeaningsof

wordsyoudon’tknow.

BasicMethod#4:WritingonYourBrainManypeoplefindthattheycanlearnnewinformationmorereadilyiftheywriteitdown.The physical act of writing seems to plant the informationmore firmly. Perhaps theexplanationisthatbywritingyouarebringinganothersenseintoplay(you’veseentheword,you’vesaidandheardtheword,andnowyou’refeelingtheword).

You may find it useful to spend some time writing down phrases or sentencesincorporating each new word. This is a good way to practice and strengthen yourspellingaswell.

You’llprobablyhavemoreluckifyoudon’tmerelywritedownthewordanditsdefinitionoverandoveragain.Ifyou’vehituponagoodmnemonicormentalimagetohelpyourememberit,oryoulikedtheetymology,writeitdown.Youcanevendrawapictureoradiagram.

BasicMethod#5:PuttingItAllTogetherwithFlashcardsandaNotebookA flashcard, usually made with an index card, contains a word on one side and itsdefinition on the reverse side. You may have used flashcards when you were firstlearningtoreadorwhenyouwerefirsttacklingaforeignlanguage.Flashcardscanturnlearningintoagameandisaneffectivewaytostudyandcommitwordstomemory.

Alongwiththeword’sdefinition,youshouldalsoincludethepronunciationifyouaren’tsureyou’ll remember it.Thenyoucaneitherpractice independentlyorhavea friendquizyou.

Here’sabasicflashcard,frontandback.

Front

Back

You’lllearnevenmoreifyouuseyourimaginationtomakethebacksofyourflashcardsa bitmore elaborate. For example, youmight decorate the back of this cardwith adiagram of oblique lines—that is, lines that are neither parallel nor perpendicular toeachother.

Back

Yourdiagramnowgivesyouamental image that canhelp you remember theword.You’llprobablythinkofyourownmentalimage,onethatmeanssomethingtoyou.Youcouldevenusetheworditselftocreateapicturethatconveysthemeaningofthewordandthatwillstickinyourmindtohelpyourememberit.

Here’sonepossibility.We’vedividedthewordintotwopartsandwrittenthemontwodifferentlinesthatareatanobliqueangletoeachother.

Back

Practicingwith flashcardscanbe fun.Parents,siblings,and friendssometimesmightlendahandanddiscoverthat they learnnewwords, too.Andeverytimeyoulookatthebackofthecard,you’llberemindedofthemnemonic,trick,ormentalimageyou’vedevisedtokeepthewordfirmlyinyourmemory.

Tuckafewflashcardsinyourpocketwhenyouheadoutthedoorinthemorning,andworkon them insparemoments, likewhenyou’re ridingonabusor listening to theradio. Themore often you flash through your flashcards, the faster you’ll build yourvocabulary.

Readingyourflashcardsisn’tenough,ofcourse.Youalsoneedtomakeanefforttousethewordsonthem.Usingthewords,much

morethanreadingthecards,makesthedefinitionssinkinandtakehold.

We also encourage you to write down new words you learn in a notebook. If youdevoteanentirepagetoeachnewword,thenotebookwillgiveyouroomtopractice“writingonyourbrain.”Itwillalsogiveyouplentyofspacetodoodleorjotdownimagesthatwillhelpyouremembertheword.

Evenbetter,youcanuseyournotebookasaplacetorecordactualusesofnewwordsthatyoudiscoverinyourownreading.If,whilereadingamagazine,youcomeacrossoneof thewordsyou’reworkingon, youcancopy thesentence into yournotebook,givingyouabrand-newexampleofthewordincontext.

Studentswhokeepnotebooksreportasenseofaccomplishmentwhentheylookbackthroughtheirnotebooksatthehundredsofnewwordstheyhavelearned.Anotebookgivesyoutangible(agoodword)evidenceoftheprogressyou’remaking.

AMemorizationGamePlanHereisourstep-by-stepapproachtomemorizingnewwords.

Step1 Trytodeducetheword’smeaningfromcontext.

Step2 Lookitup!

Step3 Notethespelling.

Step4 Saythewordoutloud.

Step5 Readthemaindefinition.Scanthesecondarydefinitions.

Step6 Comparethedefinitionwiththedefinitionsandusagesoftheword’ssynonyms.

Step7 Definethewordusingyourownwords.

Step8 Useitinasentence.

Step9 Attachthewordtoamnemonic,mentalimage,orothermemoryaid.

Step10 Filloutaflashcardandmakeanewentryinyournotebook.

Step11 Usethenewwordeverychanceyouget.

Let’stakealookateachofthesesteps.

Step1:TrytoDeducetheWord’sMeaningFromContextContextwilloften leadyouastray,butdoingabitofdetectivework isagoodway tosharpenyourmindandhoneyourreadingcomprehensionskills.Andwhoknows?Youmightevenguesstherightmeaning.

Step2:LookItUp!Most people try to skip this step. Don’t you dare! You won’t know whether you’recorrectaboutthemeaningofanewworduntilyou’vemadesurebylookingitup.

Noonecanlearnnewwordswithoutadictionary.Ifyoudon’thaveone,getonenow,whetheraphysicalcopyfromyourlocalbookstoreorlibraryoradownloadableapponyoursmartphoneortablet.

Step3:NotetheSpellingLook closely at theword’s spelling. Then close your eyes and try to reconstruct thespelling.Ifyouhavetroublevisualizing,testyourselfbywritingoutthespellingonscrappaperandcheckingitagainstthedictionary.

You should also compare the spelling variations with other spelling variations youknow.Thisisanicetrickthathelpsyourecognizewordsthatyouthinkyoudon’tknow.

Forexample,soberisanadjective;thenounformissobriety.Okay,withthatasaclue,thenounproprietyrelatestowhatadjective?Proper.Proprietymeanswhat issociallyproperoracceptable.

Here’sanotherexample:Doyouknowwhatincisivemeans?Giveup?Well,youknowwhatdecisivemeans,don’tyou?Decisiverelatestowhatwordyouknow?Decision,ofcourse.Now,whatnoundoyouthinkincisiverelatesto?Incision.Incisivemeanssharporcutting,asinanincisiveremarkoranincisiveobservation.

Step4:SaytheWordOutLoudSaythewordoutloud.Hearingthewordwillbringanothersenseintoplayandhelpyouremembertheword.Andaswenotedearlier,youdon’twanttomakeafoolofyourselfbymispronouncingwords.

OurPronunciationKeyWe’venever liked thepronunciationkeysmostdictionariesuse.Ourkey isbasedon

consistentphoneticsounds,soyoudon’thavetomemorizeit.Still,itwouldbeagoodideatotakeafewminutesnowandfamiliarizeyourselfwiththetablebelow.Besuretonotehowtheeandiareused.

Theletter(s) is(are)pronouncedliketheletter(s)

intheword(s)

a a bat,can

ah o con,bond

aw aw paw,straw

ay a skate,rake

e e stem,hem

ee ea steam,clean

i i rim,chin,hint

ing ing sing,ring

oh o row,tow

oo oo room,boom

ow ow cow,brow

oy oy boy,toy

u,uh u run,bun

y(ye,eye) i climb,time

ch ch chair,chin

f f,ph film,phony

g g go,goon

j j join,jungle

k c cool,cat

s s solid,wisp

sh sh shoe,wish

z z zoo,razor

zh s measure

uh a apologize

All other consonants are pronounced as you would expect. Capitalized letters areaccented.

Step5:ReadtheMainDefinition;ScantheSecondaryDefinitionsMost dictionaries list the definitions in order of importance. That does not mean, ofcourse, that the firstdefinition is theoneyouare looking for.Readall thedefinitions;eachwilladdtoyourunderstandingoftheword.

Step6:ComparetheDefinitionwiththeDefinitionsandUsagesoftheWord’sSynonymsAsweshowedyouwiththeearlierexamples,thissteptakesalittleextratime.Believeuswhenwesay that it is timewell spent.Again, seeinghowaword is similar to ordifferentfromsynonymsorrelatedwordsenhancesyourunderstandingofallofthem.

Step7:DefinetheWordUsingYourOwnWordsWe said it before, and we’ll say it again: you don’t truly know what a word meansunlessyoucandefineityourselfinyourownway.

Step8:UseItinaSentenceNowthatyouknowwhatthewordmeansandwhatitdoesn’tmean,useit.Makeupasentence.

Ithelpstousethewordinasentencethatincludesapersonorthingoreventthatyouknowand thatcreatesaconcrete feelingor image.Forexample, thesentenceTheyaregregariousisnotasgoodasGreg,Gertrude,andGretchenaregregarious.

Step9:AttachtheWordtoaMnemonic,MentalImage,orOtherMemoryAidWithall thatyou’vedonewith theword in theprevioussteps,youmayalreadyhavememorizedit.Theonlywaytobesure,however,istofixthewordwithamnemonic.

Step10:FillOutAFlashcardandMakeaNewEntryinYourNotebook

Thepaperworkisveryimportant,particularlyifyou’retryingtolearnalotofnewwordsinashortperiodoftime.

Step11:UsetheNewWordEveryChanceYouGetDaretoberepetitious.Ifyoudon’tkeepnewknowledgeinshape,youwon’tkeepitatall.

TwoFinalWordsofAdvice:BeSuspiciousYoualreadyknowsomeofthewordsinthebook.Youmayknowquiteafewofthem.Naturally,youdon’tneedtodrillyourselfonwordsyoualreadyknowanduse.Butbecareful.Beforeskippingaword,makecertainyoureallydoknowwhatitmeans.Someofthemostembarrassingvocabularymistakesoccurwhenapersonconfidentlyusesfamiliarwordsincorrectly.Nowontothewords.Rememberthatyou’llretainmore(andhavemorefun)ifyoutacklethisbookalittleatatime.

CHAPTER2

TheWords

AABASH(uhBASH) v tomakeashamed;toembarrass• Meredithfeltabashedbyherinabilitytorememberherlinesintheschoolchorusof“OldMcDonaldHadaFarm.”

Todosomethingwithoutshameorembarrassmentistodoitunabashedly.• KarlhandedinatermpaperthathehadunabashedlycopiedfromWikipedia.

ABATE(uhBAYT) v tosubside;toreduce• Georgespilledacupofhotcoffeeonhisleg.Ithurtquiteabit.Then,gradually,theagonyabated.

• Badweatherabateswhengoodweatherbeginstoreturn.Arainstormthatdoesnotletupcontinuesunabated.

A tax abatement is a reduction in taxes. Businesses are sometimes given taxabatementsinreturnforbuildingfactoriesinplaceswherethereisaparticularneedforjobs.

ABDICATE (AB duh kayt) v to step down from a position of power orresponsibility• WhenKingEdwardVIII of England decided hewould rather bemarried toWallisWarfieldSimpson,anAmericandivorcée,thanbekingofEngland,heturnedinhiscrownandabdicated.

Evenpeoplewhoaren’tmonarchscanabdicatetheirdutiesandresponsibilities.• Abbyabdicatedherresponsibilitiesasavicepresidentbydumping in thegarbagethereportsshewassupposedtopresenttotheboardofdirectorsandflyingtotheBahamas.

ABERRATION (abuhRAYshun) n somethingnot typical; a deviation fromthestandard• Søren’s bad behavior was anaberration. So was Harry’s good behavior. That is,Søren’swasusuallygood,andHarry’swasusuallybad.

• The chef at this restaurant is dreadful; the decent meal we just had was anaberration.

• AsnowstorminJuneisanaberration;snowdoesn’tnormallyfallinJune.

Anaberrationisanaberrant(uhBERunt)occurrence.• Søren’sbehaviorwasaberrant.Thesummersnowstormwasaberrant.

ABHOR(abHOR) v tohatevery,verymuch;todetest• Emanuelabhorredhavingtowakeupbeforedawn.

To abhor something is to view it with horror. Hating a person is almost friendly incomparisonwithabhorringhimorher.Toabhorrawchickenliversistohaveanabhorrenceofthemortofindthemabhorrent.

ABJECT(ABjekt) adj hopeless;extremelysadandservile;defeated• Whilemostpeoplewouldquickly recover fromastumbleonstage,Mia feltabjecthumiliation.

Anabjectpersonisonewhoiscrushedandwithouthope.Aslavewouldbeabject, inalllikelihood.Perhaps90percentofthetime,whenyouencounterthisworditwillbefollowedbytheword poverty. Abject poverty is hopeless, desperate poverty. The phrase “abjectpoverty” is overused. Writers use it because they are too lazy to think of anythingoriginal.

ABNEGATE(ABnuhgayt) v todenyoneselfthings;toreject;torenounce• Asceticspracticeself-abnegation because theybelieve itwill bring them closer tospiritualpurity.

Self-abnegationisgivinguponeself,usuallyforsomehighercause.

ABORTIVE(uhBORtiv) adj unsuccessful• MarieandElizabethmadeanabortiveeffort tobakeabirthdaycake; that is, theireffortdidnotresultinabirthdaycake.

• Fred’sattempttoclimbthemountainwasabortive;heinjuredhimselfwhenhewashalfwayup.

Toabortsomethingistoenditbeforeitiscompleted.Anabortedpregnancy,calledanabortion, isone thatendsbefore thebaby isborn.Anabortion in thissensedoesn’thavetobetheresultofacontroversialmedicalprocedure.

ABRIDGE(uhBRIJ) v toshorten;tocondense• Thethoughtfuleditorabridgedthemassivebookbyremovingtheboringparts.

Anabridgeddictionaryisonethathasbeenshortenedtokeepitfromcrushingdesksandpeople’slaps.Anabridgmentisashortenedorcondensedwork.

ABSOLUTE(ABsuhloot) adj total;unlimited

Anabsoluterulerisonewhoisruledbynooneelse.Anabsolutemessisatotalmess.Anabsoluteruleisonethathasnoexceptionsandthatyoumustfollow,notwowaysaboutit.Absoluteisalsoanoun.Itmeanssomethingthatistotal,unlimited,orperfect.Death,forlivingthings,isanabsolute.Therejustisn’tanywayaroundit.

ABSOLVE(abZOLV) v toforgiveorfreefromblame;tofreefromsin;tofreefromanobligation• Thepriestabsolvedthesinnerwhohadcometochurchtoconfess.• Tom’s admission of guilt absolved Mary, who had originally been accused of thecrime.

Itisalsopossibletoabsolvesomeoneofaresponsibility.• JakeabsolvedCiaraofherobligationtogotothepromwithhim;hetoldheritwasallrightifshewentwiththecaptainofthefootballteaminstead.

Theactofabsolvingiscalledabsolution(absuhLOOshun).

QuickQuiz#1Matcheachwordinthefirstcolumnwithitsdefinitioninthesecondcolumn.Checkyouranswershere.

1. abash a. stepdownfrompower2. abate b. hopeless3. abdicate c. unsuccessful4. aberration d. forgive5. abhor e. total6. abject f. subside7. abnegate g. detest8. abortive h. shorten9. abridge i. deviation10. absolute j. embarrass11. absolve k. renounce

ABSTINENT(ABstuhnunt) adj abstaining;voluntarilynotdoingsomething,especiallysomethingpleasantthatisbadforyouorhasabadreputation• Beulahusedtobesmoker;nowshe’sabstinent.• Cynthia, whowas dieting, tried to beabstinent, but when she saw the chocolate

cake,sherealizedthatshewouldprobablyhavetoeattheentirething.Apersonwhoabstainsfromsomethingisanabstainerandengagesinabstinence.

ABSTRACT(ABstrakt) adj theoretical;impersonal• He liked oysters in the abstract, but when he actually tried one he becamenauseated.

Tolikesomethingintheabstractistoliketheideaofit.• Brunodoesn’tlikeabstractart;hethinksthatapaintingshouldresemblesomethingreal,notalotofsplatteredpaint.

ABSTRUSE(abSTROOS) adj hardtounderstand• Theprofessor’sarticle,onthemeaningofmeaning,wasabstruse.Michaelcouldn’tevenpronouncethewordsinit.

Nuclearphysicsisasubjectthatistooabstruseformostpeople.

ABYSMAL(uhBIZmul) adj extremelyhopelessorwretched;bottomlessAnabyss(uhBIS)isabottomlesspit,orsomethingsodeepthatitseemsbottomless.Abysmaldespairisdespairsodeepthatnohopeseemspossible.• Thenation’sdebtcrisiswasabysmal;thereseemedtobenopossiblesolution.

Abysmal isoftenusedsomewhatsloppily tomeanverybad.Youmightheara losingbaseball team’s performance referred to as abysmal. This isn’t strictly correct, butmanypeopleusethewordthisway.

ACCOLADE(AKuhlayd) n anaward;anhonorThiswordisgenerallyusedintheplural.• The first break-dancing troupe to perform in Carnegie Hall, the Teflon Toughs,receivedaccoladesfromthecriticsaswellasfromthefans.

ACCOST(uhKAWST) v toapproachandspeaktosomeoneaggressively• Amanda karate-chopped the stranger who accosted her in the street and wasembarrassedtofindhewasanold,blindman.

ACERBIC(uhSURbik) adj sour;severe;likeacidintemper,mood,ortone• Barrysatsilentlyashisfriendsreadtheteacher’sacerbiccommentsonhispaper.

Acerbandacerbicaresynonyms.Acerbityisthestateofbeingacerbic.

ACQUIESCE (ak wee ES) v to comply passively; to accept; to assent; toagree• ThepiratesaskedPetetowalktheplank;hetookonelookattheirswordsandthenacquiesced.

Toacquiesceistodosomethingwithoutobjection—todoitquietly.Asthesimilarityoftheirspellings indicates, thewordsacquiesceandquietareclosely related.TheyarebothbasedonLatinwordsmeaningtorestortobequiet.Acquiesce issometimesusedsloppilyasasimplesynonymforagree insituations inwhichitisn’treallyappropriate.Forexample,itisn’treallypossibletoacquiescenoisily,enthusiastically,oreagerly.Don’tforgetthequietinthemiddle.Toacquiesceistoexhibitacquiescence.

ACRID(AKrid) adj harshlypungent;bitter• Thecheesewehadatthepartyhadanacridtaste;itwasharshandunpleasant.• Longafter thefirehadbeenputout,wecould feel theacridstingofsmoke inournostrils.

Acrid is usedmost oftenwith tastesand smells, but it canbeusedmorebroadly todescribe anything that is offensive in a similar way. A comment that stings like acidcouldbecalledacrid—socouldaharshpersonality.

ACRIMONIOUS(akruhMOHneeus) adj fullofspite;bitter;nasty• George andElizabeth’s discussion turnedacrimonious when Elizabeth introducedthesubjectofGeorge’sperennial,incorrigiblestupidity.

• Relationsbetweenthecompetingcandidatesweresoacrimoniousthateachrefusedtoacknowledgethepresenceoftheother.

ACUMEN(AKyoomun) n keennessofjudgment;mentalsharpness• Awomanwhoknowshowtoturnonedollarintoamillionovernightmightbesaidtohavealotofbusinessacumen.

• Ernie’slackofacumenledhimtoinvestallhismoneyinacompanythathadalreadygoneoutofbusiness.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofthisword.


1. abstinent a. hardtounderstand2. abstract b. voluntarilyavoiding3. abstruse c. wretched4. abysmal d. bitter

5. accolade e. comply6. accost f. harsh7. acerbic g. mentalsharpness8. acquiesce h. theoretical9. acrid i. award10. acrimonious j. approachsomeoneaggressively11. acumen k. sour

ACUTE(uhKYOOT) adj sharp;shrewdIfyoureyesight isacute,youcanseethingsthatotherpeoplecan’t.Youhavevisualacuity (uhKYOOuhtee).Anacutemind isaquick, intelligentone.Youhavementalacuity.Anacutepainisasharppain.Acutemeanssharponlyinafigurativesense.Aknife,whichissharpenoughtocut,isneversaidtobeacute.Acuteisaworddoctorsthrowaroundquiteabit.Anacutediseaseisonethatreachesitsgreatestintensityveryquicklyandthengoesaway.Whatcouldadiseasebeifitisn’tacute?Seechronic.

ADAMANT(ADuhmunt) adj stubborn;unyielding;completelyinflexible• Candicewasadamant:shewouldnevergooutwithPaulagain.

Averyhardsubstance,likeadiamond,isalsoadamant.Adamantine(aduhMANteen)andadamantaresynonyms.Adamancyisbeingadamant.

ADDRESS(uhDRES) v tospeakto;todirectone’sattentiontoToaddressaconventionistogiveaspeechtotheconvention.Toaddressaproblemistofaceitandsetaboutsolvingit.• Ernie addressed the problem of addressing the convention by sitting down andwritinghisspeech.

ADHERENT(adHEERunt) n follower;supporter;believer• Theking’sadherentsthrewabigbirthdaypartyforhim,justtoshowhowmuchtheylikedhim.

Toadheretosomethingistosticktoit.Adherentsarepeoplewhoadhereto,orstickto,somethingorsomeone.Followingsomeoneorsomething,especiallyrulesor laws, isadherence.Areligioncouldbesaidtohaveadherents,assumingtherearepeoplewhobelieveinit.Governments, causes, ideas, people, philosophies, andmany other things can haveadherents,too.


ADMONISH(adMAHNish) v toscoldgently;towarn• Theboys’fatheradmonishedthemnottoeatthepiehehadjustbaked.Whentheydidsoanyway,headmonishedthem.

In the first sentence admonish means warn; in the second it means scold gently.Consideryourselfadmonishednottomisusethisword.Thenounisadmonition(admuhNISHun),andtheadjectiveisadmonitory(adMAHNitoree).

ADROIT(uhDROYT) adj skillful;dexterous;clever;shrewd;sociallyatease• Julio was an adroit salesperson: his highly skilled pitch, backed up by extensiveproductknowledge,nearlyalwaysresultedinasale.

AdroitcomesfromtheFrenchwordforright(as in thedirection)andrefers toanoldsuperstition that right-handedness is superior. It’s a synonym of dexterous (whichcomesfromtheLatinforright)andanantonymofgaucheandmaladroit.• Mybrilliantaccountantadroitlywhippedmytaxesintoshape,thenmadeagaucheremarkaboutmyignoranceoffinancialmatters.

ADULATION(ajuhLAYshun) n wildorexcessiveadmiration;flattery• Thebossthrivedontheadulationofhisschemingsecretary.• Therockstargrewtoabhortheadulationofhisfans.

Theverbisadulate(AJuhlayt).


1. acute a. sharp2. adulation b. follower3. adamant c. sociallyawkward4. address d. scoldgently5. adherent e. speakto6. admonish f. skillful(2)7. adroit g. unyielding8. dexterous h. wildadmiration9. gauche

ADULTERATE(uhDULtuhrayt) v tocontaminate;tomakeimpure• We discovered that the town’s drinking water had radioactive waste in it; wediscovered,inotherwords,thatithadbeenadulterated.

Vegetariansdonotliketheirfoodsadulteratedwithanimalfats.Unadulteratedmeanspure.Unadulteratedjoyisjoyuntaintedbysadness.

ADVERSE(adVURS) adj unfavorable;antagonistic• Wehad to play our soccermatch underadverse conditions: Itwas snowing, andonlythreemembersofourteamhadbotheredtoshowup.

Airplanesoftendon’t fly inadverseweather.Anairplane that tookoff inbadweatherandreacheditsdestinationsafelywouldbesaidtohaveovercomeadversity.Adversitymeans misfortune or unfavorable circumstances. To do something “in the face ofadversity” is toundertakea taskdespiteobstacles.Somepeopleareat theirbest inadversitybecausetheyrisetotheoccasion.Awordoftenconfusedwithadverseisaverse(uhVURS).Thetwoarerelatedbuttheydon’t mean quite the same thing. A person who is averse to doing something is apersonwhodoesn’twanttodoit.Tobeaversetosomethingistobeopposedtodoingit—tohaveanaversiontodoingit.

AESTHETIC(esTHETik) adj havingtodowithartisticbeauty;artistic• Ourartprofessorhadahighlydevelopedaestheticsense;hefoundthingstoadmireinpaintingsthat,tous,lookedlikegarbage.

Someonewhogreatlyadmiresbeautiful thingscanbecalledanaesthete (EStheet).Aestheticsisthestudyofbeautyorprinciplesofbeauty.

AFFABLE(AFuhbul) adj easytotalkto;friendly• Susanwasanaffablegirl;shecouldstrikeupapleasantconversationwithalmostanyone.

• TheJeffersons’dogwasbigbutaffable;itlikedtolicklittlechildrenontheface.

Thenounisaffability.

AFFECTATION (af ek TAY shun) n unnatural or artificial behavior, usuallyintendedtoimpress• Becky’sEnglishaccentisanaffectation.ShespentonlyaweekinEngland,andthatwasseveralyearsago.

• Elizabethhadsomehowacquiredtheabsurdaffectationofpretendingthatshedidn’tknowhowtoturnonatelevisionset.

Apersonwithanaffectationissaidtobeaffected.To affect a characteristic or habit is to adopt it consciously, usually in the hope ofimpressingotherpeople.• Edwardaffectedtobemoreofanartistthanhereallywas.Everyonehatedhimforit.

AFFINITY(uhFINuhtee) n sympathy;attraction;kinship;similarity• Duckshaveanaffinityforwater;thatis,theyliketobeinit.• Childrenhaveanaffinityfortrouble;thatis,theyoftenfindthemselvesinit.• Magnets and iron have anaffinity for each other; that is, each is attracted to theother.

Affinity alsomeanssimilarityor resemblance.There isanaffinity betweensnowandsleet.

AFFLUENT(AFloount) adj rich;prosperousApersoncanbeaffluent;allittakesismoney.Acountrycanbeaffluent,too,ifit’sfullofaffluentpeople.Affluencemeansthesamethingaswealthorprosperity.


AGENDA(uhJENduh) n program;thethingstobedone• What’sontheagendafortheboardmeeting?Alittlegossip,thenlunch.

A politician is often said to have anagenda. The politician’sagenda consists of thethingsheorshewishestoaccomplish.Anagenda,suchasthatforameeting,isoftenwrittendown,butitdoesn’thavetobe.Apersonwhohassneakyambitionsorplansisoftensaidtohaveasecretorhiddenagenda.


1. adulterate a. opposedto2. adverse b. friendly3. averse c. rich4. aesthetic d. unnaturalbehavior5. affable e. artistic

6. affectation f. contaminate7. affinity g. sympathy8. affluent h. unfavorable9. agenda i. program

AGGREGATE(AGruhgut) n sumtotal;acollectionofseparatethingsmixedtogether• Chiliisanaggregateofmeatandbeans.

Aggregate(AGruhgayt)canalsobeaverboranadjective.Youwouldmakechilibyaggregatingmeatandbeans.Chiliisanaggregate(AGruhgut)food.Similarandrelatedwordsincludecongregate,segregate,and integrate.Toaggregateistobringtogether;tocongregateistogettogether;tosegregate istokeepapart(orseparate);tointegrateistounite.

AGNOSTIC(agNAHStik) n onewhobelievesthattheexistenceofagodcanbeneitherprovennordisprovenAnatheistissomeonewhodoesnotbelieveinagod.Anagnostic,ontheotherhand,isn’tsure.Heorshedoesn’tbelieve,butdoesn’tnotbelieve,either.Thenounisagnosticism(agNAHStihsizum).• Anatheisthimself,JonconcludedfromJorge’sspiritualskepticismthattheysharedsimilar beliefs. In fact, Jorge’s reluctance to affirm or discredit a god’s existencereflectshisagnosticism.

AGRARIAN(uhGRAReeun) adj relatingtoland;relatingtothemanagementorfarmingoflandAgrarianusuallyhastodowithfarming.Thinkofagriculture.• Politics in this country often pit the rural, agrarian interests against the urbaninterests.

ALACRITY(uhLAKritee) n cheerfuleagernessorreadinesstorespond• Davidcouldhardlywaitforhisparentstoleave;hecarriedtheirluggageouttothecarwithgreatalacrity.


ALLEGE(uhLEJ) v toassertwithoutproof• IfIsay,“CedrickallegesthatIstolehishat,”Iamsayingtwothings:

1. CedricksaysIstolehishat.2. IsayIdidn’tdoit.

Toallege something is to assert itwithout proving it. Such an assertion is called anallegation(aluhGAYshun).Theadjectiveisalleged(uhLEJD).Ifthepoliceaccusesomeoneofhavingcommittedacrime,newspaperswillusuallyrefertothatpersonasanallegedcriminal.• Thepolicehavealleged thatMarycommitted thecrime,buta juryhasn’tmadeadecisionyet.

ALLEVIATE(uhLEEveeayt) v torelieve,usuallytemporarilyorincompletely;tomakebearable;tolessen• Visiting the charmingpet cemeteryalleviated thewoman’sgrief over thedeathofhercanary.

• Aspirin alleviates headache pain. When your headache comes back, take somemoreaspirin.

ALLOCATE(ALuhkayt) v todistribute;toassign;toallot• Theeventhadbeenabigfailure,andDavid,Aaliyah,andJanspentseveralhoursattemptingtoallocatetheblame.Intheend,theydecidedithadallbeenJan’sfault.

• Theofficemanagerhadallocatedjustsevenpaperclipsforourentiredepartment.

ALLOY(ALoy) n acombinationoftwoormorethings,usuallymetals• Brassisanalloyofcopperandzinc,meaningyoumakebrassbycombiningcopperandzinc.

Alloy (uhLOY) is oftenusedasa verb.Toalloy two things is tomix them together.Thereisusuallyanimplicationthatthemixtureislessthanthesumoftheparts.Thatis, there isoftensomethingundesirableordebasedaboutanalloy (asopposed toapuresubstance).Unalloyedmeansundilutedor pure.Unalloyed dislike is dislike undiminished by anypositivefeelings;unalloyedloveisloveundiminishedbyanynegativefeelings.


1. aggregate a. gettogether2. congregate b. unite3. segregate c. someoneunconvincedaboutthe

existenceofagod

4. integrate d. relieve5. agnostic e. keepapart6. agrarian f. combinationofmetals7. alacrity g. sumtotal8. allege h. distribute9. alleviate i. assert10. allocate j. cheerfuleagernes11. alloy k. relatingtotheland

ALLUSION(uhLOOzhun) n anindirectreference(oftentoaliterarywork);ahintToalludetosomethingistorefertoitindirectly.• WhenRalphsaid,“Isometimeswonderwhethertobeornottobe,”hewasalludingtoafamouslineinHamlet.IfRalphhadsaid,“AsHamletsaid,‘Tobeornottobe,that is the question,’” his statement would have been a direct reference, not anallusion.

Anallusion isanallusiononly if thesource isn’t identifieddirectly.Anythingelse isareferenceoraquotation.• If Andrea says, “I enjoyed your birthday party,” she isn’t alluding to the birthdayparty;she’smentioningit.Butifshesays,“Ilikeyourchoiceofpartymusic,”sheisalludingtotheparty.

ALOOF(uhLOOF) adj uninvolved;standingoff;keepingone’sdistance• Al,ontheroof,feltveryaloof.

Tostandalooffromatouch-footballgameistostandonthesidelinesandnottakepart.Catsareoftensaidtobealoofbecausetheyusuallymindtheirownbusinessanddon’tcravetheaffectionofpeople.

ALTRUISM (AL troo iz um) n selflessness; generosity; devotion to theinterestsofothers• The private foundation depended on the altruism of the extremely rich old man.When he decided to start spending his money on yachts and sports cars, thefoundationwentoutofbusiness.

Tobealtruisticistohelpotherswithoutexpectationofpersonalgain.Givingmoneytocharityisanactofaltruism.Thealtruistdoesitjusttobenice,althoughheorshewillprobablyalsoremembertotakeataxdeduction.Analtruisticactisalsoanactofphilanthropy,whichmeansalmostthesamething.

AMBIENCE(AMbeeuns) n atmosphere;mood;feeling• BydecoratingtheirhousewithplasticbeachballsandPopsiclesticks,theCramerscreatedaplayfulambiencethatdelightedyoungchildren.

A restaurant’sambience is the look,mood,and feelof theplace.Peoplesometimessay that a restaurant has “an atmosphere of ambience.” To do so is redundant—atmosphereandambiencemeanthesamething.Ambience is a French word that can also be pronounced “ahm BYAHNS.” Theadjectiveambient(AMbeeunt)meanssurroundingorcirculating.

AMBIGUOUS(amBIGyoous) adj unclearinmeaning;confusing;capableofbeinginterpretedindifferentways• Welistenedtotheweatherreport,buttheforecastwasambiguous;wecouldn’ttellwhetherthedaywasgoingtoberainyorsunny.

• ThepoemwereadinEnglishclasswasambiguous;noonehadanyideawhatthepoetwastryingtosay.

Thenounisambiguity(ambihGYOOuhtee).

AMBIVALENT (am BIV uh lunt) adj undecided; having opposed feelingssimultaneously• Susan feltambivalent aboutAlec as a boyfriend.Her frequent desire to break upwithhimreflectedthisambivalence.


1. allusion a. atmosphere2. aloof b. standoffish3. altruism c. confusing4. ambience d. generosity5. ambiguous e. indirectreference6. ambivalent f. undecided

AMELIORATE(uhMEELyuhrayt) v tomakebetterormoretolerable• Themoodoftheprisonerswasamelioratedwhenthewardengavethemextrafreetimeoutside.

• Mygreat-uncle’sgiftofseveralmilliondollarsconsiderablyamelioratedmyfinancial

condition.

AMENABLE(uhMEEnuhbul) adj obedient;willingtogiveintothewishesofanother;agreeable• Isuggested thatBradpay formy lunchaswellas forhisown; tomysurprise,hewasamenable.

• Theplumberwasamenable tomypayingmybillwithjellybeans,whichwasluckybecauseIhadmorejellybeansthanmoney.


AMENITY(uhMENitee) n pleasantness;attractiveorcomfortablefeature• Theamenitiesatthelocalclubincludeaswimmingpool,agolfcourse,andatenniscourt.

Ifanolderguestatyourhouseasksyouwheretheamenitiesare,heorsheisprobablyaskingfordirectionstothebathroom.Thoselittlebarsofsoapandbottlesofshampoofoundinhotelroomsareknowninthehotel business as amenities. They are meant to increase your comfort. People likethembecausepeoplelikealmostanythingthatisfree(although,ofcourse,thecostofprovidingsuchamenitiesissimplyaddedtothepriceofhotelrooms).

AMIABLE(AYmeeuhbul) adj friendly;agreeable• Ouramiableguidemadeusfeelrightathomeinwhatwouldotherwisehavebeenacoldandforbiddingmuseum.

• The drama critic was so amiable in person that even the subjects of negativereviewsfounditimpossiblenottolikeher.

Amicableisasimilarandrelatedword.Twonotveryamiablepeoplemightnonethelessmake an amicable agreement.Amicable means politely friendly or not hostile. Twocountries might trade amicably with each other even while technically remainingenemies.• JulioandClarissahadasurprisinglyamicable divorceand remainedgood friendsevenafterpayingtheirlawyers’fees.

AMNESTY(AMnuhstee) n anofficialpardonforagroupofpeoplewhohaveviolatedalaworpolicyAmnestycomesfromthesamerootasamnesia,theconditionthatcausescharactersinmoviestoforgeteverythingexcepthowtospeakEnglishanddrivetheircars.Anamnestyisanofficialforgetting.Whenastategovernmentdeclaresataxamnesty,itissayingthatifpeoplepaythetaxestheyowe,thegovernmentwillofficially“forget”

thattheybrokethelawbynotpayingtheminthefirstplace.Thewordamnesty always refers toapardongiven toagroupor classofpeople.Apardongrantedtoasinglepersonissimplyapardon.

AMORAL (ayMORul) adj lackingasenseof rightandwrong;neithergoodnorbad,neithermoralnorimmoral;withoutmoralfeelings• Very young children are amoral; when they cry, they aren’t being bad or good—they’remerelydoingwhattheyhavetodo.

Amoralpersondoesright;an immoralpersondoeswrong;anamoralpersonsimplydoes.

AMOROUS(AMurus) adj feelingloving,especiallyinasexualsense;inlove;relatingtolove• The amorous couple made quite a scene at the movie. The movie they werewatching,LoveStory,wasprettyamorous itself. Itwasaboutanamorous couple,oneofwhomdied.

AMORPHOUS(uhMORfus) adj shapeless;withoutaregularorstableshape;bloblike• Ed’s teacher said that his term paper was amorphous; it was as shapeless anddisorganizedasacloud.

• Thesleepylittletownwasengulfedbyanamorphousblobofglowingprotoplasm—ahigherintelligencefromouterspace.

Tosaythatsomethinghasan“amorphousshape”isacontradiction.Howcanashapebeshapeless?

ANACHRONISM (uhNAK ruhniz um) n something out of place in time orhistory;anincongruity• Inthisdayofimpersonalhospitals,adoctorwhoremembersyournameseemslikeananachronism.

ANALOGY(uhNALuhjee) n acomparisonofonethingtoanother;similarity• Tosayhavinganallergyfeelslikebeingbittenbyanalligatorwouldbetomakeordrawananalogybetweenanallergyandanalligatorbite.

Analogyusuallyreferstosimilaritiesbetweenthingsthatarenototherwiseverysimilar.Ifyoudon’tthinkanallergyisatalllikeanalligatorbite,youmightsay,“Thatanalogydoesn’tholdup.”Tosay that there isnoanalogybetweenanallergyandanalligatorbiteistosaythattheyarenotanalogous(uhNALuhgus).Somethingsimilarinaparticularrespecttosomethingelseisitsanalog(ANuhlawg),sometimesspelledanalogue.


1. ameliorate a. pleasantness2. amenable b. comparison3. amenity c. obedient4. amiable d. withoutmoralfeeling5. amicable e. feelingloving6. amnesty f. makebetter7. amoral g. shapeless8. amorous h. politelyfriendly9. amorphous i. officialpardon10. anachronism j. friendly11. analogy k. incongruity

ANARCHY (AN ur kee) n absence of government or control; lawlessness;disorder• ThecountryfellintoastateofanarchyaftertherebelskidnappedthepresidentandlockedthelegislatureinsidetheCapitol.

Theword doesn’t have to be used in its strict politicalmeaning. You could say thattherewasanarchy inthekindergartenwhentheteachersteppedoutofthedoorforamoment.Youcouldsayit,andyouwouldprobablyberight.The words anarchy andmonarchy are closely related. Anarchy means no leader;monarchy,agovernmentheadedbyakingorqueen,meansoneleader.

ANECDOTE (AN ik doht) n a short account of a humorous or revealingincident• The old lady kept the motorcycle gang thoroughly amused with anecdote afteranecdoteabouthercutelittledog.

• Alvare toldananecdoteabout the timeJessicagotherbig toestuck inabowlingball.

• The vice president set the crowd at ease with an anecdote about his childhooddesiretobecomeavicepresident.

Tosaythattheevidenceoflifeonotherplanetsismerelyanecdotal istosaythatwehaven’tcapturedanyaliens,butsimplyheardalotofstoriesfrompeoplewhoclaimed

tohavebeenkidnappedbyflyingsaucers.

ANGUISH(ANGgwish) n agonizingphysicalormentalpain• Theresahadbeena nurse in the emergency room for twenty years, but shehadnevergottenusedtotheanguishofaccidentvictims.

ANIMOSITY(anuhMAHSuhtee) n resentment;hostility;illwill• The rivals for the state championship felt great animosity toward each other.Whenevertheyranintoeachother,theysnarled.

Apersonwhoselookcouldkillisapersonwhoseanimosityisevident.

ANOMALY(uhNAHMuhlee) n anaberration;anirregularity;adeviation• Asnowywinterdayisnotananomaly,butasnowyJulydayis.• Ahousewithoutaroofisananomaly—acold,wetanomaly.

A roofless house could be said to be anomalous. Something that is anomalous issomethingthatisnotnormalorregular.

ANTECEDENT(antuhSEEDunt) n someoneorsomethingthatwentbefore;somethingthatprovidesamodelforsomethingthatcameafterit• Your parents and grandparents could be said to be yourantecedents; they camebeforeyou.

• Thehorse-drawnwagonisanantecedentofthemodernautomobile.Antecedentcanalsobeusedasanadjective.Theoillampwasantecedenttothelightbulb.In grammar, the antecedent of a pronoun is the person, place, or thing to which itrefers.Intheprevioussentence,theantecedentofitisantecedent.Inthesentence“BillandHarrywerewalking together, and thenhehit him,” it is impossible to determinewhattheantecedentsofthepronouns(heandhim)are.Antecedentisrelatedtoawordthatissimilarinmeaning:precedent.

ANTIPATHY(anTIPuhthee) n firmdislike• I feelantipathy towardbananaswrapped inham. I donotwant them fordinner. Ialsofeelacertainamountofantipathytowardthecookwhokeepstryingtoforcemetoeatthem.Myfeelingsonthesemattersarequiteantipathetic(antipuhTHETik).

Icouldalsosaythatham-wrappedbananasandthecookswhoservethemareamongmyantipathies.MyantipathiesarethethingsIdon’tlike.


ANTITHESIS(anTITHuhsis) n thedirectopposite• ErinistheantithesisofAaron:Erinisbrightandbeautiful;Aaronisdullandplain.


APARTHEID (uhPAHRThyte) n the formerpolicyof racial segregationandoppressionintheRepublicofSouthAfricaThewordapartheidisrelatedtothewordapart.UnderapartheidinSouthAfrica,blackswerekeptapartfromwhitesanddeniedallrights.Thewordapartheidissometimesappliedtolessradicalformsofracialinjusticeandtootherkindsofseparation.CriticshavesometimesaccusedAmericanpublicschoolsofpracticingeducationalapartheidbyprovidingsubstandardschoolingfornonwhites.


1. anarchy a. resentment2. monarchy b. racialoppression3. anecdote c. firmdislike4. anguish d. irregularity5. animosity e. whatwentbefore6. anomaly f. agonizingpain7. antecedent g. amusingaccount8. antipathy h. governmentbykingorqueen9. antithesis i. lawlessness10. apartheid j. directopposite

APATHY(APuhthee) n lackofinterest;lackoffeeling• Themembers of the student council accused the senior class ofapathy becausenoneoftheseniorshadbotheredtosignupforthebigfundraiser.

• Jilldidn’tcareonebitaboutcurrentevents;shewasentirelyapathetic.

APHORISM(AFuhrizum) n abrief,oftenwittysaying;aproverb• BenjaminFranklinwasfondofaphorisms.Hewasfrequentlyaphoristic.

• ChefHussain isparticularly fondofWoolf’saphorism, “Onecannot thinkwell, lovewell,orsleepwell,ifonehasnotdinedwell.”

APOCALYPSE (uh PAHK uh lips) n a prophetic revelation, especially oneconcerningtheendoftheworldInstrictusage,apocalypsereferstospecificChristianwritings,butmostpeopleuseitmoregenerallyinconnectionwithpredictionsofthingslikenuclearwar,thedestructionof the ozone layer, and the spread of fast-food restaurants to every corner of theuniverse.Tomakesuchpredictions,or tobedeeplypessimistic, is tobeapocalyptic(uhpahkuhLIPtik).

APOCRYPHAL (uh POK ruh ful) n of dubious authenticity; fictitious;spurious• Brandi’sblogdiscreditedtheapocryphalreportofMartiansinCongress.

Anapocryphal story isonewhose truth isnotprovenorwhose falsehood isstronglysuspected. Like apocalypse, this word has a religious origin. TheApocrypha are anumberof“extra”booksoftheOldTestamentthatProtestantsandJewsdon’tincludeintheirBiblesbecausetheydon’tthinkthey’reauthentic.

APOTHEOSIS (uhpahtheeOHsis) n elevationtodivinestatus; theperfectexampleofsomething• SomepeoplethinkthattheCorvetteistheapotheosisofAmericancarmaking.Theythinkit’stheideal.

• Geoffreyisunbearabletobewith.Hethinkshe’stheapotheosisofmasculinity.

APPEASE(uhPEEZ) v tosoothe;topacifybygivinginto• Jaleel appeased his angry mother by promising to make his bed every morningwithoutfailuntiltheendoftime.

• The trembling farmer handed over all his grain, but still the emperor was notappeased.

Thenounisappeasement.

APPRECIATE(uhPREEsheeayt) v toincreaseinvalue• TheBrownsbought theirhouse twentyyearsago forahundred thousanddollars,but it hasappreciated considerably since then; today it’sworth almost twomilliondollars.

• Harry bought Joe’s collection of old chewing tobacco tins as an investment. Hishopewas that the tinswouldappreciate over thenext fewyears,enablinghim toturnaprofitbysellingthemtosomeoneelse.

Theoppositeofappreciateisdepreciate.Whenacarlosesvalueovertime,wesayithasdepreciated.

APPREHENSIVE(apruhHENsiv) adj worried;anxious• Theapprehensivechildclungtohisfather’slegasthetwoofthemwalkedintothemaincircustenttowatchtheliontamer.

• Rheawasapprehensiveabouttheexambecauseshehadforgottentogotoclassforseveralmonths.Asitturnedout,herapprehensionswerejustified.Shecouldn’tanswerasinglequestiononthetest.

Amisapprehensionisamisunderstanding.• Rheahadnomisapprehensions abouther lackofpreparation; sheknewperfectlywellshewouldfailabysmally.


1. apathy a. ofdubiousauthenticity2. aphorism b. misunderstanding3. apocalypse c. increaseinvalue4. apocryphal d. lackofinterest5. apotheosis e. soothe6. appease f. propheticrevelation7. appreciate g. decreaseinvalue8. depreciate h. theperfectexample9. apprehensive i. wittysaying10. misapprehension j. worried

APPROBATION(apruhBAYshun) n approval;praise• The crowd expressed its approbation of the team’s performance by gleefullycoveringthefieldwithtoiletpaper.

• Theambassador’sactionsmetwiththeapprobationofhiscommanderinchief.Approbationisafancywordforapproval,towhichitiscloselyrelated.Disapprobationisdisapproval.

APPROPRIATE(uhPROHpreeayt) v totakewithoutpermission;tosetasideforaparticularuse• Nick appropriated my lunch; he grabbed it out of my hands and ate it. So IappropriatedEd’s.

• Thedeerandraccoonsappropriatedthevegetablesinourgardenlastsummer.Thisyearwe’llbuildabetterfence.

Don’tconfusethepronunciationoftheverbtoappropriatewiththepronunciationoftheadjectiveappropriate (uhPROHpree it).WhenCongress decides to buy somenewsubmarines, itappropriatesmoney for them.That is, it setssomemoneyaside.Themoneythussetasideiscalledanappropriation.Whenanelectedofficial takesmoney thatwassupposed tobespentonsubmarinesand spends it on a Rolls-Royce and a few mink coats, he or she is said to havemisappropriatedthemoney.When the government decides to build a highway through your backyard, itexpropriatesyourpropertyforthispurpose.Thatis,itusesitsofficialauthoritytotakepossessionofyourproperty.Culturalappropriation iswhenonegroupadoptselementsofanothergroup’sculture,usuallyinanoffensivemanner.

APTITUDE(APtuhtood) n capacityforlearning;naturalability• Some rare students have a marked aptitude for taking the SAT. They earn highscoreswithoutanypreparation.

• I tried to repair my car, but as I sat on the floor of my garage, surrounded bymysteriousparts,IrealizedthatIhadnoaptitudeforautomobilerepair.

Theoppositeofaptitudeisineptitude.

ARBITER(AHRbuhtur) n onewhodecides;ajudge• Anarbiteroffashiondetermineswhatotherpeoplewillwearbywearingitherself.

Anarbiterarbitrates,orweighsopposingviewpointsandmakesdecisions.Thewordsarbiter and arbitrator mean the same thing. An arbiter presides over an arbitration,whichisaformalmeetingtosettleadispute.

ARBITRARY(AHRbuhtreree) adj random;capricious• The gradesMr. Simone gave his English students appeared to bearbitrary; theydidn’tseemrelatedtotheworkthestudentshaddoneinclass.

• Theoldjudgewasarbitraryinsentencingcriminals;therewasnosensiblepatterntothesentencesshehandeddown.

ARCANE(ahrKAYN) adj mysterious;knownonlytoaselectfew• The rites of the secret cultwerearcane; no one outside the cult knewwhat theywere.

• Thearcaneformulaforthecocktailwasscrawledonafadedscrapofpaper.• Wecouldmakeoutonlyalittleofthearcaneinscriptionontheoldtrunk.

ARCHAIC(ahrKAYik) adj extremelyold;ancient;outdated• Thetribe’straditionsarearchaic.Theyhavebeeninforceforthousandsofyears.

Archaiccivilizationsareonesthatdisappearedalongtimeago.Anarchaicmeaningofawordisonethatisn’tusedanymore.


1. approbation a. misusepublicmoney2. appropriate b. extremelyold3. misappropriate c. takewithoutpermission4. expropriate d. weighopposingviews5. aptitude e. mysterious6. arbiter f. approval7. arbitrate g. random8. arbitrary h. takepropertyofficially9. arcane i. judge10. archaic j. naturalability

ARCHETYPE(AHRkuhtype) n anoriginalmodelorpatternAnarchetype is similar to a prototype. Aprototype is a first, tentativemodel that ismadebut thatwill be improved in later versions.HenryFord built aprototype of hisModelTinhisbasement.Hismotherkickedhimout,sohehadnochoicebuttostartamotorcarcompany.Anarchetypeisusuallysomethingthatprecedessomethingelse.• Platoisthearchetypeofallphilosophers.

Anarchetypeisarchetypalorarchetypical.


ARDENT(AHRdunt) adj passionate;enthusiastic• Larry’sardentwooingfinallygotonCynthia’snerves,andshetoldhimtogetlost.• Blanchehappilymadecakesfrommorningtonight.Shewasanardentbaker.

Tobeardentistohaveardor.• Theyoungloverswereoblivioustoeverythingexcepttheirardorforeachother.

ARDUOUS(AHRjoous) adj hard;difficult• Climbingthemountainwasarduous.Weweresoexhaustedwhenwegottothetopthatweforgottoenjoytheview.

• Thearduouscartripwasmadeevenmoredifficultbythefactthatallfourtireswentflat,oneafteranother.

ARISTOCRATIC(uhristuhKRATik) adj ofnoblebirth;snobbish• PrinceCharlesisaristocratic.HeisamemberoftheBritisharistocracy.• Polo,whichPrinceCharlesenjoys,isoftensaidtobeanaristocraticsportbecauseitistypicallyplayedbyprivilegedpeople.

It is possible to be an aristocrat (uh RIS tuh krat) without being rich, althougharistocrats tend to be quite wealthy. There is nothing you can do to become anaristocrat,shortofbeingbornintoafamilyofthem.Peoplewhoactasthoughtheythinktheyarebetterthaneveryoneelseareoftensaidtobearistocratic.Apersonwithan“aristocraticbearing”isapersonwhokeepshisorhernoseintheairandlooksdownoneveryoneelse.

ARTFUL(AHRTful) adj crafty;wily;sly• Afterdinner,theartfulcounselortoldthecampersthattherewasamadmanlooseinthewoods,thuscausingthemtoliequietlyinthetent.

TheArtfulDodgerisaslyconmaninCharlesDickens’sOliverTwist.Someonewhoisartless,ontheotherhand,issimpleandhonest.Youngchildrenarecharminglyartless.

ARTIFICE(AHRTuhfus) n aclevertrick;cunning• TheTrojanHorsewasanartificedesignedtogetthesoldiersinsidethewalls.• Mrs.Bakerhadtoresorttoartificetogetherchildrentotaketheirmedicine:shetoldthemthatittastedlikechocolatesyrup.

Artificeandartificialarerelatedwords.

ASCENDANCY(uhSENdunsee) n supremacy;domination• Handheldgadgetshavebeeninascendancyforthepastfewyears.• Theascendancyofthenewregimehadbeenagreatboonfortheeconomyofthetinytropicalkingdom.

Whensomethingisinascendancy,itisascendant.

ASCETIC(uhSETik) adj hermitlike;practicingself-denial

• The college student’s apartment, which contained no furniture except a singletatteredmattress,wasuncomfortablyascetic.

• Inhisefforttosavemoney,Royledanasceticexistence:heneverwentout,neverateanythingbutsoup,andneverhadanyfun.

Asceticcanalsobeanoun.Apersonwholeadsanasceticexistenceisanascetic.Anasceticissomeonewhopracticesasceticism.Asimilar-soundingwordwithaverydifferentmeaningisaesthetic(esTHETik).Don’tbeconfused.

ASSIDUOUS(uhSIJoous) adj hardworking;busy;quitediligent• Theworkmenwereassiduousintheirefforttogetnothingdone;insteadofworking,theydrankcoffeealldaylong.

• Wendell was the only assiduous student in the entire math class; all the otherstudentstriedtocopytheirhomeworkfromhim.


1. archetype a. passionate2. ardent b. ofnoblebirth3. arduous c. supremacy4. aristocratic d. hardworking5. artful e. difficult6. artifice f. trickery7. ascendancy g. hermitlike8. ascetic h. crafty9. assiduous i. originalmodel

ASSIMILATE(uhSIMuhlayt) v totakein;toabsorb;tolearnthoroughlyToassimilatean idea is to take it inas thoroughlyas ifyouhadeaten it. (Yourbodyassimilatesnutrientsfromthefoodyoueat.)Toassimilateknowledgeistoabsorbit,toletitsoakin.Peoplecanbeassimilated,too.• Margaretdidn’thaveanyfriendswhenshefirstwenttothenewschool,butshewasgradually assimilated—she became part of the new community. When she waschosenforthecheerleadingsquad,herassimilationwascomplete.

ASSUAGE(uhSWAYJ) v tosoothe;topacify;toeasethepainof;torelieve• Bethwasextremelyangry,butIassuagedherbypromisingtoleavethehouseandneverreturn.

• The thunderstormmade the baby cry, but I assuaged her fears by singing her alullaby.


ASTUTE(uhSTOOT) adj shrewd;keeninjudgment• Morriswasanastute judgeofcharacter;hewasverygoodatseeingwhatpeoplewerereallylikedespitewhattheypretendedtobe.

• Yaelnoticeseverythingimportantandmanythingsthatotherpeopledon’tsee;heisanastuteobserver.

ATHEIST(AYtheeist) n onewhodoesnotbelieveintheexistenceofanygodordivinebeing• Hadleyhadalwaysimaginedabigreligiouswedding,butEmma,alifelongatheist,preferredaVegaselopement.

Thenounformisatheism.Atheismisoftenconfusedwithagnosticism,butthetwoarenotthesame.

ATTRITION (uh TRISH un) n gradual wearing away, weakening, or loss; anaturalorexpecteddecreaseinnumbersorsize• Mr.Gregorydidnothavethehearttofirehisworkerseventhoughhiscompanywaslosingmillionseachyear.Healtruisticallypreferredtoloseworkersthroughattritionwhentheymovedaway,retired,ordecidedtochangejobs.

AUDACITY(awDASuhtee) n boldness;recklessdaring;impertinence• Edgar’ssoaringleapoffthetopofthebuildingwasanactofgreataudacity.• Ivanhadtheaudacitytotellthatniceoldladytoshutup.

Apersonwithaudacityissaidtobeaudacious.• BertmadetheaudaciousdecisiontoclimbMt.Everestinbowlingshoes.

AUGMENT(awgMENT) v tomakebigger;toaddto;toincrease• Thearmyaugmenteditsattackbysendinginafewthousandmoresoldiers.

Toaugmentarecordcollectionistoaddmorerecordstoit.Addinganotherexampletothisdefinitionwouldaugmentit.Theactofaugmentingiscalledaugmentation.

AUSPICIOUS (aw SPISH us) adj favorable; promising; pointing to a goodresult• Aclearskyinthemorningisanauspicioussignonthedayofapicnic.• The first quarter of the football game was not auspicious; the home team wasoutscoredbythirtypoints.

AUSTERE(awSTEER) adj unadorned;stern;forbidding;withoutexcess• TheSmiths’housewasaustere:therewasnofurnitureinit,andtherewasnothinghangingonthewalls.

• Quentin,withhisausterepersonality,didn’tmakemany friends.Mostpeopleweretoointimidatedbyhimtointroducethemselvesorsayhello.

Thenounausterity(awSTERuhtee)isgenerallyusedtomeanroughlythesamethingaspoverty.Toliveinausterityistolivewithoutcomforts.• Afterthedevastationofthewar,thecitizensinAustrialivedinausterity.

AUTOCRATIC(awtuhKRATik) adj rulingwithabsoluteauthority;extremelybossy• The ruthlessdictator’sautocratic reignendedwhen the rebelsblewuphispalacewithplasticexplosives.

• Thistwo-year-oldcanbeveryautocratic—hewantswhathewantswhenhewantsit.

• Nooneatourofficelikedtheautocraticmanager.Healwaysinsistedonhavinghisownway,andheneverletanyonemakeadecisionwithoutconsultinghim.

An autocrat is an absolute ruler. Autocracy (aw TAHK ruh see), a system ofgovernmentheadedbyanautocrat,isnotdemocratic—thepeopledon’tgetasay.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofthesewords.


1. assimilate a. shrewd2. assuage b. boldness3. astute c. favorable4. attrition d. makebigger5. audacity e. soothe

6. augment f. extremelybossy7. auspicious g. absorb8. austere h. unadorned9. autocratic i. gradualwearingaway

AUTONOMOUS(awTAHNuhmus) adj actingindependently• TheWestCoastofficeofthelawfirmwasquiteautonomous;itneveraskedtheEastCoastofficeforpermissionbeforeitdidanything.

Anautonomousnation isone that is independent—itgoverns itself. It issaid tohaveautonomy.To act autonomously is to act on your own authority. If something happensautonomously,ithappensallbyitself.

AVARICE(AVuris) n greed;excessiveloveofriches• Therichman’savaricewasannoyingtoeveryonewhowantedto layhandsonhismoney.

Avariceistheoppositeofgenerosityorphilanthropy.Tobeavariciousistolovewealthaboveallelseandnottoshareitwithotherpeople.

AVOW(uhVOW) v toclaim;todeclareboldly;toadmit• At theageof twenty-five,Louis finallyavowed thathecouldn’t standhismother’sapplepie.

Toavowsomethingistodeclareoradmitsomethingthatmostpeoplearereluctanttodeclareoradmit.• Mr.Smithavowedontelevisionthathehadneverpaidanyincometax.Shortlyafterthisavowal,hereceivedalengthyletterfromtheInternalRevenueService.

An avowed criminal is one who admits he is a criminal. To disavow is to deny orrepudiatesomeoneelse’sclaim.• The mayor disavowed the allegation that she had embezzled campaigncontributions.

AVUNCULAR(uhVUNGkyuhlur) adj likeanuncle,especiallyaniceuncleWhat’sanunclelike?Kind,helpful,generous,understanding,andsoon,inanuncle-ysortofway.Thisisafunwordtouse,althoughit’susuallyhardtofindoccasionstouseit.• Professor Zia often gave us avuncular advice; he took a real interest in oureducation and helped us with other problems that weren’t related tomultidimensionalcalculus.


AWRY(uhRYE) adj offcourse;twistedtooneside• Thehunter’sbulletwentawry.Insteadofhittingthebear,ithithistruck.• Whenwecouldn’tfindarestaurant,ourdinnerplanswentawry.• Theoldwoman’shatwasawry;ithaddippedinfrontofherlefteye.

AXIOM(AKseeum) n aself-evidentruleortruth;awidelyacceptedsaying“Everythingthatislivingdies”isanaxiom.Anaxiom in geometry is a rule that doesn’t have to be proved because its truth isacceptedasobvious,self-evident,orunprovable.


1. autonomous a. greed2. avarice b. likeanuncle3. avow c. self-evidenttruth4. avuncular d. actingindependently5. awry e. claim6. axiom f. offcourse

BBANAL(buhNAL) adj unoriginal;ordinary• ThedinnerconversationwassobanalthatAmandafellasleepinherdessertdish.

Abanalstatementisaboring,trite,anduncreativestatement.Itisabanality.• WhatmadeYufallasleepwasthebanalityofthedinnerconversation.

Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“BANEul.”

BANE(bayn) n poison;torment;causeofharmBanemeans poison (wolfbane is a kind of poisonous plant), but theword is usuallyusedfiguratively.Tosaythatsomeoneisthebaneofyourexistenceistosaythatthatpersonpoisonsyourenjoymentoflife.

Banefulmeansharmful.

BASTION(BASchun) n stronghold;fortress;fortifiedplace• Mrs.Garnett’sclassroomisabastionofbanality;thatis,it’saplacewhereoriginalityseldom,ifever,makesitswayinside.

• The robbers terrorized the village for several weeks and then escaped to theirbastionhighinthetreacherousmountains.

BEGET(bihGET) v togivebirthto;tocreate;toleadto;tocause• Thosewholieshouldbecreativeandhavegoodmemories,becauseonelieoftenbegetsanotherlie,whichbegetsanother.

BELABOR(biLAYbur) v togooverrepeatedlyortoanabsurdextent• Formorethananhour,theboringspeakerbelaboredherpointaboutthechallengeofforeigncompetition.

• Mr.Irvingspenttheentireperiodbelaboringtheobvious;hemadethesamedumbobservationoverandoveragain.

BELEAGUER(bihLEEgur) v tosurround;tobesiege;toharass• Noonecould leavethebeleagueredcity; theattackingarmyhadclosedoffall theexits.

• Oscarfeltbeleagueredatwork.Hewasmonthsbehindinhisassignments,andhehadlittlehopeofcatchingup.

• Thebeleagueredexecutiveseldomemergedfromthehisofficeashestruggledtodealwiththegrowingscandal.

BELIE(bihLYE) v togiveafalseimpressionof;tocontradict• Melvin’ssmilebeliedthegriefhewasfeeling;despitehishappyexpressionhewasterriblysadinside.

• Themessyappearanceof thebanquet tablebelied thehugeeffort thathadgoneintosettingitup.

Aword that is sometimes confusedwithbelie isbetray. To rework the first exampleabove: Melvin was smiling, but a small tear in one eye betrayed the grief he wasfeeling.

BELITTLE(bihLITul) v tomaketoseemlittle;toputsomeonedown• Weworkedhard toputout the fire,but the firechiefbelittledoureffortsbysayingshewishedshehadbroughtsomemarshmallows.

• Thechairman’sbelittlingcommentsmadeeveryonefeelsmall.


1. banal a. maketoseemlittle2. bane b. unoriginal3. bastion c. gooverrepeatedly4. beget d. stronghold5. belabor e. poison6. beleaguer f. giveafalseimpression7. belie g. surround8. belittle h. givebirthto

BELLIGERENT(buhLIJurunt) adj combative;quarrelsome;wagingwar• Alwassobelligerentthatthepartyhadthefeelofaboxingmatch.

Abullyisbelligerent.Tobebelligerentistopushotherpeoplearound,tobenoisyandargumentative,tothreatenotherpeople,andgenerallytomakeanuisanceofoneself.Opposingarmiesinawararereferredtoasbelligerents.Sometimesonebelligerentinaconflictismorebelligerentthantheother.

BEMUSED(bihMYOOZD) adj confused;bewildered• The two stood bemused in the middle of the parking lot at Disneyland, trying torememberwheretheyhadparkedtheircar.

• Ralphwasbemusedwhenalllightsandappliancesinhishousebeganswitchingonandofffornoapparentreason.

Tomuse is to think about or ponder things. To be bemused, then, is to have beenthinkingaboutthingstothepointofconfusion.Peopleoftenusethewordbemusedwhentheyreallymeanamused,butbemusementisnolaughingmatter.Bemusedmeansconfused.

BENEFACTOR (BENuh fak tur) n onewhoprovideshelp,especially in theformofagiftordonationTogivebenefitsistobeabenefactor.Toreceivebenefitsistobeabeneficiary.Peoplevery, very often confuse these twowords. It would be to their benefit to keep themstraight.Ifyournext-doorneighborrewriteshislife insurancepolicysothatyouwillreceiveall

his millions when he dies, then you become the beneficiary of the policy. If yourneighbordies,heisyourbenefactor.Amalefactor(MALuhfaktur)isapersonwhodoesbadthings.• BatmanandRobinmadelifehellformalefactorsinGothamCity.

RememberMaleficent,SleepingBeauty’sevilnemesis?Hernameisavariationofthisidea.

BENEVOLENT(behNEVuhlunt) adj generous;kind;doinggooddeedsGivingmoneytothepoorisabenevolentact.Tobebenevolentistobestowbenefits.TheUnitedWay,likeanycharity,isabenevolentorganization.Malevolent(muhLEVuhlunt)meansevil,orwishingtodoharm.

BENIGN(bihNYNE) adj gentle;notharmful;kind;mild• Karlahasabenignpersonality;sheisnotatallunpleasanttobewith.• Thethreatofrevolutionturnedouttobebenign;nothingmuchcameofit.• Charliewasworried that hehad cancer, but the lumponhis leg turnedout to bebenign.

Thedifferencebetweenabenignpersonandabenevolent(seeseparateentry)oneisthat thebenevolent one is actively kind and generouswhile thebenign one ismorepassive.Benevolenceisusuallyactivegenerosityorkindness,whilebenignancytendstomeansimplynotcausingharm.Theoppositeofabenigntumorisamalignantone.Thisisatumorthatcankillyou.Amalignant personality is one you wish a surgeon would remove.Malignant meansnasty, evil, or full of ill will. The wordmalignant also conveys a sense that evil isspreading,aswithacancer.Anadjectivethatmeansthesamethingismalign.Asaverb,malignhasadifferentmeaning.Tomalignsomeone is tosayunfairlybadthings about that person, to injure that person by telling evil lies about him or her.Slanderandmalignaresynonyms.


1. belligerent a. intendingharm2. bemused b. donor3. benefactor c. notharmful4. beneficiary d. deadly5. benevolent e. confused

6. benign f. generous7. malignant g. combative8. malign h. injurewithlies9. malevolent i. onewhoreceivesbenefits10. malefactor j. evildoer

BEQUEST(bihKWEST) n somethinglefttosomeoneinawillIfyournext-doorneighborleavesyouallhismillionsinawill,themoneyisabequestfromhimtoyou.Itisnotpolitetorequestabequest.Justkeepsmilingandhopeforthebest.Toleavesomethingtosomeoneinawillistobequeathit.Abequestissomethingthathasbeenbequeathed.

BEREAVED (buh REEVD) adj deprived or left desolate, especially throughdeath• Thenewwidowwasstillbereavedwhenwesawher.Everytimeanyonementionedherdeadhusband’sname,sheburstintotears.

• Thechildrenwerebereavedbythedeathoftheirpet.Thentheygotanewpet.Bereft(buhREFT)meansthesamethingasbereaved.

BESET(bihSET) v toharass;tosurround• Thebereavedwidowwasbesetbygrief.• Problems beset the expedition almost from the beginning, and the mountainclimberssoonreturnedtotheirbasecamp.

• Thelittletownwasbesetbyrobberies,butthepolicecoulddonothing.

BLASPHEMY (BLAS fuh mee) n irreverence; an insult to something heldsacred;profanityInthestrictestsense,tocommitblasphemyistosaynasty,insultingthingsaboutGod.The word is used more broadly, though, to cover a wide range of nasty, insultingcomments.Toblaspheme (blasFEEM) is touseswearwordsor saydeeply irreverent things.Apersonwhosayssuchthingsisblasphemous.

BLATANT(BLAYTunt) adj unpleasantlyoroffensivelynoisy;glaring• Davidwasblatantly critical of our efforts; that is, he was noisy and obnoxious inmakinghiscriticisms.

Blatant is often confused with flagrant, because both words mean glaring. Blatant

indicatesthatsomethingwasnotconcealedverywell,whereas flagrant indicates thatsomethingwasintentional.Ablatantactisusuallyalsoaflagrantone,butaflagrantactisn’tnecessarilyblatant.Youmightwanttorefertothelistingforflagrant.


1. bequest a. leftdesolate2. bequeath b. somethingleftinawill3. bereaved c. harass4. beset d. offensivelynoisy5. blasphemy e. leavinginawill6. blatant f. irreverence

BLIGHT(blyte) n adiseaseinplants;anythingthatinjuresordestroys• Anearlyfrostprovedablighttothecitruscropslastyear,sowehadnoorangejuiceforbreakfast.

BLITHE(blythe) adj carefree;cheerful• Theblithe birds in the gardenweremaking somuch noise that Jamilla began tothinkabouttheshotgunintheattic.

• The childrenwere playingblithely next to the hazardous-waste dump.While theyplayed,theywereblithelyunawarethattheyweredoingsomethingdangerous.

Tobeblithelyignorantistobehappilyunaware.

BOURGEOIS (boorZHWAH) adj middleclass,usually inapejorativesense;boringlyconventionalTheoriginalbourgeoisie(boorzhwawZEE)weresimplypeoplewholivedincities,aninnovation at the time. They weren’t farmers and they weren’t nobles. They weremembersofanewclass—themiddleclass.Nowthewordisusedmostlyinmakingfunoforsneeringatpeoplewhothinkaboutnothingbuttheirpossessionsandconformingwithotherpeoplelikethem.A hip, young city dweller might reject life in the suburbs as being too bourgeois. Apersonwhosedreamistohaveaswimmingpoolinhisorherbackyardmightbecalledbourgeoisbysomeonewhothinkstherearemoreimportantthingsinlife.Golfisoftenreferredtoasabourgeoissport.


BOVINE(BOHvyne) adj cowrelated;cowlike• Cowsarebovine,obviously.Eatinggrassisabovineconcern.

Thereareanumberofsimilarwordsbasedonotheranimals:canine(KAYnyne):dogsequine(EEkwyne):horsesfeline(FEElyne):catspiscine(PYEseen):fishporcine(PORsyne):pigsursine(URsyne):bears

BREVITY(BREVitee) n briefness• The audience was deeply grateful for the brevity of the after-dinner speaker’sremarks.

• Thereaderofthisbookmaybegratefulforthebrevityofthisexample.Brevityisrelatedtothewordabbreviate.

BROACH (brohch) v to open up a subject for discussion, often a delicatesubject• Henriettawasproudofhernewdress,sonooneknewhowtobroach thesubjectwithherofhowsillygrandmotherslookinleather.

BUCOLIC(byooKAHLik) adj charminglyrural;rustic;countrylike• The changing of the autumn leaves, old stone walls, distant views, and horsesgrazingingreenmeadowsareexamplesofbucolicsplendor.

• Thebucolic scene didn’t domuch for the city child,who preferred screaming fireenginesandhonkinghornstothesoundsofababblingbrook.

BUREAUCRACY (byoo RAHK ruh see) n a system of governmentadministration consisting of numerous bureaus or offices, especially one runaccording to inflexible and inefficient rules; any large administrative systemcharacterizedbyinefficiency,lotsofrules,andredtape• TheDepartmentofMotorVehiclesisabureaucracy.Theformsyouhavetofilloutallrequest unnecessary information.After you finally get everything all filled out andhandedin,youdon’thearanotherwordfromthedepartmentformanymonths.

Thepeoplewhoworkinabureaucracyarecalledbureaucrats.Thesepeopleandtheinefficientprocedurestheyfollowmightbecalledbureaucratic.Administrativesystemsoutsidethegovernmentcanbebureaucratic,too.Ahighschoolprincipalwhorequires

teachersandstudentstofilloutformsforeverythingmightbecalledbureaucratic.

BURGEON(BURjun) v toexpand;toflourish• Theburgeoningweedsinouryardsoonoverwhelmedthegrass.


BURLESQUE(burLESK) n aludicrous,mocking,lewdimitation• Vaudevilleactorsfrequentlyperformedburlesqueworksonthestage.

Burlesque,parody,lampoon,andcaricaturesharesimilarmeanings.


1. blight a. flourish2. blithe b. bearlike3. bourgeois c. carefree4. bovine d. catlike5. canine e. cowlike6. feline f. charminglyrural7. equine g. middleclass8. piscine h. horselike9. porcine i. briefness10. ursine j. piglike11. brevity k. inflexibleadministration12. broach l. fishlike13. bucolic m. doglike14. bureaucracy n. plantdisease15. burgeon o. openasubject16. burlesque p. ludicrousimitation

C

CACOPHONY (kuh KAHF uh nee) n harsh-sounding mixture of words,voices,orsounds• Theparade’s twomarchingbandsplayedsimultaneously; the resultingcacophonydrovemanyspectatorstotears.

A cacophony isn’t just a lot of noise—it’s a lot of noise that doesn’t sound goodtogether.Asteamwhistleblowing isn’tacacophony.Butahighschoolorchestra thathad never rehearsed together might very well produce a cacophony. The roar ofengines,horns,andsirensarisingfromabusycitystreetwouldbeacacophony.Alotofpeopleallshoutingatoncewouldproduceacacophony.Euphonyistheoppositeofcacophony.Euphonyispleasingsound.

CADENCE(KAYDuns) n rhythm;theriseandfallofsounds• Wewishedthetoneof Irwin’swordswouldhaveamorepleasingcadence,buthespokeinadullmonotone.

CAJOLE (kuh JOHL) v to persuade someone to do something he or shedoesn’twanttodo• Ididn’twant togivethespeech,butEnriquecajoledme intodoing itby tellingmewhat a good speaker I am. As it turned out, he simply hadn’t been able to findanyoneelse.

CALLOW(KALoh) adj immature• Thepatientwasalarmedbythecallownessofthemedicalstaff.Thedoctorslookedtooyoungtohavegraduatedfromhighschool,muchlessfrommedicalschool.

Tobecallowistobeyouthfullynaive,inexperienced,andunsophisticated.

CANDOR(KANdur) n truthfulness;sincerehonesty• Mybestfriendexhibitedcandorwhenshetoldmethatformanyyearsnowshehasbelievedmetobeajerk.

• Teddy appreciated Ross’s candor; Teddy was glad to know that Ross thoughtTeddy’ssideburnslookedstupid.

Toshowcandoristobecandid.Whatiscandidaboutcandidphotos?Thephotosarecandid because theyare truthful in showingwhatpeopledo.Candiddoesnotmeanconcealed or hidden, even though the camera on the old television show “CandidCamera”wasconcealed.Tobecandidistospeakfrankly.

CAPITALISM(KAPuhtuhlizum) n aneconomicsysteminwhichbusinessesareownedbyprivatecitizens(notbythegovernment)andinwhichtheresultingproductsandservicesaresoldwithrelativelylittlegovernmentcontrol

TheAmericaneconomy iscapitalist. If youwanted tostartacompany tosell signed

photographsofyourself, youcould.You,andnot thegovernment,woulddecidehowmuchyouwouldchargeforthepictures.Yoursuccessorfailurewoulddependonhowmanypeopledecidedtobuyyourpictures.

CAPITULATE(kuhPICHuhlayt) v tosurrender;togiveuporgivein• On the twentiethdayof thestrike, theworkerscapitulated andwentback toworkwithoutanewcontract.

• So few students paid attention to Mr. Hernandez that he had to recapitulate hismajorpointsattheendoftheclass.

Torecapitulateisnottocapitulateagain.Torecapitulateistosummarize.

CAPRICIOUS (kuh PRISH us) adj unpredictable; likely to change at anymoment• Arjunwascapricious.Oneminutehe saidhis favorite carwasaVolkswagen; thenextminutehesaiditwasaToyota.

• Theweatherisoftensaidtobecapricious.Oneminuteit’ssnowing;thenextminuteit’s120degreesintheshade.

Acaprice(kuhPREES)isawhim.• Kendra attempted a quadruple somersault off the ten-meter diving board as acaprice.Itwasapainfulcaprice.


CARICATURE(KARuhkuhchur) n aportraitordescriptionthatispurposelydistortedorexaggerated,oftentoprovesomepointaboutitssubject• Khoasat foracaricature at theendof themarathon,butwasn’tpleasedwith theresult:theportraitexaggeratedhisalreadydominantacne.

Editorialcartoonistsoftendrawcaricatures.Bignoses,enormousglasses,floppyears,and other distortions are common in such drawings. A politician who has beenconvicted of bribery might be depicted in a prison uniform or with a ball and chainaroundhisorherankle. If thepoliticianhasbigearstobeginwith, theearsmightbedrawnvastlybigger.Acaricatureusesexaggerationtobringoutthehiddencharacterofitssubject.The word can also be used as a verb. To caricature someone is to create such adistortedportrait.

CASTIGATE(KAStuhgayt) v tocriticizeseverely;tochastise• Jose’smother-in-lawcastigatedhimforforgettingtopickherupattheairport.

CATALYST(KATuhlist) n inchemistry,somethingthatchangestherateofa

chemicalreactionwithout itselfbeingchanged;anyoneoranythingthatmakessomethinghappenwithoutbeingdirectlyinvolvedinit• Whenthemadscientistdroppedafewgrainsof thecatalyst intohistesttube,thebubblingliquidbegantoboilfuriously.

Thiswordisoftenusedoutsidethelaboratoryaswell.ThelaunchingofSputnikbytheRussians provided the catalyst for the creation of the modern American spaceprogram.• The tragic hijacking provided the catalyst for Congress’s new anti-terroristlegislation.


1. cacophony a. truthfulness2. cadence b. harshmixtureofsounds3. cajole c. surrender4. callow d. distortedportrait5. candor e. unpredictable6. capitalism f. immature7. capitulate g. freeenterprise8. recapitulate h. somethingthatmakesthings

happen9. capricious i. summarize10. caricature j. persuadedeceptively11. castigate k. criticizeseverely12. catalyst l. rhythm

CATEGORICAL(katuhGORuhkul) adj unconditional;absoluteAcategoricaldenialisonewithoutexceptions—itcoverseverycategory.• Crookedpoliticiansoftenmakecategoricaldenialsofvariouschargesagainstthem.Thentheygotojail.

• I categorically refuse to do anything whatsoever at any time, in any place, withanyone.

CATHARSIS (kuh THAR sis) n purification that brings emotional relief or

renewalTo someone with psychological problems, talking to a psychiatrist can lead to acatharsis.Acatharsisisasometimestraumaticeventafterwhichonefeelsbetter.Acatharsis iscathartic.Somepeople findemotionalmoviescathartic—watching oneoftenallowsthemtoreleaseburiedfeelings.Catharticcanalsobeanoun.

CATHOLIC(KATHlik) adj universal;embracingeverything• DaVinciwasacatholicgeniuswhoexcelledateverythinghedid.

Parochialmeansnarrow-minded,soparochialandcatholicarealmostopposites.Catholic with a small c means universal. Catholic with a large C means RomanCatholicorpertainingtoanancient,undividedChristianchurch.

CAUSTIC(KAWstik) adj likeacid;corrosivePaintremoverisacausticsubstance;ifyouspillitonyourskin,yourskinwillburn.• ThecausticdetergentaterightthroughHenry’slaundry.• Theteacher’scausticcriticismofSally’stermpaperlefthercrestfallen.

Causticcanbeusedfigurativelyaswell.Acausticcommentisonethatissonastyorinsultingthatitseemstostingorburnthepersontowhomitisdirected.

CELIBACY(SELuhbuhsee) n abstinencefromsexPeoplewhopracticecelibacydon’tpracticesex.CelibacyisoneoftherequirementsforCatholicpriesthood.Topracticecelibacyistobecelibate.YouwilllookaverylongtimeinHollywoodbeforeyoufindacelibatecelebrity.

CENSURE(SENshur) v tocondemnseverelyfordoingsomethingbad• TheSenatesometimescensuressenatorsforbreakinglawsorengaginginbehaviorunbecomingtoanelectedofficial.

Censurecanalsobeanoun.• The clumsy physician feared the censure of her fellow doctors, so she stoppedtreatinganythingmorecomplicatedthanthecommoncold.

ASenatethatmadeahabitofcensuringsenatorsmightbesaidtobecensorious.Tobecensoriousistobehighlycritical—todoalotofcensuring.

CEREBRAL(suhREEbrul) adj brainy;intellectuallyrefinedYourcerebrumisthebiggestpartofyourbrain.Tobecerebralistodoandcareaboutthingsthatreallysmartpeopledoandcareabout.Acerebraldiscussionisonethatisfilledwithbigwordsandconcernsabstrusemattersthatordinarypeoplecan’tunderstand.

• Sebastianwas toocerebral tobeabaseballannouncer;hekept talkingabout theexistentialismoftheoutfield.

Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“SERuhbrul.”

CHAGRIN(shuhGRIN) n humiliation;embarrasseddisappointment• Muchtomychagrin,Ibegantogiggleduringtheeulogyatthefuneral.• Dougwasfilledwithchagrinwhenhelosttheracebecausehehadputhisshoesonthewrongfeet.

Thewordchagrinissometimesusedincorrectlytomeansurprise.Thereis,however,adefinitenoteofshameinchagrin.Tobechagrinedistofeelhumiliatedormortified.

CHARISMA(kuhRIZmuh) n amagical-seemingabilitytoattractfollowersorinspireloyalty• Theglamorouspresidentialcandidatehada lotofcharisma;votersdidn’tseemtosupporthersomuchasbeentrancedbyher.

• Theevangelist’sundeniablecharismaenabledhimtobring inmillionsandmillionsofdollarsindonationstohistelevisionshow.

Tohavecharismaistobecharismatic.


1. categorical a. unconditional2. catharsis b. relievingpurification3. catholic c. abstinencefromsex4. caustic d. brainy5. celibacy e. humiliation6. censure f. magicalattractiveness7. cerebral g. corrosive8. chagrin h. condemnseverely9. charisma i. universal

CHARLATAN(SHARluhtun) n fraud;quack;conman• Buckwassellingwhatheclaimedwasacureforcancer,buthewasjustacharlatan

(thepillswerejellybeans).• The fleamarket usually attracts a lot of charlatans who sell phony products thatdon’tdowhattheyclaimtheywill.

CHASM(KAZum) n adeep,gapinghole;agorge• Mark was so stupid that his girlfriend wondered whether there wasn’t a chasmwherehisbrainshouldbe.

• Thebadguysweregaining,sotheherograbbedtheheroineandswungacrossthechasmonaslendervine.


CHASTISE(chasTYZE) v toinflictpunishmenton;todiscipline• Motherchastisedusforfiringourbottlerocketstooclosetothehouse.• Chastising the dog for sleeping on the beds never seemed to do any good; theminuteweturnedourbacks,she’dcurlupnexttothepillows.

CHICANERY (shiKAYnuh ree) n trickery; deceitfulness; artifice, especiallylegalorpolitical• Politicalnewswouldbedullwereitnotforthechicaneryofourelectedofficials.

CHIMERA(kyeMEERuh) n anillusion;afoolishfancy• Jie’sdreamofbecomingamoviestarwasjustachimera.• Couldyoutakeapictureofachimerawithacamera?No,ofcoursenot.Itwouldn’tshowuponthefilm.

Becarefulnot tomispronounce thisword. Itsapparentsimilarity tochimney is justachimera.


CHOLERIC(KAHLurik) adj hot-tempered;quicktoanger• The choleric watchdog would sink his teeth into anyone who came within bitingdistanceofhisdoghouse.

• Whenthegrumpyoldmanwasinoneofhischolericmoods,thechildrenrefusedtogonearhim.

• Thecholericadministratorkeptallthesecretariesinastateofterror.

CHRONIC(KRAHNik) adj constant;lastingalongtime;inveterate• DJ’schronicbackpainsoftenkeptherfromsoccerpractice.

Someonewhoalwayscomesinlastcouldbecalledachronicloser.Chronicisusuallyassociated with something negative or undesirable: chronic illness, chronic failure,chronicdepression.Youwouldbemuchlesslikelytoencounterareferencetochronicsuccessorchronichappiness,unlessthewriterorspeakerwasbeingironic.Achronicdiseaseisonethatlingersforalongtime,doesn’tgoaway,orkeepscomingback.Theoppositeofachronicdiseaseisanacutedisease.Anacutediseaseisonethatcomesandgoesveryquickly.Itmaybesevere,butitdoesn’tlastforever.

CHRONICLE(KRAHNuhkul) n arecordofeventsinorderoftime;ahistory• Sally’s diary provided her mother with a detailed chronicle of her daughter’sextracurricularactivities.

Chroniclecanalsobeusedasaverb.• Thereporterchronicledalltheeventsoftherevolution.

Chronology and chronicle are nearly synonyms: Both provide a chronological list ofevents.Chronologicalmeansinorderoftime.


1. charlatan a. inorderofoccurrence2. chasm b. constant3. chastise c. hot-tempered4. chicanery d. punish5. chimera e. accountofpasttimes6. choleric f. listintimeorder7. chronic g. illusion8. chronological h. fraud9. chronology i. gapinghole10. chronicle j. trickery

CIRCUITOUS(surKYOOuhtus) adj roundabout;notfollowingadirectpath• Thecircuitousbusroutebetweenthetwocitieswenthere, there,andeverywhere,andittookanextremelylongtimetogetanywhere.

• The salesman’s route was circuitous—it wound aimlessly through many small

towns.Acircuitousargument isone that ramblesaround forquiteawhilebeforemaking itspoint.Acircuitousargumentisverysimilartoacircularargument,whichisonethatendsupwhere itbeginsorattempts toprovesomethingwithoutofferinganynew information.To say, “Straight means not curved, and curved means not straight,” is to give acircular,ortautological,definitionofthewordstraight.

CIRCUMLOCUTION(surkumlohKYOOshun) n anindirectexpression;useofwordyorevasivelanguage• The lawyer’s circumlocution left everyone in the courtroom wondering what hadbeensaid.

• The indicted executive evaded the reporters’ questions by resorting tocircumlocution.

To use a lot of big, vague words and to speak in a disorganized way is to becircumlocutory.

CIRCUMSCRIBE(SURkumskrybe) v todrawalinearound;tosetthelimits;todefine;torestrict• The Constitution clearly circumscribes the restrictions that can be placed on ourpersonalfreedoms.

• A barbed-wire fence and armed guards circumscribed the movement of theprisoners.

CIRCUMSPECT(SURkumspekt) adj cautious• Asapublicspeaker,Nickwasextremelycircumspect;healwaystookgreatcarenottosaythewrongthingorgiveoffense.

• The circumspect general did everything she could not to put her soldiers atunnecessaryrisk.

Thewordcircumspect comes fromGreek rootsmeaningaroundand look (asdo thewordscircleand inspect).Tobecircumspect is to lookaround carefully beforedoingsomething.

CIRCUMVENT(surkumVENT) v tofrustrateasthoughbysurrounding• Ourhopesforanearlyendofthemeetingwerecircumventedbythechairperson’srefusaltodealwiththeitemsontheagenda.

• The angry school board circumvented the students’ effort to install televisions ineveryclassroom.

CIVIL(SIVul) adj polite;civilized;courteous• Ourdinnerguestsconductedthemselvescivillywhenwetoldthemweweren’tgoing

toservethemdinnerafterall.Theydidn’tbangtheircupsonthetableorthrowtheirplatestothefloor.

Thewordcivilalsohasothermeanings.Civilrightsarerightsestablishedbylaw.Civilservice is government service. Consult your dictionary for the numerous shades ofmeaning.

CLEMENCY(KLEMunsee) n mercy;forgiveness;mildness• Thegovernorcommittedanactofclemencywhenhereleasedalltheconvictsfromthestatepenitentiary.

Mildweatheriscalledclementweather;badweatheriscalledinclement.• Youshouldwearacoatandcarryanumbrellaininclementweather.

CLICHÉ(kleeSHAY) n anoverusedsayingoridea• Theexpression“youcan’t judgeabookby itscover” isacliché; it’sbeenusedsomanytimesthatit’sbecomestale.

Clichés areusually true.That’swhy they’vebeen repeatedoftenenough tobecomeoverused.Buttheyareboring.Awriterwhousesalotofclichés—referringtoaforeigncountryas“alandofcontrasts,”describingspringas“atimeofrenewal,”sayingthatasnowfallis“ablanketofwhite”—isnotinterestingtoreadbecausethereisnothingnewabouttheseobservations.

NotecarefullythepronunciationofthisFrenchword.

CLIQUE (kleek; klik) n an exclusive group bound together by some sharedqualityorinterest• Thehighschoolnewspaperstaffwasarealclique; theyallhungout togetherandwouldn’ttalktoanyoneelse.Itwashardtohavefunatthatschoolifyouweren’tamemberoftherightclique.Thecheerleaderswerecliquishaswell.



1. circuitous a. cautious2. circumlocution b. drawalinearound3. circumscribe c. mercy

4. circumspect d. polite5. circumvent e. roundabout6. civil f. frustrate7. clique g. overusedsaying8. clemency h. indirectexpression9. inclement i. exclusivegroup10. cliché j. bad,asinweather

COALESCE(kohuhLES) v tocometogetherasone;tofuse;tounite• Whenthedoughcoalescedintoabigblob,webegantowonderwhetherthecookieswouldbeedible.

• Thepeople inourneighborhoodcoalesced intoapowerful force forchange in thecommunity.

• TheSoutherncoalition inCongress is thegroupof representatives fromSouthernstateswhooftenvotethesameway.

Acoalition is a group of people that has come together for some purpose, often apoliticalone.Coal miners and cola bottlers might coalesce into a coalition for the purpose ofpersuadingcoalmineownerstoprovidecolamachinesincoalmines.

COERCE(kohURS) v toforcesomeonetodoornottodosomething• DarthVadertriedtoflatter,bribe,andevencoerce,buthewasneverabletomakeHanSolorevealthehiddenrebelbase.

Thenouniscoercion(kohURshun).

COGENT(KOHjunt) adj powerfullyconvincing• Shaftwascogent in explainingwhy he needed the confidential files, sowe gavethemtohim.

• Thelawyer’sargumentonherclient’sbehalfwasnotcogent,sothejuryconvictedher client. The jury was persuaded by the cogency of the prosecuting attorney’sargument.

Cogentreasonsareextremelypersuasiveones.

COGNITIVE(KAHGnutiv) adj dealingwithhowweknowtheworldaroundusthroughoursenses;mentalScientists study the cognitive apparatus of human beings to pattern how computersshouldgatherinformationabouttheworld.

Cognitionisknowing.

COGNIZANT(KAHGnuzunt) adj aware;consciousTobecognizantofyourresponsibilitiesistoknowwhatyourresponsibilitiesare.• Alwascognizantofthedangersofswordswallowing,buthetrieditanywayandhurthimselfquitebadly.

COHERENT(kohHEERunt) adj holdingtogether;makingsense• AfterpuzzlingoverGrace’sdisorganizedHolyRomanEmpireessay foralmostanhour,Ms.FabriciusneededonlytwentyminutestoreadArjun’scoherentpaperontheDefenestrationofPrague.

Acoherentwadofcottonballsisonethatholdstogether.A coherent explanation is an explanation that makes sense; the explanation holdstogether.Toholdtogetheristocohere.

COLLOQUIAL(kulOHkweeul) adj conversational;informalinlanguageAwriterwithacolloquialstyle isawriterwhousesordinarywordsandwhosewritingseemsasinformalascommonspeech.“ThewayI figure it” isacolloquialexpression,oracolloquialism;peopleoftensay it,butitisn’tusedinformalprose.Acolloquy(KAHLuhkwee)isaconversationorconference.

COLLUSION(kuhLOOzhun) n conspiracy;secretcooperation• Theincreaseinoilpriceswastheresultofcollusionbytheoil-producingnations.• Therewascollusionamongtheownersofthebaseballteams;theyagreedsecretlynottosignanyexpensivefreeagents.

Ifthebaseballownerswereincollusion,thenyoucouldsaythattheyhadcolluded.Tocolludeistoconspire.

COMMENSURATE(kuhMENsurit) adj equal;proportionate• Ryan’ssalaryiscommensuratewithhisability;likehisability,hissalaryissmall.• Thenumberoftouchdownsscoredbytheteamandthenumberofitsvictorieswerecommensurate(bothzero).

COMPELLING(kumPELing) adj forceful;causingtoyield• Acompellingargument forbuyingasecuritysystem isone thatmakesyougooutandbuyasecuritysystem.

• The recruiter’s speech was so compelling that nearly everyone in the auditoriumenlistedintheArmywhenitwasover.

Tocompelsomeonetodosomethingistoforcehimorhertodoit.• Our consciences compelled us to turn over the money we had found to theauthorities.

The noun is compulsion, which also means an irresistible impulse to do somethingirrational.

COMPENDIUM(kumPENdeeum) n asummary;anabridgment• Ayearbookoftencontainsacompendiumoftheoffenses,achievements,andfutureplansofthemembersoftheseniorclass.


1. coalesce a. perceptive2. coalition b. unite3. coerce c. conversational4. cogent d. forcesomeonetodosomething5. cognitive e. proportionate6. cognizant f. makingsense7. coherent g. groupwithapurpose8. colloquial h. powerfullyconvincing9. collusion i. summary10. commensurate j. forceful11. compelling k. conspiracy12. compendium l. dealingwithhowweknowour

environment

COMPLACENT (kum PLAY sunt) adj self-satisfied; overly pleased withoneself;contentedtoafault• Thecomplacentcamperpaidnoattentiontothepoisonivyaroundhiscampsite,andendedupgoingtothehospital.

• The football teamwonsomanygames that it becamecomplacent, and theworstteamintheleaguewonthegame.

To fall into complacency is to become comfortably uncaring about theworld aroundyou.• The president of the student council was appalled by the complacency of herclassmates;notoneoftheseniorsseemedtocareaboutthetheme.

Don’t confusecomplacentwithcomplaisant (kumPLAYzunt),whichmeanseager toplease.

COMPLEMENT(KAHMpluhmunt) v tocompleteorfillup;tobetheperfectcounterpartThisword isoftenconfusedwithcompliment,whichmeans topraise. It’seasy to tellthemapart.Complementisspelledlikecomplete.

• Theflowerarrangementcomplementedthetabledecorations.Complementcanalsobeanoun.• Fish-flavoredicecreamwasaperfectcomplementtotheseafooddinner.

COMPLICITY (kum PLIS uh tee) n participation in wrongdoing; the act ofbeinganaccomplice• Therewascomplicitybetween thebank robberand thedishonest teller.The tellerneglectedtoturnonthealarm,andtherobberrewardedhimbysharingtheloot.

• Complicity among the studentsmade it impossible to find outwhich of them hadpulledthefirealarm.

COMPREHENSIVE (kahm pruh HEN siv) adj covering or includingeverything• Theinsurancepolicywascomprehensive;itcoveredallpossiblelosses.• Maria’s knowledge of English is comprehensive; she even understands whatcomprehensivemeans.

A comprehensive examination is one that covers everything in the course or in aparticularfieldofknowledge.

COMPRISE(kumPRYZE) v toconsistof• Afootballteamcompriseselevenplayersonoffenseandelevenplayersondefense.• Acompanycomprisesemployees.

Careful! Thisword is oftenmisused.Players donot “comprise” a football team, andemployees do not “comprise” a company. Nor can a football team be said to be“comprised of” players, or a company to be “comprised of” employees. These arecommonmistakes.Instead,youcansaythatplayersconstituteorcomposeateamandthatemployeesconstituteorcomposeacompany.Youcanalsosaythatateamconsistsofplayersoracompanyconsistsofemployees.

CONCILIATORY (kun SIL ee uh tor ee) adj making peace; attempting toresolveadisputethroughgoodwillTobeconciliatoryistokissandmakeup.• Comeon—beconciliatory!• Theformerlywarringcountrieswereconciliatoryatthetreatyconference.• Afterdinnerattheall-you-can-eatpancakehouse,thedivorcedcouplebegantofeelconciliatory,sotheyflewtoLasVegasandwereremarried.

When peace has been made, we say that the warring parties have come to areconciliation(rekunsileeAYshun).Toreconcile(REKunsyle)istobringtwothingsintoagreement.

• Theaccountantmanaged to reconcile the companybookswith the cashonhandonlywithgreatcreativity.

CONCISE(kunSYSE) adj briefandtothepoint;succinct• Thescientist’sexplanationwasconcise;itwasbriefandithelpedusunderstandthedifficultconcept.

Tobeconcise is tosaymuchwith fewwords.Aconcisespeaker isonewhospeaksconciselyorwithconcision.


1. complacent a. coveringeverything2. complement b. complete3. complicity c. consistof4. comprehensive d. makeup(2)5. comprise e. briefandtothepoint6. compose f. makingpeace7. constitute g. participationinwrongdoing8. conciliatory h. self-satisfied9. concise

CONCORD(KAHNkord) n harmony;agreementNationsthatliveinconcordarenationsthatlivetogetherinpeace.• Thewarbetweentheneighboringtribesendedthirtyyearsofconcord.• Thefacultymeetingwasmarkedbyconcord;nooneyelledatanyoneelse.

Discord is the opposite ofconcord. A facultymeetingwhere everyone yelled at oneanother would be a faculty meeting marked by discord. It would be a discordantmeeting.Anaccordisaformalagreement,usuallyreachedafteradispute.

CONCURRENT(kunKURunt) adj happeningatthesametime;parallel• Thecriminalwassentencedtotwoconcurrentfifteen-yearsentences;thesentenceswillrunatthesametime,andhewillbeoutofjailinfifteenyears.

• High prices, falling demand, and poor weather were three concurrent trends that

madelifeespeciallydifficultforcornfarmerslastmonth.Toconcurmeanstoagree.• Theassistantwantedtokeephisjob,sohealwaysconcurredwithhisboss.

CONDESCEND(KAHNduhsend) v tostooptosomeoneelse’slevel,usuallyinanoffensiveway;topatronize• Iwas surprised that thepresident of thecompanyhadcondescended to talkwithme,ameretemporaryemployee.

Manygrown-upsmake themistakeofcondescending toyoungchildren,whousuallyprefertobetreatedasequals,oratleastasrationalbeings.

CONDONE(kunDOHN) v tooverlook;topermittohappenTocondonewhatsomeonedoesistolooktheotherwaywhileithappensortopermitittohappenbynotdoinganythingaboutit.• Theprincipalcondonedthehoods’smokinginthebathroom;hesimplyignoredit.

CONDUCIVE(kunDOOsiv) adj promoting• Thechairsinthelibraryareconducivetosleep.Ifyousitinthemtostudy,youwillfallasleep.

• Thefoulweatherwasnotconducivetoourhavingapicnic.

CONFLUENCE(KAHNfloouns) n aflowingtogether,especiallyofrivers;theplacewheretheybegintoflowtogether• TheconfluenceoftheMissouriandMississippiriversisatSt.Louis;that’stheplacewheretheyjointogether.

• There is a remarkable confluence in our thoughts: we think the sameway aboutalmosteverything.

• Aconfluence ofmany factors (no ice, bad food, terriblemusic)made it inevitablethatthepartywouldbeaflop.

CONGENIAL(kunJEENyul) adj agreeablysuitable;pleasant• Thelittlecabininthewoodswascongenialtothewriter;shewasabletogetalotofwritingdonethere.

• Thenewrestauranthasacongenialatmosphere.Weenjoyjustsittingthereplayingwiththeiceinourwaterglasses.

Whenpeoplegetalongtogetheratarestaurantanddon’t throwfoodatoneanother,theyarebeingcongenial.Genial and congenial share similar meanings. Genial means pleasing, kind,sympathetic,orhelpful.Youcanbepleasedbyagenialmannerorbyagenialclimate.

CONGENITAL (kunJENuh tul) adj describing a trait or condition acquiredbetweenconceptionandbirth;innateAcongenital birth defect is one that is present at birth butwasnot causedbyone’sgenes.Thewordisalsousedmorelooselytodescribeany(usuallybad)traitorbehaviorthatissofirmlyfixeditseemstobeapartofaperson’snature.Acongenitalliarisanaturalliar,apersonwhocan’thelpbutlie.


1. concord a. agreeablysuitable2. discord b. innate3. concurrent c. harmony4. condescend d. flowingtogether5. condone e. promoting6. conducive f. stooporpatronize7. confluence g. overlook8. congenial h. happeningatthesametime9. congenital i. disharmony

CONGREGATE(KAHNgrihgayt) v tocometogether• Protestorsweregrantedpermissiontocongregatepeacefullyontheplaza.

Thenounformiscongregationandcanrefertothemembershipofahouseofworship.• Abouthalfthecongregationattendedthesunriseservice.

Aggregatealsohastodowithcomingtogether.Canyouthinkofadditionalwordswiththesameroot?

CONJECTURE (kun JEK chur) v to guess; to deduce or infer on slightevidence• Ifforcedtoconjecture,Iwouldsaythevolcanowilleruptintwenty-fourhours.

Conjecturecanalsobeanoun.• ThedivorcelawyerforMr.Davisarguedthattheputativecauseofthelipstickonhiscollarwasmereconjecture.

Aconjectureisconjectural.

CONJURE(KAHNjur) v tosummonorbringintobeingasifbymagic• The chefconjured (orconjured up) a fabulous gourmetmeal using nothingmorethanthemeageringredientsinLucy’skitchen.

• Thewizardconjured(orconjuredup)anevilspiritbymumblingsomemagicwordsandthrowingalittlepowderedeyeofnewtintothefire.

CONNOISSEUR (kahnuhSUR) n anexpert,particularly inmattersofartortaste• Theartist’sworkwaspopular,butconnoisseursrejecteditasamateurish.• Frankwas a connoisseur of badmovies. He had seen them all and knewwhichonesweregenuinelydreadfulandwhichonesweremerelypoorlymade.

• Themealwasexquisiteenoughtoimpressaconnoisseur.• I like sculpture, but I’mnoconnoisseur; I probably can’t describe to youwhyonestatueisbetterthananother.

CONSECRATE(KAHNsuhkrayt) v tomakeordeclaresacred• The Veterans Day speaker said that the battlefield had been consecrated by thebloodofthesoldierswhohaddiedthere.

• Thepriestconsecratedthebuildingbysprinklingholywateronit.• Thecollegechaplaindeliveredasermonattheconsecration(kahnsuhKRAYshun)ceremonyforthenewchapel.

The opposite of consecrate is desecrate (DES uh krayt), which means to treatirreverently.• Thevandalsdesecratedthecemeterybyknockingdownallthetombstones.

Desecratecanalsobeappliedtoareasoutsidereligion.• Theiractofvandalismwasadesecration.• Doodlinginabookdesecratesthebook,evenifthebookisn’taBible.• Thegraffitionthefrontdooroftheschoolisadesecration.

CONSENSUS(kunSENsus) n unanimityorgeneralagreementWhenthereisaconsensus,everybodyfeelsthesameway.Contrary to how the word is often used, consensus implies more than just a roughagreement or a majority opinion. Election results don’t reflect a consensus unlesseveryoneornearlyeveryonevotesforthesamecandidate.

CONSONANT(KAHNsuhnunt) adj harmonious;inagreement• Ourdesireswereconsonantwiththeirs;weallwantedthesamething.• The decision to construct a new gymnasium was consonant with the

superintendent’sbeliefinphysicaleducation.The opposite of consonant is dissonant (DIS uh nunt), which means inharmonious.Dissonantvoicesarevoicesthatdon’tsoundgoodtogether.


1. congregate a. incompatible2. conjecture b. harmonious3. conjure c. makesacred4. connoisseur d. unanimity5. consecrate e. summonasifbymagic6. desecrate f. treatirreverently7. consensus g. artisticexpert8. consonant h. guess9. dissonant i. gettogether

CONSTRUE(kunSTROO) v tointerpret• Prestonconstruedhiscontractasgivinghimtherighttodoanythinghewanted.• ThelawhadalwaysbeenconstruedaspermittingthebehaviorforwhichKatyahadbeenarrested.

• Themeaningofthepoem,asIconstruedit,hadtodowiththeloveofawomanforherdog.

Tomisconstrueistomisinterpret.• TommymisconstruedPamela’ssmile,buthecertainlydidnotmisconstruetheslapshegavehim.

CONSUMMATE(KAHNsumit) adj perfect;complete;supremelyskillful• Aconsummatepianistisanextremelygoodone.Nothingislackinginthewayheorsheplays.

Consummate (KAHNsuhmayt) isalsoa verb.Notice thedifferentpronunciation.Toconsummate something is to finish it ormake it complete. Signing a contractwouldconsummateanagreement.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothformsofthisword.

CONTENTIOUS(kunTENshus) adj argumentative;quarrelsome• Liz figured that hercontentious stylewouldmake her a perfect litigator; after lawschool,however,thewould-betrialattorneydiscoveredthatpassingthebarrequiresmorethanawilltoargue.

Apersonlookingforafightiscontentious.Twopeoplehavingafightarecontentious.Tobecontentiousinadiscussionistomakealotofnoisyobjections.Acontender isa fighter.Tocontend is to fightorargueforsomething.Someonewhobreaksthelawmayhavetocontendwiththelaw.

CONTIGUOUS(kunTIGyoous) adj sidebyside;adjoiningTwocountries that shareaborderarecontiguous; so are twoevents that happenedonerightaftertheother.Iftwocountriesarecontiguous,theterritorytheycoveriscontinuous.Thatis,itspreadsorcontinuesacrossbothcountrieswithoutanyinterruption.

CONTINGENT(kunTINjunt) adj dependent;possible• Our agreement to buy their house is contingent upon the sellers’ finding anotherhouse tomove into.That is, theywon’tsell theirhouse tousunless theycan findanotherhousetobuy.

• Myhappinessiscontingentonyours;ifyou’reunhappy,I’munhappy.• TheBowdenswerepreparedforanycontingency.Theirfronthallclosetcontainedafirst-aidkit,afireextinguisher,aliferaft,aparachute,andapackofsleddogs.

Acontingencyissomethingthatmayhappenbutisatleastaslikelynottohappen.• Several contingencies stand between us and the successful completion of ourbusinessproposal;severalthingscouldhappentoscrewitup.

CONTRITE(kunTRYTE) adj admittingguilt;especiallyfeelingremorsefulTobecontriteistoadmitwhateverterriblethingyoudid.• Mirawascontriteabouthermistake,soweforgaveher.

Criminalswhowon’tconfesstheircrimesarenotcontrite.Sayingthatyou’resorryisanactofcontrition(kunTRISHun).

CONTRIVED(kunTRYVED) adj artificial;labored• Sam’s acting was contrived: no one in the audience believed his character orenjoyedhisperformance.

• Theartistwaswidelyadmiredforheroriginality,butherpaintingsseemedcontrived

tome.• NoonelaughedatMark’scontrivedattemptathumor.

Acontrivance(kuhnTRYvuhns)isamechanicaldevice,usuallysomethingriggedup.

CONVENTIONAL (kun VEN shun nul) adj common; customary;unexceptional• Thearchitect’sconventionaldesignsdidn’twinhimawardsfororiginality.

Tippingtheserverinarestaurantisaconventionalcourtesy.Conventionalwisdomiswhateveryonethinks.• The bland politician maintained her popularity by never straying far from theconventionalwisdomaboutanytopic.

CONVIVIAL(kunVIVeeul) adj fondofpartying;festiveAconvivial gathering is one in which the people present enjoy eating, drinking, andbeingtogether.Tobeconvivialistobeaneagerbutgenerallywell-behavedpartyanimal.Aconvivialpersonistheoppositeofanantisocialperson.


COPIOUS(KOHpeeus) adj abundant;plentiful• Thechampagneattheweddingreceptionwascopiousbutnotverygood.• Matt had a copious supply of nails in his workshop. Everywhere you stepped, itseemed,therewasapileofnails.

• Philatecopiouslyatthebanquetandwenthomefeelingquitesick.


1. construe a. admittingguilt2. consummate b. interpret3. contentious c. perfect4. contiguous d. labored5. contingent e. dependent6. contrite f. abundant7. contrived g. adjoining

8. conventional h. argumentative9. convivial i. festive10. copious j. common

COROLLARY (KOR uh ler ee) n something that follows; a naturalconsequenceInmathematics,acorollary isa lawthatcanbededucedwithout furtherproof fromalawthathasalreadybeenproven.• Bloodshedanddeatharecorollariesofanydeclarationofwar.• Higherpriceswereacorollaryofthetwocompanies’agreementnottocompete.

CORROBORATE(kuhROBuhrayt) v toconfirm;tobackupwithevidence• Iknewmystatementwascorrectwhenmycolleaguecorroboratedit.• HennyPenny’scontentionthat theskywasfallingcouldnotbecorroborated.Thatis,noonewasabletofindanyfallensky.

• The police could find no evidence of theft and thus could not corroborate Greg’sclaimthathehadbeenrobbed.


COSMOPOLITAN (kahzmuhPAHLuh tun) adj at home inmany places orsituations;internationallysophisticated• Marcello’sinterestswerecosmopolitan—helikedGreekwine,Germanbeer,Dutchcheese,Japanesecars,andFrenchfries.

• AtrulycosmopolitantravelerneverfeelslikeaforeigneranywhereonEarth.• NewYorkisacosmopolitancity;youcanhearnearlyeverylanguagespokenthere.

COUNTENANCE (KOWN tuhnuns) n face; facial expression, especially anencouragingone• Herfather’sconfidentcountenancegaveLizthecouragetopersevere.• Ed’sharshwordsbeliedhiscountenance,whichwaskindandencouraging.

Countenance can also be a verb. To countenance something is to condone it ortolerateit.• Dadcountenancedourbackyardrockfightseventhoughhedidn’treallyapproveofthem.

COUP(koo) n abrilliantvictoryoraccomplishment;theviolentoverthrowofa

governmentbyasmallinternalgroup• WinningagoldmedalattheOlympicswasarealcoupforthefifty-year-oldwoman.• Thestudentcouncil’sgreatcoupwaspersuadingDraketoplayatourprom.• In theattemptedcoup in thePhilippines,somearmyofficers tried to takeover thegovernment.

Thefullnameforthistypeofcoupiscoupd’état(koodayTAH).Acoupdegrace(kooduhGRAHS)isafinalbloworconcludingevent.


COVENANT(KUVuhnunt) n asolemnagreement;acontract;apledge• Thewarringtribesmadeacovenantnottofighteachotheranymore.• WesignedacovenantnevertodriveMasha’sfather’scarwithoutpermissionagain.

COVERT(kohVURT) adj secret;hiddenTobecovertistobecovered.Covertactivitiesaresecretactivities.Acovertmilitaryoperationisonethepublicknowsnothingabout.Theoppositeofcovertisovert.Overt(ohVURT)meansopenorunconcealed.

COVET(KUVit) v towishforenviously• Tocovetthyneighbor’swifeistowantthyneighbor’swifeforthyself.• AnypositionatMTVisahighlycovetedjob.

Tobecovetousistobeenvious.


1. corollary a. worldlyandsophisticated2. corroborate b. face3. cosmopolitan c. wishforenviously4. countenance d. confirm5. coup e. solemnagreement6. covenant f. brilliantvictory7. covert g. naturalconsequence8. covet h. secret

CREDULOUS(KREJuhlus) adj eagertobelieve;gullible• Thecredulous housewife believed that she had won amillion dollars through anemailscam.

• Judy was so credulous that she simply nodded happily when Kirven told her hecouldteachherhowtofly.Judy’scredulity(kriDYOOLuhtee)waslimitless.

Credulousshouldnotbeconfusedwithcredible(CREDuhbuhl).Tobecredibleistobebelievable.Almostanything,howeverincredible,iscredibletoacredulousperson.• Larry’s implausible story of heroism was not credible. Still, credulous old Louisbelievedit.

Astory thatcannotbebelieved is incredible. If youdon’tbelieve thatstorysomeonejust told you, you are incredulous. If something is credible, it may gain credence(KREEDuns),whichmeansbelieforintellectualacceptance.• NoonecouldproveFrank’stheory,buthisstandingattheuniversityhelpeditgaincredence.

Anothersimilarword iscreditable (CRED i tuhbul),whichmeansworthyof creditorpraise.• Ourrecordinraisingmoneywasverycreditable;weraisedseveralthousanddollarseveryyear.

CRITERION(kryeTEEReeun) n standard;basisforjudgment• WhenNormjudgesameal,hehasonlyonecriterion:isitedible?• Inchoosingamongthelinemen,themostimportantcriterionwasquickness.

Theplural ofcriterion iscriteria.You can’t haveone criteria; you can only have onecriterion.Ifyouhavetwoormore,youhavecriteria.Thereisnosuchthingascriterionsandnosuchthingasacriteria.

CRYPTIC(KRIPtik) adj mysterious;mystifying• Elaine’sremarkswerecryptic;Jerrywasbaffledbywhatshesaid.

Acrypticstatementisoneinwhichsomethingimportantremainshidden.• The ghost made cryptic comments about the crypt from which she had justemerged;thatis,noonecouldfigureoutwhattheghostmeant.

CULINARY(KYOOluhneree) adj relatingtocookingorthekitchenAcookingschoolissometimescalledaculinaryinstitute.• Allison pursued her culinary interests by attending the culinary institute. Her firstmeal,whichwasburnedbeyondrecognition,wasaculinarydisaster.


CULMINATE(KULmuhnayt) v toclimax;toreachfulleffect• Connie’syearsofpracticeculminatedinagreatvictoryattheinternationaljugglingchampionship.

• Themasqueradeballwastheculminationofourfund-raisingefforts.


1. credulous a. relatedtocooking2. credible b. believable3. incredible c. believability4. incredulous d. worthyofpraise5. credence e. eagertobelieve6. creditable f. unbelieving7. criterion g. unbelievable8. cryptic h. climax9. culinary i. standard10. culminate j. mysterious

CULPABLE(KULpuhbul) adj deservingblame;guilty• Theaccountant’sfailuretospottheerrorsmadeherculpableinthetax-fraudcase.• We all felt culpable when the homeless old man died in the doorway of ourapartmentbuilding.

Apersonwho isculpable (aculprit [CUHLprit]) isonewhocanbeblamed fordoingsomething.To decide that a person is not culpable after all is to exculpate (EK skul payt) thatperson.• Lou’s confession didn’t exculpate Bob, because one of the things that LouconfessedwasthatBobhadhelpedhimdoit.

Theoppositeofexculpateisinculpate(INkulpayt).Toinculpateistoaccusesomeoneofsomething.

CURSORY(KURsuhree) adj hasty;superficial• Togiveabookacursoryreadingistoskimitquicklywithoutcomprehendingmuch.• The cursor on Dave’s computer made a cursory sweep across the data as hescrolleddownthepage.

Tomakeacursoryattemptat learningFrenchistomemorizeacoupleofeasywordsandthengiveup.

CURTAIL(kurTAYL) v toshorten;tocutshort• The vetcurtailed her effort to cut the cat’s tail with the lawnmower. That is, shestoppedtrying.

Tocurtailataleistocutitshort.

CYNIC (SINik) n onewhodeeplydistrustshumannature;onewhobelieveshumansaremotivatedonlybyselfishness• Whenthepopstargaveamilliondollarstothemuseum,cynicssaidhewasmerelytryingtobuyhimselfareputationasaculturedperson.

Tobecynicalistobeextremelysuspiciousofthemotivationsofotherpeople.Cynicismisgeneralgrumpinessandpessimismabouthumannature.


1. culpable a. freefromguilt2. exculpate b. shorten3. cursory c. onewhodistrustshumanity4. curtail d. hasty5. cynic e. guilty

DDAUNT(dawnt) v tomakefearful;tointimidate• Thesteepnessofthemountaindauntedtheteamofamateurclimbers,becausetheyhadn’trealizedwhattheywereinfor.

• Thesizeoftheplayersonthevisitingteamwasdaunting;theplayersonthehometeambegantoperspirenervously.

Tobedauntlessorundauntedistobefearlessorunintimidated.• The rescuecrewwasundauntedby the flamesand ran into theburninghouse tolook for survivors. The entire crewwas dauntless in its effort to save the peopleinside.

DEARTH(durth) n lack;scarcity• Thereisnodearthofcomedyataconventionofclowns.• Whenthereisadearthoffood,manypeoplemaystarve.• TherewasadearthofgaietyattheboringChristmasparty.

DEBACLE (di BAHK ul) n violent breakdown; sudden overthrow;overwhelmingdefeat• Apoliticaldebatewouldbecomeadebacle if thecandidatesbeganscreamingandthrowingdinnerrollsateachother.

Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“dayBAHKul.”

DEBAUCHERY(diBAWchuhree) n wildliving;excessiveintemperance• Debaucherycanbeexpensive; fortunately forJeff,hiswalletmatchedhisappetiteforextravagantpleasures.Hediedapoor,albeithappy,man.

Todebauchistoseduceorcorrupt.Someonewhoisdebauchedhasbeenseducedorcorrupted.

DEBILITATE(diBILuhtayt) v toweaken;tocripple• Thefootballplayer’scareerwasendedbyadebilitatinginjurytohisknee.

Tobecomedebilitatedistosufferadebility,whichistheoppositeofanability.• Asurgeonwhobecomesdebilitatedisonewhohaslosttheabilitytooperateonthedebilitiesofotherpeople.

DECADENT (DEKuhdunt) adj decayingor decayed, especially in termsofmoralsApersonwhoengagesindecadentbehaviorisapersonwhosemoralshavedecayedorfallenintoruin.• Carousinginlocalbarsinsteadofgoingtoclassisdecadent.

Decadentbehaviorisoftenanaffectationofboredyoungpeople.Thenounisdecadence.

DECIMATE(DESuhmayt) v tokillordestroyalargepartofTodecimateanarmyistocomeclosetowipingitout.• Whenlocustsattackacrop,theysometimesdecimate it, leavingverylittlethat’sfitforhumanconsumption.

• You might say in jest that your family had decimated its turkey dinner onThanksgiving,leavingnothingbutafewcrumbsandapileofbones.

Thenounisdecimation.

DECOROUS(DEKurus) adj proper;ingoodtaste;orderlyDecorousbehaviorisgood,polite,orderlybehavior.Tobedecorousistobesoberandtasteful.• TheNewYear’sEvecrowdwasrelativelydecorousuntilmidnight,whentheywentwild.

Tobehavedecorouslyistobehavewithdecorum(diKORum).

DEDUCE(diDOOS) v toconcludefromtheevidence;toinferTodeducesomethingistoconcludeitwithoutbeingtolditdirectly.• Fromthefootprintsontheground,Claricededucedthatthecriminalhadfeet.• Daffydeducedfromtheshapeofitsbillthattheduckwasreallyachicken.ThattheduckwasreallyachickenwasDaffy’sdeduction.

DEFAME(diFAYM) v tolibelorslander;toruinthegoodnameofTodefamesomeoneistomakeaccusationsthatharmtheperson’sreputation.• The localbusinessmanaccused thenewspaperofdefaminghimbypublishinganarticlethatsaidhiscompanywaspoorlymanaged.

Todefameistotakeawayfame,totakeawayagoodname.Tosuffersuchalossofreputationistosufferdefamation.• Thebusinessmanwhobelievedhehadbeendefamedbythenewspapersuedthepaper’spublisherfordefamation.


1. daunt a. concludefromevidence2. dearth b. lack3. debacle c. killalargepartof4. debauchery d. libelorslander5. debilitate e. makefearful6. decadent f. decayingordecayed7. decimate g. proper

8. decorous h. weaken9. deduce i. violentbreakdown10. defame j. wildliving

DEFERENCE(DEFuruns) n submissiontoanother’swill;respect;courtesyToshowdeferencetoanotheristoplacethatperson’swishesaheadofyourown.• Deanshoweddeferencetohisgrandfather:helettheoldmanhavefirstdibsonthebirthdaycake.

• Daniellestoppedtextingatthedinnertableindeferencetothewishesofhermother.Toshowdeferencetoanotheristodefer(dihFUR)tothatperson.• Joe was supposed to go first, but he deferred to Steve, who had been waitinglonger.

Toshowdeferenceisalsotobedeferential(defuhRENshul).• JoewasbeingdeferentialwhenheallowedStevetogofirst.

DEFINITIVE(diFINuhtiv) adj conclusive;providingthelastword• WalterwrotethedefinitivebiographyofKeats;nothingmorecouldhavebeenaddedbyanotherbook.

• Thearmycompletelywipedouttheinvaders;itsvictorywasdefinitive.• NoonecouldfindanythingtoobjecttoinCindy’sdefinitiveexplanationofhowthemeteoritehadgottenintothebathtub.

DEGENERATE(diJENuhrayt) v tobreakdown;todeteriorate• Thediscussionquicklydegeneratedintoanargument.• Overtheyears,theniceoldneighborhoodhaddegeneratedintoaterribleslum.• Thefans’behaviordegeneratedasthegamewenton.

Apersonwhosebehaviorhasdegeneratedcanbereferredtoasadegenerate(diJENurit).• Themoodof thepartywasspoiledwhenadrunkendegeneratewandered in fromoffthestreet.

Degenerate(diJENurit)canalsobeanadjective,meaningdegenerated.• Theslumneighborhoodwasdegenerate.• Thefans’degeneratebehaviorpromptedthepolicetomakeseveralarrests.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofthevariouspartsofspeech.

DELETERIOUS(deluhTIReeus) adj harmful• Smokingcigarettesisdeleterioustoyourhealth.• IswatchingalotofTVreallydeleterious?Ofcoursenot.

DELINEATE(diLINeeayt) v todescribeaccurately;todrawinoutline• AfterJackhaddelineatedhisplan,wehadnodoubtaboutwhatheintendedtodo.• Sharon’s peculiar feelings about her pet gorillaweredelineated in the newspaperarticleabouther.

• TheportraitartistdelineatedSarah’sfeaturesthenfilledintheshading.Thenounisdelineation.

DELUDE(dyeLOOD) v todeceive• The con man deluded us into thinking that he would make us rich. Instead, hetrickedusintogivinghimseveralhundreddollars.

• Thedeludedmentalpatientbelievedthathewasachickensandwich.• Lori is so persuasive that shewas able todelude Leslie into thinking shewas acountess.

Tobedeludedistosufferfromadelusion.• That she was a great poet was the delusion of the English teacher, who couldscarcelywritetwocompletesentencesinarow.

• Todd,thewell-knownjerk,sufferedfromthedelusion thathewasagenuinelyniceman.

DELUGE(DELyooj) n aflood;aninundationAdelugeisaflood,butthewordisoftenusedfiguratively.• The $1 million reward for the lost poodle brought in a deluge of hot leads. Thedistraughtownerwasdelugedbyphonecallsallweek.


DEMAGOGUE (DEM uh gawg) n a leader who uses prejudice to get morepowerA demagogue is a leader, but not in a good sense of the word. Demagoguesmanipulatethepublictosupporttheiraims,buttheyarelittledifferentfromdictators.Ademagogueisoftenadespot.This word can also be spelled demagog. The methods a demagogue uses aredemagoguery(DEMuhgahguhree)ordemagogy(DEMuhgahgee).

DENIZEN(DENizun) n inhabitant

Tobeadenizen of a country is to live there.A citizenof a country isusuallyalsoadenizen.To be adenizen of a restaurant is to go there often—so often that people begin towonderwhetheryoulivethere.Fisharesometimesreferredtoas“denizensofthedeep.”Don’trefertothemthiswayyourself;theexpressionisacliché.

DEPRAVITY(diPRAVuhtee) n extremewickednessorcorruption• Mrs.Prudinklewonderedwhetherthedepravityofherclassofeight-year-oldswastheresultoftheirwatchingSaturdaymorningtelevision.

Toexhibitdepravityistobedepraved(diPRAYVD).

DEPRECATE(DEPruhkayt) v toexpressdisapprovalof• To deprecate a colleague’s work is to risk making yourself unwelcome in yourcolleague’soffice.

“Thisstinks!”isadeprecatingremark.• Thecritic’sdeprecatingcommentsaboutmynewnovelputmeinabadmoodforanentiremonth.

Tobeself-deprecating is tobelittleone’sownefforts,often in thehopethatsomeoneelsewillsay,“No,you’rewonderful!”A very similar word is depreciate (dih PREE shee ayt). To depreciate a colleague’sworkwouldbetorepresentitasbeingoflittlevalue.Foranothermeaningofdepreciate,seeappreciate.

DERIDE(diRYDE) v toridicule;tolaughatcontemptuously• Geraldderided Diana’s driving ability after their hair-raising trip down the twistingmountainroad.

• SportswritersderidedColumbia’s football team,whichhadn’twonagame in threeyears.

• The bossderided her secretarymercilessly, so he quit his job. Hewas someonewhocouldnotacceptderision(diRIZHun).


1. deference a. deteriorate2. definitive b. ridicule

3. degenerate c. describeaccurately4. deleterious d. respect5. delineate e. conclusive6. delude f. expressdisapprovalof7. deluge g. harmful8. demagogue h. inhabitant9. denizen i. deceive10. depravity j. flood11. deprecate k. extremewickedness12. deride l. rabble-rousingleader

DEROGATORY(dihRAHGuhtoree) adj disapproving;degradingDerogatory remarks are negative remarks expressing disapproval. They are nastierthanmerelycriticalremarks.• Stephencouldneverseemtothinkofanythingnicetosayaboutanyone;virtuallyallofhiscommentswerederogatory.

DESICCATE(DESuhkayt) v todryout• Thehotwinddesiccated thefewgrapesremainingonthevine;afteradayortwo,theylookedlikeraisins.

• Afteraweekwithoutwater,thedesiccatedplantfelloveranddied.Plumsbecomeprunesthroughaprocessofdesiccation.

DESPONDENT(dihSPAHNdunt) adj extremelydepressed;fullofdespair• The cook became despondent when the wedding cake fell on the floor fifteenminutesbeforethereception.

• Afterthedeathofhiswife,themanwasdespondentformanymonths.• The team fell into despondency after losing the state championship game by asinglepoint.

DESPOT(DESpuht) n anabsoluteruler;anautocrat• Stephenwasadespot;workerswhodisagreedwithhimwerefired.• Theislandkingdomwasruledbyaruthlessdespotwhoexecutedsuspectedrebelsatnooneachdayinthevillagesquare.

Toactlikeadespotistobedespotic(diSPAHtik).• There was cheering in the street when the country’s despotic government wasoverthrown.

DESTITUTE(DEStuhtoot) adj extremelypoor;utterlylackingDestitutepeoplearepeoplewhodon’thave,orseverelylack,moneyandpossessions.Tobeleftdestituteistobeleftwithoutmoneyorproperty.Thewordcanalsobeusedfiguratively. A teacher might accuse her students of being destitute of brains orintellectuallydestitute.

DESULTORY (DES ul tor ee) adj without a plan or purpose; disconnected;random• Aadimadeafewdesultoryattemptstostartagarden,butnothingcameofthem.• Inhisdesultoryaddress,Rizalskippedfromonetopictoanotherandnevercametothepoint.

• Thediscussionatourmeetingwasdesultory;noone’scommentsseemedtobearanyrelationtoanyoneelse’s.


DEXTROUS(DEXtrus) adj skillful;adroitDextrousoften,butnotalways,connotesphysicalability.Likeadroit,itcomesfromtheLatin word for right (as in the direction), because right-handed people were onceconsideredphysicallyandmentallysuperior.• Thoughnotimposinginstature,Rashidwasthemostdextrousbasketballplayeronthecourt;heoftenbeattallercompetitorswithhisnimblemanagementoftheball.

• Alexandra was determined not to sell the restaurant on eBay; even the mostdextrousnegotiatorcouldnotswayher.

You may also see this word spelled dexterous.Dexterity is the noun form. For anantonym,seegauche.

DIALECTICAL(dyeuhLEKtikul) adj relatingtodiscussions;relatingtotherules andmethods of reasoning; approaching truth in themiddle of opposingextremesThegameofTwentyQuestionsisdialectical,inthattheparticipantsattempttonarrowdownachosenobjectbyaskingaseriesofevermorespecificquestions.Thenounisdialectic.

DICTUM(DIKtum) n anauthoritativesaying;anadage;amaxim;aproverb“Nopain,nogain”isahackneyeddictumofsadisticcoacheseverywhere.

DIDACTIC(dyeDAKtik) adj intendedtoteach;morallyinstructive;pedantic• Natalia’sseeminglyamusingtalkhadadidacticpurpose;shewastryingtoshowher

listenersthedifferencebetweenrightandwrong.• Thepriest’sconversationwasalwaysdidactic.Heneversaidanything thatwasn’tintendedtoteachalesson.

• Thenewnovelispainfullydidactic;theauthor’saimisalwaystoinstructandnevertoentertain.

DIFFIDENT(DIFidunt) adj timid;lackinginself-confidenceDiffidentandconfidentareopposites.• Thediffidentstudentnevermadeasinglecommentinclass.• Sebastian’s stammer made him diffident in conversation and shy in groups ofstrangers.

• Carla’sdiffidence ledmanyparticipants to believe shehadn’t beenpresent at themeeting,eventhoughshehad.

DIGRESS(dyeGRES) v tostrayfromthemainsubjectSpeakingmetaphorically, to digress is to leave the main highway in order to travelaimlesslyonbackroads.Whenaspeakerdigresses,heorshedepartsfromthemaintopicandtellsastoryonlydistantlyrelatedtoit.Suchastoryiscalledadigression.Sometimesawriter’sorspeaker’sdigressionsaremoreinterestingthanhisorhermainpoints.• Aftera lengthydigression, the lecturer returned to his speech and brought it to aconclusion.

DILETTANTE (DIL uh tahnt) n someone with superficial knowledge of thearts;anamateur;adabblerTobeadilettanteistodabbleinsomethingratherthandoingitinaseriousway.• Reginaldsaidhewasanartist,butwasmerelyadilettante;hedidn’tknowapencilfromapaintbrush.

• Antonelladismissedthemembersoftheladies’sculptureclubasnothingmorethanabunchofdilettantes.


1. derogatory a. withoutpurpose2. desiccate b. extremelydepressed3. despondent c. amateur4. despot d. strayfromthemainsubject

5. destitute e. extremelypoor6. desultory f. timid7. dextrous g. dryout8. dialectical h. disapproving9. dictum i. absoluteruler10. didactic j. intendedtoteach11. diffident k. relatingtodiscussions12. digress l. authoritativesaying13. dilettante m. skillful

DISCERN(dihSURN) v tohaveinsight;toseethingsclearly;todiscriminate;todifferentiateTo discern something is to perceive it clearly. A writer whose work demonstratesdiscernmentisawriterwhoisakeenobserver.• Theill-manneredpeopleatTisha’spartyprovedthatshehadlittlediscernmentwhenitcametochoosingfriends.

DISCREET(dihSKREET) adj prudent;judiciouslyreservedTomakediscreetinquiriesistoaskaroundwithoutlettingthewholeworldknowyou’redoingit.• The psychiatrist was very discreet; no matter how much we pestered him, hewouldn’tgossipabouttheproblemsofhisfamouspatients.

Hehaddiscretion(diSKRESHun).Tobeindiscreetistobeimprudentandespeciallytosayordothingsyoushouldn’t.• ItwasindiscreetofLauratotellSalimahowmuchshehatedBailey’snewhairstyle,becauseSalimaalwaystellsBaileyeverything.

• WhenLauratoldSalima,shecommittedanindiscretion.

DISCRETE(dihSKREET) adj unconnected;separate;distinctDonotconfusediscretewithdiscreet.• Thetwinswereidentical,buttheirpersonalitieswerediscrete.• The drop in the stockmarket was not the result of any single force but ofmanydiscretetrends.

Whenthingsareall jumbleduptogether, theyaresaidtobe indiscrete,whichmeansnotseparatedorsorted.

DISCRIMINATE (dihSKRIMuhnayt) v tonoticeorpointout thedifference

betweentwoormorethings;todiscern;todifferentiateApersonwitharefinedaestheticsenseisabletodiscriminatesubtledifferenceswherealessobservantpersonwouldseenothing.Suchapersonisdiscriminating.Thiskindof discrimination is a good thing. To discriminate unfairly, though, is to dwell ondifferences that shouldn’t make a difference. It is unfair and illegal to discriminatebasedonethnicitywhensellingahouse.Suchapracticeisnotdiscriminating(whichisgood),butdiscriminatory(whichiswrong).Indiscriminatemeansnotdiscriminating;inotherwords,randomorhaphazard.

DISDAIN(disDAYN) n arrogantscorn;contempt• Bertramviewedthehotdogwithdisdain,believingthattoeatsuchadisgustingfoodwasbeneathhim.

• Themillionairelookeduponthepoorworkerswithevidentdisdain.Disdaincanalsobeaverb.Themillionaire in thepreviousexamplecouldbesaid tohavedisdainedthoseworkers.Tobefilledwithdisdainistobedisdainful.

DISINTERESTED(disINtruhstid) adj nottakingsides;unbiasedDisinterestedshouldnotbeusedtomeanuninterested.Ifyoudon’tcareaboutknowingsomething,youareuninterested,notdisinterested.• A referee shouldbedisinterested.Heor she shouldnot be rooting for oneof thecompetingteams.

Adisinterestedobserverisonewhohasnopersonalstakeinorattachmenttowhatisbeingobserved.• MeredithclaimedthattheaccidenthadbeenLouie’sfault,butseveraldisinterestedwitnesses said that Meredith had actually bashed into his car after jumping themediananddrivinginthewronglaneforseveralmiles.

DISPARAGE(dihSPARij) v tobelittle;tosayuncomplimentarythingsabout,usuallyinasomewhatindirectway• Themayordisparagedoureffortstobeautifythetownsquarewhenshesaidthattheflowerbedwehadplanted lookedsomewhatworse than thebedofweeds it hadreplaced.

• My guidance counselor disparaged my high school record by telling me that noteverybodybelongsincollege.


1. discern a. haveinsight2. discreet b. belittle3. discrete c. notseparated4. indiscrete d. nottakingsides5. discriminate e. arrogantscorn6. disdain f. prudent7. disinterested g. unconnected8. disparage h. differentiate

DISPARATE(DISpurit) adj different;incompatible;unequal• Ourinterestsweredisparate:Cathylikedtoplaywithdolls,andIlikedtothrowherdollsoutthewindow.

• The disparate interest groups were united only by their intense dislike of thecandidate.

• Thenovelwasdifficult to readbecause the plot consisted of dozens ofdisparatethreadsthatnevercametogether.

Thenoun formofdisparate isdisparity (dihSPAR i tee).Disparitymeans inequality.Theoppositeofdisparityisparity.

DISSEMINATE (dih SEM uh nayt) v to spread the seeds of something; toscatter;tomakewidelyknownNews is disseminated through many media: internet, radio, television, newspapers,magazines,andgossips.

DISSIPATE(DISuhpayt) v tothinout,driftaway,ordissolve;tocausetothinout,driftaway,ordissolve;towasteorsquander• Thesmokedissipatedassoonasweopenedthewindows.• llya’sangerdissipatedasthedayworeon,andhegraduallyforgotwhathadupsethim.

• The police dissipated the riotous crowd by spraying the demonstrators with firehosesandfiringrubberbulletsovertheirheads.

• Alexwon theweekly lottery butdissipated the entirewinnings in oneabandoned,fun-filledweekend.

Wecanalsosaythatapersonisdissipated,bywhichwemeanthatheorsheindulgesinwildliving.Alexisdissipated.

DISSOLUTION (dis uh LOO shun) n the breaking up or dissolving of

somethingintoparts;disintegration• Nothingcouldpreventthedissolutionofthefamousactor’sfanclubafterheretiredtoseekapoliticalcareer.

A person who is dissolute has lived life in the fast lane too long. Dissolute anddissipatedaresynonymsinthissense.

DISTEND(diSTEND) v toswell;toextendagreatdeal• The tiredistended alarmingly as the forgetful gas station attendant kept pumpingmoreandmoreairintoit.

• Adistendedbellyisonesymptomofmalnutrition.Aswellingisadistension.

DISTINGUISH(diSTINGgwish) v totellapart;tocausetostandout• Therodentexpert’seyesightwassoacutethatshewasabletodistinguishbetweenashrewandavoleatmorethanathousandpaces.

• I studied and studied but I was never able to distinguish between discrete anddiscreet.

• Hisfacehadnodistinguishingcharacteristics;therewasnothingabouthisfeaturesthatstuckinyourmemory.

• Lou’s uneventful career as a dogcatcher was not distinguished by adventure orexcitement.

DOCILE(DAHSul) adj easilytaught;obedient;easytohandle• Thedocilestudentsquietlymemorizedallthelessonstheirteachertoldthem.• The baby raccoons appeared docile at first, but they were almost impossible tocontrol.

• Mia’s docility (dah SIL i tee) fooled the professor into believing that she wasincapableofthinkingforherself.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofthevariouspartsofspeech.

DOCTRINAIRE (dahk truh NAYR) adj inflexibly committed to a doctrine ortheorywithoutregardtoitspracticality;dogmaticA doctrinaire supporter of manned space flights to Pluto would be someone whosupportedsuchspaceflightseventhoughitmightbeshownthatsuchlengthyjourneyscouldneverbeundertaken.Adoctrinaire opponent of fluoridation of water would be someonewhose oppositioncouldnotbeshakenbyproof that fluoride isgood for teethandnotbad foranythingelse.

Apersonwithdoctrinaireviewscanbecalledadoctrinaire.

DOGMATIC (dawg MAT ik) adj arrogantly assertive of unproven ideas;stubbornlyclaimingthatsomething(oftenasystemofbeliefs)isbeyonddisputeAdogmaisabelief.Adogmaticperson,however,isstubbornlyconvincedofhisorherbeliefs.• Martyisdogmaticonthesubjectof thecreationof theworld;hesneersatanyonewhoseviewsarenotidenticaltohis.

• The philosophy professor became increasingly dogmatic as she grew older andbecamemorefirmlyconvincedofherstrangetheories.

The opinions or ideas dogmatically asserted by a dogmatic person are knowncollectivelyasdogma.

DOMESTIC(duhMEStik) adj havingtodowiththehouseholdorfamily;notforeignAhomethatenjoysdomestictranquilityisahappyhome.Amaidissometimesreferredtoasadomesticengineerorsimplyasadomestic.Tobedomestic is toenjoybeingathomeor tobeskillfulatdoing thingsaround thehouse.Domestic wine is wine from this country, as opposed to wine imported from, say,France.Thedomesticsteelindustryisthesteelindustryinthiscountry.Acountrythatenjoysdomestictranquilityisahappycountryonthehomefront.


1. disparate a. committedtoatheory2. disseminate b. thinout3. dissipate c. ofthehousehold4. dissolution d. firmlyheldsystemofideas5. distend e. easilytaught6. distinguish f. arrogantlyassertive7. docile g. swell8. doctrinaire h. tellapart9. dogmatic i. incompatible

10. dogma j. spreadseeds11. domestic k. disintegration

DORMANT(DORmunt) adj inactive;asthoughasleep;asleepDormant,likedormitory,comesfromarootmeaningsleep.• Mt.Vesuviuseruptedviolentlyandthenfelldormantforseveralhundredyears.

Manyplantsremaindormantthroughthewinter;thatis,theystopgrowinguntilspring.• Frank’sinterestinplayingthepianowasdormantand,quitepossibly,dead.• Thesnowfellsilentlyoverthedormantvillage,whichbecamesnarledintrafficjamsthefollowingmorning.

Thenounisdormancy.

DUBIOUS(DOObeeus) adj fullofdoubt;uncertain• Iwas fairly certain that Iwouldbeable to fly if I couldmerely flapmyarmshardenough,butMarywasdubious;shesaidI’dbetterflapmylegsaswell.

• Weweredubious about the team’s chance of success, and, as it turned out, ourdubiety(dooBYEuhtee)wasjustified:theteamlost.

Dubiousanddoubtfuldon’tmeanexactlythesamething.Adubiouspersonisapersonwhohasdoubts.Adoubtfuloutcomeisanoutcomethatisn’tcertaintooccur.• Sam’schancesofgettingthejobweredoubtfulbecausetheemployerwasdubiousofhisclaimthathehadbeenpresidentoftheUnitedStateswhileinhighschool.

Somethingbeyonddoubtisindubitable.Adogmaticpersonbelieveshisorheropinionsareindubitable.

DUPLICITY (dooPLISuh tee) n the act of being two-faced; double-dealing;deception• Dave,inhisduplicity,toldushewasn’tgoingtorobthebankandthenwentrightoutandrobbedit.

• Liarsengageinduplicityallthetime;theysayonethinganddoanother.• Theduplicitoussalesmansoldtheredsportscartosomeoneelseeventhoughshehadpromisedtosellittous.


1. dormant a. uncertainty

2. dubiety b. double-dealing3. duplicity c. inactive

EEBULLIENT(ihBULyunt) adj boiling;bubblingwithexcitement;exuberantAboilingliquidcanbecalledebullient.Moreoften,though,thisworddescribesexcitedorenthusiasticpeople.The roaring crowd in a full stadium before the World Series might be said to beebullient.Apersonoverflowingwithenthusiasmmightbesaidtobeebullient.• Cammiewasebullientwhenherfairygodmothersaidshecoulduseoneofherthreewishestowishforthreemorewishes.

Someoneorsomethingthatisebullientischaracterizedbyebullience.


ECCENTRIC(ekSENtrik) adj notconventional;alittlekooky;irregular• Theeccentricinventorspentallherwakinghoursfiddlingwithwhatshesaidwasatimemachine,butitwasactuallyjustanoldtelephonebooth.

• Fred’spoliticalviewsareeccentric:hebelievesthatweshouldhavekingsinsteadofpresidentsandthatthegovernmentshouldraisemoneybyholdingbakesales.

• The rocket followed an eccentric course; first it veered in one direction, then itveeredinanother,andthenitcrashed.

Aneccentricpersonisapersonwhohaseccentricities(eksenTRISuhteez).

ECLECTIC (ih KLEK tik) adj choosing the best frommany sources; drawnfrommanysources• Adolfo’stasteinartwaseclectic.HelikedtheOldMasters,theImpressionists,andWaltDisney.

• Theeclecticmenuincludeddishesfrommanydifferentcountries.• Giulia’seclecticreadingmadeherwell-rounded.

EDIFY(EDuhfye) v toenlighten;toinstruct,especiallyinmoralorreligiousmatters• We found the pastor’s sermonon the importance of not eating beans to bemostedifying.

• The teacher’sgoalwas toedifyherstudents,not to forceahandfulof factsdowntheirthroats.

• We would have felt lost at the art show had not the excellent and informativeprogramsbeenprovidedforouredification.

EFFACE(ihFAYS) v toerase;torubawaythefeaturesof• Theinscriptiononthetombstonehadbeeneffacedbycenturiesofweather.• Thevandalseffacedthedelicatecarvingbyrubbingitwithsandpaper.• Wetriedtoeffacethedirtywordsthathadbeenwrittenonthefrontofourhouse,butnothingwouldremovethem.

Tobeself-effacingistobemodest.• John isself-effacing:when hewon anOlympic goldmedal, all he saidwas, “Aw,shucks.I’mjustaregularfella.”

EFFUSION(ihFYOOzhun) n apouringforth• Whenthechildwasrescuedfromthewell,therewasanintenseeffusionofemotionfromthecrowdthathadgatheredaroundthehole.

• Themadman’swritingsconsistedofasteadyeffusionofnonsense.Tobeeffusiveistobehighlyemotional.• Anna’s effusive thanks for our silly little present made us feel somewhatembarrassed,sowedecidedtomovetoadifferentlunchtable.

EGALITARIAN (ih gal uh TAYR ee un) adj believing in the social andeconomicequalityofallpeople• People often lose interest in egalitarian measures when suchmeasures interferewiththeirowninterests.

Egalitariancanalsobeusedasanountocharacterizeaperson.Anegalitarianadvocatesegalitarianism.

EGOCENTRIC(eegohSENtrik) adj selfish;believingthatoneisthecenterofeverything• Nellie was so egocentric that she could never give anyone else credit for doinganything.

• EgocentricLounever read thenewspaperunless therewassomething in itabouthim.

• Itneveroccurred to theegocentricmusician thatheraudiencesmight like tohearsomeoneelse’ssongseveryonceinawhile.

Anegoistisanegocentricperson.Heorshebelievestheentireuniverseexistsforhisbenefit.

Anegotistisanothertypeofegocentric.Anegotistisanegoistwhotellseveryonehowwonderfulheis.

EGREGIOUS(ihGREEjus) adj extremelybad;flagrantSavethiswordforthingsthatareworsethanbad.• Themother’s egregious neglect was responsible for her child’s accidental cross-countryrideonthefreighttrain.

• Erik’smannerswereegregious; he ate hismashed potatoeswith his fingers andslurpedthepeasrightoffhisplate.


1. ebullient a. pouringforth2. eccentric b. self-obsessedperson3. eclectic c. extremelybad4. edify d. notconventional5. efface e. drawnfrommanysources6. effusion f. bubblingwithexcitement7. egalitarian g. erase8. egocentric h. selfish9. egotist i. enlighten10. egregious j. believinginsocialequality

ELICIT(ihLISit) v tobringout;tocallforth• Theinterviewerskillfullyelicitedourtruefeelingsbyaskingusquestionsthatgottotheheartofthematter.

• Thedefendant tried toelicit thesympathyof the jurybyappearingat the trial inawheelchair,butthejuryconvictedheranyway.

Don’tconfusethiswordwithillicit.

ELLIPTICAL(ihLIPtikul) adj oval;missingawordorwords;obscureThiswordhasseveralmeanings.Consultadictionaryifyouareuncertain.• Theorbitoftheearthisnotperfectlyround;itiselliptical.

Aneggmayhaveanellipticalshape.

Anellipticalstatementisonethatishardorimpossibletounderstand,eitherbecausesomething ismissing from it orbecause thespeakerorwriter is trying tobehard tounderstand.• The announcement from the State Department was purposely elliptical—thegovernmentdidn’treallywantreporterstoknowwhatwasgoingon.

ELUSIVE(ihLOOsiv) adj hardtopindown;evasiveTobeelusiveistoelude,whichmeanstoavoid,evade,orescape.• Theanswertotheproblemwaselusive;everytimethemathematicianthoughtshewasclose,shediscoveredanothererror.(Or,onecouldsaythattheanswertotheproblemeludedthemathematician.)

• Theelusive criminal was next to impossible for the police to catch. (The criminaleludedthepolice.)

• The team played hard, but victory was elusive and they suffered another defeat.(Victoryeludedthehard-playingteam.)

EMIGRATE(EMuhgrayt) v toleaveacountrypermanently;toexpatriate• Pierre emigrated from France because he had grown tired of speaking French.Pierrebecameanémigré(EMuhgray).

• The Soviet dissidents were persecuted by the secret police, so they soughtpermissiontoemigrate.

Attheheartofthiswordisthewordmigrate,whichmeanstomovefromoneplaceorcountrytoanother.Emigrateaddstomigratethesenseofmovingoutofsomeplaceinparticular.Ontheotherendofeveryemigrationisanimmigration(thinkofthisas“in-migration”).Seeimmigration.• WhenSolangeemigratedfromFrance,sheimmigratedtotheUnitedStates.

EMINENT (EMuhnunt) adj well-knownandrespected;standingoutfromallothersinqualityoraccomplishment;outstanding• The visiting poetwas soeminent that our English teacher asked the poet for hisautograph.OurEnglishteacherthoughtthepoetwaspreeminentinhisfield.

• Theentireaudiencefellsilentwhentheeminentmusicianwalkedontothestageandpickedupherbanjoandbongodrums.

Don’tconfusethiswordwithimminent.

EMPIRICAL (em PIR uh kul) adj relying on experience or observation; notmerelytheoretical• Theapple-droppingexperimentgave thescientistsempirical evidence that gravityexists.

• Nicky’sideaaboutthemoonbeingmadeofpizzadoughwasnotempirical.• Weprovedthepie’sdeliciousnessempirically,byeatingit.


1. elicit a. well-known2. elliptical b. bringout3. elusive c. hardtopindown4. emigrate d. relyingonexperience5. immigration e. movefromacountry6. eminent f. movingintoacountry7. empirical g. obscure

EMULATE (EM yuh layt) v to strive to equal or excel, usually throughimitation• Toemulatesomeoneistotrytobejustasgoodas,orbetterthan,himorher.• The American company emulated its successful Japanese competitor but neverquitemanagedtodoaswell.

• LittleJoey imitatedhisathleticolderbrother in thehopeofonedayemulating hissuccess.

• Igotaheadbyemulatingthosewhohadsucceededbeforeme.

ENCROACH (en KROHCH) v to make gradual or stealthy inroads into; totrespass• Asthecitygrew,itencroachedonthecountrysidesurroundingit.• Withanencroachingsenseofdread,Islowlypushedopentheblood-spattereddoor.• Myneighborencroachedonmyyardbybuildingherstockadefencea fewfeetonmysideofthepropertyline.

ENDEMIC (en DEM ik) adj native; restricted to a particular region or era;indigenous• Youwon’tfindthatkindoftreeinCalifornia;it’sendemictoourpartofthecountry.• That peculiar strain of influenza was endemic to a small community in SouthCarolina;therewerenocasesanywhereelse.

• Thewriter TomWolfe coined the term “MeDecade” to describe the egocentricityendemicinthe1970s.

ENERVATE (ENurvayt) v toreducethestrengthorenergyof,especially todosogradually• Sanderfeltenervatedbyhislongordealandcouldn’tmakehimselfgetoutofbed.• Clingingtoaflagpoleforamonthwithoutfoodorwaterenervatedme,andonedayIfellasleepandendedupontheground.

• Lifeitselfseemedtoenervatetheoldwoman.Shegrewweakerandpalerwitheverybreathshedrew.

ENFRANCHISE (en FRAN chyze) v to grant the privileges of citizenship,especiallytherighttovote• In theUnited States, citizens becomeenfranchised on their eighteenth birthdays.American women were not enfranchised until the adoption of the NineteenthAmendmentin1920,whichgavethemtherighttovote.

To disfranchise (or disenfranchise) someone is to take away the privileges ofcitizenshiportotakeawaytherighttovote.• One of the goals of the reform candidate was to disfranchise the bodies at thecemetery,whichhadsomehowmanagedtovoteforthecrookedmayor.

ENGENDER(enJENdur) v tobringintoexistence;tocreate;tocause• Mywinning lottery ticketengendered a great deal of envy amongmy co-workers;theyallwishedthattheyhadwon.

• Smilesengendersmiles.• Thebitterlieutenantengendereddiscontentamonghistroops.

ENIGMA(uhNIGmuh) n amystery• Benisanenigma;heneverdoesanyhomeworkbuthealwaysgetsgoodgrades.• Thewizard spoke in riddles andenigmas, and no one could understandwhat hewassaying.

Anenigmaisenigmatic(enigMATik).• Ben’sgoodgradeswereenigmatic.Sowasthewizard’sspeech.

ENORMITY(iNORmuhtee) n extremeevil;ahideousoffense;immensity• Hitler’ssoldiersstormedthroughthevillage,committingoneenormityafteranother.

“Hugeness”or“greatsize”isnotthemainmeaningofenormity.Whenyouwanttotalkaboutthegiganticsizeofsomething,useimmensityinstead.

EPHEMERAL(iFEMural) adj lastingaveryshorttime

EphemeralcomesfromtheGreekandmeanslastingasingleday.Thewordisusuallyusedmorelooselytomeanlastingashorttime.Youth and flowers are both ephemeral. They’re gone before you know it. Somefriendshipsareephemeral.• Thetreadonthoseusedtireswillprobablyturnouttobeephemeral.


1. emulate a. causetoexist2. encroach b. mystery3. endemic c. removevotingrights4. enervate d. reducethestrengthof5. enfranchise e. native6. disfranchise f. grantvotingrights7. engender g. strivetoequal8. enigma h. lastingaveryshorttime9. enormity i. extremeevil10. ephemeral j. trespass

EPIGRAM(EPuhgram) n abriefandusuallywittyorsatiricalsayingPeopleoftenfinditdifficulttorememberthedifferencebetweenanepigramandthesesimilar-lookingwords:

epigraph:anaptquotationplacedatthebeginningofabookoressayepitaph:acommemorativeinscriptiononagraveepithet: a term used to characterize the nature of something; sometimes adisparagingtermusedtodescribeaperson.

Anepigramisepigrammatic(epuhgruhMATik).

EPITOME(iPITuhmee) n abriefsummarythatcapturesthemeaningofthewhole;theperfectexampleofsomething;aparadigm• Thefirstparagraphofthenewnovelisanepitomeoftheentirebook;youcanreaditandunderstandwhattheauthoristryingtogetacross.

• Luke’s freshmanyearwas theepitome of a collegeexperience; hemade friends,joinedafraternity,andatetoomuchpizza.

• Eatingcorndogsanddrinking rootbeer is theepitome of thegood life,as farasKaraisconcerned.


EQUANIMITY(ekwuhNIMuhtee) n composure;calm• The entire apartment building was crumbling, but Rachel faced the disaster withequanimity.Sheduckedoutof thewayofa fallingbeamandcontinuedsearchingforanexit.

• John’smother lookedat thebrokenglasson the floorwithequanimity;at leasthedidn’thurthimselfwhenheknockedoverthevase.

EQUITABLE(EKwuhtuhbul) adj fair• KingSolomon’sdecisionwascertainlyequitable;eachmotherwouldreceivehalfthechild.

• Thepiratesdistributedthelootequitablyamongthemselves,soeachonereceivedthesameshare.

• Thedivorcesettlementwasquiteequitable.Sheilagot the righthalfof thehouse,andTomgotthelefthalf.

Equity is fairness; inequity is unfairness. Iniquity and inequity both mean unfair, butiniquityimplieswickednessaswell.Bytheway,equityhasameaninginbusiness.SeeourFinancechapterattheendofthebook.

EQUIVOCAL (ih KWIV uh kul) adj ambiguous; intentionally confusing;capableofbeinginterpretedinmorethanonewayAmbiguousmeansunclear.Tobeequivocalistobeintentionallyambiguous.• Joe’sresponsewasequivocal;wecouldn’ttellwhetherhemeantyesorno,whichispreciselywhatJoewanted.

• Dr. Festen’s equivocal diagnosis made us think that she had no idea what Mrs.Johnsonhad.

Tobeequivocal is toequivocate.Toequivocate is tomisleadbysayingconfusing orambiguousthings.• WhenweaskedHaroldwhether thatwashiscar thatwasparked in themiddleofthehardwarestore,heequivocatedandasked,“Inwhichaisle?”

ERUDITE(ERyoodyte) adj scholarly;deeplylearned• Theprofessorsaidsucheruditethingsthatnoneofushadtheslightestideaofwhathewassaying.

• TheeruditebiologistwasviewedbymanyofhercolleaguesasalikelywinneroftheNobelPrize.

Tobeeruditeistopossesserudition(eryooDISHun),orextensiveknowledge.• Mr.Fernicola’svastlibrarywasanindicationofhiserudition.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothformsofthisword.


1. epigram a. briefsummary2. epigraph b. fair3. epitaph c. composure4. epithet d. intentionallyconfusing5. epitome e. aptquotation6. equanimity f. sayconfusingthings7. equitable g. inscriptiononagravestone8. equivocal h. scholarly9. equivocate i. brief,wittysaying10. erudite j. characterizingterm

ESOTERIC (es uh TER ik) adj hard to understand; understood by only aselectfew;peculiar• ChickenwrestlingandunderwateryodelingwerejusttwoofEarl’sesoterichobbies.• Theauthor’sbooksweresoesotericthatevenhermotherdidn’tbuyanyofthem.

ESPOUSE(ehSPOWZ) v tosupport;toadvocate• Someculturesusedtoespousepolygamy,ormarriagetomorethanonewoman.• Alexespousedsomanycausesthathesometimeshadtroublerememberingwhichsidehewason.

• The candidate for governor espoused a program in which all taxes would beabolishedandallthestate’srevenueswouldbesuppliedbyincomefrombingoandhorseracing.

ETHEREAL(ihTHIReeul) adj heavenly;aslightandinsubstantialasagasorether• Theetherealmusicweheardturnedouttobenotangelspluckingontheirharpsbut

thewindblowingthroughtheslatsofthemetalawning.• Theetherealmistonthehillsidewasdelicateandbeautiful.

EUPHEMISM(YOOfuhmizum) n apleasantorinoffensiveexpressionusedinplaceofanunpleasantoroffensiveone• Aunt Angie, who couldn’t bring herself to say the word death, said that UncleGeorge had taken the big bus uptown. “Taking the big bus uptown” was hereuphemismfordying.

• Thesex-educationinstructorwasn’tveryeffective.Shewassoembarrassedbythesubjectthatshecouldonlybringherselftospeakeuphemisticallyaboutit.

EVANESCENT (ev uhNESunt) adj fleeting; vanishing; happening for onlythebriefestperiod• Meteorsareevanescent: they lastsobriefly that it ishard to tellwhetheronehasactuallyappeared.

EXACERBATE(igZASurbayt) v tomakeworse• DippingAustininlyeexacerbatedhisskincondition.• The widow’s grief was exacerbated by the minister’s momentary inability torememberherdeadhusband’sname.

• The fender-benderwasexacerbatedwhen twomorecarsplowed into thebackofMargaret’scar.

EXACTING (igZAK ting) adj extremelydemanding;difficult; requiringgreatskillorcare• Theexactingmath teachersubtractedpoints ifyoudidn’tshoweverystepofyourwork.

• Thesurgeon’sexactingtaskwastoreconnectthepatient’sseveredeyelid.

EXALT(igZAWLT) v toraisehigh;toglorify• ThemanagerdecidedtoexaltthelowlybatboybyaskinghimtothrowthefirstpitchintheopeninggameoftheWorldSeries.

The adjective exalted is used frequently. Being queen of England is an exaltedoccupation.• Diamantefeltexaltedwhenhewokeuptodiscoverthathisgreat-unclehadlefthim$100million.

• Cleaningoutaseptictankisnotanexaltedtask.Becarefulnottoconfusethiswordwithexult,listedlater.

EXASPERATE(igZASpuhrayt) v toannoythoroughly;tomakeveryangry;totrythepatienceof

• The child’s insistence on hopping backward on one footexasperated hermother,whowasinahurry.

• Thealgebraclass’srefusaltoansweranyquestionswasextremelyexasperatingtothesubstituteteacher.

EXEMPLIFY(igZEMpluhfye) v toillustratebyexample;toserveasagoodexample• Fredparticipatedineveryclassdiscussionandtypedallofhispapers.Histeacherthought Fred exemplified the model student; Fred’s classmates thought he wassycophantic.

Anexemplar(igZEMplahr)isanidealmodeloraparadigm.Exemplary(igZEMpluree)meansoutstandingorworthyofimitation.

EXHAUSTIVE(igZAWStiv) adj thorough;rigorous;complete;painstaking• Beforeyouuseaparachute,youshouldexamine itexhaustively fordefects.Onceyoujump,yourdecisionisirrevocable.

EXHORT(igZORT) v tourgestrongly;togiveaseriouswarningto• Thecoachusedherbullhorntoexhortustotryharder.• Thefearfulforestrangerexhortedusnottogointothecave,butwedidsoanywayandbecamelostinthecenteroftheearth.

Theadjectiveishortatory(HORtuhtoree).


1. esoteric a. peculiar2. espouse b. makeworse3. ethereal c. extremelydemanding4. euphemism d. raisehigh5. evanescent e. inoffensivesubstituteterm6. exacerbate f. urgestrongly7. exacting g. annoythoroughly8. exalt h. heavenly9. exasperate i. advocate10. exemplify j. fleeting11. exhaustive k. illustratebyexample

12. exhort l. thorough

EXIGENCY(EKsijensee) n anemergency;anurgency• Anacademicexigency:Youhaven’topenedabookalltermandthefinalistomorrowmorning.

Exigentmeansurgent.

EXISTENTIAL(egzisTENshul) adj havingtodowithexistence;havingtodowiththebodyofthoughtcalledexistentialism,whichbasicallyholdsthathumanbeingsareresponsiblefortheirownactionsThisword isoverusedbutunder-understoodbyvirtuallyallof thepeoplewhouse it.Unlessyouhaveaverygoodreasonforthrowingitaround,youshouldprobablyavoidit.

EXONERATE(igZAHNuhrayt) v tofreecompletelyfromblame;toexculpate• Thedefendant,whohadalwaysclaimedhewasn’tguilty,expectedtobeexoneratedbythetestimonyofhisbestfriend.

• Ourdogwasexoneratedwhenwe discovered that itwas in fact the cat that hadeatenallthedoughnuts.

EXPATRIATE(eksPAYtreeayt) v tothrow(someone)outofhisorhernativeland;tomoveawayfromone’snativeland;toemigrate• The rebels wereexpatriated by the nervous general, who feared that they wouldcausetroubleiftheywereallowedtoremaininthecountry.

• Hugowasfedupwithhisnativecountry,soheexpatriatedtoAmerica.Indoingso,Hugobecameanexpatriate(eksPAYtreeut).

To repatriate (ree PAY tree ayt) is to return to one’s native citizenship; that is, tobecomearepatriate(reePAYtreeit).

EXPEDIENT (ik SPEE dee unt) adj providing an immediate advantage;servingone’simmediateself-interest;practical• Because the basement had nearly filled with water, the plumber felt it would beexpedienttoclearoutthedrain.

• Thecandidate’sposition in favorofhigherpay for teacherswasanexpedientoneadoptedforthenationalteachers’conventionbutabandonedshortlyafterward.

Expedientcanalsobeusedasanounforsomethingexpedient.• Thecarrepairmandidnothavehistoolkithandy,soheusedchewinggumasanexpedienttopatchahole.

The noun expedience or expediency is practicality or being especially suited to aparticulargoal.

EXPEDITE(EKspidyte) v tospeeduporeasetheprogressof• Thepostofficeexpeditedmaildeliverybyhiringmorelettercarriers.• Thelawyerexpedited theprogressofourcasethroughthecourtsbybribingafewjudges.

• OurwaitforatablewasexpeditedbyawaiterwhomistookAngelaforamoviestar.

EXPLICIT(ikSPLISit) adj clearlyanddirectlyexpressed• ThesexuallyexplicitmoviereceivedanXrating.• Themachine’sinstructionswereexplicit—theytoldusexactlywhattodo.• Nooneexplicitlyaskedustosetthebarnonfire,butwegottheimpressionthatthatwaswhatweweresupposedtodo.

Implicitmeansindirectlyexpressedorimplied.• Gerry’s dissatisfaction with our work was implicit in his expression, although henevercriticizedusdirectly.

EXTOL(ikSTOHL) v topraisehighly;tolaud• Themillionaireextolledthecitizenwhoreturnedhergoldwatchbuttheonlyrewardwasaheartfelthandshake.

EXTRANEOUS(ikSTRAYneeus) adj unnecessary;irrelevant;extra• Extraicecreamwouldneverbeextraneous,unlesseveryonehadalreadyeatensomuchthatnoonewantedanymore.

• Thebook’sfeebleplotwasburiedinalotofextraneousmaterialaboutatalkingdog.• The salad contained several extraneous ingredients, including hair, sand, and asingledeadfly.

Tobeextraneousistobeextraandalwayswiththesenseofbeingunnecessary.

EXTRAPOLATE (ikSTRAPuh layt) v to project or deduce fromsomethingknown;toinfer• George’sestimateswereextrapolated from lastyear’sdata;hesimply tookall theoldnumbersanddoubledthem.

• Emerilcameupwithaprobablerecipebyextrapolatingfromthetasteofthecookieshehadeatenatthestore.

• Byextrapolating fromahandful of pottery fragments, thearchaeologists formedapossiblepictureoftheancientcivilization.

Toextrapolate,ascientistuses the factsheorshehas toproject to factsoutside; tointerpolate(inTURpuhlayt),thescientisttriestofillthegapswithindata.

EXTRICATE(EKstruhkayt) v tofreefromdifficulty• It took twoandahalf days toextricate the little girl from theabandonedwell intowhichshehadfallen.

• Yoshi had to pretend to be sick to extricate himself from the blind date with theventriloquistwhobroughtherpuppetonthedatewithher.

• Monicahadnotroubledrivinghercarintotheditch,butsheneededatowtrucktoextricateit.

Somethingthatispermanentlystuckisinextricable(inEKStrikuhbul).

EXTROVERT (EKS truhvurt) n anopen, outgoingperson; a personwhoseattentionisfocusedonothersratherthanonhimselforherself• Mariawasquiteanextrovert;shewalkedboldly into the roomfulofstrangeadultsandstruckupmanyfriendlyconversations.

• Damianwasanextrovert inthesensethathewasalwaysmoreinterestedinotherpeople’sbusinessthaninhisown.

An introvert (IN truh vurt) is a personwhoseattention is directed inwardandwho isconcernedwithlittleoutsidehimselforherself.• Ryanwasanintrovert;hespentvirtuallyallhistimeinhisroom,writinginhisdiaryandtalkingtohimself.

Anintrovertisusuallyintrospective.

EXULT(igZULT) v torejoice;tocelebrate• Thewomen’steamexultedinitsvictoryoverthemen’steamatthebadmintonfinals.Theywereexultant.


1. exigency a. freefromblame2. existential b. clearlyexpressed3. exonerate c. indirectlyexpressed4. expatriate d. havingtodowithexistence5. expedient e. outgoingperson6. expedite f. speedup7. explicit g. infer8. implicit h. freefromdifficulty9. extol i. immediatelyadvantageous

10. extraneous j. unnecessary11. extrapolate k. inwardlydirectedperson12. extricate l. throwoutofnativeland13. extrovert m. emergency14. introvert n. rejoice15. exult o. praisehighly

FFABRICATION(FABruhkayshun) n alie;somethingmadeup• Mystoryaboutbeing theprinceofWaleswasa fabrication. I’m really the kingofDenmark.

• The suspectedmurderer’s alibi turnedout to be an elaborate fabrication; in otherwords,hewaslyingwhenhesaidthathehadn’tkilledthevictim.

Tocreateafabricationistofabricate.

FACETIOUS(fuhSEEshus) adj humorous;notserious;clumsilyhumorous• David was sent to the principal’s office for making a facetious remark about theintelligenceoftheFrenchteacher.

• Ourproposalaboutshippingourtown’sgarbagetothemoonwasfacetious,butthefirstselectmantookitseriously.

FACILE(FASil) adj fluent;skillfulinasuperficialway;easyTosaythatawriter’sstyleis facile istosayboththat it isskillfulandthat itwouldbebetter if the writer exerted himself or herself more. The word facile almost alwayscontainsthissenseofsuperficiality.• Paolo’spoemswerefacileratherthantrulyaccomplished;ifyoureadthemclosely,yousoonrealizedtheywerefilledwithclichés.

• The CEO of the company was a facile speaker. She could speak engagingly onalmostanytopicwithverylittlepreparation.Shespokewithgreatfacility.


FACTION(FAKshun) n agroup,usuallyasmallpartofalargergroup,unitedaroundsomecause;disagreementwithinanorganization• At the Republican National Convention, the candidate’s faction spentmuch of itstimeshoutingattheothercandidate’sfaction.

• Thefacultywasrelativelyhappy,buttherewasafactionthatcalledforhigherpay.• Whenthecontroversial topicof thefunddrivecameup, thecommitteedescendedintobitternessandfaction.Itwasafactioustopic.

FARCICAL(FARSikul) adj absurd;ludicrous• Theseriousplayquicklyturned farcicalwhenthe leadingman’sbeltbrokeandhispantsfelltohisankles.

• The formerly secret documents detailed theCIA’s farcical attempt to discredit thedictatorbysprinklinghisshoeswithapowderthatwassupposedtomakehisbeardfallout.

Farcicalmeanslikeafarce,whichisamockeryoraridiculoussatire.

FASTIDIOUS(faSTIDeeus) adj meticulous;demanding;finicky• Mrs. O’Hara was a fastidious housekeeper; she cleaned up our crumbs almostbeforetheyhitthefloor.

• Jebwassofastidious inhisworkhabitsthatheneededneitherawastebasketnoraneraser.

• Thefastidioussecretarywasnearlydrivenmadbyherboss,whousedthefloorasafilecabinetandherdeskasapantry.

FATALIST (FAYT uh list) n someone who believes that future events arealreadydeterminedandthathumansarepowerlesstochangethem• The old man was a fatalist about his illness, believing there was no sense inworryingaboutsomethinghecouldnotcontrol.

• Carmenwassuchafatalistthatsheneverworeaseatbelt;shesaidthatifsheweremeanttodieinacaraccident,therewasnothingshecoulddotopreventit.

Fatalistiscloselyrelatedtothewordfate.Afatalistissomeonewhobelievesthatfatedetermineseverything.Tobeafatalististobefatalistic.

FATUOUS(FACHoous) adj foolish;silly;idiotic• Paulineissoprettythathersuitorsareoftendriventofatuousactsofdevotion.Theyareinfatuatedwithher.

FAUNA(FAWnuh) n animals• Wesawlittleevidenceof faunaonourwalk through thewoods.Wedid,however,seeplentyofflora,orplants.

Thephrasefloraandfaunameansplantsandanimals.Thetermsareusedparticularlyindescribingwhatlivesinaparticularregionorenvironment.Arcticfloraareverydifferentfromtropicalflora.

• InJim’syard,thefloraconsistsmostlyofweeds.It’seasytorememberwhichofthesewordsmeanswhat.Justreplacefloraandfaunawithflowersandfawns.

FECUND(FEEkund) adj fertile;productive• Thefecundmotherrabbitgavebirthtohundredsandhundredsoflittlerabbits.• Thechild’simaginationwassofecundthatdozensofstorieshoppedoutofhimlikeabunchofbabyrabbits.

• Ourcompostheapbecameincreasinglyfecundasitdecomposed.Thestateofbeingfecundisfecundity(fiKUNditee).Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“FEKund.”


1. fabrication a. plants2. facetious b. fertile3. facile c. absurd4. faction d. onewhobelievesinfate5. farcical e. humorous6. fastidious f. animals7. fatalist g. superficiallyskillful8. fatuous h. groupwithacause9. fauna i. lie10. flora j. meticulous11. fecund k. foolish

FELICITY(fuhLISuhtee) n happiness;skillfulness,especiallyatexpressingthings;adeptness• Lovewasnotall felicity for JudyandSteve; theyarguedall the time. In fact theirrelationshipwascharacterizedbyinfelicity.

• Shakespearewrotewithgreatfelicity.Hisworksarefilledwithfelicitousexpressions.

FERVOR(FURvur) n greatwarmthorearnestness;ardor;zeal• Avidbaseball fans frequentlydisplay their fervor for thegameby throwing foodat

badplayers.

FETTER(FETur) v torestrain;tohamper• InherpursuitofanOlympicgoldmedal,therunnerwasfetteredbymultipleinjuries.

Tobeunfetteredistobeunrestrainedorfreeofhindrances.• After the dictator was deposed, a novelist produced a fictional account of thedictatorshipthatwasunfetteredbythestrictrulesofcensorship.

Afetterisliterallyachain(attachedtothefoot)thatisusedtorestrainacriminalor,forthatmatter, an innocent person. A figurative fetter can be anything that hampers orrestrainssomeone.• Thehousewife’syoungchildrenwerethefettersthatpreventedherfrompursuingasecondmaster’sdegree.

FIDELITY(fuhDELuhtee) n faithfulness;loyalty• Themotto of theUnitedStatesMarineCorps issemper fidelis,which is Latin foralwaysloyal.

Ahigh-fidelityrecordplayerisonethatisveryfaithfulinreproducingtheoriginalsoundofwhateverwasrecorded.• Thecrusader’slifewasmarkedbyfidelitytothecauseofjustice.• Thesoldiers couldn’t shoot straight, but their fidelity to the causeof freedomwasneverinquestion.

Infidelitymeans faithlessness or disloyalty.Marital infidelity is anotherway of sayingadultery.Earlyphonographrecordsweremarkedbyinfidelitytotheoriginal.

FIGURATIVE (FIG yur uh tiv) adj based on figures of speech; expressingsomethingintermsusuallyusedforsomethingelse;metaphorical• When the mayor said that the housing market had sprouted wings, she wasspeakingfiguratively.Thehousingmarkethadn’treallysproutedwings;ithadmerelyrisensorapidlythatithadalmostseemedtofly.

To say that the autumn hillside was a blaze of color is to use the word blaze in afigurativesense.Thehillsidewasn’treallyonfire,butthecolorsoftheleavesmadeitappear(somewhat)asthoughitwere.A figurativemeaning of aword is one that is not literal. A literal statement is one inwhich every word means exactly what it says. If the housing market had literallysproutedwings,genuinewingswouldsomehowhavepoppedoutofit.People very, very often confuse thesewords, using onewhen they reallymean theother.• Desmond could literally eat money if he chewed up and swallowed a dollar bill.Desmond’scareatsmoneyonlyfiguratively,inthesensethatitisveryexpensivetooperate.

FINESSE(fiNES) n skillfulmaneuvering;subtlety;craftiness• Thedoctorsewedup thewoundwith finesse,makingstitchessosmall onecouldscarcelyseethem.

• Theboxermovedwithsuchfinessethathisopponentneverknewwhathithim.

FLAGRANT(FLAYgrunt) adj glaringlybad;notorious;scandalousAnexampleofaflagrant theftwouldbestealingacarfromtheparkinglotofapolicestation.Aflagrantspellingerrorisaverynoticeableone.Seethelistingforblatant,asthesetwowordsareoftenconfused.

FLAUNT(flawnt) v toshowoff;todisplayostentatiously• The brand-new millionaire annoyed all his friends by driving around his oldneighborhoodtoflaunthisnewRolls-Royce.

• Colleenflauntedherengagementring,shovingitinthefaceofalmostanyonewhocamenearher.

Thiswordisveryoftenconfusedwithflout.

FLOUT(flowt) v todisregardsomethingoutofdisrespect• A driver flouts the traffic laws by driving through red lights and knocking downpedestrians.

Toflauntsuccessistomakecertaineveryoneknowsthatyouaresuccessful.Tofloutsuccessistobecontemptuousofsuccessortoactasthoughitmeansnothingatall.

FOIBLE(FOYbul) n aminorcharacterflaw• Patti’sfoiblesincludedatendencytopreferdogstopeople.• Thedelegatestothestateconventionignoredthecandidates’positionsonthemajorissuesandconcentratedontheirfoibles.

FOMENT(fohMENT) v tostirup;toinstigate• Thebadnewsfromabroadfomentedpessimismamongprofessionalinvestors.• The radicals spread several rumors in an effort to foment rebellion among thepeasants.


1. felicity a. loyalty2. fervor b. stirup3. fetter c. restrain4. fidelity d. meaningexactlywhatitsays5. figurative e. minorcharacterflaw6. literal f. showoff7. finesse g. basedonfiguresofspeech8. flagrant h. todisregardcontemptuously9. flaunt i. skillfulmaneuvering10. flout j. happiness11. foible k. glaringlybad12. foment l. zeal

FORBEAR(forBAYR) v torefrainfrom;toabstain• StephentoldmeIcouldbecomeamillionaireifIjoinedhiminhisbusiness,buthislackofintegritymakesmenervoussoIdecidedtoforbear.

• Grace forbore topunchme in thenose,even though I toldher that I thoughtshewasasnivelingidiot.

Thenounisforbearance.Aforebear(FORbayr)—sometimesalsospelledforbear—isanancestor.

FOREGO(forGOH) v todowithout;toforbear• Wehadsomeof thechocolatecake,someof thechocolatemousse,andsomeofthechocolatecreampie.Butwewereworriedaboutourweight,sowedecidedtoforegothechocolate-coveredpotatochips.Thatis,weforewentthem.

Canalsobespelledforgo.

FORSAKE(forSAYK) v toabandon;torenounce;torelinquish• WeurgedBuddytoforsakehislifewiththealienbeingsandreturntohisjobatthedrugstore.

• All theguru’s followershad forsaken her, so shebecamea real estate developer

andturnedhertempleintoanapartmentbuilding.

FORTUITOUS(forTOOuhtus) adj accidental;occurringbychance• Theprogram’soutcomewasnottheresultofanyplanbutwasentirelyfortuitous.• Theobjectwassoperfectlyformedthatitscreationcouldnothavebeenfortuitous.

Fortuitous is often misused to mean lucky or serendipitous. Don’t make that samemistake.Itmeansmerelyaccidental.

FOUNDER(FOWNdur) v tofail;tocollapse;tosink• Thecandidate’scampaignfor thepresidency founderedwhen itwas revealed thatshehadoncebeenmarriedtoadrugaddict.

• Zekesuccessfullystruggledthroughthefirstpartofthecoursebutfounderedwhenthefinalexaminationwasgiven.

• Theshipfounderedshortlyafterithittheiceberg.Becarefulnottoconfusethiswordwithflounder,whichmeanstomoveclumsilyorinconfusion.• Our field hockey team floundered helplessly around the field while the opposingteamscoredgoalaftergoal.

• Thewitnessbegantoflounderastheattorneyfiredquestionafterquestion.If you want to remember the difference between the two words, think that when apersonflounders,heisfloppingaroundlikeaflounder.

FRATERNAL(fruhTURnul) adj likebrothers• Thefraternalfeelingsofthegroupwerestrengthenedbymonthlyfishingtrips.

A fraternity is an organization of men who have bound themselves together in arelationshipanalogoustothatofrealbrothers.

FRENETIC(fruhNETik) adj frantic;frenzied• There was a lot of frenetic activity in the office, but nothing ever seemed to getaccomplished.

• Thebird’sfreneticattempttofreeitselffromthethornbushonlymadethesituationworse.

FRUGAL(FROOgul) adj economical;penny-pinching• Laura was so frugal that she even tried to bargain with the checkout girl at thediscountstore.

• Wewereasfrugalaswecouldbe,butwestillendedupseveralthousanddollarsindebt.

• Hannah’s frugality annoyed her husband, who loved spending money on techgadgets.

FURTIVE(FURtiv) adj secretive;sly• Calwiggledhis earswhile the countesswas talking to him in a furtiveattempt tocatchourattention.

• Theburglarswerefurtive,butnotfurtiveenough;thealertpolicemangrabbedthemastheycarriedtheTVthroughtheRubenstein’sbackdoor.

FUTILE(FYOOTul) adj useless;hopeless• AD+ average and no extracurricular interests to speak ofmeant that applying toHarvardwasfutile,butLucindahopedagainsthope.

Somethingfutileisafutility(fyooTILuhtee).• Lucindadoesn’tknowwhatafutilityitis.


1. forbear a. economical2. forebear b. ancestor3. forgo c. moveinconfusion4. forsake d. dowithout5. fortuitous e. refrainfrom6. founder f. sink7. flounder g. secretive8. frenetic h. accidental9. frugal i. abandon10. furtive j. frantic

GGARRULOUS(GARuhlus) adj talkative;chatty• Gabriellaisgregariousandgarrulous;shelovestohangoutwiththegangandgab.

GAUCHE(gohsh) adj unskillful;awkward;maladroitRememberdextrous?Well,gaucheisprettymuchtheexactopposite.ItistheFrenchwordforleft—theconnectionisthatleft-handedpeoplewereoncethoughttobeclumsy(thiswasclearlybeforetheinventionofleft-handedscissors)andperverse,evenevil.

Thesedays,gauchetendstodescribesocial,ratherthanphysical,ineptness.• Smadarhadapoorsenseof comic timing,andhergaucheattempts tomock herleft-handedfriendssoonleftherwithnone.

GENRE(ZHAHNruh) n atypeorcategory,especiallyofartorwritingThenovelisoneliterarygenre.Poetryisanother.• Daoyendisplayedagreattalentforaparticulargenre:thebawdylimerick.

GENTEEL(jenTEEL) adj refined;polite;aristocratic;affectingrefinement• The ladies at the ball were too genteel to accept our invitation to the wrestlingmatch.

Apersonwhoisgenteelhasgentility.

GESTICULATE (jes TIK yuh layt) v to make gestures, especially whenspeakingorinplaceofspeaking• Massimogesticulatedwildlyontheothersideofthetheaterinanattempttogetourattention.

• Theafter-dinnerspeakergesticulatedinsuchastrangewaythattheaudiencepaidmoreattentiontoherhandsthantoherwords.

Apersonwhogesticulatesmakesgesticulations.

GLUT(glut) n surplus;anoverabundance• The international oil shortage turned into an international oil glut with surprisingspeed.

• Wehadaglutofcontributionsbutadearth,orscarcity,ofvolunteers;itseemedthatpeoplewouldrathergivetheirmoneythantheirtime.

GRANDILOQUENT (gran DIL uh kwunt) adj pompous; using a lot of big,fancywordsinanattempttosoundimpressive• The governor’s speechwasgrandiloquent rather than eloquent; therewere somesix-dollarwordsandsomeimpressivephrases,butshereallyhadnothingtosay.

• Thenewminister’sgrandiloquencegothimintroublewithdeacons,whowantedhimtobemorerestrainedinhissermons.

GRANDIOSE(GRANdeeohs) adj absurdlyexaggerated• Thescientist’sgrandioseplanwastobuildahugeshoppingcenteronthesurfaceofthemoon.

• Their house was genuinely impressive, although there were a few grandiosetouches: a fireplace the size of a garage, a kitchen with four ovens, and acomputerizedmediacenterineveryroom.

Tobegrandioseistobecharacterizedbygrandiosity(grandeeAHSuhtee).

GRATUITOUS (gruh TOOuh tus) adj given freely (said of something bad);unjustified;unprovoked;uncalledfor• The scathing reviewof themovie contained severalgratuitous remarks about thelovelifeofthedirector.

• Theirattackagainstuswasgratuitous;wehadneverdoneanythingtooffendthem.Gratuitous isoftenmisunderstoodbecause it isconfusedwithgratuity.Agratuity isatip, like the one you leave in a restaurant. A gratuity is a nice thing. Gratuitous,however,isnotnice.Don’tconfusethesewords.

GRAVITY(GRAVuhtee) n seriousness• Thenewsanchor’snervousgigglingwasentirely inappropriate,given thegravityofthesituation.

• Noone realized thegravityofMyron’sdrugaddictionuntil itwasmuch too late tohelphim.

Gravity is the force that makes apples fall down instead of up, and the word alsocarriesadifferentsortofweightiness.Attheheartofthewordgravityisthewordgrave,whichmeansserious.

GREGARIOUS (gruh GAR ee us) adj sociable; enjoying the company ofothers• Dirkwastoogregarioustoenjoythefifteenyearshespentinsolitaryconfinement.• Kyliewasn’tverygregarious;shewenttotheparty,butshespentmostofhertimehidinginacloset.

Inbiology,gregariousisusedtodescribeanimalsthatliveingroups.Bees,whichlivetogetherinlargecolonies,aresaidtobegregariousinsects.

GUILE(gyle) n cunning;duplicity;artfulness• Joséusedguile,notintelligence,towinthespellingbee;hecheated.• Stuartwasshockedbytheguileoftheautomobilemechanic,whohadpokedaholeinhisradiatorandthentoldhimthatithadsprungaleak.

Tobeguilelessistobeinnocentornaive.Guilelessandartlessaresynonyms.Thewordbeguilealsomeanstodeceive,butinacharmingandnotalwaysbadway.• ClarencefoundMary’sbeautysobeguilingthathedidanythingsheaskedofhim.

QuickQuiz#45Matcheachwordinthefirstcolumnwithitsdefinitioninthesecondcolumn.

Checkyouranswershere.

1. futile a. chatty2. garrulous b. surplus3. gauche c. cunning4. genre d. unjustified5. genteel e. seriousness6. gesticulate f. makegestures7. glut g. hopeless8. grandiloquent h. refined9. grandiose i. sociable10. gratuitous j. pompous11. gravity k. absurdlyexaggerated12. gregarious l. typeofart13. guile m. awkward

HHACKNEYED(HAKneed) adj overused;trite;stale• Michael’sbookwasfullofclichésandhackneyedphrases.• Theintelligentdesignissuehadbeendiscussedsomuchastobecomehackneyed.

“Ascoldasice”isahackneyedexpression.

HAPLESS(HAPlis) adj unlucky• Joe’shaplesssearchforfunledhimfromonedisappointmenttoanother.• Beatriz ledahapless existence thatmadeall her friends’ lives seem fortunate bycomparison.

HARBINGER(HARbinjur) n aforerunner;asignalofWarmweatheristheharbingerofspring.• A cloud of bad breath and body odor, which preceded him by several yardseverywherehewent,wasHarold’sharbinger.


HEDONISM(HEEDuhnizum) n thepursuitofpleasureasawayoflife

Ahedonistpracticeshedonismtwenty-fourhoursaday.• Yoshi’s life of hedonism came to an end when his lottery winnings ran out; hismassagingarmchairandwide-screenTVwererepossessed,hehadtoeatmacaroniandcheeseinsteadofchampagneandlobster,andhecouldnolongerpaytohavemodelsfanhimwithpalmfrondsandfeedhimgrapes.

HEGEMONY (hi JEM uh nee) n leadership, especially of one nation overanother• Americaonceheldanunchallengednuclearhegemony.• JapanandGermanyvieforhegemonyintheforeign-carmarket.


HERESY (HERuhsee) n anybelief that is stronglyopposed to establishedbeliefsGalileowastriedfortheheresyofsuggestingthatthesundidnotrevolvearoundEarth.Hewasalmostconvictedofbeingaheretic(HERuhtik),butherecantedhisheretical(huhRETikul)view.

HERMETIC(hurMETik) adj impervioustoexternalinfluence;airtight• The president led a hermetic existence in the White House, as her advisersattemptedtosealherofffromtheoutsideworld.

• Theoldmenfeltvulnerableandunwantedoutsidethehermeticsecurityoftheirclub.• Thepoisonoussubstancewassealedhermeticallyinsideaglasscylinder.

HEYDAY(HAYday) n goldenage;prime• Inhisheyday,Vernonwasaworld-classathlete;todayhe’sjustVernon.• TheheydayoftheBritishNavyendedalong,longtimeago.

HIATUS(hyeAYtus) n abreakorinterruption,oftenfromwork• Spencer looked forward to spring break as a welcome hiatus from the rigors ofcampusparties.


HIERARCHY (HYEuhrahrkee) n anorganizationbasedonrankordegree;peckingorder• KendrawasverylowintheStateDepartmenthierarchy.Infact,herphonenumberwasn’tevenlistedintheStateDepartmentdirectory.

• There appeared to be no hierarchy in the newly discovered tribe; there were noleadersand,forthatmatter,nofollowers.

Theadjectiveishierarchical(hyeuhRAHRKikul).

HISTRIONIC(histreeAHNik) adj overlydramatic;theatrical• Adele’s histrionic request for a raise embarrassed everyone in the office. Shegesticulatedwildly,jumpedupanddown,pulledouthandfulsofhair,threwherselftotheground,andgroanedinagony.

• Thechairman’shistrionicpresentationpersuadednoone.• Theyoungactor’shistrionicsmadeeveryoneintheaudiencesquirm.

Histrionicbehaviorisreferredtoashistrionics.

HOMILY(HAHMuhlee) n asermon• Thefootballcoachoftenbeganpracticewithalengthyhomilyonthevirtuesofcleanliving.

HOMOGENEOUS (hohmuhJEEneeus) adj uniform;madeentirelyofonething• Thekindergartenclasswasextremelyhomogeneous:allthechildrenhadblondhairandblueeyes.

Homogenized (huhMAHJ uh nyzed)milk ismilk in which the cream, which usuallyfloatsontop,hasbeenpermanentlymixedwiththerestofthemilk.(Skimmilkismilkfromwhich the layerofcreamhasbeenskimmedoff.)Whenmilk ishomogenized, itbecomesahomogeneoussubstance—thatis,it’sthesamethroughout,oruniform.Tobeheterogeneous(heturuhJEEneeus)istobemixedorvaried.• OnHalloweenthechildrenamassedaheterogeneouscollectionofcandy,chewinggum,popcorn,andcookies.

Thenounsarehomogeneity(hohmuhjuhNEEuhtee)andheterogeneity(hetuhrohjuhNEEuhtee),respectively.

HUSBANDRY (HUZbundree) n thriftymanagement of resources; livestockfarmingHusbandry is the practice of conserving money or resources. To husband is toeconomize.• Everyonehusbandedoilandelectricityduringtheenergycrisisofthe1970s.

HYPERBOLE (hye PUR buh lee) n an exaggeration used as a figure ofspeech;exaggeration• When Joe said, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse,” he was using hyperbole toconveytheextentofhishunger.

• Thecandidatewasguiltyofhyperbole;allthefactsinherspeechwereexaggerated.


HYPOTHETICAL(hyepuhTHETuhkul) adj uncertain;unproven• Therewereseveralhypotheticalexplanations for thestrangephenomenon,butnoonecouldsayforcertainwhathadcausedit.

Ahypotheticalexplanation isahypothesis (hyePAHTHuhsis), thepluralofwhich ishypotheses(hyePAHTHuhseez).


1. hackneyed a. leadership2. hapless b. uniform3. harbinger c. airtight4. hedonism d. forerunner5. hegemony e. peckingorder6. heresy f. overused;trite7. hermetic g. exaggeration8. heyday h. goldenage9. hiatus i. varied10. hierarchy j. unlucky11. histrionic k. uncertain;unproven12. homily l. overlydramatic13. homogeneous m. break14. heterogeneous n. sermon15. husbandry o. thriftymanagementofresources16. hyperbole p. lifelongpursuitofpleasure17. hypothetical q. stronglycontrarybelief

I

ICONOCLAST (eye KAHN uh klast) n one who attacks popular beliefs orinstitutionsIconoclastcomesfromGreekwordsmeaning imagebreaker.Theoriginal iconoclastswereopponentsof theuseof icons,orsacred images, incertainChristianchurches.Todaythewordisusedtorefertosomeonewhoattackspopularfiguresandideas—apersontowhom“nothingissacred.”• Thepopularcolumnistwasan inveterate iconoclast,avidlyattackingpublic figuresnomatterwhattheirpartyaffiliations.

• Tostudyandgotoclassistobeaniconoclastonthatparticularcampus,whichhasareputationforbeingthebiggestpartyschoolinthecountry.

• Herbert’siconoclastic(eyekahnuhKLAStik)viewswerenotpopularwiththeoldermembersoftheboard.

IDEOLOGY(eyedeeAHLuhjee) n asystemofsocialorpoliticalideasConservatismandliberalismarecompetingideologies.• Thecandidatenevermanaged to communicatehis ideology to the voters, so fewpeoplewereabletograspwhathestoodfor.

• Thesenator’staxproposalhadmoretodowithideologythanwithcommonsense;herplan,thoughconsistentwithherprinciples,wasclearlyimpractical.

A dogmatic person attached to an ideology is an ideologue (EYE dee uh lawg). Anideologueisdoctrinaire.Ideologyissometimespronounced“IDeeahluhjee.”

IDIOSYNCRASY(ideeohSINKruhsee) n apeculiarity;aneccentricity• Eating green beans drenched in ketchup for breakfast was one of Jordana’sidiosyncrasies.

• Thedoctor’sinterestwasarousedbyanidiosyncrasyinBill’sskull:thereseemedtobeacoinslotinthebackofhishead.

Apersonwhohasanidiosyncrasyissaidtobeidiosyncratic(ideeohsinKRATik).• Tara’s driving was somewhat idiosyncratic; she sometimes seemed to prefer thesidewalktothestreet.

IDYLLIC(eyeDILik) adj charminginarusticway;naturallypeaceful• Theybuilttheirhouseonanidyllicspot.Therewasababblingbrookinbackandanunbrokenviewofwoodedhillsinfront.

• Ourvacation in the countrywas idyllic;wewent for longwalks downwinding dirtroadsanddidn’twatchtelevisionallweek.

Anidyllictimeorplacecouldalsobecalledanidyll(EYEdul).

IGNOMINY(IGnuhminee) n deepdisgrace

• After the big scandal, the formerly high-flying investment banker fell into a life ofshameandignominy.

• The ignominyof losing thespellingbeewas toomuch forArnold,whodecided togiveupspellingaltogether.

Somethingthatisdeeplydisgracefulisignominious(ignuhMINeeus).• Lola’s plagiarizing of Nabokov’s work was an ignominious act that got hersuspendedfromschoolfortwodays.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothformsoftheword.

ILLICIT(iLISit) adj illegal;notpermittedCriminalsengageinillicitactivities.Don’tconfusethiswordwithelicit,listedpreviously.• Thepolice interviewedhundredsofwitnesses, trying toelicitclues thatmighthelpthemstopanillicitbusiness.

IMMIGRATE(IMigrayt) v tomovepermanentlytoanewcountryIt’seasytoconfusethiswordwithemigrate.Toavoidthis,justrememberthatemigratemeansexit,andimmigratemeanscomein.• Edwin immigrated to Canada, thinking the move would give his two-year-olddaughterabettershotatattendingtheUniversityofTorontopreschool.

Thenounformofthewordisimmigration.

IMMINENT(IMuhnunt) adj justabouttohappen• Thepinkglowintheeastmadeitclearthatsunrisewasimminent.• Patricehadastrangefeelingthatdisasterwasimminent,thenthejumbojetcrashedintohergarage.

Don’tconfusethiswordwitheminent,listedpreviously.

IMMUTABLE(iMYOOtuhbul) adj unchangeable• Jerry’smotherhadonlyoneimmutablerule:nodancingonthedinnertable.• Thestatueof the formerprincipal lookeddownon thestudentswithan immutablescowl.

Somethingthatischangeableissaidtobemutable.• Themutable shoreline shifted continually as the tides moved sand first in onedirectionandtheninanother.

• Sonrisa’s moods weremutable; one minute she was kind and gentle, the nextminuteshewasscreamingwithanger.

Both immutable andmutable are based on a Latin root meaning change. So are

mutationandmutant.

IMPARTIAL (im PAHR shul) adj fair; not favoring one side or the other;unbiased• Jurors are supposed to be impartial rather than partial; they aren’t supposed tomakeuptheirmindsuntilthey’veheardalltheevidence.

• Beverly tried to be an impartial judge at the beauty contest, but in the end shecouldn’thelpselectingherowndaughtertobethenewHoneybeeQueen.

Thenounisimpartiality(impahrsheeALuhtee).

IMPECCABLE(imPEKuhbul) adj flawless;entirelywithoutsin• The children’s behavior was impeccable; they didn’t pour dye into the swimmingpool.

• Hal’sclotheswerealwaysimpeccable;eventhewrinkleswereperfectlycreased.Bytheway,peccablemeansliabletosin.Andwhilewe’reatit,apeccadilloisaminorsin.

IMPERIAL(imPEEReeul) adj likeanemperororanempireImperial,emperor,andempireareallderivedfromthesameroot.England’simperialdaysareover,nowthattheBritishEmpirehasbrokenapart.• Thepalacewasdecoratedwithimperialsplendor.• George’simperialmannerwasinappropriatebecausehewasnothingmoreexaltedthanthelocaldogcatcher.

A similar word is imperious (im PEER ee us), which means bossy and, usually,arrogant.• Thedirector’simperiousstylerubbedeveryonethewrongway.Shealwaysseemedtobegivingorders,andsheneverlistenedtowhatanyonesaid.


1. iconoclast a. peculiarity2. ideology b. naturallypeaceful3. idiosyncrasy c. likeanemperor4. idyllic d. flawless5. ignominy e. attackerofpopularbeliefs6. illicit f. justabouttohappen

7. imminent g. fair8. immutable h. systemofsocialideas9. impartial i. bossy10. impeccable j. deepdisgrace11. imperial k. unchangeable12. imperious l. illegal

IMPERVIOUS (im PUR vee us) adj not allowing anything to pass through;impenetrable• A raincoat, if it is any good, is impervious to water. It is made of an imperviousmaterial.

• Davidwas impervious to criticism—he did what he wanted to do nomatter whatanyonesaid.

IMPETUOUS(imPECHoowus) adj impulsive;extremelyimpatient• ImpetuousDickalwaysseemedtoberunningofftobuyanewcar,evenifhehadjustboughtonethemonthbefore.

• Samanthawassoimpetuousthatshenevertookmorethanafewsecondstomakeuphermind.

IMPLEMENT(IMpluhmunt) v tocarryout• Leo developed a plan for shortening the grass in his yard, but hewas unable toimplementitbecausehedidn’thavealawnmower.

• Thegovernmentwasbetteratcreatingnewlawsthanitwasatimplementingthem.

IMPOTENT(IMpuhtunt) adj powerless;helpless;unabletoperformImpotentmeansnotpotent—notpowerful.• Joe and Olga made a few impotent efforts to turn aside the steamroller, but itsquishedtheirvegetablegardenanyway.

• Wefeltimpotentinthefaceoftheiroverpoweringoppositiontoourplan.Omnipotent (ahmNIPuhtunt)meansallpowerful.Afterwinningadozengamesinarow,thefootballteambegantofeelomnipotent.


IMPUGN(imPYOON) v toattack,especiallytoattackthetruthorintegrityofsomething

• ThecriticimpugnedtheoriginalityofJacob’snovel,claimingthatlongstretchesofithadbeenliftedfromtheworkofsomeoneelse.

• FredsaidIwasimpugninghishonestywhenIcalledhimadirtyliar,butItoldhimhehadnohonestytoimpugn.Thisjustseemedtomakehimangrier.

INANE(iNAYN) adj silly;senseless• Theirplantomakeanindoorswimmingpoolbyfloodingtheirbasementwasinane.• Melmadeafew inanecommentsabouttheimportanceofchewingonlyontheleftsideofone’smouthandthenhepassedoutbeneaththetable.

Somethingthatisinaneisaninanity(iNANitee).

INAUGURATE(inAWgyuhrayt) v tobeginofficially;to inductformally intooffice• Themayor inaugurated thenewno-smokingpolicyandthencelebratedby lightingupabigcigar.

• Theteam’slossinauguratedaneraofdefeatthatlastedforseveralyears.ToinaugurateaU.S.president istomakehimorhertaketheoathofofficeandthengivehimorherthekeystotheWhiteHouse.


1. impervious a. beginofficially2. impetuous b. carryout3. implement c. powerless4. impotent d. impenetrable5. impugn e. silly6. inane f. attackthetruthof7. inaugurate g. impulsive

INCANDESCENT(inkunDESunt) adj brilliant;givingoffheatorlightAnincandescentlightbulbisonecontainingawireorfilamentthatgivesofflightwhenitisheated.Anincandescentpersonisonewhogivesofflightorenergyinafigurativesense.• Jan’s ideas were so incandescent that simply being near her made you feel asthoughyouunderstoodthesubjectforthefirsttime.

INCANTATION (inkanTAYshun) n a chant; the repetitionof statementsorphrasesinawayreminiscentofachant• Much toourdelight, thewizard’s incantation eventually caused thesmall stone toturnintoasleekblackBMW.

• The students quickly became deaf to the principal’s incantations about theimportanceofschoolspirit.

INCENSE(inSENS) v tomakeveryangry• Jeremy was incensed when I told him that even though he was stupid andloathsome,hewouldalwaysbemybestfriend.

• Mycommentaboutthelovelypaintingofatreeincensedtheartist,whosaiditwasactuallyaportraitofhermother.

INCESSANT(inSESunt) adj unceasing• Iwillgodeafandlosemymindifyourchildrendon’tstoptheincessantbickering.• The noise from the city street was incessant; there always seemed to be a fireengineorapolicecarscreamingby.

Acessationisaceasing.

INCIPIENT(inSIPeeunt) adj beginning;emerging• Sitting inclass,Henriettadetectedan incipient tingleofboredom that toldhershewouldsoonbeasleep.

• Supportfortheplanwas incipient,andtheplannershopeditwouldsoongrowandspread.

Theinceptionofsomethingisitsstartorformalbeginning.

INCISIVE(inSYEsiv) adj cuttingrighttotheheartofthematterWhenasurgeoncutsintoyou,heorshemakesanincision.Tobeincisiveistobeassharpasascalpelinafigurativesense.• After hours of debate, Luisa offered a few incisive comments that made itimmediatelycleartoeveryonehowdumbtheoriginalideahadbeen.

• Lloyd’sessayswerealwaysincisive:heneverwastedanywords,andhisreasoningwassharpandpersuasive.

INCONGRUOUS(inKAHNgroous) adj notharmonious;notconsistent;notappropriate;notfittingin• The ultramodern kitchen seemed incongruous in the restored 18th-centuryfarmhouse.Itwasanincongruity(inkunGROOuhtee).

• Bill’smembershipinthemotorcyclegangwasincongruouswithhismildpersonalityandhiscareerasamanagementconsultant.

INCORRIGIBLE(inKORuhjuhbul) adj incapableofbeingreformed• Theconvictwasanincorrigiblecriminal;assoonashegotoutofprison,hesaid,hewasgoingtorobanotherdoughnutstore.

• Bill is incorrigible—he eats three bags of potato chips every day even though heknowsthateatingtwowouldbebetterforhim.

• Theever-cheerfulAnnieisanincorrigibleoptimist.Thinkof incorrigibleasincorrectable.Thewordcorrigible israrelyseenorusedthesedays.

INCREMENT(INcruhmunt) n anincrease;oneinaseriesofincreases• Bernardreceivedasmallincrementinhissalaryeachyear,eventhoughhedidlessandlessworkwitheverydaythatpassed.

• Thisyear’sfund-raisingtotalrepresentedanincrementof1percentoverlastyear’s.Thisyear’stotalrepresentedanincrementalchangefromlastyear’s.

• Violabuiltuphersavingsaccountincrementally,onedollaratatime.

INDIFFERENT(inDIFurunt) adj notcaringonewayortheother;apathetic;mediocre• Pedrowasindifferentaboutpolitics;hedidn’tcarewhowaselectedtoofficesolongasnoonepassedalawagainstMondayNightFootball.

• Henry’s indifference was extremely annoying to Melissa, who loved to argue butfounditdifficulttodosowithpeoplewhohadnoopinions.

• We planted a big garden, but the results were indifferent—only about half of theflowerscameup.

• The painter did an indifferent job, but it was good enough for Susan, who wasindifferentaboutpainting.


1. incandescent a. increase2. incantation b. makeveryangry3. incense c. beginning4. incessant d. chant5. incipient e. notharmonious6. incisive f. incapableofbeingreformed7. incongruous g. notcaring;mediocre

8. incorrigible h. cuttingrighttotheheart9. increment i. unceasing10. indifferent j. brilliant

INDIGENOUS(inDIJuhnus) adj native;originatinginthatarea• Fast-foodrestaurantsareindigenoustoAmerica,wheretheywereinvented.• The grocer said the corn had been locally grown, but it didn’t appear to beindigenous.

• Thebotanistsaid that thesmallcactuswas indigenousbut that the largeonehadbeenintroducedtotheregionbySpanishexplorers.

INDIGENT(INdijunt) adj poor• Theindigentfamilyhadlittletoeat,nothingtospend,andvirtuallynothingtowear.• Rusty had once been a lawyer but nowwas indigent; he spentmost of his timesleepingonabenchinthepark.

Don’tconfusethiswordwithindigenous,listedearlier.

INDIGNANT (in DIG nunt) adj angry, especially as a result of somethingunjustorunworthy;insulted• Tedbecame indignantwhen thepolicewomanaccusedhimofstealing thenuclearweapon.

• IsabelwasindignantwhenwetoldherallthenastythingsthatBlakehadsaidaboutheroverthepublicaddresssystem.

INDOLENT(INduhlunt) adj lazy• The indolent teenagers slept late, moped around, and never looked for summerjobs.

• InheritingalotofmoneyenabledRodneytodowhathelovedmost:pursuealifeofindolence.

INDULGENT(inDULjunt) adj lenient;yieldingtodesire• The nice mom was indulgent of her children, letting them have all the candy,cookies,andicecreamthattheywanted,evenforbreakfast.

• Ourindulgentteacherneverpunishedusfornotturninginourhomework.Hedidn’twantustoturnintoasceticautomatons.

Someonewhoisself-indulgentyieldstohisorhereverydesire.

INEFFABLE(inEFuhbul) adj incapableofbeingexpressedordescribed• Thesimplebeautyofnatureisoftensoineffablethatitbringstearstooureyes.

Thewordeffable—expressible—israrelyused.

INEPT(inEPT) adj clumsy;incompetent;gauche• Joshuaisanineptdancer;heisaslikelytostomponhispartner’sfootasheistosteponit.

• Julia’sineptattemptathumordrewonlygroansfromtheaudience.Tobeineptistobecharacterizedbyineptitude,whichistheoppositeofaptitude.• Thewoodworkingclass’s ineptitudewasbroadanddeep; therewas little that theywereabletodoandnothingthattheywereabletodowell.

Theoppositeofineptisadept(uhDEPT).Adeptandadroitaresynonyms.

INERT(inURT) adj inactive;sluggish;notreactingchemically• Thebaseballteamseemedstrangelyinert;itwasasthoughtheyhadlostthewilltoplay.

• Havingcoldsmadethechildreninertandreluctanttogetoutofbed.• Heliumisaninertgas:itdoesn’tburn,itdoesn’texplode,anditdoesn’tkillyouifyouinhaleit.

Tobeinertistobecharacterizedbyinertia.Asitismostcommonlyused,inertiameanslackofget-up-and-go,oraninabilityorunwillingnesstomove.In physics, inertia refers to an object’s tendency to continue doing what it’s doing(eithermovingorstayingstill)unlessit’sactedonbysomethingelse.

INEXORABLE(inEKsuruhbul) adj relentless;inevitable;unavoidable• Theinexorablewavespoundedtheshore,as theyhavealwayspounded itandastheyalwayswillpoundit.

• Eliotdrovehisfather’scarslowlybutinexorablythroughthegrocerystore,wreckingaisleafteraisledespitethemanager’sanguishedpleading.

• Inexorabledeathfindseveryonesoonerorlater.


INFAMOUS (IN fuh mus) adj shamefully wicked; having an extremely badreputation;disgracefulBecarefulwiththepronunciationofthisword.To be infamous is to be famous for being evil or bad. An infamous cheater is onewhosecheatingiswellknown.• Deepwithin the prisonwas the infamous torture chamber, where hooded guardstickledtheirprisonerswithfeathersuntiltheyconfessed.

Infamyisthestateofbeinginfamous.

• The formerNazi lived the restofhis life in infamyafter thecourtconvictedhimofwarcrimesandatrocities.

• President Roosevelt said that the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harborwould“liveininfamy.”

INFATUATED (in FACH oo ay tid) adj foolish; foolishly passionate orattracted;madefoolish;foolishlyinloveTobeinfatuatedistobefatuousorfoolish.• IwassoinfatuatedwithPollythatIdrooledandgurgledwhenevershewasnear.• The infatuated candidate thought sohighlyof himself that hehad thewallsof hishousecoveredwithhiscampaignposters.

• MyrideinCorinne’sracingcarinfatuatedme;IknewimmediatelythatIwouldhavetohavearacingcar,too.


1. indigenous a. native2. indigent b. inactive3. indignant c. lazy4. indolent d. foolish5. indulgent e. shamefullywicked6. ineffable f. poor7. inept g. relentless8. inert h. angry9. inexorable i. clumsy10. infamous j. lenient11. infatuated k. inexpressible

INFER(inFUR) v toconclude;todeduce• Raizelsaidshelovedthebrownies,butI inferred fromthesizeofthepieceleftonherplatethatshehadactuallydespisedthem.

• Shehadn’theardthescore,but thesilenceinthe lockerroomledherto infer thatwehadlost.

Inferisoftenconfusedwithimply.Toimplysomethingistohintatit,suggestit,orstate

itindirectly.Toinfersomethingistofigureoutwhatitiswithoutbeingtolddirectly.Aninferenceisadeductionorconclusion.

INFINITESIMAL (in fin uh TESuhmul) adj very, very, very small; infinitelysmallInfinitesimaldoesnotmeanhuge,assomepeopleincorrectlybelieve.• AninfinitesimalbugofsomekindcrawledintoHeather’searandbither inaplaceshecouldn’tscratch.

• Ourchancesofwinningwereinfinitesimal,butweplayedourheartsoutanyway.


INGENUOUS (in JENyoous) adj frank;without deception; simple; artless;charminglynaive• Youngchildrenareingenuous.Theydon’tknowmuchaboutthewaysoftheworld,andcertainlynotenoughtodeceiveanyone.

An ingenue (AHN ji noo) is a somewhat naive young woman; generally a stockcharacterinfilmorliteratureDisingenuousmeanscraftyorartful.• The movie producer was being disingenuous when he said, “I don’t care aboutmakingmoneyonthismovie.Ijustwanteveryman,woman,andchildinthecountrytoseeit.”

INHERENT (in HAIR unt) adj part of the essential nature of something;intrinsicWetnessisaninherentqualityofwater.(Youcouldalsosaythatwetnessisinherentinwater.)• Thereisaninherentstrengthinsteelthatcardboardlacks.• Theman’sinherentfatness,jolliness,andbeardednessmadeiteasyforhimtoplaythepartofSantaClaus.


INJUNCTION (in JUNGK shun) n a command or order, especially a courtorder• Wendy’sneighborsgotacourtinjunctionprohibitingherfromplayingherradio.• Herbert,lightingup,disobeyedhisdoctor’sinjunctiontostopsmoking.

INNATE(iNAYT) adj existingsincebirth;inborn;inherent

• Joseph’skindnesswasinnate;itwaspartofhisnaturalcharacter.• Fiona has an apparently innate ability to throw a football. You just can’t teachsomeonetothrowaballaswellasshecan.

• There’snothing innate about goodmanners; all childrenhave tobe taught to say“please”and“thankyou.”

INNOCUOUS(iNAHKyoous) adj harmless;banalInnocuousiscloselyrelated,inbothoriginandmeaning,toinnocent.• Thespeaker’svoicewas loudbuthiswordswere innocuous; therewasnothingtogetexcitedabout.

• Meredith took offense at Bruce’s innocuous comment about the saltiness of hersoup.

INORDINATE(inORduhnit) adj excessive;unreasonable• Themathteacherpaidaninordinateamountofattentiontothegrammarratherthanalgebra.

• Thelimousinewasinordinatelylarge,evenforalimousine;therewasroomformorethanadozenpassengers.

• Romeo’s love for Juliet was perhaps a bit inordinate, given the outcome of theirrelationship.

INSATIABLE (in SAY shuh bul) adj hard or impossible to satisfy; greedy;avaricious• Peterhadaninsatiableappetiteforchocolatemacadamiaicecream;hecouldnevergetenough.Notevenagallonofchocolatemacadamiawasenoughtosate(sayt)orsatiate(SAYsheeayt)hiscraving.

• Peter’saddictionneverreachedsatiety(suhTYEuhteeorSAYsheuhtee).

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothwords.


1. infer a. hardorimpossibletosatisfy2. imply b. partofthenatureof3. infinitesimal c. hintat4. ingenuous d. artless

5. inherent e. inborn6. injunction f. conclude7. innate g. excessive8. innocuous h. harmless9. inordinate i. infinitelysmall10. insatiable j. courtorder

INSIDIOUS(inSIDeeus) adj treacherous;sneaky• Winterwasinsidious;itcreptinunderthedoorsandthroughcracksinthewindows.• Cancer, which can spread rapidly from a small cluster of cells, is an insidiousdisease.

INSINUATE(inSINyooayt) v tohint;tocreepin• WhenItoldherthatIhadn’tdoneanylaundryinamonth,Valerie insinuatedthatIwasaslob.

• Hedidn’t askusoutright to leave;hemerely insinuated, throughhis toneandhisgestures,thatitwastimeforustogo.

• Jessica insinuated her way into the conversation bymoving her chair closer andclosertowhereweweresitting.

Toinsinuateistomakeaninsinuation.

INSIPID(inSIPid) adj dull;bland;banal• Barney’s jokeswere so insipid that no one in the roommanaged to force out somuchasachuckle.

• Wewere bored to death at the party; it was full of insipid people making insipidconversation.

• Thethinsoupwassoinsipidthatallthespicesintheworldcouldnothavemadeitinteresting.

INSOLENT(INsuhlunt) adj arrogant;insulting• The ill-mannered four-year-old was so insolent that his parents had a hard timefindingababysitter.

• Theinsolentsalesclerkclearlydidn’tlikeansweringcustomers’questions.

INSTIGATE(INstuhgayt) v toprovoke;tostirup• Thestrikewas instigatedby theambitiousunionpresident,whowantedtogethernameintothenews.

• TheCIAtriedunsuccessfullyto instigaterebellioninthetinycountrybydistributing

pamphletsthat,asitturnedout,wereprintedinthewronglanguage.

INSULAR(INsuhlur) adj likeanisland;isolatedThe Latinword for island is insula. From it we get thewordspeninsula (“almost anisland”), insulate (insulation makes a house an island of heat), and insular, amongothers.• Theinsularlittlecommunityhadverylittlecontactwiththeworldaroundit.

Somethingthatisinsularhasinsularity.• Theinsularityofthelittlecommunitywassocompletethatitwasimpossibletobuyabig-citynewspaperthere.

INSURGENT (in SUR junt) n a rebel; someone who revolts against agovernment• Theheavilyarmed insurgents rushed into thepresidentialpalace,but theypausedto taste the fresh blueberry pie on the dinner table and were captured by thepresident’sbodyguards.

Thiswordcanalsobeanadjective.Arebellionisaninsurgentactivity.Insurgencyisanotherwordforrebellion;soisinsurrection.

INTEGRAL(INtuhgrul) adj essential• Asolidoffensewasanintegralpartofourfootballteam;sowasastrongdefense.• Davewasintegraltotheorganization;itcouldneverhavegottenalongwithouthim.

INTEGRATE(INtuhgrayt) v tocombinetwoormorethingsintoawholeThisword is related to segregate, aggregate, and congregate, all of which describejoiningorseparating.Ithasthesamerootasinteger,whichmeansawholenumber.• Marisol’s school offered an integrated history and language curriculum so thatstudentslearnedRomanhistoryandLatininthesameclassroom.

Thenounformisintegration,whichoftenreferstotheendofracialsegregation.

INTRACTABLE(inTRAKtuhbul) adj uncontrollable;stubborn;disobedient• Theintractablechildwasatormenttohisnurseryschoolteacher.• Lavanya was intractable in her opposition to pay increases for the libraryemployees;shesworeshewouldnevervotetogivethemaraise.

• Thediseasewasintractable.Noneofthedozensofmedicinesthedoctortriedhadtheslightesteffectonit.

Theoppositeofintractableistractable.

INTRANSIGENT(inTRANsuhjunt) adj uncompromising;stubborn• Vijay was an intransigent hard-liner, and he didn’t care how many people he

offendedwithhisviews.• Thejurywasunanimousexceptforoneintransigentmember,whodidn’tbelievethatanyoneshouldeverbeforcedtogotojail.

Thenounisintransigence.


1. insidious a. hint2. insinuate b. uncontrollable3. insipid c. treacherous4. insolent d. essential5. instigate e. provoke6. insular f. likeanisland7. insurgent g. rebel8. integral h. dull9. integrate i. uncompromising10. intractable j. arrogant11. intransigent k. combine

INTRINSIC (in TRIN sik) adj part of the essential nature of something;inherent• Larry’sintrinsicboldnesswasalwaysgettinghimintotrouble.• TherewasanintrinsicproblemwithOwen’salibi:itwasalie.

Theoppositeofintrinsicisextrinsic.

INTROSPECTIVE (in truh SPEC tiv) adj tending to think about oneself;examiningone’sfeelings• The introspective six-year-old never hadmuch to say to other people but alwaysseemedtobeturningsomethingoverinhermind.

• Randy’sintrospectiveexaminationofhismotives ledhimtoconcludethathemusthavebeenatfaultinthebreakupofhismarriage.

Seeextrovert,listedpreviously.

INUNDATE (IN un dayt) v to flood; to cover completely with water; to

overwhelm• Thetinyislandkingdomwas inundatedbythetidalwave.Fortunately,noonediedfromthedeluge.

• Themotherwasinundatedwithtelegramsandgiftsaftershegavebirthtooctuplets.

INVECTIVE(inVEKtiv) n insultingorabusivespeech• Thecritic’ssearingreviewwasfilledwithbitternessandinvective.• Hermanwasn’tmuchofanorator,buthewasbrilliantatinvective.

INVETERATE(inVETurit) adj habitual;firminhabit;deeplyrooted• Ericawassuchan inveterate liaron thegolf course thatwhenshe finallymadeahole-in-one,shemarkeditonhisscorecardasazero.

• Larry’s practice of spitting into the fireplace became inveterate despite his wife’sprotestations.

IRASCIBLE(iRASuhbul) adj easilyangeredorprovoked;irritableAgrouchisirascible.• TheCEOwassoirasciblethatheremployeeswereafraidtotalktoherforfearshemighthurlpaperweightsatthem.

IRONIC (eyeRAHN ik) adj meaning the opposite of what you seem to say;usingwordstomeansomethingotherthanwhattheyseemtomean• EddiewasbeingironicwhenhesaidhelovedPeterlikeabrother;intruth,hehatedhim.

• CredulousHillaryneverrealizedthatthespeakerwasbeingironicasshediscussedaplantoputanuclear-missilesiloineverybackyardinAmerica.

IRREVOCABLE(iREVuhkuhbul) adj irreversibleTorevoke(riVOHK)istotakeback.Somethingirrevocablecannotbetakenback.• My decision not to wear a Tarzan costume and ride on a float in the Macy’sThanksgivingDayParadeisirrevocable;thereisabsolutelynothingyoucoulddoorsaytomakemechangemymind.

• Afterhisfriendpointedoutthatthetattoowasspelledincorrectly,Tomrealizedthathisdecisiontogetatattoowasirrevocable.

Somethingthatcanbereversedisrevocable(REVuhkuhbul).

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothwords.

ITINERANT(eyeTINurunt) adj movingfromplacetoplace• Thelifeofatravelingsalesmanisanitinerantone.

• The itinerant junk dealer passes through our neighborhood every month or so,pullinghiswagonofoddsandends.

• The international banker’s itinerant lifestyle began to seem less glamorous to herafterherfirstchildwasborn.

Acloselyrelatedwordisitinerary,whichistheplannedrouteorscheduleofatrip.• Thetourguidehandedthetravelersanitineraryofthetourbusroutesotheywouldknowwhattoexpectthroughouttheday.


1. intrinsic a. irreversible2. introspective b. insultingspeech3. inundate c. plannedtriproute4. invective d. flood5. inveterate e. inherent6. irascible f. examiningone’sfeelings7. ironic g. meaningotherthanwhat’ssaid8. irrevocable h. movingfromplacetoplace9. itinerant i. irritable10. itinerary j. habitual

JJUDICIOUS(jooDISHus) adj exercisingsoundjudgment• The judge was far from judicious; he told the jury that he thought the defendantlookedguiltyandsaidthatanyonewhowouldweararedbowtie intoacourtroomdeservedtobesenttojail.

• Thefirefightersmadejudicioususeofflame-retardantfoamonthebrushfirebeforeitspreadtonearbyhomes.

• Themother of twin boys judiciously used an electron microscope and a laser todividetheicecreamintoequalparts.

The word judicial is obviously closely related, but there is a critically importantdifference inmeaningbetween itand judicious.A judge is judicialsimplybyvirtueof

being a judge; judicial means having to do with judges, judgment, or justice. But ajudgeisjudiciousonlyifheorsheexercisessoundjudgment.

JUXTAPOSE(JUKstuhpohz) v toplacesidebyside• Comedyandtragedywere juxtaposed intheplay,whichwasalternatelyfunnyandsad.

• Juxtaposing the genuine painting and the counterfeit made it much easier to tellwhichwaswhich.

Thenounisjuxtaposition(jukstuhpuhZISHun).

KKINETIC(kiNETik) adj havingtodowithmotion;lively;activeKineticenergyisenergyassociatedwithmotion.Aspeedingbullethasalotofkineticenergy.Kineticartisartwiththingsinitthatmove.Amobileisanexampleofkineticart.Akineticpersonalityisalively,active,andmovingpersonality.

LLABYRINTH(LABuhrinth) n amaze;somethinglikeamaze• Each of the fifty floors in the office buildingwas a labyrinth of dark corridors andnarrowpassageways.

• Thebilltookmanymonthstopassthroughthelabyrinthofcongressionalapproval.Alabyrinthislabyrinthine(labuhRINTHin,labuhRINTHine,orlabuhRINTHeen)ormazelike.• Beforebeginningconstructionon thenewhouse, thecontractorhad toweavehiswaythroughthelabyrinthinebureaucracyinordertoobtainabuildingpermit.

LACONIC (luh KAHN ik) adj using few words, especially to the point ofseemingrude• Themanager’s laconic dismissal letter left the fired employees feeling angry andhurt.

• Whenshewentbackstage,Junediscoveredwhythepopularrockmusicianwassolaconicinpublic:hervoicewashighandsqueaky.

LAMENT(luhMENT) v tomourn• Fromthebalconyofthebullet-pockedhotel,theforeigncorrespondentscouldhearhundredsofwomenandchildrenlamentingthefallensoldiers.

• As the snowstormgained in intensity, Stan lamented his decision thatmorning todressinshortsandaT-shirt.

Lamentable(LAMentuhbul)or(luhMENtuhbul)meansregrettable.

Notecarefullythepronunciationofbothpartsofspeech.

LAMPOON(lamPOON) v tosatirize;tomock;toparody• Theirreverentstudentsmercilessly lampooned theirLatinteacher’s lispinaskitattheschooltalentshow.

• The Harvard Lampoon, the nation’s oldest humor magazine, has lampooned justabouteverythingthereistolampoon.

LANGUISH(LANGgwish) v tobecomeweak,listless,ordepressed• The formerly eager and vigorous accountant languished in her tedious job at theinternationalconglomerate.

• ThelongerJillremainedunemployed,themoreshelanguishedandthelesslikelyitbecamethatshewouldfindanotherjob.

Tolanguishistobelanguid.• The child seemed so languid that his father thought he was sick and called thedoctor.Itturnedoutthatthelittleboyhadsimplyhadanoverdoseoftelevision.

LARGESS (lahr JES) n generous giving of gifts (or the gifts themselves);generosity;philanthropy• Samwasmarginallyliterateatbest.Onlythe largessofhisunclegotSamintotheIvyLeagueschool.

Largesscanalsobespelledlargesse.


LATENT(LAYTunt) adj presentbutnotvisibleorapparent;potential• At four, Maria was a latent shopaholic; she learned to read by browsing thedescriptionsinclothingcatalogs.

LAUD(lawd) v topraise;toapplaud;toextol;tocelebrate• The bankmanager lauded the hero who trapped the escaping robber. The localnewspaperpublishedalaudatoryeditorialonthisintrepidindividual.

Laudatorymeanspraising.Giving several million dollars to charity is a laudable act of philanthropy. Laudablemeanspraiseworthy.

LEGACY(LEGuhsee) n somethinghandeddownfromthepast;abequest• Thelegacyofthecorruptadministrationwaschaos,bankruptcy,anddespair.• Ashoeboxfullofbaseballcardswasthedeadman’sonlylegacy.• To be a legacy at a college sorority is to be the daughter of a former sororitymember.

LETHARGY(LETHurjee) n sluggishness;laziness;drowsiness;indifference• Afterabusyweekofsports,homework,andwork,thestudentrelishedthelethargyofSaturdaymorning.

• The lethargyof thestaffcausedwhatshouldhavebeenaquickerrand toexpandintoafullday’swork.

Tobefilledwithlethargyistobelethargic.• The lethargic (luh THAR jik) teenagers took all summer to paint theHendersons’garage.

LEVITY(LEVuhtee) n lightness;frivolity;unseriousnessTo levitate something is tomake it so light that it floatsup into theair.Levity comesfromthesamerootandhastodowithadifferentkindoflightness.• Thespeaker’slevitywasnotappreciatedbytheconventionoffuneraldirectors,whofeltthataconventionoffuneraldirectorswasnoplacetotelljokes.

• The judge’s attempt to inject some levity into the dreary court proceedings (bysettingoffafewfirecrackersinthejurybox)wasentirelysuccessful.


1. judicious a. irreversible2. juxtapose b. lightness3. kinetic c. usingfewwords4. labyrinth d. maze5. laconic e. placesidebyside6. lament f. presentbutnotvisible7. lampoon g. bequest8. languish h. active9. latent i. becomeweak10. laud j. satirize

11. legacy k. mourn12. lethargy l. praise13. levity m. exercisingsoundjudgment

LIBEL(LYEbul) n awrittenorpublishedfalsehoodthatinjuresthereputationof,ordefames,someone• The executive said that the newspaper had committed libel when it called him astinking, no-good, corrupt, incompetent, overpaid, lying, worthless moron. Heclaimedthatthenewspaperhadlibeledhim,andthatitsdescriptionofhimhadbeenlibelous.At thetrial, the jurydisagreed,sayingthat thenewspaper’sdescriptionoftheexecutivehadbeensubstantiallyaccurate.

Don’tconfusethiswordwithliable,whichhasanentirelydifferentmeaning.Slanderisjustlikelibelexceptthatitisspokeninsteadofwritten.Toslandersomeoneistosaysomethinguntruethatinjuresthatperson’sreputation.

LITIGATE(LITuhgayt) v totryincourt;toengageinlegalproceedings• Hislawyerthoughtalawsuitwouldbefruitless,buttheclientwantedto litigate.Hewasfeelinglitigious(liTIJus);thatis,hewasfeelinginamoodtogotocourt.

• Whenthecompanywasunabletorecoveritsmoneyoutsideofcourt,itsonlyoptionwastolitigate.

Tolitigateistoengageinlitigation;acourthearingisanexampleoflitigation.

Notecarefullythepronunciationoflitigious.

LOQUACIOUS(lohKWAYshus) adj talkingalotortoomuch• Thechildwassurprisinglyloquaciousforonesosmall.• MaryissoloquaciousthatBelindacansometimesputdownthetelephonereceiverandrunaloadoflaundrywhileMaryistalking.

A loquaciousperson isonewho ischaracterizedby loquaciousnessor loquacity (lohKWASuhtee).• The English teacher’s loquacity in class left little time for any of the students tospeak,whichwasfinewithmostofthem.

LUCID(LOOsid) adj clear;easytounderstand• Theprofessor’sexplanationofthetheoryofrelativitywassoastonishinglylucidthatevenIcouldunderstandit.

• Hubert’sremarkswerefewbutlucid:heexplainedthecomplicatedissuewithjusta

handfulofwell-chosenwords.• Theextremelyoldmanwas lucid rightupuntil themomenthedied;hisbodyhadgivenoutbuthismindwasstillgoingstrong.

Toelucidatesomethingistomakeitclear,toexplainit.

LUGUBRIOUS(looGOObreeus) adj exaggeratedlymournfulTobemournfulistobesadandsorrowful.Tobe lugubrious istomakeabigshowofbeingsadandsorrowful.• Harry’s lugubriouseulogyat thefuneralofhisdogeventuallymadeeveryonestartgiggling.

• The valedictorian suddenly turned lugubrious and began sobbing and tearing herhairatthethoughtofgraduatingfromhighschool.


LUMINOUS(LOOmuhnus) adj givingofflight;glowing;bright• Themoonwasaluminousdiskinthecloudynighttimesky.• Thesnowonthegroundappearedeerilyluminousatnight—itseemedtoglow.• Thedialonmywatchisluminous;itcastsagreenglowinthedark.


1. libel a. givingofflight2. slander b. tryincourt3. litigate c. exaggeratedlymournful4. loquacious d. easytounderstand5. lucid e. writteninjuriousfalsehood6. lugubrious f. spokeninjuriousfalsehood7. luminous g. talkingalot

MMACHINATION(makuhNAYshun) n schemingactivityforanevilpurpose

Thiswordisalmostalwaysusedintheplural—machinations—inwhichformitmeansthesamething.• Theruthlessmachinationsofthemobstersleftatrailofbloodandbodies.• Themachinationsoftheconspiratorswereaimedatnothinglessthantheoverthrowofthegovernment.

Thisword is often used imprecisely tomean something like “machinelike activity.” Itshouldnotbeusedinthisway.


MAGNANIMOUS (mag NAN uh mus) adj forgiving; unresentful; noble inspirit;generous• Theboxerwasmagnanimousindefeat,tellingthesportsreportersthathisopponenthadsimplybeentootalentedforhimtobeat.

• Mrs. Jonesmagnanimously offered the little boy a cookiewhen he came over toconfessthathehadaccidentallybrokenherwindowwhileplayingbaseball.

Tobemagnanimousistohavemagnanimity(magnuhNIMuhtee).• Themagnanimityoftheconqueringgeneralwasmuchappreciatedbythedefeatedsoldiers.

MAGNATE(MAGnayt) n arich,powerful,orverysuccessfulbusinessperson• JohnD.Rockefellerwasamagnatewhowasnevertoocheaptogiveashoeshineboyadimeforhistroubles.

MALAISE(maLAYZ) n afeelingofdepression,uneasiness,orqueasiness•Malaisedescendedonthecalculusclasswhentheteacherannouncedaquiz.

MALFEASANCE (mal FEE zuns) n an illegal act, especially by a publicofficial• PresidentFordofficiallypardonedformerpresidentNixonbeforethelattercouldbeconvictedofanymalfeasance.

MALIGNANT(muhLIGnuhnt) adj causingharmManywordsthatstartwithmal-connoteevilorharm,justaswordsthatbeginwithben-generally have good connotations.Malignant andbenign are often used to describetumorsorphysicalconditionsthatareeitherlife-threateningornot.• Linahashadrecurringtumorssincetheoperation;we’rejustgladthatnoneofthemhaveprovedmalignant.

MALINGER(muhLINGger) v topretendtobesicktoavoiddoingwork

• IndolentLeonalwaysmalingeredwhenitwashisturntocleanupthehouse.• Angieisartful,andshealwaysmanagestomalingerbeforeabigexam.

MALLEABLE(MALeeuhbul) adj easytoshapeorbend• Modeling clay is verymalleable.So isStuart.Wecanmakehimdowhateverwewanthimtodo.

MANDATE (MANdayt) n a commandor authorization to do something; thewillofthevotersasexpressedbytheresultsofanelection• Ourmandate fromtheexecutivecommitteewasto find theanswer to theproblemasquicklyaspossible.

• Thenewlyelectedpresidentfeltthatthelandslidevotehadgivenheramandatetodowhatevershewantedtodo.

Mandatecanalsobeaverb.Tomandatesomethingistocommandorrequireit.Acloselyrelatedwordismandatory,whichmeansrequiredorobligatory.

MANIFEST(MANuhfest) adj visible;evident• Daryl’sangeratuswasmanifest:youcouldseeitinhisexpressionandhearitinhisvoice.

Thereismanifestdangerinridingapogostickalongtheedgeofacliff.Manifest canalsobea verb, inwhich case itmeans to show, tomake visible, or tomakeevident.• Leehasbeen sick for a very long time, but itwasonly recently that hebegan tomanifestsymptoms.

• Rebeccamanifestedalarmwhenwetoldherthattheendofherponytailwasdippedintothebucketofpaint.

Avisiblesignofsomethingiscalledamanifestationofit.Alackofcomfortandluxuryisthemostobviousmanifestationofpoverty.

MANIFESTO(manuhFEStoh) n apublicdeclarationofbeliefsorprinciples,usuallypoliticalonesTheCommunist Manifesto was a document that spelled out Karl Marx’s critique ofcapitalisticsociety.• Jim’sarticleabouttheelectionwaslessapieceofreportingthanamanifestoofhispoliticalviews.

MARSHAL (MAHR shul) v to arrange in order; to gather together for thepurposeofdoingsomething• The statistician marshaled her facts numerous times before making herpresentation.

• Thegeneralmarshaledhistroopsinanticipationofmakinganattackontheenemyfortress.

• Wemarshaledhalfadozen localgroups inopposition to thecitycouncil’splan tobulldozeourneighborhood.

MARTIAL(MAHRshul) adj warlike;havingtodowithcombatMartial is often confused withmarital (MAR ih tul), which means having to do withmarriage.Marriagesaresometimesmartial,butdon’tconfusethesewords.Karateandjudoareoftenreferredtoasmartialarts.• The parade of soldiers wasmartial in tone; the soldiers carried rifles and werefollowedbyaformationoftanks.

• Theschoolprincipaldeclaredmartiallawwhenfoodriotseruptedinthecafeteria.

MARTYR (MAHRtur) n someonewhogivesuphisorher life inpursuitofacause,especiallyareligiousone;onewhosuffersforacause;onewhomakesashowofsufferinginordertoarousesympathyMany of the saints were also martyrs; they were executed, often gruesomely, forrefusingtorenouncetheirreligiousbeliefs.• Jacobisamartyrtohisjob;hewouldstayathisdesk24hoursadayifhiswifeandthejanitorwouldlethim.

• Eloise played themartyr during hay-fever season, trudging wearily from room toroomwithajumboboxofKleenexineachhand.

MATRICULATE(muhTRIKyuhlayt) v toenroll,especiallyatacollege• Benny toldeveryonehewasgoing toHarvard,butheactuallymatriculated to thelocaljuniorcollege.


1. machination a. forgiving2. magnanimous b. easytoshape3. magnate c. depression4. malaise d. commandtodosomething5. malevolent e. schemingevilactivity6. malfeasance f. publicdeclaration7. malignant g. pretendtobesick

8. malinger h. visible9. malleable i. onewhodiesforacause10. mandate j. arrangeinorder11. manifest k. illegalact12. manifesto l. enroll13. marshal m. warlike14. martial n. richbusinessperson15. martyr o. harmful16. matriculate p. wishingtodoevil

MAUDLIN(MAWDlin) adj sillyandoverlysentimental• Thehigh school reuniongrewmoreandmoremaudlin as the participants sharedmoreandmorememories.

• Magdalenhadamaudlinconcernforthewormsinheryard;shewouldbangagongbeforewalkinginthegrassinordertogivethemachancetogetoutofherway.

MAVERICK(MAVurik) n anonconformist;arebelThewordmaverickoriginatedintheOldWest.ItisderivedfromthenameofSamuelA.Maverick,aTexasbankerwhoonceacceptedaherdofcattle inpaymentofadebt.Maverickwasabanker,notarancher.Hefailedtoconfineorbrandhiscalves,whichhabitually wandered into his neighbors’ pastures. Local ranchers got in the habit ofreferringtoanyunbrandedcalfasamaverick.Thewordisnowusedforanyonewhohasrefusedtobe“branded”—whohasrefusedtoconform.• The political scientist was an intellectualmaverick; most of her theories had nofollowersexceptherself.

Maverickcanalsobeanadjective.• Themaverickpoliceofficergotintroublewiththedepartmentforusingillegalmeanstotrackdowncriminals.

MAXIM(MAKsim) n afundamentalprinciple;anoldsaying• Wealwaystriedtoliveourlivesaccordingtothemaximthatitisbettertogivethantoreceive.

• Nooneintheentireworldisentirelycertainofthedifferencesinmeaningamongthewordsmaxim,adage,proverb,andaphorism.

MEDIATE(MEEdeeayt) v tohelpsettledifferences• TheUnitedNationsrepresentative tried tomediatebetween thewarringcountries,butthesoldiersjustkeptshootingatoneanother.

• Joecarriedmessagesbackandforthbetweenthedivorcinghusbandandwifeinthehopeofmediatingtheirdifferences.

Tomediate is to engage inmediation.When two opposing groups, such as a tradeunion and the management of a company, try to settle their differences throughmediation, they call in amediator to listen to their cases and tomake an equitabledecision.

MELLIFLUOUS(muhLIFloous) adj sweetlyflowingMellifluous comes fromGreekwordsmeaning, roughly, “honey flowing.”We use theword almost exclusively to describe voices,music, or sounds that flow sweetly, likehoney.• Melanie’sclarinetplayingwasmellifluous;thenotesflowedsmoothlyandbeautifully.

MENDACIOUS(menDAYshus) adj lying;dishonestThieves are naturallymendacious. If you ask them what they are doing, they willautomaticallyanswer,“Nothing.”• Thejurysawthroughthemendaciouswitnessandconvictedthedefendant.

To be mendacious is to engage in mendacity, or lying. I have no flaws, exceptoccasionalmendacity.Don’tconfusethiswordwithmendicant,listedbelow.

MENDICANT(MENdikunt) n abeggar• Thepresenceofthousandsofmendicantsineveryurbanareaisasadcommentaryonournationalpriorities.

MENTOR (MEN tur) n a teacher, tutor, counselor, or coach; especially inbusiness,anexperiencedpersonwhoshowsaninexperiencedpersontheropesMentor is too big a word to apply to just any teacher. A student might have manyteachers but only onementor—the person who taught him or her what was reallyimportant.• Chris’smentorinthepolevaultwasaformertrackstarwhousedtohangoutbythegymandgivethestudentspointers.

• Young men and women in business often talk about the importance of having amentor—usually an older person at the same company who takes an interest inthemandhelpsthemgetaheadbyshowingthemtheropes.

MERCENARY (MUR suh ner ee) n a hired soldier; someone who will doanythingformoneyIfanarmycan’tfindenoughvolunteersordraftees,itwillsometimeshiremercenaries.ThemagazineSoldierofFortuneisaimedatmercenariesandwould-bemercenaries;itevenrunsclassifiedadvertisementsbysoldierslookingforsomeonetofight.

You don’t have to be a soldier to be amercenary. Someone who does somethingstrictlyforthemoneyisoftencalledamercenary.• Ourbusinesscontainsafewdedicatedworkersandmany,manymercenaries,whowanttomakeaquickbuckandthengetout.

Mercenarycanalsobeusedasanadjective.• Larry’smotivesinwritingthescreenplayforthetrashymoviewerestrictlymercenary—heneededthemoney.

MERCURIAL (mur KYOOR ee ul) adj emotionally unpredictable; rapidlychanginginmoodApersonwithamercurial personality is onewho changes rapidly and unpredictablybetweenonemoodandanother.• MercurialHelenwascryingoneminute,laughingthenext.

METAMORPHOSIS (met uh MOR fuh sis) n a magical change in form; astrikingorsuddenchange• WhenthemagicianpassedherwandoverEileen’shead,sheunderwentabizarremetamorphosis:sheturnedintoahamster.

• Damon’s metamorphosis from college student to Hollywood superstar was sosuddenthatitseemedabitunreal.

Toundergoametamorphosisistometamorphose.


1. maudlin a. teacher2. maverick b. fundamentalprinciple3. maxim c. lying4. mediate d. helpsettledifferences5. mellifluous e. sweetlyflowing6. mendacious f. nonconformist7. mendicant g. emotionallyunpredictable8. mentor h. magicalchangeinform9. mercenary i. overlysentimental10. mercurial j. hiredsoldier11. metamorphosis k. beggar

MICROCOSM(MYEkruhkahzum) n theworldinminiatureThe cosmos is the heavens, cosmopolitan means worldly, and a microcosm is aminiatureversionoftheworld.Allthreewordsarerelated.• Our community, which holds so many different communities, institutions,businesses,andtypesofpeople,isamicrocosmofthelargerworld.

Theoppositeofmicrocosm is amacrocosm (MAK ruh kahz um).Amacrocosm is alarge-scalerepresentationofsomething,ortheuniverseatlarge.

MILIEU(milYOO) n environment;surroundings• Acaringandinvolvedcommunityisthepropermilieuforraisingafamily.• Thefarmeronvacationinthebigcityfeltoutofhismilieu.

MINUSCULE(MINuhskyool) adj verytinyBecarefulwith thespellingof thisword.People tend to spell it “miniscule.”Thinkofminus.• Hank’ssalarywasminuscule,butthebenefitswereprettygood:hegottositnexttotherefrigeratorandeatalldaylong.

Minute (myeNOOT) isasynonym forminuscule.Thesmalldetailsofsomethingaretheminutiae(miNOOshiee).

MISANTHROPIC(misunTHRAHPik) adj hatingmankindAmisogynist (mis AH juh nist) hates women. Amisanthropic person doesn’t makedistinctions;heorshehateseveryone.Theoppositeofamisanthrope(MISunthrohp)isaphilanthropist (fuhLAN thruhpist).Curiously, there isnoword forsomeonewhohatesmenonly.

MITIGATE(MITuhgayt) v tomoderatetheeffectofsomething• The sense of imminent disaster wasmitigated by the guide’s calm behavior andeasysmile.

• Theeffectsofthediseaseweremitigatedbytheexperimentaldrugtreatment.• Nothing Joel said could mitigate the enormity of forgetting his mother-in-law’sbirthday.

Unmitigatedmeansabsolute,unmoderated,ornotmadelessintenseorsevere.

MOLLIFY(MAHLuhfye) v tosoften;tosoothe;topacify• Lucymollifiedtheangrypoliceofficerbykissinghishand.• My fatherwasnotmollifiedbymypromisenever tocrashhiscar intoabrickwallagain.

• Thebabysitterwasunabletomollifythecrankychild,whocriedallnight.

MONOLITHIC(mahnuhLITHik) adj massive,solid,uniform,andunyieldingAmonolith is a huge stone shaft or column. Many other things can be said to bemonolithic.A huge corporation is often said to bemonolithic, especially if it is enormous andpowerfulandallitspartsarededicatedtothesamepurpose.If theopposition toaplanwere said tobemonolithic, itwould probably consist of alargegroupofpeoplewhoallfeltthesameway.

MORIBUND(MORuhbund) adj dying• Thesteelindustryinthiscountrywasmoribundafewyearsago,butnowitseemstoberevivingsomewhat.

• Thesenator’spoliticalideasweremoribund;noonethinksthatwayanymore.Adyingcreaturecouldbesaidtobemoribund,too,althoughthiswordisusuallyusedinconnectionwiththingsthatdieonlyfiguratively.

MOROSE(muhROHS) adj gloomy;sullen• Louisewasalwayssomoroseabouteverything thatshewasneverany fun tobewith.

• New Yorkers always seemedmorose to the writer who lived in the country; shethoughttheyseemedbeatendownbythecity.

MORTIFY(MORtuhfye) adj tohumiliate• Iwasmortified whenmy father askedmy girlfriend whether she thought I was adumb,patheticwimp.

• Wehadamortifyingexperienceat theopera;whenStanley’scellphonerang, theentireorchestrastoppedplayingandstaredathimforseveralminutes.

MUNDANE(munDAYN) adj ordinary;prettyboring;notheavenlyandeternal• Mydaywasfilledwithmundanechores:Imowedthelawn,didthelaundry,andfedthedog.

• Dee’s jobwassomundaneshesometimeshad trouble rememberingwhethershewasatworkorasleep.

• The monk’s thoughts were far removed from mundane concerns; he wascontemplatingallthefunhewasgoingtohaveinheaven.

MUNIFICENT(myooNIFuhsunt) adj verygenerous;lavish• Themunificentmillionairegavelotsofmoneytoanycharitythatcametoherwitharequest.

• Mrs.Bigelowwasamunificenthostess;therewassomuchwonderfulfoodandwine

atherdinnerpartiesthattheguestshadtorestbetweencourses.Shewasknownforhermunificence.

MYOPIA(myeOHpeeuh) adj nearsightedness;lackofforesightMyopiaisthefancymedicalnamefortheinabilitytoseeclearlyatadistance.It’salsoawordusedinconnectionwithpeoplewholackotherkindsofvisualacuity.• The president suffered from economic myopia; he was unable to see theconsequencesofhisfiscalpolicies.

• Theworkers’dissatisfactionwasinflamedbymanagement’smyopiaonthesubjectofwages.

Tosuffermyopia is tobemyopic (myeAHP ik).Somepeoplewhowearglassesaremyopic.Soarethepeoplewhocan’tseetheconsequencesoftheiractions.

MYRIAD(MIReeud) n ahugenumber• Acountryskyonaclearnightisfilledwithmyriadstars.• TherearemyriadreasonswhyIdon’tlikeschool.

Thiswordcanalsobeusedasanadjective.Myriadstarsisalotofstars.Theteenagerwasweighteddownbythemyriadanxietiesofadolescence.



1. microcosm a. ahugenumber2. milieu b. moderatetheeffectof3. minuscule c. massiveandunyielding4. misanthropic d. humiliate5. mitigate e. ordinary6. mollify f. soften7. monolithic g. nearsightedness8. moribund h. verytiny9. morose i. gloomy10. mortify j. environment11. mundane k. verygenerous12. munificent l. dying

13. myopia m. worldinminiature14. myriad n. hatingmankind

NNARCISSISM(NAHRsisizum) n excessiveloveofone’sbodyoroneselfInGreekmythology,Narcissuswasaboywho fell in lovewithhisown reflection.ToengageinnarcissismistobelikeNarcissus.Throwingakisstoyourreflectioninthemirrorisanactofnarcissism—soisfillingyourliving room with all your bowling trophies or telling everyone how smart and good-lookingyouare.Youareanarcissist(NAHRsuhsist).Someonewhosuffersfromnarcissismissaidtobenarcissistic(nahrsiSIStik).• Theselfishstudentswereboundupinnarcissisticconcernsandgavenothoughttootherpeople.

NEBULOUS(NEByuhlus) adj vague;hazy;indistinct• Oscar’s views are so nebulous that no one can figure out what he thinks aboutanything.

• Thecommunity’sboundariesaresomewhatnebulous;where theyaredependsonwhomyouask.

• Molly’s expensive newhairdowasa sort ofnebulousmass ofwisps,waves, andhairspray.

Anebula(NEByuhluh)isaninterstellarcloud,thepluralofwhichisnebulae(NEByuhlee).

NEFARIOUS(niFAReeus) adj evil;flagrantlywicked• The radicals’nefarious plotwas to destroyNewYork by filling the reservoirswithstrawberryJell-O.

• Theconvictedmurdererhadcommittedmyriadnefariousacts.

NEOLOGISM (neeOLuhjizum) n anewwordorphrase;anewusageofawordPedantsdon’t likeneologisms.They like thewordswealreadyhave.Butatonetimeeverywordwasaneologism.Someonesomewherehadtobethefirsttouseit.

NEPOTISM (NEP uh tiz um) n showing favoritism to friends or family inbusinessorpolitics• Clarence had no business acumen, so he was counting on nepotism when he

marriedtheboss’sdaughter.

NIHILISM(NYEuhlizum) n thebeliefthattherearenovaluesormoralsintheuniverse• Anihilistdoesnotbelieveinanyobjectivestandardsofrightorwrong.


NOMINAL(NOMuhnul) adj innameonly;insignificant;A-OK(duringrocketlaunches)• Bertwasthenominalchairofthecommittee,butSuewastheonewhoranthings.• Thecostwasnominalincomparisonwiththeenormousvalueofwhatyoureceived.• “Allsystemsarenominal,”saidtheNASAengineerasthespaceshuttlesuccessfullyheadedintoorbit.

NOSTALGIA (nahs TAL juh) n sentimental longing for the past;homesickness• Awaveofnostalgiaovercamemewhenthesongcameontheradio;hearingittookmerightbackto1997.

• Somepeoplewhodon’trememberwhatthedecadewasreallylikefeelamisplacednostalgiaforthe1950s.

Tobefilledwithnostalgiaistobenostalgic.• Aswetalkedaboutthefunwe’dhadtogetherinjuniorhighschool,weallbegantofeelalittlenostalgic.

NOTORIOUS(nohTOReeus) adj famousforsomethingbadAwell-knownactorisfamous;awell-knowncriminalisnotorious.• NoonewantedtoplaypokerwithJeremybecausehewasanotoriouscheater.• Rana’spractical jokeswerenotorious;peoplealwayskepttheirdistancewhenshecameintotheroom.

Tobenotoriousistohavenotoriety(nohtuhRYEuhtee).• Jesse’snotorietyasabankrobbermadeitdifficultforhimtofindajobinbanking.

NOVEL(NAHVul) adj new;original• Ray had a novel approach to homework: he did the work before the teacherassignedit.

• Therewasnothingnovel about theauthor’s latest novel; the characterswereold,andtheplotwasborrowed.

NOXIOUS(NAHKshus) adj harmful;offensive

• Smokingisanoxioushabitineverysense.• Poisonivyisanoxiousweed.• Themothers’committeebelievedthatrock’n’rollmusicexertedanoxiousinfluenceontheirchildren.

NUANCE(NOOahns) n asubtledifferenceordistinction• Theartist’sbestworkexploredthenuancebetweendarknessanddeepshadow.• Harrywasincapableofnuance;everythingforhimwaseitherblackorwhite.

In certain Chinese dialects, the difference between one word and its opposite issometimesnothingmorethananuanceofinflection.


1. narcissism a. excessiveloveofself2. nebulous b. innameonly3. nefarious c. harmful4. neologism d. original5. nepotism e. evil6. nihilism f. subtledifference7. nominal g. famousforsomethingbad8. nostalgia h. vague9. notorious i. longingforthepast10. novel j. favoritism11. noxious k. beliefintheabsenceofallvalues

andmorals12. nuance l. newword

OOBDURATE(AHBduhrit) adj stubbornandinsensitiveObdurate contains one of the same roots as durable and endurance; each wordconveysadifferentsenseofhardness.• The committee’s obdurate refusal to listen to our plan was heartbreaking to us

becausewehadspenttenyearscomingupwithit.• The child begged and begged to have the bubble-gum machine installed in hisbedroom,buthisparentswereobdurate in their insistence that itshouldgo in thekitchen.


OBFUSCATE(AHBfuhskayt) v todarken;toconfuse;tomakeconfusing• The spokesman’s attempt to explain what the president had meant merelyobfuscatedtheissuefurther.Peoplehadhopedthespokesmanwouldelucidatetheissue.

• Toomuchginhadobfuscatedtheoldman’ssenses.• Theprofessor’s inept lecturegraduallyobfuscated a subject thathadbeencrystalcleartousbefore.

Toobfuscatesomethingistoengageinobfuscation.• Lestercalledhimselfaused-carsalesman,buthisrealjobwasobfuscation:hesoldcarsbyconfusinghiscustomers.

OBLIQUE(ohBLEEK) adj indirect;atanangleIngeometry,linesaresaidtobeobliqueiftheyareneitherparallelnorperpendiculartoone another. The word has a related meaning outside of mathematics. An obliquestatementisonethatdoesnotdirectlyaddressthetopicathand,thatapproachesitasiffromanangle.Anallusioncouldbesaidtobeanobliquereference.Anobliqueargumentisonethatdoesnotdirectlyconfrontitstruesubject.Toinsultsomeoneobliquelyistodosoindirectly.• Essence sprinkled her student council speech with oblique references to theprincipal’snewtoupee.Theprincipalissodensethatheneverfiguredoutwhatwasgoingon,buttherestofuswererollingonthefloor.

OBLIVION(uhBLIVeeun) n totalforgetfulness;thestateofbeingforgotten• Afewoftheyoungactorswouldfindfame,butmostwereheadedforoblivion.• Aftertossingandturningwithanxietyformostofthenight,Marisolfinallyfoundtheoblivionofsleep.

Tobeobliviousistobeforgetfulorunaware.• Oldagehadmadetheretiredprofessorobliviousofallhisoldtheories.• Theworkers stomped inandoutof the room,but thehappychild, playingon thefloor,wasobliviousofalldistraction.

Itisalsoacceptabletosay“obliviousto”ratherthan“obliviousof.”

OBSCURE(ubSKYOOR) adj unknown;hardtounderstand;dark• Thecomedynightclubwas filledwithobscure comedianswhostoleoneanother’sjokesandseldomgotanylaughs.

• Theartistwassoobscurethatevenherparentshadtroublerememberinghername.• Thenotedscholar’s dissertationwas terriblyobscure; it had tobe translated fromEnglishintoEnglishbeforeanyonecouldmakeheadortailofit.

• Somecontemporarypoetsapparentlybelievethattheonlywaytobegreatistobeobscure.

• Thedetailsoftheforestgrewobscureasnightfell.Thestateofbeingobscureinanyofitssensesiscalledobscurity.

OBSEQUIOUS(ubSEEkweeus) adj fawning;subservient;suckingupto• Ann’sassistantwassoobsequiousthatshecouldnevertellwhathereallythoughtaboutanything.

• Myobsequious friendseemedtoliveonlytomakemehappyandneverwantedtodoanythingifIsaidIdidn’twanttodoit.

OBTUSE(ahbTOOS) adj insensitive;blockheaded• Karenwassoobtuse thatshedidn’trealizeforseveraldaysthatCalebhadaskedhertomarryhim.

• The obtuse student couldn’t seem to grasp the difference between addition andsubtraction.

OFFICIOUS(uhFISHus) adj annoyinglyeagertohelporadvise• Theofficiousofficercouldneverresiststickinghisnoseintootherpeople’sbusiness.• Theofficioussalespersonrefusedtoleaveusalone,sowefinallyleftwithoutbuyinganything.


ONEROUS(AHNurus) adj burdensome;oppressive• Weweregiventheoneroustaskofcleaningupthefairgroundsafterthecarnival.• The job had long hours, but theworkwasn’tonerous. Bill spentmost of his timesittingwithhisfeetonthedesk.

Thiswordcanbepronounced“OHnurus.”

OPAQUE(ohPAYK) adj impossibletoseethrough;impossibletounderstand• Thewindowsinthemoviestar’shouseweremadenotofglassbutofsomeopaquematerialintendedtokeepherfansfromspyingonher.

• WetriedtofigureoutwhatHoracewasthinking,buthisexpressionwasopaque: itrevealednothing.

• Jerry’smind,assuminghehadone,wasopaque.• Thestatementwasopaque;noonecouldmakeanythingofit.

Thenounformofopaqueisopacity(ohPASuhtee).

OPULENT(AHPyuhlunt) adj luxurious• Everythingintheopulentpalacewasmadeofgold—exceptthetoilet-paperholder,whichwasmadeofplatinum.

• Theinvestmentbankerhadgrownsoaccustomedtoanopulentlifestylethathehadtroubleadjustingtothefederalpenitentiary.

Opulenceisoftenostentatious.

ORTHODOX (OR thuh dahks) adj conventional; adhering to establishedprinciplesordoctrines,especiallyinreligion;bythebook• Thedoctor’streatmentforLou’scoldwasentirelyorthodox:plentyofliquids,aspirin,andrest.

• Austin’sviewswereorthodox;therewasnothingshockingaboutanyofthem.Thebodyofwhatisorthodoxiscalledorthodoxy.• Theteacher’slectureswerecharacterizedbystrictadherencetoorthodoxy.

Tobeunconventionalistobeunorthodox.• “Swisscheese”isanunorthodoxexplanationforthecompositionofthemoon.

OSTENSIBLE(ahSTENsuhbul) adj apparent(butmisleading);professed• Blake’sostensiblemissionwastorepairabrokentelephone,buthisrealgoalwastoeavesdropontheboss’sconversation.

• Tracee’sostensiblekindnesstosquirrelsbeliedherdeephatredofthem.

OSTENTATIOUS (ahs tenTAYshus) adj excessivelyconspicuous;showingoff• Thedesigner’suseofexpensivematerialswasostentatious:everypieceoffurniturewascoveredwithsilkorvelvet,andeverypieceofhardwarewasmadeofsilverorgold.

• Thedonorwasostentatious inmakinghisgift to thehospital.Heheldabigpressconference toannounce itand thenwalked through thewards togivepatientsanopportunitytothankhimpersonally.

• TheyounglawyerhadostentatiouslyhungherHarvarddiplomaonthedoortoheroffice.

Tobeostentatiousistoengageinostentation.

• Lamarworesolid-goldshoestotheparty;Iwasshockedbyhisostentation.


1. obdurate a. forgetfulness2. obfuscate b. hardtounderstand3. oblique c. stubborn4. oblivion d. insensitive5. obscure e. burdensome6. obsequious f. luxurious7. obtuse g. indirect8. officious h. misleadinglyapparent9. onerous i. showingoff10. opaque j. impossibletoseethrough11. opulent k. confuse12. orthodox l. fawning13. ostensible m. conventional14. ostentatious n. annoyinglyhelpful

PPACIFY(PASuhfye) v tocalmsomeonedown;toplacateAparentgivesababyapacifiertopacifyhimorher.Apacifist issomeonewhodoesnotbelieveinwar.

PAINSTAKING(PAYNstayking) adj extremelycareful;takingpainsPainstaking=pains-taking=takingpains.• The jeweler was painstaking in his effort not to ruin the $50 million diamondnecklace.

PALLIATE(PALeeayt) v torelieveoralleviatesomethingwithoutgettingridoftheproblem;toassuage;tomitigate• Youtakeaspirininthehopethatitwillpalliateyourheadache.

Aspirinisapalliative(PALyuhtiv).

PALPABLE(PALpuhbul) adj capableofbeingtouched;obvious;tangible• Thetumorwaspalpable;thedoctorcouldfeelitwithherfinger.• Harry’sdisappointmentatbeingrejectedbyeverycollegeinAmericawaspalpable;itwassoobviousthatyoucouldalmostreachoutandtouchit.

• Therewaspalpabledangerinflyingthekiteinathunderstorm.Theoppositeofpalpableisimpalpable.

PALTRY(PAWLtree) adj insignificant;worthless• Thelawyer’seffortsonourbehalfwerepaltry;theydidn’tadduptoanything.• Thepaltryfeehepaiduswasscarcelylargeenoughtocoverourexpenses.

PANACEA(panuhSEEuh) n somethingthatcureseverything• The administration seemed to believe that a tax cut would be a panacea for thecountry’seconomicills.

• Grannybelievedthather“rheumatizmedicine”wasapanacea.Nomatterwhatyouweresickwith,thatwaswhatsheprescribed.


PARADIGM(PARuhdime) n amodelorexample• Mr.Hufstader is thebest teacher in thewholeworld;hisclassroomshouldbe theparadigmforallclassrooms.

• In selecting her wardrobe, messy Ana apparently used a scarecrow as herparadigm.

Aparadigmisparadigmatic(paruhdigMATik).• Virtuallyall thecars thecompanyproducedwerebasedonasingle,paradigmaticdesign.


PARADOX (PAR uh dahks) n a true statement or phenomenon thatnonethelessseemstocontradictitself;anuntruestatementorphenomenonthatnonethelessseemslogical• Mr. Cooper is a political paradox; he’s a staunch Republican who votes only forDemocrats.

• One of Xeno’s paradoxes seems to prove the impossibility of an arrow’s everreachingitstarget: if thearrowfirstmoveshalfthedistancetothetarget,thenhalf

the remaining distance, then half the remaining distance, and so on, it can neverarrive.

Aparadoxisparadoxical.• Pasquale’sdislikeof icecreamwasparadoxicalconsidering thatheworkedasanice-creamtaster.

PAROCHIAL (puh ROH kee ul) adj narrow or confined in point of view;provincial• Thetownspeople’sconcernswereentirelyparochial; theyworriedonlyaboutwhathappenedintheirtownandnotaboutthelargerworldaroundit.

• The journalist’sparochial point of view prevented her from becoming a nationallyknownfigure.

Alotofpeoplethinkaparochialschool isareligiousschool.Traditionally,aparochialschoolisjusttheschooloftheparishorneighborhood.Inothercontextsparochialhasnegativeconnotations.

PARODY(PARuhdee) n asatiricalimitation• AtthetalentshowthegirlssangaterribleparodyofaBeatlessongcalled“IWanttoHoldYourFoot.”

Someparodiesareunintentionalandnotveryfunny.• TheunhappystudentaccusedMr.Bensonofbeingnota teacherbutaparody ofone.

Parodycanalsobeaverb.Toparodysomethingistomakeaparodyofit.Aparodyisparodic(puhRODik).

PARSIMONIOUS(pahrsuhMOHneeus) adj stingy• The widow was so parsimonious that she hung used teabags out to dry on herclotheslinesothatshewouldbeabletousethemagain.

• Wetriedtobeparsimonious,butwithoutsuccess.Afterjustafewdaysattheresortwerealizedwehadspentallthemoneywehadsetasideforourentiremonth-longvacation.

Tobeparsimoniousistopracticeparsimony.

PARTISAN(PAHRtuhzun) n onewhosupportsaparticularperson,cause,oridea• Henry’splantogivehimselftheawardhadnopartisanexcepthimself.• Iamthepartisanofanycandidatewhopromisesnottomakepromises.• Themountainvillagewasattackedbypartisansoftherebelchieftain.

Partisancanalsobeusedasanadjectivemeaningbiased,asinpartisanpolitics.Anissue that everyone agrees on regardless of the party he or she belongs to is a

nonpartisanissue.Bipartisanmeanssupportedbytwo(bi)parties.• BoththeRepublicanandDemocraticsenatorsvotedtogivethemselvesaraise.Themotionhadbipartisansupport.


1. pacify a. obvious2. painstaking b. model3. palliate c. supporterofacause4. palpable d. narrowinpointofview5. paltry e. contradictorytruth6. panacea f. stingy7. paradigm g. calmsomeonedown8. paradox h. cureforeverything9. parochial i. insignificant10. parody j. extremelycareful11. parsimonious k. satiricalimitation12. partisan l. alleviate

PATENT(PAYTunt) adj obvious• To say that the earth is flat is a patent absurdity because the world is obviouslyspherical.

• ItwaspatentlyfoolishofLeetothinkthatshecouldsailacrossthePacificOceaninawashtub.

PATERNAL(puhTURnul) adj fatherly;fatherlike• Richispaternaltowardhisniece.

Maternal(muhTURnul)meansmotherlyormomlike.

PATHOLOGY(puhTHAHLuhjee) n thescienceofdiseasesPathologyisthescienceorstudyofdiseases,butnotnecessarilyinthemedicalsense.Pathologicalmeansrelatingtopathology,butitalsomeansarisingfromadisease.SoifwesayBradisaninveterate,incorrigible,pathological(pathuhLAHJuhkul)liar,wearesayingthatBrad’slyingisasickness.

PATRIARCH(PAYtreeahrk) n themaleheadofafamilyortribe• Thepatriarch of theMurphy family, JacobV.Murphy,mademillions selling cobra

filletsandestablishedtheMurphyfamily’sempireinthesnakemeatbusiness.Theadjectiveispatriarchal(paytreeAHRKul).• InthepatriarchalcountryofSpambulia,therulingmonarchcanneverbeawoman,though thecurrent king is suchanumbskull thathis sister runs thingsbehind thescenes.

A female head of a family is amatriarch, and such a family would be described asmatriarchal.• Spambuliaisconsideringbecomingamatriarchy(MAYtreeahrkee).

PATRICIAN(puhTRISHun) n apersonofnoblebirth;anaristocrat• Mr. Pernowas apatrician and he was never truly happy unless his place at thedinnertablewassetwithatleasthalfadozenforks.

Patriciancanalsobeanadjective.Poloisapatriciansport.• Thenoisycrowdontheluxuryoceanlinerwaspatricianindressbutnotinbehavior;rioterswerewearingtuxedosandgownsbutthrowingdeckchairsintotheocean.

PATRONIZE(PAYtruhnyze) v totreatasaninferior;tocondescendto• Our guide at the art gallery was extremely patronizing, treating us as though wewouldn’tbeabletodistinguishapaintingfromapieceofsidewalkwithoutherhelp.

• Wefeltpatronizedbythewaiteratthefancyrestaurant;heignoredalloureffortstoattracthisattentionandthenpretendednottounderstandouraccents.

Patronizealsomeanstofrequentorbearegularcustomerof.Topatronizearestaurantistoeatthereoften,nottotreatitasaninferior.

PAUCITY(PAWsuhtee) n scarcity• There was a paucity of fresh vegetables at the supermarket, so we had to buyfrozenones.

• Theplanwasdefeatedbyapaucityofsupport.• Thereisnopaucityofwaterintheocean.

PECCADILLO(pekuhDILoh) n aminoroffense• Thesmilingdefendantactedasthoughfirst-degreemurderwereamerepeccadilloratherthanahideouscrime.

• The reporters sometimes seemed more interested in the candidates’ sexualpeccadillosthanintheirinaneprogramsandproposals.

PEDANTIC(puhDANtik) adj boringlyscholarlyoracademic• The discussion quickly turned pedantic as each participant tried to sound morelearnedthanalltheothers.

• The professor’s interpretation of the poem was pedantic and empty of genuine

feeling.Apedanticpersoniscalledapedant(PEDunt).Apedantisfondofpedantry(PEDuntree).

PEDESTRIAN(puhDEStreeun) adj unimaginative;banalA pedestrian is someone walking, but to be pedestrian is to be something elsealtogether.• MaryAnnesaidtheyoungartist’sworkwasbrilliant,butIfoundittobepedestrian;I’veseenbetterpaintingsinkindergartenclassrooms.

• Themenuwaspedestrian. Ihadencounteredeachof thedishesdozensof timesbefore.

PEJORATIVE(piJORuhtiv) adj negative;disparaging“Hi, stupid” is a pejorative greeting. “Loudmouth” is a nickname with a pejorativeconnotation.• Abe’s description of the college as “a pretty good school” was unintentionallypejorative.

PENCHANT (PEN chunt) n a strong taste or liking for something; apredilection• Dogshaveapenchantforchasingcatsandmailcarriers.

PENITENT(PENuhtunt) adj sorry;repentant;contrite• JuliewaspenitentwhenKanyeexplainedhowmuchpainshehadcausedhim.• The twoboys tried to soundpenitent at the police station, but theyweren’t reallysorry that they had herded the sheep into Mr. Ingersoll’s house. They wereimpenitent.

PENSIVE(PENsiv) adj thoughtfulandsad• NortonbecamesuddenlypensivewhenJackmentionedhisdeadfather.


1. patent a. maleheadofafamily2. paternal b. minoroffense3. pathology c. unimaginative4. patriarch d. thoughtfulandsad

5. patrician e. boringlyscholarly6. patronize f. scienceofdiseases7. paucity g. treatasaninferior8. peccadillo h. negative9. pedantic i. obvious10. pedestrian j. aristocrat11. pejorative k. scarcity12. penchant l. fatherly13. penitent m. sorry14. pensive n. strongliking

PEREMPTORY(puhREMPtuhree) adj final;categorical;dictatorialSomeonewhoisperemptorysaysordoessomethingwithoutgivinganyoneachancetodisputeit.• Asher’sfatherperemptorilybanishedhimtohisroom.


PERENNIAL (puh REN ee ul) adj continual; happening again and again oryearafteryear• Mr.LorenzoisaperennialfavoriteofstudentsatthehighschoolbecausehealwaysgiveseveryoneanA.

• Milton was a perennial candidate for governor; every four years he printed upanotherbatchofhiscampaignbumperstickers.

Flowers called perennials are flowers that bloom year after year without beingreplanted.Biennial (byeENee ul) andcentennial (sen TEN ee ul) are relatedwords.Biennialmeans happening once every two years (biannual means happening twice a year).Centennialmeanshappeningonceeverycentury.

PERFIDY(PURfuhdee) n treachery• Itwasthecriminals’naturalperfidythatfinallydidthemin,aseachonebecameaninformantontheother.

• IwasappalledatAl’sperfidy.Hehadsworntomethathewasmybestfriend,butthenheaskedmygirlfriendtotheprom.

Toengageinperfidyistobeperfidious(purFIDeeus).

PERFUNCTORY(purFUNGKtuhree) adj unenthusiastic;careless• Johnmadeacoupleofperfunctoryattemptsatansweringthequestionsonthetest,but thenheputdownhispencil, laiddownhishead,andsleptuntil theendof theperiod.

• Sandra’slawnmowingwasperfunctoryatbest:sheskippedallthedifficultpartsanddidn’trakeupanyoftheclippings.

PERIPATETIC (per uh peh TET ik) adj wandering; traveling continually;itinerant• Groupies are aperipatetic bunch, traveling from concert to concert to follow theirfavoriterockstars.

PERIPHERY(puhRIFuhree) n theoutsideedgeofsomething• Josénevergotinvolvedinanyofouractivities;hewasalwaysattheperiphery.• Theprofessionalfingerpainterenjoyedherpositionattheperipheryoftheartworld.

Tobeat theperiphery is tobeperipheral (puhRIFuh rul).Aperipheral interest isasecondaryorsideinterest.Yourperipheral vision isyourability tosee to the rightand leftwhile lookingstraightahead.

PERJURY(PURjuree) n lyingunderoath• Thedefendantwasacquittedofbriberybutconvictedofperjurybecausehehadliedonthewitnessstandduringhistrial.

Tocommitperjuryistoperjureoneself.• The former cabinet official perjured herself when she said that she had notcommittedperjuryduringhertrialforbribery.

PERMEATE(PURmeeayt) v tospreadorseepthrough;topenetrate• AhorriblesmellquicklypermeatedtheroomafterJocklitacigarette.• Corruptionhadpermeatedthecompany;everysingleoneofitsexecutivesbelongedinjail.

Somethingthatcanbepermeatedissaidtobepermeable.Apermeableraincoatisonethatletswaterseepthrough.

PERNICIOUS(purNISHus) adj deadly;extremelyevil• Thedrugdealersconductedtheirperniciousbusinessoneverystreetcornerinthecity.

• Lungcancerisaperniciousdisease.

PERQUISITE(PURkwuhzit) n aprivilegethatgoesalongwithajob;a“perk”

• Freeaccesstoaphotocopierisaperquisiteofmostofficejobs.• Thebigcorporatelawyer’sperquisitesincludedachauffeuredlimousine,aluxuriousapartmentinthecity,andallthechocolateicecreamshecouldeat.

Aperquisiteshouldnotbeconfusedwithaprerequisite(preeREKwuhzit),whichisanecessity.• Healthandhappinessaretwoprerequisitesofagoodlife.• Acollegedegreeisaprerequisiteformanyhigh-payingjobs.

PERTINENT(PURtuhnunt) adj relevant;dealingwiththematterathand• Thesuspectsaidthathewasjustborrowingthejewelryforacostumeball.Thecopsaidhedidnotthinkthatwaspertinent.

Bytheway,impertinentmeansdisrespectful.

PERTURB(purTURB) v todisturbgreatly• Ivan’s mother was perturbed by his aberrant behavior at the dinner table. Ivan’sfatherwasnotbothered.NothingbotheredIvan,Sr.Hewasimperturbable.

PERUSE(puhROOZ) v toreadcarefullyThiswordismisusedmoreoftenthanitisusedcorrectly.Toperusesomethingisnottoskimitorreaditquickly.Toperusesomethingistostudyitorreaditwithgreatcare.• Thelawyerperused thecontract formanyhours, lookingfora loophole thatwouldenableherclienttobackoutofthedeal.

Toperusesomethingistoengageinperusal.• Myperusaloftheancienttextsbroughtmenoclosertomygoalofdiscoveringthemeaningoflife.


1. peremptory a. outsideedgeofsomething2. perennial b. unenthusiastic3. perfidy c. penetrate4. perfunctory d. lyingunderoath5. peripatetic e. job-relatedprivilege6. periphery f. continual7. perjury g. disturbgreatly8. permeate h. necessity

9. pernicious i. readcarefully10. perquisite j. treachery11. prerequisite k. final12. pertinent l. wandering13. perturb m. relevant14. peruse n. deadly

PERVADE(purVAYD) v tospreadthroughout• Aterriblesmellpervadedtheapartmentbuildingafterthesewermainexploded.• Onexaminationday,theclassroomwaspervadedbyasenseofimminentdoom.

Somethingthatpervadesispervasive.• TherewasapervasivefeelingofdespaironWallStreetonthedaytheDow-Jonesindustrialaveragefellmorethan500points.

• Therewasapervasiveodorofmoldinthehouse,andwesoondiscoveredwhy:thebasementwasfilledwiththestuff.

PETULANT(PECHuhlunt) adj rude;cranky;ill-tempered• Gloriabecamepetulantwhenwesuggestedthatsheleaveherpetcheetahathomewhenshecametospendtheweekend;shesaidthatwehad insultedhercheetahandthataninsulttohercheetahwasaninsulttoher.

• ThepetulantwaiterslammeddownourwaterglassesandspilledatureenofsoupontoRoger’skilt.

Tobepetulantistoengageinpetulance,orrudeness.

PHILANTHROPY(fiLANthruhpee) n loveofhumankind,especiallybydoinggooddeeds• HisgiftofonebilliondollarstothelocalorphanagewasthefinestactofphilanthropyI’veeverseen.

Acharity isaphilanthropic (fi lunTHRAHpik) institution.Analtruist (AHL troo ist) issomeonewhocaresaboutotherpeople.Aphilanthropist(fiLANthruhpist) isactivelydoingthingstohelp,usuallybygivingtimeormoney.

PHILISTINE(FIListeen) n asmuglyignorantpersonwithnoappreciationofintellectualorartisticmatters• The novelist dismissed her critics asphilistines, saying theywouldn’t recognize agoodbookifitcrawledupandbitthemonthenose.Thecritics,inreply,dismissedthenovelistasaphilistinewhowouldn’trecognizeagoodbookifitcrawledupandrolleditselfintohertypewriter.

Philistinecanalsobeanadjective.Tobephilistineistoactlikeaphilistine.

PIOUS (PYE us) adj reverent or devout; outwardly (and sometimes falsely)reverentordevout;hypocriticalThisisasometimesconfusingwordwithmeaningsthatareverynearlyoppositeeachother.Pious Presbyterians go to church every Sunday and say their prayers every nightbeforebed.Piousinthissensemeanssomethinglikereligiouslydutiful.Piouscanalsobeusedtodescribebehaviororfeelingsthataren’treligiousatallbutarequitehypocritical.• Theadulterousminister’ssermononmarital fidelitywas filledwithpiousdisregardforhisownsins.

Thestateofbeingpiousispiety(PYEuhtee).Theoppositeofpiousisimpious(IMpeeus).


PIVOTAL(PIVuhtul) adj crucialPivotalistheadjectiveformoftheverbtopivot.Topivotistoturnonasinglepointorshaft.Abasketballplayerpivotswhenheorsheturnswhileleavingonefootplantedinthesameplaceonthefloor.Apivotalcommentisacommentthatturnsadiscussion.Itisanimportantcomment.Apivotalmemberofacommitteeisacrucialorimportantmemberofacommittee.• Sofia’scontributionwaspivotal;withoutit,wewouldhavefailed.

PLACATE(PLAYkayt) v topacify;toappease;tosoothe• The tribe placated the angry volcano by tossing a few teenagers into the ragingcrater.

• The beleaguered general tried to placate his fierce attacker by sending him apleasant flowerarrangement.His implacable (imPLAKuh bul) enemy decided toattackanyway.

PLAINTIVE(PLAYNtiv) adj expressingsadnessorsorrow• Theleadsinger’splaintive lovesongexpressedhissorrowatbeingabandonedbyhisgirlfriendfortheleadguitarist.

• Thechillyautumnweathermadethelittlebird’ssongseemplaintive.Youcouldalsosaythattherewasplaintivenessinthatbird’ssong.Don’t confuse plaintive with plaintiff (PLAYN tif). A plaintiff is a person who takessomeonetocourt—whomakesalegalcomplaint.

PLATITUDE(PLATuhtood) n adullortriteremark;acliché• The principal thinks he is a great orator, but his loud, boring speech was full ofplatitudes.

• Insteadofgivingusanyrealinsightintothesituation,thelecturerthrewplatitudesatusfortheentireperiod.Itwasaplatitudinous(platuhTOODinus)speech.

PLEBEIAN(pluhBEEun) adj common;vulgar;low-classPlebeianistheoppositeofaristocratic.• Sarah refused to eat frozen dinners, saying they were too plebeian for herdiscriminatingpalate.


PLETHORA(PLETHuruh) n anexcess• WeateaplethoraofcandyonHalloweenandaplethoraofturkeyonThanksgiving.• Letting the air force use our backyard as a bombing range created aplethora ofproblems.


POIGNANT(POYNyunt) adj painfullyemotional;extremelymoving;sharporastuteThewordspoignantandpointedareverycloselyrelated,andtheysharemuchofthesamerangeofmeaning.Apoignantsceneisonethatissoemotionalormovingthatitisalmostpainfultowatch.• All the reporters stopped takingnotes as theywatched theoldwoman’spoignantreunionwithherdaughter,whomshehadn’tseenin45years.

Poignantcanalsomeanpointedinthesenseofsharporastute.Apoignantcommentmightbeonethatshowsgreatinsight.Tobepoignantistohavepoignancy.


1. pervade a. painfullyemotional2. petulant b. spreadthroughout

3. philanthropy c. pacify4. philistine d. smuglyignorantperson5. pious e. excess6. pivotal f. expressingsadness7. placate g. reverent8. plaintive h. triteremark9. platitude i. rude10. plebeian j. crucial11. plethora k. loveformankind12. poignant l. low-class

POLARIZE(POHluhryze) v tobreakupintoopposingfactionsorgroupings• The issueofwhatkindofsandtoput in thesandboxpolarized thenurseryschoolclass;somestudentswouldacceptnothingbutwet,whileotherswantedonlydry.

• The increasingly acrimonious debate between the two candidates polarized thepoliticalparty.

POLEMIC(puhLEMik) n apowerfulargumentoftenmadetoattackorrefuteacontroversialissue• Thebookwasaconvincingpolemicthatrevealedthefraudattheheartofthelargecorporation.

• Instead of the traditional Groundhog Day address, the state senator delivered apolemicagainstthesalestax.

Apolemicispolemical.

PONDEROUS(PAHNdurus) adj solargeastobeclumsy;massive;dull• Theweddingcakewasaponderousbloboficingandjellybeans.• Thechairman,asusual,gaveaponderousspeechthatlefthalfherlistenerssnoringintheirplates.

PORTENT(PORtent) n anomen;asignofsomethingcominginthefuture• Thedistantrumblingweheardthismorningwasaportentofthethunderstormthathitourareathisafternoon.

• Stockmarket investors looked forportents in theircomplicatedchartsandgraphs;theyhopedthatthemarket’spastbehaviorwouldgivethemcluesastowhatwouldhappeninthefuture.

Portentous(porTENTuhs)istheadjectiveformofportent,meaningominousorfilled

withportent.Butitisveryoftenusedtomeanpompous,orself-consciouslyseriousorominoussounding.Itcanalsomeanamazingorprodigious.Aportentousspeechisnotonethatyouwouldenjoylisteningto.Aportentousannouncementmightbeonethattriedtocreateaninappropriatesenseofalarminthoselisteningtoit.Portentous can alsomean amazing or astonishing. A portentous sunsetmight be aremarkablygloriousoneratherthananominousormenacingone.

POSTULATE(PAHSchuhlut) n somethingacceptedastruewithoutproof;anaxiomApostulateistakentobetruebecauseitisconvenienttodoso.• Wemightbeabletoproveapostulateifwehadthetime,butnotnow.

Atheorem(THEERum)issomethingthatisprovenusingpostulates.Postulate(PAHSchuhlayt)canbeusedasaverb,too.• SherlockHolmesrarelypostulated things,waiting forevidencebeforehemadeuphismind.

PRAGMATIC(pragMATik) adj practical;down-to-earth;basedonexperienceratherthantheoryApragmaticpersonisonewhodealswiththingsastheyareratherthanastheymightbeorshouldbe.• Erectingagiganticdomeofgoldoverourhousewouldhavebeentheidealsolutionto fix the leak inour roof, but the small sizeof ourbankaccount forcedus tobepragmatic;wepatchedtheholewithadaboftarinstead.

Pragmatism (PRAGmuh tizum) is thebelieforphilosophy that the valueor truthofsomethingcanbemeasuredbyitspracticalconsequences.

PRECEDENT(PRESuhdunt) n anearlierexampleormodelofsomethingPrecedentisanounformoftheverbtoprecede,orgobefore.Tosetaprecedentistodosomethingthatsetsanexampleforwhatmayfollow.• Last year’s million-dollar prom set a precedent that the current student councilhopeswillnotbefollowedinthefuture.Thatis,thestudentcouncilhopesthatfuturepromswon’tcostamilliondollars.

Tobeunprecedentedistohavenoprecedent,tobesomethingentirelynew.• Urvashi’sconsumptionof500hotdogswasunprecedented;noonehadevereatensomanyhotdogsbefore.

PRECEPT (PREEsept) n a rule to liveby;aprincipleestablishingacertainkindofactionorbehavior;amaxim

• “Love thy neighbor” is aprecept we have sometimes found difficult to follow; ourneighbor is a noisy oaf who painted his house electric blue and who throws hisemptybeercansintoouryard.

PRECIPITATE(priSIPuhtayt) v tocausetohappenabruptly• ApanicamonginvestorsprecipitatedlastMonday’scrisisinthestockmarket.• Thepolicewereafraidthatarrestingtheangryprotestorsmightprecipitateariot.

Precipitate(priSIPuhtit)canalsobeanadjective,meaningunwiselyhastyorrash.Aprecipitatedecisionisonemadewithoutenoughthoughtbeforehand.• Theschoolcounselor,we thought,wasprecipitatewhenshehad the tenthgradercommittedtoamentalhospitalforsayingthathomeworkwasboring.

PRECIPITOUS(priSIPuhtus) adj steepPrecipitousmeanslikeaprecipice,orcliff.Itandprecipitatearecloselyrelated,asyouprobably guessed. But they don’t mean the same thing, even though precipitous isoftenusedlooselytomeanthesamethingasprecipitate.Amountaincanbeprecipitous,meaningeitherthatitissteeporthatitcompriseslotsofsteepcliffs.Precipitous can also be used to signify things that are only figuratively steep. Forexample,youcouldsaythatsomeonehadstumbleddownaprecipitousslopeintodrugaddiction.


1. polarize a. massiveandclumsy2. polemic b. ruletoliveby3. ponderous c. practical4. portent d. powerfulrefutation5. portentous e. steep6. postulate f. causetohappenabruptly7. pragmatic g. causeopposingpositions8. precedent h. ominous9. precept i. earlierexample10. precipitate j. omen11. precipitous k. axiom

PRECLUDE(priKLOOD) v topreventsomethingfromeverhappening• Annfearedthatherabysmalacademiccareermightprecludeherbecomingabrainsurgeon.

PRECURSOR (pri KUR sur) n forerunner; something that goes before andanticipatesorpavesthewayforwhateveritisthatfollows• Thearrivalofamillion-dollarcheck in themailmightbe theprecursorofabrand-newcar.

• Asorethroatisoftentheprecursorofacold.• Hardwork on the practice fieldmight be theprecursor of success on the playingfield.

PREDILECTION(preduhLEKshun) n anaturalpreferenceforsomething• Theimpatientjudgehadapredilectionforwell-preparedlawyerswhosaidwhattheymeantanddidn’twastehertime.

• Joe’spredilectionforsaturatedfatshasaddedroughlyafoottohiswaistlineinthepasttwentyyears.

PREEMINENT (preeEMuhnunt) adj better than anyone else; outstanding;supreme• The nation’s preeminent harpsichordist would be the best harpsichordist in thenation.

• TheNobelPrize-winningphysicistwaspreeminentinhisfieldbuthewasstillalousyteacher.

Seeourlistingforeminent.

PREEMPT(preeEMPT) v toseizesomethingbypriorrightWhentelevisionshowApreemptstelevisionshowB,televisionshowAisshownatthetimeusually reserved for televisionshowB.Thewordpreempt implies that televisionshowA ismore important than televisionshowBand thushasagreater right to thetimeslot.Apreemptive action is one that is undertaken in order to prevent someother actionfrombeingundertaken.• When theair force launchedapreemptive strike against themissile base, the airforcewasattackingthemissiles inordertopreventthemissilesfromattackingtheairforce.

PREMISE(PREMis) n anassumption;thebasisforaconclusion• Indecidingtoeatalltheicecreaminthefreezer,mypremisewasthatifIdidn’tdo

it,youwould.• Basedonthepremisethattwowrongsdon’tmakearight,Iforgavehimforinsultingmeratherthancallinghimanastyname.

PREPOSSESS (pree puh ZES) v to preoccupy; to influence beforehand orprejudice;tomakeagoodimpressiononbeforehandThiswordhasseveralcommonmeanings.Becareful.Whenaperson isprepossessed by an idea, he or she can’t get it out of his or hermind.• Mydreamofproducingenergyfromoldchewing-gumwrappersprepossessedme,andIlostmyjob,myhome,mywife,andmychildren.

• ExperiencehadprepossessedLarry’smothernottobelievehimwhenhesaidthatsomeoneelsehadbrokenthewindow.Larryhadbrokeniteveryothertime,sosheassumedthathehadbrokenitthistime.

• Thenewgirlintheclasswasextremelyprepossessing.Theminuteshewalkedintotheroom,herclassmatesrushedovertointroducethemselves.

Unprepossessingmeansunimpressive,butthewordisonlymildlynegative.• Thequaintfarmhousehadanunprepossessingexterior,butabeautifulinterior.Whowouldhaveimagined?

PREROGATIVE(priRAHGuhtiv) n arightorprivilegeconnectedexclusivelywithaposition,aperson,aclass,anation,orsomeothergrouporclassification• Givingtrafficticketstopeoplehedidn’tlikewasoneoftheprerogativesofJunior’sjobasapoliceman.

• Sentencingpeopletodeathisaprerogativeofmanykingsandqueens.• Bigmansionsandfancycarsareamongtheprerogativesofwealth.

PREVAIL(priVAYL) v totriumph;toovercomerivals;(withon,upon,orwith)topersuadeWhenjusticeprevails,itmeansthatgooddefeatsevil.• Theprosecutorprevailedinthemurdertrial;thedefendantwasfoundguilty.• Mymotherprevailedonmetomakemybed.ShetoldmeshewouldpunishmeifIdidn’t,soIdid.

Theadjectiveprevailingmeansmost frequentorpredominant.Theprevailingopiniononatopicistheonethatmostpeoplehold.Iftheprevailingwindsareoutofthenorth,thenthewindisoutofthenorthmostofthetime.Aprevailing theory istheonemostwidelyheldatthetime.Itisprevalent(PREVuhlunt).

PRISTINE(PRISteen) adj original;unspoiled;pureAnantiqueinpristineconditionisonethathasn’tbeentamperedwithovertheyears.

It’sstillinitsoriginalcondition.Apristinemountainstreamisastreamthathasn’tbeenpolluted.

PRODIGAL(PRAHDuhgul) adj wastefullyextravagant• Thechefwasprodigalwithheremployer’smoney,spendingthousandsofdollarsoningredientsforwhatwassupposedtobeasimplemeal.

• The young artist was prodigal with his talents: he wasted time and energy ongreetingcardsthatmighthavebeendevotedtoseriouspaintings.

• Theprodigalgamblersoonfoundthatshecouldn’taffordevenatwo-dollarbet.Tobeprodigalistobecharacterizedbyprodigality.


1. preclude a. outstanding2. precursor b. triumph3. predilection c. seizebypriorright4. preeminent d. wastefullyextravagant5. preempt e. unspoiled6. premise f. naturalpreference7. prepossess g. preoccupy8. prerogative h. rightorprivilege9. prevail i. assumption10. pristine j. forerunner11. prodigal k. prevent

PRODIGIOUS(pruhDIJus) adj extraordinary;enormous• TofilltheGrandCanyonwithping-pongballswouldbeaprodigiousundertaking;itwouldbebothextraordinaryandenormous.

• The little boy caught aprodigious fish—itwas ten times his size andmightmoreeasilyhavecaughthimhadtheirsituationsbeenreversed.

Seealsoprodigy.

PRODIGY (PRAHD uh jee) n an extremely talented child; an extraordinaryaccomplishmentoroccurrence

• Thethree-year-oldprodigycouldplayallofBeethovenandmostofBrahmsonherharmonica.

• Barry was a mathematical prodigy; he had calculated pi to 100 decimal placesalmostbeforehecouldwalk.

• Josephine’stowerofdominoesandPopsiclestickswasaprodigyofengineering.

PROFANE (proh FAYN) adj not having to do with religion; irreverent;blasphemousProfane is theoppositeofsacred.Worshiping thealmightydollar isprofane.Profanecanalsomeandisrespectfulofreligion.Cursinginclasswouldbeprofane.Stickingoutyourtongueinchurchwouldbeaprofanegesture.Profanecanalsobeaverb.• Youprofanedtheclassroombycursinginit.• NickprofanedhispricelessEgyptianstatuebyusingitasadoorstop.

Thenounformofprofaneisprofanity(prohFANuhtee).Spraypaintingthehallwaysatschoolwouldbeanactofprofanity.

PROFESS(pruhFES) v todeclare;todeclarefalselyorpretend• Jasonprofessedtohavetaughthimselfcalculus.• Nooneinourtownwasfooledbythecandidate’sprofessedloveforllamafarmers;everyoneknewshewasjusttryingtowinvotesfromthepro-llamafaction.

PROFICIENT (pruh FISH unt) adj thoroughly competent; skillful; good (atsomething)• Lillianwasaproficient cabinetmaker. She couldmake a cabinet thatwouldmakeyousitbackandsay,“Now,there’sacabinet.”

• Ifiddledaroundatthepianoformanyyearsbutneverbecameproficientatplaying.• Lucywasmerelycompetent,butMollywasproficientatpluckingcanaries.

Proficiencyisthestateofbeingproficient.

PROFLIGATE(PRAHFluhgit) adj extravagantlywastefuland,usually,wildlyimmoral• The fraternity members were a profligate bunch; they held all-night parties onweeknights and nearly burned down their fraternity house with their shenaniganseveryweekend.

• Theyoungheirwasprofligatewithherfortune,spendingmillionsonchampagneandracehorses.

PROFOUND(pruhFOUND) adj deep(inseveralsenses)

Profoundunderstandingisdeepunderstanding.Tosaysomethingprofoundistosaysomethingdeeplyintelligentordiscerning.Profoundrespectisdeeprespect.Profoundhorrorisdeephorror.Thenounformofprofoundisprofundity(pruhFUNduhtee).

PROFUSE(pruhFYOOS) adj flowing;extravagant• Whenwe gaveMarian our house, our car, and all our clothes, her gratitude wasprofuse.

• MyteachersaidIhaddoneagoodjob,buthispraisewasfarfromprofuse.Igotthefeelinghehadn’treallylikedmyepicpoemabouttwodinosaurswhofallinlovejustbeforetheybecomeextinct.

• Thegrievingwidow’stearswereprofuse.Shehadtearsinprofusion.

PROLETARIAT(prohluhTEReeut) n theindustrialworkingclassTheproletariat is the laboring class—blue-collar workers or people who roll up theirshirtsleevestodoanhonestday’swork.

PROLIFERATE(prohLIFuhrayt) v tospreadorgrowrapidly• Honeybeesproliferatedwhenwefilledouryardwithfloweringplants.• Coughsandcoldsproliferatewhengroupsofchildrenarecoopeduptogetherduringthewinter.

• Thepolicedidn’tknowwhattomakeoftheproliferationofcounterfeitmoneyinthenorthendoftown.

PROLIFIC(prohLIFik) adj abundantlyproductive;fruitfulorfertileAprolificwriter is awriterwhowrites a lot of books.Aprolific artist is an artistwhopaintsalotofpictures.• Theoldmanhadbeenextraordinarilyprolific;hehadthirtychildrenandmorethanonehundredgrandchildren.


1. prodigious a. declare2. prodigy b. irreverent3. profane c. abundantlyproductive4. profess d. flowing5. proficient e. extremelytalentedchild

6. profligate f. extraordinary7. profound g. spreadrapidly8. profuse h. deep9. proletariat i. thoroughlycompetent10. proliferate j. extravagantlywasteful11. prolific k. industrialworkingclass

PROMULGATE(PRAHMulgayt) v toproclaim;topubliclyorformallydeclaresomething• The principal promulgated a new dress code over the loud-speaker system: red,green,yellow,andblueweretheonlypermissibleartificialhaircolors.

PROPENSITY (pruh PEN suh tee) n a natural inclination or tendency; apredilection• Jessiehasapropensity forsayingstupid things:every timesheopenshermouth,somethingstupidcomesout.

• Edwin’spropensity to sit around all day doing nothing came into conflict with hismother’spropensitytokickhimoutofthehouse.

PROPITIOUS(pruhPISHus) adj markedbyfavorablesignsorconditions• Rushhourisnotapropitioustimetodriveintothecity.• Theearlynegotiationsbetweentheunionandthecompanyhadbeensopropitiousthat no one was surprised when a new contract was announced well before thestrikedeadline.

PROPONENT(pruhPOHnunt) n anadvocate;asupporterofapositionProponentandopponentareantonyms.• Theproponentsofataxincreasewillprobablynotbere-electednextfall.

PROPRIETARY (pruh PRYE uh ter ee) adj characteristic of an owner ofproperty;constitutingpropertyTotakeaproprietaryinterestinsomethingistoactasthoughyouownit.• Georgefeltproprietaryaboutthechocolatecookierecipe;hehadinventedithimself.• Thecompany’sdesignformusicaltoiletpaperisproprietary.Thecompanyownsit,andoutsiderscan’tlookatitfornothing.

Aproprietor(pruhPRYEuhtur)isanowner.

PROPRIETY(pruhPRYEuhtee) n properness;goodmanners

• Theoldladyviewedthelittlegirl’sfailuretocurtsyasaflagrantbreachofpropriety.Shedidnotapproveoforcountenancesuchimproprieties.

• Propriety prevented the young man from trashing the town in celebration of hisunexpectedacceptancebythecollegeofhischoice.

Propriety derives from proper, not property, and should not be confused withproprietary.

PROSAIC (proh ZAY ik) adj dull; unimaginative; like prose (as opposed topoetry)• Her description of the battle was so prosaic that it was hard for her listeners tobelieve that any of the soldiers had even been wounded, much less blown tosmithereens.

• The little boy’s ambitions were all prosaic: he wanted to be an accountant, anauditor,oraclaimsadjuster.

PROSCRIBE(prohSKRYBE) v tooutlaw;toprohibit• Spittingonthesidewalkandshootingatroadsignswerebothproscribedactivitiesunderthenewadministration.

• Theyoungdoctorproscribedsmokinginthewaitingroomofhisoffice.The act of proscribing is proscription; an individual act of proscribing is also aproscription.

PROSELYTIZE(PRAHSuhluhtyze) v toconvert(someone)fromonereligionordoctrinetoanother;torecruitconvertstoareligionordoctrine• TheformerMethodisthadbeenproselytizedbyaLutherandeacon.• Theairportterminalwasfilledwithproselytizersfromadozendifferentsects,cults,andreligions.Theywereattemptingtoproselytize thepassengerswalkingthroughtheterminal.

PROTAGONIST(prohTAGuhnist) n theleadingcharacterinanovel,play,orotherwork;aleaderorchampion• MartinLutherKingJr.wasaprotagonistinthelongandcontinuingstruggleforracialequality.

• Theprotagonistofthemoviewasaneleven-year-oldboywhosavedhishometownfromdestructionbyeatingallthedoughnutsthatthemadscientisthadbeenusingtofuelhisnuclearreactor.

• Themadscientistwastheboy’schiefantagonist.Anantagonist isanopponentoradversary.

PROTRACT(prohTRAKT) v toprolong• Thetrialwassoprotractedthatoneofthejurorsdiedofoldage.

• The commencement speaker promised not to protract her remarks, but then shespokefortwosolidhours.Itwasaprotractedspeech.

PROVIDENT(PRAHVuhdunt) adj preparingforthefuture;providingforthefuture;frugal• We were provident with our limited food supplies, knowing that the winter aheadwouldbelongandcold.

• Theprovidentfatherhadlongagosetasidemoneyforthecollegeeducationofeachofhischildren.

Tobeimprovidentistofailtoprovideforthefuture.• Itwasimprovidentofthegrasshoppernottostoreanyfoodforthewinter,unlikehisacquaintancetheprovidentant.


1. promulgate a. naturalinclination2. propensity b. goodmanners3. propitious c. advocate4. proponent d. prohibit5. proprietary e. prolong6. propriety f. leadingcharacter7. prosaic g. constitutingproperty8. proscribe h. frugal9. proselytize i. dull10. protagonist j. markedbyfavorablesigns11. protract k. convert12. provident l. proclaim

PROVINCIAL(pruhVINshul) adj limitedinoutlooktoone’sownsmallcorneroftheworld;narrow• The farmerswereprovincial; theyhadnoopinionsaboutanythingbut thepriceofcornandnointerestinanythingexceptgrowingmoreofit.

• NewYorkershavereputationsforbeingsophisticatedandcosmopolitan,butmostofthem are actually provincial; they act as though nothing of interest had ever

happenedwestoftheHudsonRiver.

PROVISIONAL(pruhVIZHuhnul) adj conditional;temporary;tentative• Louishadbeenacceptedasaprovisionalmemberoftheclub.Hewouldn’tbecomeapermanentmember until the othermembers hadhada chance to seewhat hewasreallylike.

• Theoldwoman’s offer to donate $10,000 to the charitywasprovisional; shesaidthatshewouldgivethemoneyonlyifthecharitycouldmanagetoraiseamatchingsum.

PROXIMITY(prokSIMuhtee) n nearness• Ican’tstandbeingintheproximityofakid’sbirthdayparty.Thereis justtoomuchnoise.

• Inabigcity,oneisalmostalwaysintheproximityofarestaurant.

PRUDENT(PROODunt) adj careful;havingforesight• Joe isaprudentmoneymanager.Hedoesn’t investheavily inracehorses,andheputsonlyasmallpartofhissavingsintheofficefootballpool.Joeistheepitomeofprudence.

Theoppositeofprudentisimprudent.• Itwasimprudentofustopourgasolinealloverthefloorofourlivingroomandthenlightafireinthefireplace.

PURPORTED(purPORTid) adj rumored;claimed• Theheiress ispurported to have been kidnappedby adventurers andburied in aconcretevault beneath thebusiest intersection inTimesSquare.Noonebelievesthisstoryexceptthepsychicwhowasconsultedbythepolice.

Topurportsomethingistoclaimorallegeit.

PUTATIVE(PYOOtuhtiv) adj commonlyaccepted;supposed;reputed• Theputativereasonforplacingthemonumentdowntownisthatnobodyhadwantedituptown.

Whenyouusethewordputative,youemphasizethatthereasonisonlysupposed,notproven.


1. provincial a. commonlyaccepted

2. provisional b. nearness3. proximity c. narrowinoutlook4. prudent d. rumored5. purported e. careful6. putative f. conditional

QQUALIFY(KWAHLuhfye) v tomodifyorrestrictYoualreadyknowtheprimarymeaningofqualify.Here’sanothermeaning.• Susanqualified herpraiseof Judithbysaying thather kindwordsappliedonly toJudith’s skillful cooking and not to her abhorrent personality. Judithwas upset bySusan’squalification.

• The library trustees rated their fund-raiseraqualified success:manymorepeoplethanexpectedhadcome,butvirtuallynomoneyhadbeenraised.

Anunqualifiedsuccessisacomplete,unrestrictedsuccess.

QUALITATIVE (KWAHL uh tay tiv) adj having to do with the quality orqualitiesofsomething(asopposedtothequantity)If a school achieves aqualitative improvement in enrollment, itmeans the school isbeingattendedbybetterstudents.Iftheschoolachievesaquantitative(KWAHNitaytiv)improvement,itmeanstheschoolisbeingattendedbymorestudents.• Thedifferencebetweenthetworestaurantswasquantitativeratherthanqualitative.Bothservedthesamedreadfulfood,butthesecondrestaurantservedmoreofit.

QUERULOUS(KWERuhlus) adj complaining;grumbling;whiningAlthoughaqueryisaquestion,querulousdoesnotmeanquestioning.• Theexasperatedmotherfinallymanagedtohushherquerulouschild.• Thequerulous voices of the students, who believed that their quizzes had beengraded too harshly, could be heard all the way at the other end of the schoolbuilding.

QUIXOTIC(kwikSAHTik) adj romanticoridealistictoafoolishorimpracticaldegreeThewordquixoticisderivedfromthenameofDonQuixote,theprotagonistofMigueldeCervantes’sclassic17th-centurynovel.DonQuixotehadreadsomanyromancesaboutthegoldenageofchivalrythathesetouttobecomeaknighthimselfandhave

chivalrous adventures. Instead, his romantic idealism almost invariably got him intotrouble.TobequixoticistobeasfoolishorimpracticalasDonQuixoteinpursuinganideal.• FormanyyearsMr.Morrishadledaquixoticefforttorepealthefederalincometax.• ThepoliticalorganizationhadoncebeenapowerfulforceinWashington.However,itsmembershiphaddwindled,anditscauseshadbecomeincreasinglyquixotic.


1. qualify a. havingtodowithquantity2. qualitative b. foolishlyromantic3. quantitative c. complaining4. querulous d. modifyorrestrict5. quixotic e. havingtodowithquality

RRAMIFICATION(ramuhfuhKAYshun) n aconsequence;abranchingoutAtreecouldbesaidtoramify(RAMifye),orbranchout,asitgrows.Aramificationisaconsequence thatgrowsoutofsomething in thesameway thata treebranchgrowsoutofatreetrunk.• The professor found a solution to the problem, but there aremany ramifications.Someexpertsareafraidthatshehascreatedmoreproblemsthanshehassolved.

RANCOR(RANGkur) n bitter,long-lastingillwillorresentment• Themutualrancorfeltbythetwonationseventuallyledtowar.• Jeremy’s success produced such feelings of rancor in Jessica, his rival, that shewasneverabletotoleratebeinginthesameroomwithhimagain.

Tofeelrancoristoberancorous.• Therancorouspublicexchangesbetweenthetwocompetingboxersarestrictlyforshow;outsidethering,theyarethebestoffriends.

RAPACIOUS(ruhPAYshus) adj greedy;plundering;avaricious• WallStreetinvestmentbankersareoftenaccusedofbeingrapacious,buttheyclaim

theyareperformingavaluableeconomicfunction.Thenounformisrapacity(ruhPASuhtee).

REBUKE(riBYOOK) v tocriticizesharply• WetrembledasMr.Solomonrebukedusforflippingoverhiscarandtakingoffthetires.

Apieceofsharpcriticismiscalledarebuke.• WhenthestudentsgotcaughtcheatingontheirFrenchtest,theprincipaldeliveredarebukethatmadetheirearstwirl.

REBUT(riBUT) v tocontradict;toargueinoppositionto;toprovetobefalse• TheyallthoughtIwascrazy,butnoneofthemcouldrebutmyargument.• Thedefenseattorneyattemptedtorebuttheprosecutor’sclaimthatthedefendant’sfingerprints, hair, clothing, signature, wallet, wristwatch, credit cards, and car hadbeenfoundatthesceneofthecrime.

An act or instance of rebutting is called a rebuttal (ri BUTul).Rebut and refute aresynonyms.

RECALCITRANT (ri KAL suh trunt) adj stubbornly defiant of authority orcontrol;disobedient• Therecalcitrantcancercontinuedtospreadthroughthepatient’sbodydespiteeverytherapyandtreatmentthedoctorstried.

• Thecountrywasinturmoil,buttherecalcitrantdictatorrefusedeventolistentothepleasoftheinternationalrepresentatives.

RECANT (riKANT) v to publicly takeback anddeny (somethingpreviouslysaidorbelieved);toopenlyconfesserror• The chagrined scientist recanted his theory that mice originated on the moon; itturnedoutthathehadsimplymixeduptheresultsoftwoseparateexperiments.

• The secret police tortured the intellectual for a week, by tickling her feet with afeatherduster,untilshefinallyrecanted.

Anactofrecantingiscalledarecantation.

RECIPROCAL(riSIPruhkul) adj mutual;shared;interchangeable• TheRochesterClubhadareciprocalarrangementwiththeDuluthClub.Membersofeitherclubhadfullprivilegesofmembershipattheother.

• Theirhatredwasreciprocal;theyhatedeachother.Toreciprocate(riSIProkayt)istoreturninkind,tointerchange,ortorepay.• Our new neighbors had us over for dinner several times, but we were unable toreciprocateimmediatelybecauseourdiningroomwasbeingremodeled.

Reciprocity (resuhPRAHSuhtee) isareciprocalrelationbetweentwoparties,oftenwherebybothpartiesgain.

RECLUSIVE(riKLOOSiv) adj hermitlike;withdrawnfromsociety• Thecrazymillionaireledareclusiveexistence,shuttingherselfupinherlabyrinthinemansionandneversettingfootintheoutsideworld.

• Ournewneighborsweresoreclusivethatwedidn’tevenmeetthemuntilafullyearaftertheyhadmovedin.

Areclusivepersonisarecluse(REKloos).• After his wife’s death, the grieving old man turned into a recluse and seldomventuredoutofhishouse.

• EmilyDickinson,oneofAmerica’smostcreativepoets,becamearecluseafterherfather’s death in 1874—she kept in contactwith friends and family through cardsandletters.

RECONDITE(REKundyte) adj hardtounderstand;overone’shead• The philosopher’s thesis was so recondite that I couldn’t get past the first twosentences.

• Everynowandthentheprofessorwouldlifthisheadfromhisdeskanddeliversomereconditepronouncement that leftusscratchingourheadsand trying to figureoutwhathemeant.

• Thescholarlyjournalwassoreconditeastobeutterlyincomprehensible.



1. ramification a. hardtounderstand2. rancor b. criticizesharply3. rapacious c. consequence4. rebuke d. mutual5. rebut e. hermitlike6. recalcitrant f. bitterresentment7. recant g. stubbornlydefiant8. reciprocal h. publiclydeny

9. reclusive i. contradict10. recondite j. greedy

RECRIMINATION(rikrimuhNAYshun) n abittercounteraccusation,ortheactofmakingabittercounteraccusation• Melissawasfullofrecrimination.WhenIaccusedherofstealingmypen,sheangrilyaccusedmeofbeingcareless,evil,andstupid.

Thewordisoftenusedintheplural.• Thecourtroomechoedwiththerecriminationsoftheconvicteddefendantashewastakenofftothepenitentiary.

Tomakearecriminationistorecriminate.Theadjectiveisrecriminatory(ruhKRIMuhnuhtoree).

REDOLENT(REDuhlunt) adj fragrant• Theairinautumnisredolentofwoodsmokeandfallenleaves.• Theflowerarrangementsonthetableswerebothbeautifulandredolent.

Somethingthatisredolenthasredolence.Redolentalsomeanssuggestive.• ThenewplaywasredolentofoneIhadseenmanyyearsago.

REDUNDANT (ri DUN dunt) adj unnecessarily repetitive; excessive;excessivelywordy• Erica had already bought paper plates, so our purchase of paper plates wasredundant.

• Shawn’sarticlewasredundant—hekeptsayingthesamethingoverandoveragain.An act of being redundant is a redundancy. The title “Department of RedundancyDepartment”isredundant.

REFUTE(riFYOOT) v toprovetobefalse;todisprove• Hisexpensivesuitandimportedshoesclearlyrefutedhisclaimthathewaspoor.• IrefutedBilly’smathematicalproofbyshowinghimthatitdependedontwoandtwoaddinguptofive.

Anactofrefutingiscalledarefutation.• The audience enjoyed the panelist’s humorous refutation of the main speaker’stheoryaboutthepossibilityofbuildinganantigravityairplane.

Somethingthatisindubitable,somethingthatcannotbedisproven,isirrefutable.• Claudia’s experimentswith jelly beansandpencil erasersoffered irrefutable proof

thatjellybeanstastebetterthanpencilerasers.

REITERATE(reeITuhrayt) v tosayagain;torepeat• Thecandidatehadreiteratedhispositionsomanytimesonthecampaigntrailthathesometimesevenmuttereditinhissleep.

• To reiterate, let me say once again that I am happy to have been invited to thebirthdaycelebrationofyouradorablePekingese.

Anactofreiteratingiscalledareiteration.

RELEGATE(RELuhgayt) v tobanish;tosendaway• Themost juniorof the juniorexecutiveswas relegated toa tiny,windowlessofficethathadoncebeenabroomcloset.

• Thenewdad’s largecollectionof jazzrecordswasrelegated to thecellar tomakeroomforthenewbaby’slargercollectionofstuffedanimals.Thefatherobjectedtotherelegationofhisrecordcollectiontothecellar,buthisobjectiondidnogood.

RELENTLESS(riLENTlis) adj continuous;unstoppableTorelentistostoporgiveup.Relentless,orunrelenting,meansnotstopping.• The insatiable rabbit was relentless; it ate and ate until nothing was left in thebotanicalgarden.

• Thetorrentialrainswererelentless,eventuallycreatingadeluge.

RELINQUISH (riLINGkwish) v toreleaseor letgoof; tosurrender; tostopdoing• Thehungrydog refused to relinquish theenormousbeef bone that hehad stolenfromthebutcher’sshop.

• The retiring president relinquished control of the company only with the greatestreluctance.

• Sandrawaseighty-fiveyearsoldbeforeshefinallyrelinquishedherviewofherselfasaglamorousteenagedbeauty.

REMONSTRATE (ri MAHN strayt) v to argue against; to protest; to raiseobjections• Mybossremonstratedwithmefortellingall thesecretariestheycouldtakeoff therestoftheweek.

• Themanagerremonstrated,buttheumpirecontinuedtoinsistthatthebaserunnerhad been out at third. When the manager continued to remonstrate, the umpirethrewheroutofthegame.

Anactofremonstratingisaremonstration.

RENAISSANCE(RENuhsahns) n arebirthorrevival

TheRenaissance was a great blossoming of art, literature, science, and culture ingeneral that transformed Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries. The word isalsousedinconnectionwithlesserrebirths.• The declining neighborhood underwent a renaissance when a group of investorsbought several crumbling tenements and turned them into attractive apartmentbuildings.

• Thesmallcollege’sfootballteamhadenduredmanylosingseasonsbutunderwenta dramatic renaissance when the new coach recruited half a dozen 400-poundfreshmen.

Renaissancecanalsobespelledrenascence(riNAYsuns).

RENOUNCE(riNOWNSE) v togiveupformallyorresign;todisown;tohavenothingtodowithanymore• Despite the pleadings and protestations of her parents, Deborah refused torenounceherlovefortheleaderofthemotorcyclegang.

• The presidential candidate renounced his manager after it was revealed that thezealousmanagerhadtriedtomurderthecandidate’sopponentintheprimary.

Torenounceistomakearenunciation(rinunseeAYshun).


1. recrimination a. surrender2. redolent b. disown3. redundant c. rebirth4. refute d. argueagainst5. reiterate e. fragrant6. relegate f. banish7. relinquish g. sayagain8. remonstrate h. bittercounteraccusation9. renaissance i. unnecessarilyrepetitive10. renounce j. provetobefalse

REPARATION (rep uh RAY shun) n paying back; making amends;compensation

Tomakeareparationistorepairsomedamagethathasoccurred.Thiswordisoftenusedintheplural.• The defeated country demanded reparations for the destruction it had suffered atthehandsofthevictoriousarmy.

• Aftertheaccidentwesoughtreparation incourt.Unfortunately,our lawyerwasnotcompetent,sowedidn’twinacent.

Somethingthatcannotberepairedisirreparable(iREPuhruhbul).


REPERCUSSION(reepurKUSHun) n aconsequence;anindirecteffect• Onerepercussionofthenewtaxlawwasthataccountantsfoundthemselveswithalotofnewbusiness.

• The declaration of war had many repercussions, including a big increase inproductionatthebombfactory.

REPLENISH(riPLENish) v tofillagain;toresupply;torestore• Themanagerofthehardwarestoreneededtoreplenishhisstock;quiteafewoftheshelveswereempty.

• Thecommandinggeneral replenished his armywith a trainload of food andothersupplies.

• AfterthebigThanksgivingmeal,everyonefeltreplenished.Anactofreplenishingisareplenishment.• The replenishment of our firewood supply was our first thought after the bigsnowstorm.

REPLETE(riPLEET) adj completelyfilled;abounding• Theonce-pollutedstreamwasnowrepletewithfishofeverydescription.• The bride wore a magnificent sombrero replete with fuzzy dice and campaignbuttons.

• Tim ate all nine courses at the wedding banquet. He was filled to the point ofrepletion.

REPREHENSIBLE (rep ri HEN suh bul) adj worthy of severe blame orcensure• He put the cat in the laundry chute, tied the dog to the chimney, and committedseveralotherreprehensibleacts.

• Malcolm’s manners were reprehensible: he ate his soup by drinking it from hisemptywineglassandflippedhispeasintohismouthwiththebackofhissaladfork.

REPRISAL (ri PRYE zul) n a military action undertaken in revenge foranother;anactoftaking“aneyeforaneye”• The raid on the Iranian oil-drilling platformwas a reprisal for the Iranians’ earlierattackontheAmericantanker.

• Fearingreprisals,theCIAbeefedupitssecurityaftercapturingtheinsurgentleader.

REPROACH(riPROHCH) v toscold,usuallyindisappointment;toblame;todisgrace• The police officer reproached me for leaving my car parked overnight in a no-standingzone.

Reproach can also be a noun. To look at someone with reproach is to look at thatpersoncriticallyoraccusingly.Tobefilledwithself-reproachcanmeantobeashamed.Impeccablebehaviorthat’sbeyondfaultisirreproachable(irriPROHCHuhbul).• EventhoughJeromedidhitMabelonthehead,hismotivewas irreproachable:hehadmerelybeentryingtokillaflyperchedonherhairnet.

REPROVE(riPROOV) v tocriticizemildly• AuntMayreprovedusforeatingtoomuch,butwecouldtellshewasactuallythrilledthatwehadenjoyedthemeal.

• Myfriendreprovedmeforleavingmydirtydishinthesink.Anactofreprovingiscalledareproof.• The judge’sdecisionwas lessasentence thanagentle reproof; sheputJerryonprobationandtoldhimnevertogetintroubleagain.

REPUDIATE (riPYOOdeeayt) v to reject; to renounce; todisown; tohavenothingtodowith• Hopingtoreceivea lightersentence, theconvictedgangsterrepudiatedhis formerconnectionwiththemob.

REQUISITE(REKwuhzit) adj required;necessary• Howardboughtahuntingrifleandtherequisiteammunition.• As the requisite number of members was not in attendance, the chairpersonadjournedthemeetingjustafterithadbegun.

Requisitecanalsobeanoun,meaningarequirementoranecessity.Ahammerandasawareamongtherequisitesofthecarpenter’strade.Aprerequisiteissomethingrequiredbeforeyoucangetstarted.Ahighschooldiplomaisusuallyaprerequisitetoenteringcollege.

RESOLUTE(REZuhloot) adj determined;firm;unwavering• UncleTedwas resolute in his decisionnot to havea good timeat ourChristmas

party;hestoodaloneinthecornerandmutteredtohimselfallnightlong.• Theother teamwasstrong,butourplayerswereresolute.Theykeptpushingandshovinguntil,inthefinalmoments,theywontheroller-derbytournament.

Someonewhosticks tohisNewYear’s resolution is resolute.Resolute and resolvedaresynonyms.Tobeirresoluteistobewaveringorindecisive.• Ourirresolute leaderledusfirstonewayandthentheotherwayintheprocessofgettingusthoroughlyandcompletelylost.


1. reparation a. actofrevenge2. repercussion b. determined3. replenish c. worthyofblame4. replete d. consequence5. reprehensible e. scold6. reprisal f. completelyfilled7. reproach g. payingback8. reprove h. necessary9. repudiate i. criticizemildly10. requisite j. fillagain11. resolute k. reject

RESPITE(RESpit) n aperiodofrestorrelief• Weworkedwithoutrespitefromfiveinthemorninguntilfiveintheafternoon.• Thenewmotherfellasleepwhenherbabystoppedcrying.However,therespitewasbrief;thebabystartedupagainalmostimmediately.


RETICENT (RETuhsint) adj quiet;restrained;reluctanttospeak,especiallyaboutoneself• Luther’s natural reticencemade him an ideal speaker: his speeches never lasted

morethanafewminutes.• Kaynardwas reticent on the subject of his accomplishments; hedidn’t like to talkabouthimself.

Tobereticentistobecharacterizedbyreticence.

REVERE(riVEER) v torespecthighly;tohonor• Einsteinwasapreeminentscientistwhowasreveredbyeveryone,evenhisrivals.Einsteinenjoyednearlyuniversalreverence(REVuhrins).

Tobeirreverentistobemildlydisrespectful.• Peter made jokes about his younger sister’s painting. She was perturbed at hisirreverenceandbegantocry.

RHETORIC (RET ur ik) n the art of formal speaking or writing; inflateddiscourseAtalentedpublicspeakermightbesaidtobeskilledinrhetoric.Theword is often used in a pejorative sense to describe speaking orwriting that isskillfullyexecutedbutinsincereordevoidofmeaning.A political candidate’s speech that was long on drama and promises but short ongenuinesubstancemightbedismissedas“mererhetoric.”To use rhetoric is to be rhetorical (ruh TOR ik uhl). A rhetorical question is one thespeaker intends to answer himself or herself—that is, a question asked only forrhetoricaleffect.

RIGOROUS(RIGurus) adj strict;harsh;severeToberigorousistoactwithrigor.• Our exercise program was rigorous but effective; after just a few months, oureighteenminutesofdailyexercisehadbeguntopayoff.

• Theprofessorwaspopularlargelybecausehewasn’trigorous;therewerenotestsinhiscourseandonlyonepaper,whichwasoptional.

ROBUST(rohBUST) adj strongandhealthy;vigorous• The ninety-year-oldwomanwas still robust. Everymorning she ran severalmilesdowntotheoceanandjumpedin.

• Thetreeweplantedlastyearisn’tlookingrobust.Mostoftheleaveshavefallenoff,andthebarkhasbeguntopeel.

ROGUE(rohg) n acriminallydishonestperson;ascoundrelA rogue is someone who can’t be trusted. This word is often used, however, tocharacterizeaplayfullymischievousperson.• HuckleberryFinn is abit of a rogue;while his actions are technically criminal, he

performsthemwithnobleintentionsandahumorousspirit.

RUDIMENTARY (roo duh MEN tuh ree) adj basic; crude; unformed orundeveloped• The boy who had lived with wolves for fifteen years lacked even the mostrudimentarysocialskills.

• Thestrangecreaturehadsmallbumpsonitstorsothatappearedtoberudimentarylimbs.

RUMINATE(ROOmuhnayt) v tocontemplate;toponder;tomulloverRuminatecomesfromaLatinwordmeaningtochewcud.Cows,sheep,andothercud-chewinganimalsarecalledruminants.Toruminate is toquietlychewonorponderyourownthoughts.• The teacher’s comment about the causes of weather setme to ruminating aboutwhatanicedayitwasandtowishingthatIwereoutside.

Anactofruminatingiscalledarumination.• Sergewasaprivateman;hekepthisruminationstohimself.

RUSTIC (RUS tik) adj rural; lacking urban comforts or sophistication;primitive• LifeinthelogcabinwastoorusticforLeah;shemissedhotshowers,electricity,andice.

Rusticcanbeusedasanoun.Arusticisanunsophisticatedpersonfromthecountry.• Weenjoyedtherusticsceneryaswetraveledthroughthecountryside.

Torusticateistospendtimeinthecountry.


1. respite a. basic2. reticent b. contemplate3. revere c. vigorous4. rhetoric d. formalwritingorspeaking5. rigorous e. restrained6. robust f. rural7. rogue g. periodofrest8. rudimentary h. strict

9. ruminate i. honor10. rustic j. scoundrel

SSACCHARINE(SAKuhrin) adj sweet;excessivelyordisgustinglysweetSaccharin is a calorie-free sweetener; saccharine means sweet. Except for thespelling,thisisoneoftheeasiest-to-rememberwordsoutthere.Saccharinecanbeappliedtothingsthatareliterallysweet,suchassugar,saccharin,fruit,andsoon. Itcanalsobeapplied to things thataresweet ina figurativesense,suchaschildren,personalities,andsentiments—especially things thatare toosweet,orsweetinasickeningway.• We wanted to find a nice card for UncleMo, but the cards in the display at thedrugstore all had such saccharine messages that we would have been tooembarrassedtosendanyofthem.

• The love story was so saccharine that I vowed never to see another sappy,predictablemovieagain.

SACRILEGE(SAKruhlij) n aviolationofsomethingsacred;blasphemy• Theministercommittedthesacrilegeofdeliveringhissermonwhilewearinghisgolfshoes;hedidn’twant tobe late forhis tee-off time,whichwas justa fewminutesafterthescheduledendoftheservice.

• Themembersofthefundamentalistsectbelievedthatdancing,goingtomovies,andwatchingtelevisionweresacrileges.

Tocommitasacrilegeistobesacrilegious.Becarefulwiththespellingofthesewords.

SACROSANCT(SAKrohsangkt) adj sacred;heldtobeinviolableAchurchor temple issacrosanct.So, forChristians, isbelief in thedivinityofJesus.Sacrosanctisalsousedloosely,andoftenironically,outsideofreligion.• Mr. Peters’s lunchtime trip to his neighborhood bar was sacrosanct; he would nosoonerskipitthanhewouldskiphismother’sfuneral.

SAGACIOUS(suhGAYshus) adj discerning;shrewd;keeninjudgment;wise• Edgar’s decision tomove the chickens into the barn turned out to be sagacious;aboutanhourlater,thehailstormhit.

• Theannouncer’ssagaciouscommentarymadethebaseballgameseemvastlymoreprofoundthanwehadexpectedittobe.

Tobesagacious is tohavesagacity (suhGASuhtee).Asimilarword issage,whichmeanswiseorpossessingwisdomderivedfromexperienceorlearning.• Whenwewerecontemplatingstartingourownpopcornbusiness,wereceivedsomesageadvicefromamanwhohadlostallhismoneysellingcandiedapples.

• Theprofessor’scritique,whichcompriseda fewsagecomments,sentmeback tomyroomfeelingprettystupid.

Sagecanalsobeanoun.Awiseperson,especiallyawiseoldperson,isoftencalledasage.

SALIENT(SAYLyunt) adj stickingout;conspicuous;leapingAsalientcharacteristicisonethatleapsrightoutatyou.• Ursulahadanumberofsalient features including,primarily,hernose,whichstuckoutsofarthatshewasconstantlyindangerofslammingitindoorsandwindows.


SALUTARY(SALyuhteree) adj healthful;remedial;curative• Loweredbloodpressureisamongthesalutaryeffectsofexercise.• The long sea voyagewassalutary; whenElizabeth landed, she looked ten yearsyoungerthanshehadwhenshesetsail.

SANCTIMONIOUS (sangk tuh MOH nee us) adj pretending to be devout;affectingreligiousfeeling• The sanctimonious old bore pretended to be deeply offended when Luciuswhisperedamildswearwordafterdroppingthehammeronhisbarefoot.

• Simon is an egoist who speaks about almost nothing but caring for one’s fellowman.Hisaltruismissanctimonious.

SANGUINE(SANGgwin) adj cheerful;optimistic;hopeful• Miguelwassanguine about his chances of winning theNobel Peace Prize, eventhough,asaneighthgrader,hehadn’tyetdoneanythingtodeserveit.

• Theebullientcheckerschampion remainedsanguine indefeat;hewassosureofhimselfthatheviewedevencatastropheasmerelyatemporarysetback.

Don’t confusesanguine (aniceword)withsanguinary (notaniceword).Sanguinarymeansbloodthirsty.

SARDONIC(sahrDAHNik) adj mocking;scornful• Isabella’sweakattemptsathumorweremetbynothingbutafewscatteredpocketsofsardoniclaughter.

• EvenGeorge’sfriendsfoundhimexcessivelysardonic:hecouldn’tdiscussanything

withoutmockingit,andtherewasalmostnothingaboutwhichhecouldbringhimselftosaytwonicewordsinarow.


1. saccharine a. blasphemy2. sacrilege b. wise3. sacrosanct c. sweet4. sagacious d. pretendingtobedevout5. sage e. healthful6. salient f. mocking7. salutary g. cheerful8. sanctimonious h. sacred9. sanguine i. stickingout10. sardonic j. discerning

SCINTILLATE(SINtuhlayt) v tosparkle,eitherliterallyorfiguratively• Starsanddiamondsscintillate—sodowittycomments,charmingpersonalities,andanythingelsethatcanbesaidtosparkle.

• Stefan was a quiet drudge at home, but at a party he could be absolutelyscintillating,tossingoffwittyremarksandcharmingeveryoneintheroom.

• Jenny’sgradeslasttermweren’tscintillating,toputitmildly;shehadfourDsandanF.

Theactofscintillatingiscalledscintillation.

SCRUPULOUS (SKROO pyuh lus) adj strict; careful; hesitant for ethicalreasons• Leelawasscrupulousinkeepingheraccounts;sheknewwhereeverypennycamefromandwhereeverypennywent.

• Wetriedtobescrupulousaboutnotdrippingpaint,butbythetimethedaywasovertherewasnearlyasmuchpaintonthefloorastherewasonthewalls.

• Philipwastooscrupuloustomakeagoodused-cardealer;everytimehestartedtolie,hewasovercomebyethicaldoubts.

Ascruple isaqualmormoraldoubt.Tohavenoscruples—tobeunscrupulous—isto

havenoconscience.

SCRUTINIZE(SKROOTuhnyze) v toexamineverycarefully• Iscrutinized the card catalog at the library but couldn’t find a single book on thetopicIhadchosenformytermpaper.

• Therocketscientistsscrutinized thousandsofpagesofcomputerprintouts, lookingforacluetowhytherockethadexploded.

• MymotherscrutinizedmyclothesandmyappearancebeforeIleftfortheevening,butevenafterseveralminutesofcarefulanalysis,shewasunabletofindanythingtocomplainabout.

Toscrutinizesomethingistosubjectittoscrutiny.• Thecleverforgeryfooledthemuseumcuratorbutdidnotwithstandthescrutinyoftheexperts;afterstudyingforseveralweeks,theexpertspronouncedthepaintingtobeafake.

Something that cannot be examined is inscrutable (in SKROOT uh bul). Inscrutablemeansmysterious,impossibletounderstand.• We had no ideawhat Bill was thinking because his smilewas inscrutable. Pokerplayerstrytobeinscrutabletotheiropponents.

SECULAR (SEK yuh lur) adj having nothing to dowith religion or spiritualconcerns• The group home had several nuns on its staff, but it was an entirely secularoperation,runbythecity,notthechurch.

• Thepriest’ssecularinterestsincludeGermanfoodandplayingthetrombone.

SEDITION (si DISH un) n treason; the incitement of public disorder orrebellion• Thepoliticalgroupwaschargedwithseditionbecauseithadadvocatedburningthecapitaltotheground.

SEGREGATE(SEGruhgayt) v toseparate• Rico kept his prize-winning poodle, Fluffy, segregated from his other two dogs,whichweremixedbreeds.

Thenounformissegregation,whichcanalsorefertoperiodsinhistorywhenpeopleofdifferent raceswere kept apart by social normsor law. In other nations,segregationhasbeencalledbyothernames.Seeapartheid.Integrate, congregate, segregate, and aggregate—all words about joining andseparating—shareacommonroot.

SENSORY(SENsuhree) adj havingtodowiththesensesorsensation

• Babies enjoy bright colors, moving objects, pleasant sounds, and other forms ofsensorystimulation.

Yourears,eyes,andtongueareallsensoryorgans.Itisthroughthemthatyoursensesoperate.Extrasensory perception is the supposed ability of some people to perceive thingswithoutusingthestandardsensesofsight,hearing,smell,touch,ortaste.Two similar-sounding and often confusing words are sensual and sensuous. To besensual is to be devoted to gratifying one’s senses through physical pleasure,especiallysexualpleasure;tobesensuousistodelightthesenses.Asensualpersonisonewhoeagerlyindulgeshisorherphysicaldesires.Asensuouspersonisonewhostimulatesthesensesofothers.

SENTIENT(SENshunt) adj abletoperceivebythesenses;consciousHumanbeingsaresentient.Rocksarenot.


• Whiletreesarenot,strictlyspeaking,sentientbeings,manycrediblepeopleclaimtohavecommunicatedwiththem.

SEQUESTER(siKWEStur) v tosetorkeepapart• Because much of the rest of the city had become a battle zone, the visitingentertainersweresequesteredintheinternationalhotel.

• Thestrugglingwritersequesteredherself inherstudyforseveralmonths, tryingtoproducethenextGreatAmericanNovel.

• Juries are sometimes sequestered during trials to prevent them from talking topeopleorreadingnewspapers.


1. scintillate a. sparkle2. scrupulous b. havingnothingtodowithreligion3. scrutinize c. treason4. secular d. havingtodowiththesenses5. sedition e. setapart6. segregate f. strict

7. sensory g. delightingthesenses8. sensual h. examineverycarefully9. sensuous i. devotedtopleasure10. sentient j. conscious11. sequester k. separate

SERENDIPITY (ser un DIP uh tee) n accidental good fortune; discoveringgoodthingswithoutlookingforthem• Itwasserendipity rather thangenius that led thearchaeologist tohisbreathtakingdiscoveryoftheancientcivilization.Whilewalkinghisdoginthedesert,hetrippedoverthetopofaburiedtomb.

Somethingthatoccursthroughserendipityisserendipitous.• Ourarrivalat theairportserendipitouslycoincidedwith thatof thequeen,andsheofferedusaridetoourhotelinhercarriage.

SERVILE(SURvyle) adj submissiveandsubservient;likeaservant• Catloverssometimessaythatdogsaretooservilebecausetheyfollowtheirownerseverywhereandslobberalloverthemateveryopportunity.

• Thehorriblebossdemandedservilityfromhisemployees;whenhesaid,“Jump!”heexpectedthemtoask,“Howhigh?”

Asimilarwordisslavish(SLAYvish),whichmeansevenmoresubservientthanservile.Slavishdevotiontoacauseisdevotioninspiteofeverything.Anartist’sslavishimitatorwouldbeanimitatorwhoimitatedeverythingabouttheartist.

SINGULAR(SINGgyuhlur) adj unique;superior;exceptional;strange• Darrenhadthesingularabilitytostandononebigtoeforseveralhoursatatime.• Themanonthetrainhadasingulardeformity:bothofhisearswereonthesamesideofhishead.

Asingularityisauniqueoccurrence.Singularityisalsothequalityofbeingunique.

SINISTER (SIN ih stur) adj evil, wicked; foreshadowing evil, trouble, orwickedness• Thehouseonthehillisprettybyday,butatnightitcastssinistershadowsandemitsfrighteningmoans.

SLANDER(SLANdur) v tospeakbadlyaboutsomeonepublicly;todefame;tospreadmaliciousrumor• JonathanslanderedMr.Perriwinkleby tellingeveryone inschool that theprincipal

wasathief;Mr.Perriwinkleresentedthisslander.Becausehewastheprincipal,heexpelledtheslanderousstudent.

SLOTH(slawth) n laziness;sluggishnessYoumayhaveseenapictureofananimalcalledasloth. Ithangsupsidedown fromtreelimbsandisneverinahurrytodoanything.Tofallintoslothistoactlikeasloth.• Yusuke’sweekendsweredevotedtosloth.HeneverarosebeforenoonandseldomleftthehousebeforeMondaymorning.

Tobelazyandsluggishistobeslothful.• Ophelia’sslothful husband virtually lived on the couch in the living room, and thetelevisionremote-controldevicewasindangerofbecominggraftedtohishand.

SOBRIETY(suhBRYEuhtee) n thestateofbeingsober;seriousnessAsoberpersonisapersonwhoisn’tdrunk.Asoberpersoncanalsobeapersonwhois serious, solemn, or not ostentatious. Sobriety means both “undrunkness” andseriousnessorsolemnity.• Sobriety was such an unfamiliar condition that the reforming alcoholic didn’trecognizeitatfirst.

SobrietyofdressisonecharacteristicofthehardworkingAmish.


SOLICITOUS (suhLISuh tus) adj eagerandattentive,often to thepointofhovering;anxiouslycaringorattentive• Every time we turned around, we seemed to step on the foot of the solicitoussalesman,whoappearedtofeelthatifheleftusaloneformorethanafewseconds,wewoulddecidetoleavethestore.

• Whenthesickmoviestarsneezed,half-a-dozensolicitousnursescamerushingintoherhospitalroom.

Thenounissolicitude.

SOLVENT(SAHLvunt) adj notbrokeorbankrupt;abletopayone’sbills• Jerrydidn’thopetobecomeamillionaire;allhewantedtodowasremainsolvent.

Tobebrokeistobeinsolvent.Aninsolventcompanyisonethatcan’tcoveritsdebts.The state of being solvent is called solvency; the state of being insolvent is calledinsolvency.

SOPORIFIC(sahpuhRIFik) adj sleepinducing;boring;sleepy• Thedoctorcalmedhishystericalpatientbyinjectinghimwithsomesortofsoporific

medication.• Sam’s soporific address was acknowledged not by applause but by a chorus ofsnores.

• Thesoporificcreaturefromthebottomofthesealayinagiganticblobonthebeachforseveraldaysandthenrouseditselfenoughtoconsumethepanic-strickencity.


1. serendipity a. accidentalgoodfortune2. servile b. sleepinducing3. singular c. eagerandattentive4. sinister d. notbankrupt5. slavish e. submissive6. sloth f. broke7. sobriety g. laziness8. solicitous h. stateofbeingsober9. solvent i. extremelysubservient10. insolvent j. unique11. soporific k. wicked

SORDID(SORdid) adj vile;filthy;squalid• Thecollegeroommatesledasordidexistence,surroundedbydirty laundry, rottinggarbage,andfilthydishes.

• Theconspiratorsplottedtheirsordidschemesataseriesofsecretmeetings inanabandonedwarehouse.

• The leprosyblighthad turnedaonce-prettyneighborhood intoasordidoutpostofdespairandcrime.

SPAWN(spawn) v tobringforth;toproducealargenumber• Abest-sellingbookorblockbustermoviewillspawndozensofimitators.

SPECIOUS(SPEEshus) adj deceptivelyplausibleorattractive• The charlatan’s specious theories about curing baldness with used tea bagscharmed the studio audience but did not convince the experts,who believed that

freshteabagsweremoreeffective.• Theriver’sbeautyturnedouttobespecious;whathadlookedlikechurningrapidsfromadistancewas,oncloserinspection,somesortoffoamyindustrialwaste.

Tobespeciousistobecharacterizedbyspeciousness.

SPORADIC (spuhRADik) adj stoppingandstarting;scattered;occurringinburstseveryonceinawhile• Kyle’s attention to his schoolwork was sporadic at best; he tended to lose hisconcentrationafterafewminutesofeffort.

SPURIOUS(SPYOOReeus) adj false;fakeAnapocryphalstoryisonewhosetruthisuncertain.Aspuriousstory,however,isout-and-outfalse,nodoubtaboutit.• The political candidate attributed his loss to numerous spurious rumors that hadhoundedhimthroughouthiscampaign.

SQUALOR (SKWAHL ur) n filth; wretched, degraded, or repulsive livingconditions• Ifpeopleliveinsqualorfortoolong,therulingelitecancountonaninsurgency.

SQUANDER(SKWAHNdur) v towaste• Jerry failed to husband his inheritance; instead, he squandered it on trips to LasVegas.

STAGNATION(stagNAYshun) n motionlessness;inactivity• Thecompanygrewquicklyforseveralyears;thenitfellintostagnation.• Many years of carelessly dumping garbage next to the river led to the gradualstagnation of the water because the trash covered the bottom and made animpromptudam.

Tofallintostagnationistostagnate.Tobeinastateofstagnationistobestagnant.

STATIC(STATik) adj stationary;notchangingormoving• Salesofthenewbooksoaredforafewweeksthenbecamestatic.• Themoviewas supposed to bea thriller, butwe found it tediouslystatic; nothingseemedtohappenfromonescenetothenext.

STAUNCH(stawnch) adj firmlycommitted;firmlyinfavorof;steadfastAstaunchRepublicanissomeonewhoalwaysvotesforRepublicancandidates.Astaunchsupporteroftaxreformwouldbesomeonewhofirmlybelievesintaxreform.Tobestaunchinyoursupportofsomethingistobeunshakable.

STEADFAST(STEDfast) adj loyal;faithful• Steadfast love is love thatneverwavers.Tobesteadfast ina relationship is tobefaithfullycommitted.

Tobesteadfastistobelikearock:unchanging,unwavering,andunmoving.

STIGMATIZE (STIG muh tyze) v to brand with disgrace; to set a mark ofdisgraceupon• Steveoncewent intothegirls’bathroombyaccident,andthismistakestigmatizedhimfortherestofhishighschoolcareer.

Astigma(STIGmuh)isamarkofdisgrace.

STIPULATE(STIPyuhlayt) v torequiresomethingaspartofanagreement• Youarewell-advisedtostipulatethemaximumamountyouwillpayinanycar-repaircontract.

Guaranteesoftenstipulatecertainconditionsthatmustbemetiftheguaranteeistobevalid.

STOIC(STOHik) adj indifferent(atleastoutwardly)topleasureorpain,tojoyorgrief,tofortuneormisfortune• Nina was stoic about the death of her canary; she went about her business asthoughnothingsadhadhappened.

• Wetriedtobestoicaboutourdefeat,butassoonaswegotintothelockerroom,weallbegantocryandbangourforeheadsonourlockers.

STRATUM(STRATum) n alayer;alevelThemiddleclassisonestratumofsociety.Thepluralofstratumisstrata.Ahierarchyiscomposedofstrata.Tostratifyistomakeintolayers.Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“STRAYtum.”

STRICTURE(STRIKchur) n arestriction;alimitation;anegativecriticism• Despite thestrictures of apartment living,weenjoyed theeight yearswespent inNewYorkCity.

• Theunfavorableleaseplacedmanystricturesonhowthebuildingcouldbeused.• The poorly prepared violinist went home trembling after her concert to await theinevitablestricturesofthereviewers.

QuickQuiz#78

Matcheachwordinthefirstcolumnwithitsdefinitioninthesecondcolumn.Checkyouranswershere.

1. sordid a. disgrace2. spawn b. stoppingandstarting3. specious c. restriction4. sporadic d. inactivity5. spurious e. require6. squander f. indifferenttopain,pleasure7. stagnation g. bringforth8. static h. vile9. staunch i. firmlycommitted10. steadfast j. layer11. stigmatize k. stationary12. stipulate l. deceptivelyplausible13. stoic m. false14. stratum n. waste15. stricture

STRIFE(stryfe) n bitterconflict;discord;astruggleorclash• Maritalstrifeoftenleadstodivorce.

STRINGENT(STRINjunt) adj strict;restrictive• Therestaurant’sstringentdresscoderequiredmaledinerstowearasuitcoatandtieortheyhadtoleave.

• The IRS accountantwas quitestringent in her interpretation of the tax code; shedisallowedvirtuallyallofLeslie’sdeductions.

STYMIE(STYEmee) v tothwart;togetinthewayof;tohinderStymieisagolfingterm.Agolferisstymiedwhenanotherplayer’sballliesonthedirectpathbetweenhisorherownballandthecup.Offthegolfcourse,onemightbestymiedbyone’sboss.• Inmyefforttomakeanameformyselfinthecompany,Iwasstymiedbymyboss,whoalwaysmanagedtotakecreditforallthegoodthingsIdidandtoblamemeforhismistakes.

SUBJUGATE(SUBjuhgayt) v tosubdueanddominate;toenslave

• IboughtthefancyridinglawnmowerbecauseIthoughtitwouldmakemylifeeasier,butitquicklysubjugatedme.Allsummerlong,itseems,Ididnothingbutchangeitsoil,sharpenitsblades,anddriveitbackandforthbetweenmyhouseandtherepairshop.

• Thetyrantsubjugatedall thepeasants living in thekingdom;once free, theywerenowforcedtodoherbidding.

SUBLIME(suhBLYME) adj awesome;extremelyexalted;lofty;majestic• Afterwinning$70million in the lotteryandquittingour jobsassewerworkers,ourhappinesswassublime.

• Theodorewasasublime thinker;afterponderingevenadifficultproblemfor justafewminutes,hewouldinvariablyarriveataconciseandelegantsolution.

• Thesoupattherestaurantwassublime.I’venevertastedanythingsogood.The noun form of sublime issublimity (suh BLIM i tee). Don’t confuse sublimewithsubliminal(suhBLIMuhnuhl),whichmeanssubconscious,orsublimate(SUBlimayt),whichmeanstosuppressone’ssubconsciousmind.

SUBORDINATE(suhBORduhnit) adj lowerinimportance,position,orrank;secondary• Mydesiretositonthecouchandwatchtelevisionallnightlongwassubordinatetomydesire tostand in thekitcheneating junk foodallnight long,so Idid the latterinsteadoftheformer.

Avicepresidentissubordinatetoapresident.Subordinate (suh BOR duh nayt) can also be a verb. To subordinate something inrelationtosomethingelseistomakeitsecondaryorlessimportant.To be insubordinate (in suh BOR duh nit) is not to acknowledge the authority of asuperior. An army private who says, “Bug off!” when ordered to do something by ageneralisguiltyofbeinginsubordinateorofcommittinganactofinsubordination.

SUBSTANTIVE (SUB stan tiv) adj having substance; real; essential; solid;substantial• The differences between the two theories were not substantive; in fact, the twotheoriessaidthesamethingwithdifferentwords.

• The gossip columnist’s wild accusations were not based on anything substantive—hersourcewasaconvictedperjurer,andshehadmadeupallthequotations.

SUBTLE(SUTul) adj notobvious;abletomakefinedistinctions;ingenious;crafty• ThealienbeingshadcreatedashrewdreplicaofMr.Jenson,buthiswifedidnoticeafewsubtledifferences,includingthefactthatthenewMr.Jensonhadnopulse.

• Jim’ssubtlemindenableshimtoseepastproblemsthatconfusetherestofus.• Theburglarwassubtle;shehadcomeupwithaplanthatwouldenablehertostealallthemoneyintheworldwithoutarousingthesuspicionsoftheauthorities.

Somethingsubtleisasubtlety(SUTultee).


SUBVERSIVE (sub VUR siv) adj corrupting; overthrowing; undermining;insurgent• ThepoliticalgroupdestroyedthePentagon’scomputerfiles,hijackedAirForceOne,andengagedinvariousothersubversiveactivities.

• Madeline’s efforts to teach her first-grade students to readwere thwarted by thatmostsubversiveofinventions,thetelevisionset.

SUCCINCT(sukSINGKT) adj briefandtothepoint;concise• Aaron’ssuccinctexplanationofwhythemoondoesn’tfalloutoftheskyandcrashintotheearthquicklysatisfiedeventhemostskepticaloftheseventhgraders.

• Weweregivenso little room inwhich towriteon theexamination thatwehadnochoicebuttokeepouressayssuccinct.



1. strife a. notobvious2. stringent b. awesome3. stymie c. briefandtothepoint4. subjugate d. thwart5. sublime e. subdue6. subordinate f. corrupting7. insubordinate g. notrespectfulofauthority8. substantive h. strict9. subtle i. lowerinimportance10. subversive j. havingsubstance

11. succinct k. bitterconflict

SUCCUMB(suhKUM) v toyieldorsubmit;todie• IhadsaidIwasn’tgoingtoeatanythingattheparty,butwhenAnnheldthetrayofimportedchocolatesundermynose,Iquicklysuccumbedandateallofthem.

• TheMartians inTheWar of theWorlds survived everymilitaryweapon known tomanbutsuccumbedtothecommoncold.

• WhenWillard reached theageof110,his familybegan to think thathewould liveforever,buthesuccumbednotlongafterward.

SUPERCILIOUS(soopurSILeeus) adj haughty;patronizing• ThesuperciliousRolls-Roycesalesmantreateduslikepeasantsuntilweopenedoursuitcasefullofone-hundred-dollarbills.

• Thenewly famousauthorwassosupercilious thatshepretendednot torecognizemembersofherownfamily,whomshenowbelievedtobebeneathher.

SUPERFICIAL (soo pur FISH ul) adj on the surface only; shallow; notthorough• Tomhad indeedbeenshot,but thewoundwassuperficial— thebullethadmerelycreasedthetipofhisnose.

• Themechanic,whowasinahurry,gavemycarwhatappearedtobeasuperficialtune-up.Infact,ifhecheckedtheoil,hediditwithoutopeningthehood.

Apersonwhoissuperficialcanbeaccusedofsuperficiality.• Thesuperficialityoftheeditor’scommentsmadeusthinkthatshehadn’treallyreadthemanuscript.

SUPERFLUOUS(sooPURfloous) adj extra;unnecessary;redundant• Andrew’sattempttorepairthelightbulbwassuperfluousbecausethelightbulbhadalreadybeenrepaired.

• Roughly999ofthebook’s1,000pagesweresuperfluous.Thenounissuperfluity(soopurFLOOuhtee).


SURFEIT(SURfit) n excess;anexcessiveamount;excessorover-indulgenceineatingordrinkingThanksgivingmealsareusuallyasurfeitforeveryoneinvolved.


SURREPTITIOUS(surupTISHus) adj sneaky;secret• Thedinnerguestsurreptitiouslyslippedafewsilverspoonsintohisjacketashewasleavingthediningroom.

• ThebabysittermadeherselfasurreptitiousmealoflobsterassoonasMr.andMrs.Robinsonhaddrivenaway.

SURROGATE(SURuhgit) adj substituteAsurrogatemotherisawomanwhobearsachildforsomeoneelse.Thiswordisoftenanoun.Asurrogateisasubstitute.• A kind parent offered to go to prison as a surrogate for his son, who had beenconvictedofextortion.

SYCOPHANT(SIKuhfunt) n onewhosucksuptoothers• The French class seemed to be full of sycophants; the students were alwaysbringingapplestotheteacherandtellingherhowniceshelooked.

Asycophantissycophantic(sikuhFANtik).• Theexasperatedboss finally firedhersycophanticsecretarybecauseshecouldn’tstandbeingaroundsomeonewhoneverhadanythingnastytosay.


SYNTHESIS(SINthuhsis) n thecombiningofpartstoformawhole• It seemed as though the meeting might end in acrimony and confusion untilRaymondofferedhisbrilliantsynthesisofthetwodivergingpointsofview.

• Ahotfudgesundaeistheperfectsynthesisofhotfudgeandvanillaicecream.


1. succumb a. haughty2. supercilious b. yield3. superficial c. flatterer4. superfluous d. substitute5. surfeit e. unnecessary

6. surreptitious f. onthesurfaceonly7. surrogate g. sneaky8. sycophant h. excess9. synthesis i. combiningofparts

TTACIT(TASit) adj implied;notspoken• Mrs.Rodgersneverformallyaskedustomurderherhusband,butwetrulybelievedthatwewereactingwithhertacitconsent.

Tacitisrelatedtotaciturn.

TACITURN(TASiturn) adj untalkativebynature• Thechairmanwasso taciturn thatweoftendiscovered thatwehadabsolutelynoideawhathewasthinking.

• Thetaciturnphysicistwassometimesthoughttobebrilliantsimplybecausenoonehadeverheardhimsayanythingthatwasn’tintelligent.Everyonemisconstruedhistaciturnity;hewasactuallyquitedumb.

Taciturnisrelatedtotacit.

TANGENTIAL (tan JEN shul) adj only superficially related to thematter athand;notespeciallyrelevant;peripheral• Thevicepresident’sspeechboreonlyatangentialrelationshiptothetopicthathadbeenannounced.

• Stuart’sconnectionwithourorganizationistangential.Heoncemadeaphonecallfromthelobbyofourbuilding,butheneverworkedhere.

Whenawriterorspeaker“goesoffonatangent,”heorsheismakingadigressionorstrayingfromtheoriginaltopic.


TANGIBLE(TANjuhbul) adj touchable;palpable• AmountainofcigarettebuttswastheonlytangibleevidencethatLukehadbeeninourhouse.

• TherewasnotangiblereasonIcouldpointto,butIdidhaveasneakingsuspicionthatErnestwasarodeofan.

Theoppositeoftangibleisintangible.

TANTAMOUNT(TANtuhmownt) adj equivalentto• Wavingabannerforthevisitingteamatthatfootballgamewouldbetantamount tocommittingsuicide;thehome-teamfanswouldtearyouapartinaminute.

• Yvonne’s method of soliciting donations from her employees was tantamount toextortion;sheclearlyimpliedthatshewouldfirethemiftheydidn’tpitchin.

TAUTOLOGICAL(tawtuhLAHjuhkul) adj redundant;circular“Wheneveryonehasacamera,cameraswillbeuniversal”isatautologicalstatement,because“everyonehavingacamera”and“camerasbeinguniversal”mean thesamething.• The testing company’s definition of intelligence—“that which is measured byintelligencetests”—istautological.

A tautology (tawTAHLuh jee) isaneedless repetitionofwords,orsaying thesamethingusingdifferentwords.Here’sanexample:• Thetroublewithbachelorsisthattheyaren’tmarried.

TEMERITY(tuhMERuhtee) n boldness;recklessness;audacity• Ourwaiterattherestauranthadthetemeritytotellmehethoughtmytablemannerswereatrocious.

• Themountain climber hadmore temerity than skill or sense.She tried to climbamountainthatwasmuchtoodifficultandendedupinaheapatthebottom.

TEMPERATE(TEMpurit) adj mild;moderate;restrained• Ourclimateistemperateduringthespringandfallbutnearlyunbearableduringthesummerandwinter.

• The teacher’s temperate personality lent a feeling of calm and control to thekindergartenclass.

Theoppositeoftemperateisintemperate,whichmeansnotmoderate.• Becky’sintemperateuseoforeganoruinedthechili.

Totempersomethingistomakeitmilder.• Annalaughedandshriekedsoloudlyateveryjokethateventhecomedianwishedshewouldtemperherappreciation.

Temperanceismoderation,especiallywithregardtoalcoholicdrinks.

TENABLE (TENuhbul) adj defensible,as inone’sposition inanargument;capableofbeingarguedsuccessfully;valid• MembersoftheFlatEarthSocietycontinuetoarguethattheearthisflat,althoughevenchildrendismisstheirargumentsasuntenable.

Untenablemeansunabletobedefended.

TENACIOUS(tuhNAYshus) adj persistent;stubborn;notlettinggo• Theforeignstudent’stenaciousefforttolearnEnglishwonhimtheadmirationofalltheteachersatourschool.

• Louise’s grasp of geometry was not tenacious. She could handle the simplerproblemsmostofthetime,butshefellapartonquizzesandtests.

• Theivygrowingonthesideofourhousewassotenaciousthatwehadtotearthehousedowntogetridofit.

Tobetenaciousistohavetenacity(tuhNASustee).


1. tacit a. persistent2. taciturn b. naturallyuntalkative3. tangential c. boldness4. tangible d. equivalentto5. tantamount e. notdeeplyrelevant6. tautological f. redundant7. temerity g. mild8. temperate h. defensible9. tenable i. implied10. tenacious j. touchable

TENET(TENit) n asharedprincipleorbelief• Thetenetsofhisreligionprohibitedhimfromdancingandgoingtomovies.• Oneof themost important tenetsofour formofgovernment is thatpeoplecanbetrustedtogovernthemselves.

TENTATIVE(TENtuhtiv) adj experimental;temporary;uncertain• Georgemadeatentativeefforttopainthishousebyhimself;heslappedsomepaintonthefrontdoorandhisclothes,tippedoverthebucket,andcalledaprofessional.

• Ourplans for thepartyare tentative at this point, butweare consideringhiringatroupeofaccordioniststoplaypolkaswhileourguestsareeatingdessert.

• Hugobelievedhimself tobeagreatwit,buthisbig jokewasrewardedbynothingmorethanaverytentativechucklefromhisaudience.

TENUOUS(TENyoous) adj flimsy;extremelythin• Theorganization’s financialsituationhasalwaysbeen tenuous; thebalanceof thecheckingaccountisusuallyclosetozero.

To attenuate is to make thin. Extenuating circumstances are those that lessen themagnitudeofsomething,especiallyacrime.• Cherrie admitted that she stole the Cracker Jacks, but claimed that there wereextenuatingcircumstances:shehadnomoneytobuyfoodforherdog.

TERSE(turs) adj usingnounnecessarywords;succinct• The new recording secretary’sminuteswere so terse that theywere occasionallycryptic.

• Terseness is not one of Rex’s virtues; he would talk until the crack of dawn ifsomeonedidn’tstophim.

THEOLOGY(theeAHLuhjee) n thestudyofGodorreligion• Ralphwasaparadox:hewasanatheist,yethepassionatelystudiedtheology.

TIRADE(TYErayd) n aprolonged,bitterspeech• Prestonlaunchedintoatiradeagainstimitationcheeseontheschoollunchmenu.

TORPOR(TORpur) n sluggishness;inactivity;apathy• After consuming the guinea pig, the boa constrictor fell into a state of contentedtorporthatlastedseveraldays.

• Themathteachertriedtoreducethetorporofhisstudentsbybangingonhisdesk,butthestudentsscarcelyblinked.

Tobeinastateoftorporistobetorpid.

TOUCHSTONE(TUCHstohn) n astandard;atestofauthenticityorquality• Thesizeofastudent’svocabulary isauseful touchstone for judgingthequalityofhisorhereducation.

• Acandidate’spronouncementsabouttheeconomyprovidedatouchstonebywhichhisorherfitnessforofficecouldbejudged.

In its original usage, a touchstone was a dark stone against which gold and otherpreciousmetalswererubbed inorder to test theirpurity.Nowtheword isusedmorelooselytodescribeabroadrangeofstandardsandtests.

TOUT(towt) v topraisehighly;tobragpubliclyabout• Advertisementstoutedthechocolate-flavoredtoothpasteasgettingridofyoursweettoothwhilesavingyourteeth.

TRANSCEND(tranSEND) v togobeyondorabove;tosurpass

• Themanwhoclaimedtohaveinventedaperpetualmotionmachinebelievedthathehadtranscendedthelawsofphysics.

• Thebasketballplayerwassoskillfulthatsheseemedtohavetranscendedthesportaltogether; she was so much better than her teammates that she seemed to beplayinganentirelydifferentgame.

To be transcendent is to be surpassing or preeminent. Something transcendent istranscendental(transenDENtul).

TRANSGRESS(transGRES) v toviolate(alaw);tosin• Theothersidehad transgressed somanyprovisionsof the treaty thatwehadnochoicebuttogotowar.

• Wetriedashardaswecouldnottotransgresstheirelaboraterules,buttheyhadsomanyprohibitionsthatwecouldn’tkeeptrackofallofthem.

Anactoftransgressingisatransgression.• Thebully’sinnumerabletransgressionsincludedbreakingallthewindowsinthenewgymnasiumandpushingseveralfirstgradersoffthejunglegym.

TRANSIENT(TRANshunt) adj notstayingforalongtime;temporary• Thetransientbreezeprovidedsomerelieffromthesummerheat,butweweresoonperspiringagain.

• Thechild’ssmilewastransient;itdisappearedassoonasthecandybarwasgone.• Ahotel’sinhabitantsaretransient;thepopulationchangeseverynightastheycomeandgo.

Transient can also be a noun. A transient person is sometimes called a transient.Hoboes,mendicants,andotherhomelesspeopleareoftencalledtransients.Averysimilarwordistransitory,whichmeansnotlastinglong.Atransientbreezemightprovidetransitoryrelieffromtheheat.Thiswordcanalsobepronounced“TRANzeeunt.”

TREPIDATION(trepuhDAYshun) n fear;apprehension;nervoustrembling• The nursery school studentswere filledwith trepidation when they saw the otherchildrenintheirclassdressedintheirHalloweencostumes.

• The trepidation of the swimming team was readily apparent: their knees wereknockingastheylinedupalongtheedgeofthepool.

Tobefearlessistobeintrepid.• Theintrepidcaptainsailedhershiparoundtheworldwithonlyahandkerchiefforasail.

TURPITUDE(TURpuhtood) n shamefulwickedness;depravity• Paulwassackedbyhisbossbecauseofaflagrantactofturpitude:hewascaught

stealingofficesupplies.


1. tenet a. withoutunnecessarywords2. tentative b. gobeyond3. tenuous c. bragpubliclyabout4. terse d. fearless5. torpor e. experimental6. theology f. notlastinglong7. tirade g. bitterspeech8. touchstone h. sharedprinciple9. tout i. wickedness10. transcend j. sluggishness11. transgress k. flimsy12. transient l. fear13. transitory m. studyofreligion14. trepidation n. standard15. intrepid o. violate16. turpitude

UUBIQUITOUS(yooBIKwuhtus) adj beingeverywhereatthesametime• The new beer commercial was ubiquitous—it seemed to be on every televisionchannelatonce.

• Personalcomputers,onceararity,havebecomeubiquitous.Tobeubiquitousistobecharacterizedbyubiquity(yooBIKwuhtee).Theubiquityoffast-foodrestaurantsisoneofthemoredepressingfeaturesofAmericanculture.


UNCONSCIONABLE (un KAHN shuh nuh bul) adj not controlled byconscience;unscrupulous• Leavingasmallchildunattendedalldaylongisanunconscionableact.• Stealingmoneyfromeverycitizenofthattownwasunconscionable.Bertshouldbeashamedofhimselffordoingit.

Don’tconfusethiswordwithunconscious.

UNCTUOUS(UNGKchoous) adj oily,bothliterallyandfiguratively;insincereSaladoilisliterallyunctuous.Aused-carsalesmanmightbefigurativelyunctuous—thatis,oilyinthesenseofbeingslick,sleazy,andinsincere.

UNIFORM (YOO nuh form) adj consistent; unchanging; the same foreveryone• Trafficlawsaresimilarfromonestatetothenext,buttheyaren’tuniform.Eachstatehasitsownvariations.

• Theschooldidnothaveauniform gradingpolicy;each teacherwas free tomarkstudentsaccordingtoanysystemthatheorshethoughtappropriate.

Somethingthatisuniformhasuniformity(yoonuhFORmuhtee).Uniformsaresuitsofclothing thatareuniform inappearance fromoneperson to thenext.

UNREMITTING(unriMITing) adj unceasing;unabated;relentless• Supermanwagedanunremittingbattleagainstevildoerseverywhere.

UNWITTING(unWITing) adj unintentional;ignorant;notaware• When Leo agreed to hold open the door of the bank, he became an unwittingaccomplicetothebankrobbery.

• My theft was unwitting. I hadn’t meant to steal the car, but had absentmindedlydrivenitawayfromtheautomobiledealershipandparkeditinmygarage.

• On thecamping trip,Josephineunwittinglystepped intoabear trapand remainedstuckinitforseveraldays.

URBANE(urBAYN) adj poised;sophisticated;refined• TheBritishcountwaswittyandurbane;allthehostsandhostesseswantedtohavehimattheirparties.

• Thenewmagazinewasfartoourbanetoappealtoawideaudienceoutsidethebigcity.

Urbanity(urBANuhtee)isaqualitymoreoftenacquiredinanurbansettingthaninaruralone.

USURP(yooSURP) v toseizewrongfully• Thechildrenbelieved that theirmother’snewboyfriendhadusurped their father’srightfulplaceintheirfamily.

• Thefounder’sschemingyoungnephewusurpedapositionofpowerinthecompany.Thenounisusurpation(yoosurPAYshun).

UTILITARIAN(yootiluhTAReeun) adj stressingusefulnessorutilityaboveallotherqualities;pragmatic• Jason’s interior-decorating philosophy was strictly utilitarian; if an object wasn’tgenuinelyuseful,hedidn’twantitinhishome.

Utilitariancanalsobeanoun.Jason,justaforementioned,couldbecalledautilitarian.

UTOPIA(yooTOHpeeuh) n anidealsociety• AcountrywherenobodyhadtoworkwouldbeQuentin’sideaofutopia.• Thelittletownwasn’tjustaniceplacetolive,asfarasEdithwasconcerned;itwasutopia.

Autopian issomeonewithunrealisticor impracticalplansorexpectations forsociety.Suchplansorexpectationsareutopianplansorexpectations.Theoppositeofautopiaisadystopia.


1. ubiquitous a. oily;slick2. unconscionable b. poisedandsophisticated

3. unctuous c. everywhereatonce4. uniform d. pragmatic5. unremitting e. seizewrongfully6. unwitting f. unscrupulous7. urbane g. anidealsociety8. usurp h. unintentional9. utilitarian i. consistent10. utopia j. unceasing

VVACILLATE(VASuhlayt) v tobeindecisive;towaver• WeinvitedJamestospendThanksgivingwithus,buthevacillated forsolongthatwefinallybecameannoyedanddisinvitedhim.

• Tiffanyvacillatedaboutbuyinganewcar.Shecouldn’tdecidewhethertogetone.Theactofvacillatingiscalledvacillation.

VAPID(VAPid) adj withoutliveliness;dull;spiritlessAnapatheticpersonjustdoesn’tcareaboutanything,andeverythingheorshedoesisvapid.• Thenovelist’sprosewassovapidthatMarycouldn’tgetbeyondthefirstpage.

VEHEMENT(VEEuhmunt) adj intense;forceful;violent• Shakinghisfistandstompinghisfoot,Gerrywasvehementinhisdenial.

Thenounisvehemence.

VENAL (VEEN ul) adj capable of being bribed; willing to do anything formoney;corrupt• Thevenal judgereversedhisfavorablerulingwhenthedefendantrefusedtomakegoodonhispromisedbribe.

• The young man’s interest in helping the sick old woman was strictly venal. Hefiguredthatifhewaskindtoher,shewouldleavehimalotofmoneyinherwill.

Avenalpersonisapersoncharacterizedbyvenality(veeNALuhtee).Don’tconfusethiswordwithvenial(VEEneeul),whichmeanstrivialorpardonable.Apeccadilloisavenial,harmlesssin.

VENERATE(VENuhrayt) v torevere;totreatassomethingholy,especially

becauseofgreatage• Lesterveneratedhisgrandfather;heworshipedthegroundtheoldmanlimpedon.• Themembers of the curious religion venerated Elvis Presley and hoped that thepopewoulddeclarehimasaint.

Apersonwhoisworthyofbeingveneratedissaidtobevenerable.

VERACITY(vuhRASuhtee) n truthfulness• TheveracityofyoungGeorgeWashingtonisapocryphal.

Veracious(vuhRAYshus)meanstruthful.

VERBOSE (vur BOHS) adj using too many words; not succinct;circumlocutorySomeonewhoisverboseusestoomanywordswhenfewerwordswouldsuffice.• Leehandedina178-wordfinalassignment;nooneeveraccusedhimofverbosity(vurBAHSuhtee).

VERISIMILITUDE (ver uh si MIL uh tood) n similarity to reality; theappearanceoftruth;lookingliketherealthing• Theyusedpineconesandold truck tires tomakestatuesofHollywoodcelebritiesthatwereremarkablefortheirverisimilitude.

• The verisimilitude of counterfeit eleven-dollar bills did not fool the eagle-eyedtreasuryofficer,whorecognizedthemimmediatelyforwhattheywere.

VERNACULAR(vurNAKyuhlur) n everydayspeech;slang;idiom• Ourteachersaidthatweshouldsaveourvernacularforthestreet;intheclassroomweshouldusepropergrammar.

VESTIGE(VEStij) n aremainingbitofsomething;alasttrace• The unhappy young man found vestiges of his fiancée in the rubble, but theexplosionhadeffectivelyendedtheirromance.

• An old uniformand a tattered scrapbookwere the onlyvestiges of the oldman’scareerasaprofessionalathlete.

Yourappendixisavestige:itusedtohaveafunction,butnowthisorgandoesnothing.Theadjectiveformofvestigeisvestigial(vuhSTIJeeul).Theappendixisreferredtoasavestigialorgan.Itisstillinourbodies,althoughitnolongerhasafunction.Itisamerevestigeofsomefunctionourdigestivesystemsnolongerperform.


VEX(veks) v toannoy;topester;toconfuse

• Margaretvexedmebypokingmewithalong,sharpstick.• Stuckatthebottomofadeepwell,Ifoundmysituationextremelyvexing.

Theactofvexing,orthestateofbeingvexed,isvexation.Avexedissueisonethatistroublingorpuzzling.

VIABLE(VYEuhbul) adj capableofliving;workable• Whenadoctorsaysthatanorganisnolongerviable,itmeansitcan’tbeusedasatransplantorgan.

• Afetusissaidtobeviablewhenithasdevelopedtothepointwhenitiscapableofsurvivingoutsidethewomb.

• Lupe’splanforstoringmarshmallowsinthedomeoftheCapitoljustwasn’tviable.Somethingthatisviablehasviability(vyeuhBILuhtee).

VICARIOUS(vyeKAReeus) adj experienced,performed,orsufferedthroughsomeone else; living through the experiences of another as though theywereone’sownexperiencesTotakevicariouspleasureinsomeoneelse’ssuccessistoenjoythatperson’ssuccessasthoughitwereyourown.• We all felt a vicarious thrill when the mayor’s daughter won fourth prize in theregionalkickboxingcompetition.

VICISSITUDE(viSISuhtood) n upheaval;naturalchange;changeinfortune• ThevicissitudesofthestockmarketweretoomuchforKaren;shedecidedtolookforajobthatwouldstaythesamefromonedaytothenext.

• Thevicissitudesofthelocalpoliticalmachineweresuchthatonecouldneverquitebecertainwhomonewassupposedtobribe.

VILIFY(VILuhfye) v tosayvilethingsabout;todefame• Theteacherwasreprimandedforvilifyingtheslowstudentinfrontoftherestoftheclass.

• Ourtaxidriverpausedbrieflyonthewaytotheairporttovilifythedriverofthecarthathadnearlyforcedhimofftheroad.

• The political debate was less a debate than a vilification contest. At first thecandidates took turns saying nasty things about one another; then they stoppedtakingturns.


1. vacillate a. annoy2. vapid b. beindecisive3. vehement c. defame4. venal d. capableofliving5. venerate e. experiencedthroughanother6. veracity f. dull7. verbose g. upheaval8. verisimilitude h. revere9. vernacular i. lasttrace10. vestige j. similaritytoreality11. vex k. truthfulness12. viable l. corrupt13. vicarious m. wordy14. vicissitude n. slang15. vilify o. intense

VINDICATE(VINduhkayt) v toclearfromallblameorsuspicion;tojustify• Divya, having been accused of stealing money from the cash register, wasvindicatedwhenthestoremanagercountedthemoneyagainandfoundthatnonewasmissingafterall.

• Tom’sclaimofinnocenceappearedtobevindicatedwhenseveraldozeninmatesatthestatementalhospitalconfessedtothecrimeofwhichhehadbeenaccused.

Apersonwhohasbeenvindicatedisapersonwhohasfoundvindication.

VINDICTIVE(vinDIKtiv) adj seekingrevenge• Jeremy apologized for denting the fender of my car. However, I was feelingvindictive,soImadehimbuymeanewcar.

• Samantha’svindictive ex drove all the way across the country just to put a stinkbombinhercar.

Tofeelvindictiveistobefilledwithvindictiveness.

VIRTUOSO (vur choo WOH soh) n a masterful musician; a masterfulpractitionerinsomeotherfield• The concert audience fell silent when the virtuoso stepped forward to play thesonataonherelectricbanjo.

• Asanartist,hewasavirtuoso;asahusband,hewasachump.

Virtuosocanalsobeanadjective.Avirtuosoperformanceisaperformanceworthyofavirtuoso.

VIRULENT(VIRuhlunt) adj extremelypoisonous;malignant;fullofhate• The virulent disease quickly swept through the community, leaving many peopledeadandmanymorepeopleextremelyill.

• The snake was a member of a particularly virulent breed; its bite could kill anelephant.

• Jonathanisavirulentantifeminist;hesaysthatallwomenshouldsitdownandshutup.

Tobevirulentistobecharacterizedbyvirulence.Virulentisrelatedtovirus,nottovirile(VIruhl),whichmeansmanly.

VISIONARY(VIZHuhneree) n adreamer;someonewithimpracticalgoalsorideasaboutthefuture• Myunclewasavisionary,notabusinessman;hespenttoomuchtimetinkeringwithhisantigravitygeneratorandnotenoughtimeworkingforhisplumbingbusiness.

• Thecandidatewasavisionary; shehada lotofbig ideasbutno realisticplan forputtingthemintopractice.

Visionary can also be an adjective. A visionary proposal is an idealistic and usuallyimpracticalproposal.

VITIATE(VISHeeayt) v tomakeimpure;topollute• Foryearsazealousgroupofindividualshascampaignedagainsttheuseoffluorideinwater,claimingthatithasvitiatedourbodiesaswellasourmorals.

VITRIOLIC(vitreeAHLik) adj caustic;fullofbitternessVitriol (VI tree ahl) is another name for sulfuric acid. To be vitriolic is to say or dosomethingsonastythatyourwordsoractionsburnlikeacid.• The review of the new book was so vitriolic that we all wondered whether thereviewerhadsomepersonalgrudgeagainsttheauthor.

VOCATION(vohKAYshun) n anoccupation;ajobYourvocationiswhatyoudoforaliving.• IfStancouldfigureouthowtomakeavocationoutofwatchingtelevisionandeatingpotatochips,hewouldbeoneofthemostsuccessfulpeopleintheworld.

Vocationaltrainingisjobtraining.Becauseyourvocationisyourjob,youravocation(avuhKAYshun)isyourhobby.• Theaccountant’svocationboredher,butheravocationofmountainclimbingdidnot.

VOCIFEROUS(vohSIFurus) adj loud;noisy

• Randy often becomes vociferous during arguments. He doesn’t know what hebelieves,buthestatesitloudlynevertheless.

VOLATILE(VAHLuhtul) adj quicktoevaporate;highlyunstable;explosive• A volatile liquid is one that evaporates readily. Gasoline is a volatile liquid. Itevaporatesreadily,andthenthevaporposesagreatdangerofexplosion.

• Thevolatilecrowdseemedtobeinimminentdangerofgettingoutofcontrol.• ThesituationintheMiddleEastwashighlyvolatile;thesmallestincidentcouldhavesetoffawar.

Tobevolatileistobecharacterizedbyvolatility.

VOLITION(vohLISHun) n will;consciouschoice• Insects,lackingvolition,simplyaren’tasinterestingtotheaspiringanthropologistashumansare.

• Thequestionthejuryhadtoanswerwaswhetherthekillinghadbeenanaccidentoranactofvolition.


1. vindicate a. extremelypoisonous2. vindictive b. masterfulmusician3. virtuoso c. dreamer4. virulent d. caustic5. visionary e. clearfromsuspicion6. vitiate f. will7. vitriolic g. quicktoevaporate8. vocation h. seekingrevenge9. vociferous i. occupation10. volatile j. makeimpure11. volition k. noisy

WWANTON(WAHNtun) adj malicious;unjustifiable;unprovoked;egregious

• Terroristscommitwantonactsonahelplesspopulacetomaketheirpoint.Wantonalsomeansintemperate.• Ahedonist livesawanton life in the relentless,unremittingpursuitofpleasure;anasceticdoesnot.

WILLFUL(WILful) adj deliberate;obstinate;insistentonhavingone’sway• Themother insisted that thekillingcommittedbyhersonhadnotbeenwillful,butthejuryapparentlybelievedthathehadknownwhathewasdoing.

• When hermother told her she couldn’t have a cookie, thewillful little girl simplysnatchedthecookiejarandranoutoftheroomwithit.Shehadstolenthecookieswillfully.

Notecarefullythespellingofthisword.

WISTFUL(WISTful) adj yearning;sadlylonging• IfeltwistfulwhenIsawSteve’sfancynewcar.IwishedthatIhadenoughmoneytobuyoneformyself.

• Theboyswhohadbeencutfromthefootballteamwatchedwistfullyastheteamputtogetheranundefeatedseasonandwonthestatechampionship.

ZZEALOUS(ZELus) adj enthusiasticallydevotedtosomething;fervent• Thezealousyoungpolicemanmadesomanyarreststhatthecityjailsoonbecameovercrowded.

• Thedictator’sfollowersweresozealousthatifhehadaskedthemalltojumpoffacliff,mostofthemwouldhavedoneso.

Tobezealousistobefullofzeal,orfervententhusiasm.Anoverlyzealouspersonisazealot.


1. wanton a. fervent2. willful b. yearning3. wistful c. deliberate4. zealous d. malicious

CHAPTER3

TheFinalExam

ClickheretodownloadaPDFofthefinalexam.

http://rhlink.com/9781524710873a001

ThefollowingfinalexamdrillscontaineverywordintheWordSmartcorelist.Ifyougeta question wrong, look up all the answer choices for that question and review thedefinitions.TheanswerstothesedrillsarefoundinChapter13.

FinalExamDrill#1:CompletionsFor each question below, choose the word that best completes themeaning of thesentence.

1. BecauseStanhadbeenpreoccupiedduringhisdynamite-jugglingdemonstration,thejuryfeltthathewasnot______forthedestructionoftheproperty.a. decorousb. decimatedc. indiscreetd. culpablee. indiscrete

2. SallywassadbecauseMr.Reeves,ourEnglishteacher,filledthemarginsofhertermpaperwith______remarksaboutherspelling,grammar,andwritingstyle.a. fatuousb. hereticalc. ineffabled. prepossessinge. derogatory

3. Thefanswere______whenthefootballteamlostitsfiftiethgameinarow.a. irascibleb. despondentc. rapaciousd. stigmatizede. precipitous

4. Da-ShawnandHarrywere given jobs on the stage crewbecause their ______voicesruinedthesoundofthechorus.a. unremittingb. paternal

c. wantond. laconice. dissonant

5. Thebabykittenswere so______ that thenursery school childrenwereable topickthemup,carrythemaroundbythescruffsoftheirnecks,anddressthemupindollclothes.a. abashedb. peripateticc. dociled. agrariane. nefarious

FinalExamDrill#2:SynonymsFor each question below, match the word on the left with the word most similar inmeaningontheright.

1. litigious a. ingenuous2. artless b. querulous3. taciturn c. auspicious4. refute d. perennial5. perjure e. avow6. allege f. reticent7. gauche g. delude8. officious h. rebut9. chronic i. inept10. propitious j. solicitous

FinalExamDrill#3:OddManOutEach question below consists of four words. Three of them are related inmeaning.Findthewordthatdoesnotfit.

1. address,infer,construe,extrapolate2. rigorous,punctilious,integral,painstaking3. consecrate,revere,venerate,delineate4. abstain,relegate,forbear,forgo5. insubordinate,willful,didactic,intransigent

6. labyrinthine,profane,secular,atheistic7. acrid,amoral,sardonic,virulent8. analogous,perfunctory,cursory,desultory9. decadent,degenerate,profligate,magnanimous10. connoisseur,virtuoso,malleable,aesthete

FinalExamDrill#4:RelationshipsForeachquestionbelow,decidewhether thepairofwordsare roughlysimilar (S) inmeaning,roughlyopposite(O)inmeaning,orunrelated(U)toeachother.

1. sporadic incessant2. beget spawn3. malaise subversion4. coerce compel5. peccadillo enormity6. charismatic insipid7. countenance condone8. usurp appropriate9. espouse extricate10. arbitrate mediate


1. Theapplicant’scredentialswere______,but Ididn’t like thecolorofhisnecktiesoIdidn’thirehim.a. irreproachableb. aloofc. domesticd. vitriolice. histrionic

2.Walter’s skin took on a(n) ______ cast after his exposure to the pool ofradioactivewastes.a. artfulb. squalid

c. luminousd. nebulouse. garrulous

3. Thepolicespentsevenmonthsworkingonthecrimecasebutwereneverabletodeterminetheidentityofthe______.a. demagogueb. dilettantec. egotistd. malefactore. patriarch

4. Theportionsattherestaurantwereso______thatimmediatelyafterdessertwedrovetoanotherrestaurantandorderedasecondfullmeal.a. pertinentb. minusculec. exhaustived. futilee. misanthropic

5. Xavierthoughtthatthrowingsomescrapstothebearwould______it,butinsteadthebeasttoreapartourcampsiteinsearchofmoretoeat.a. accostb. mollifyc. precluded. effacee. tout


1. debacle coup2. amenity injunction3. cognizant unwitting4. emigrate expatriate5. concurrent anachronistic6. blithe morose

7. disinterested partial8. anachronism archaism9. collusion complicity10. insular hermetic


1. sacrilege,renaissance,blasphemy,desecration2. ambiguous,equivocal,cryptic,requisite3. apprehensive,martial,contentious,belligerent4. arcane,esoteric,sacrosanct,recondite5. incense,replenish,foment,antagonize6. exacting,onerous,ponderous,arbitrary7. circumspect,eclectic,scrupulous,fastidious8. introverted,aloof,reclusive,elliptical9. allocate,relinquish,capitulate,succumb10. effusive,histrionic,avuncular,gesticulating


1. abyss chasm2. substantive ethereal3. loquacious taciturn4. doctrinaire dogmatic5. colloquial pedantic6. encroach transgress7. amorphous nebulous8. domestic endemic9. cogent incisive10. lethargic capricious

FinalExamDrill#9:Completions

Foreachquestionbelow,choosethewordorphrasethatbestcompletesthemeaningofthesentence.

1.Mei______herdaughterforputtingthecatinthewashingmachine.a. expropriatedb. disfranchisedc. coercedd. broachede. chastised

2. David’ssalarywas______hislimitedskills;hewaspaidnothing.a. asvapidasb. tenabledespitec. vehementinviewofd. commensuratewithe. acerbicnotwithstanding

3. Afterseveraldecadesofpeace,thelittlecountrygrew______aboutdefenseandletitsarmyslowlydriftaway.a. dissoluteb. partisanc. catholicd. adamante. complacent

4. None of us had enough money to undertake the project alone, so we had todependonthe______ofourparents.a. postulateb. vilificationc. largessd. hedonisme. veracity

5. ThecourtruledthatUrsula’scovertdiscussionswiththeRussianambassadordidnot______treason.a. compriseb. abnegatec. libeld. broach

e. constitute


1. bureaucracy hierarchy2. extrapolate infer3. mercurial volatile4. impeccable culpable5. corroborate refute6. expedient utilitarian7. censure approbation8. propriety decorum9. emulate peruse10. mandate touchstone


1. ameliorate exacerbate2. candor equivocation3. caricature parody4. scrupulous mendacious5. apartheid mentor6. bane panacea7. facile arduous8. philistine erudite9. absolute commensurate10. kinetic stagnant


1. awry,overt,salient,manifest2. duplicity,ascendancy,guile,chicanery3. contrition,remorse,cadence,penitence4. temperance,sobriety,celibacy,oblivion5. nominal,amiable,affable,congenial6. choleric,querulous,petulant,equitable7. dormant,latent,nostalgic,inert8. astute,bereft,sagacious,prudent9. copious,bourgeois,profuse,myriad10. ascetic,austere,frugal,pejorative


1. serendipitous hapless2. lugubrious facetious3. espouse appease4. qualitative pejorative5. exigency periphery6. harbinger precursor7. profound desecrated8. despotic autocratic9. engender decimate10. pristine unalloyed


1. Jarel was as clever as he was unscrupulous, and he knew what he could notobtainbylegitimatemeanshecouldalwaysobtainthrough______.a. chicaneryb. burlesquec. nihilismd. strife

e. theology

2. The visiting professor was so ______ in her field that many of our facultymembersbecamenervousinherpresence.a. antitheticalb. archetypalc. eminentd. plebeiane. pathological

3. The orator ______ a bizarre economic program whose central tenet was theabolitionofallformsofmoney.a. scintillatedb. espousedc. vacillatedd. emulatede. inundated

4. “Kickingthebucket”isahumorous______for“dying.”a. dictumb. stipulationc. incantationd. conjecturee. euphemism

5. The actor, pretending to be inebriated, made a(n) ______ attempt to open hisumbrellainatelephonebooth.a. viableb. enigmaticc. farcicald. cognitivee. aphoristic


1. opaque a. obscure2. ostensible b. secular

3. avaricious c. mellifluous4. mundane d. prudent5. judicious e. venal6. mercenary f. specious7. ramification g. rapacious8. saccharine h. repercussion9. archaic i. dearth10. paucity j. anachronism


1. belie aggregate2. legacy bequest3. aptitude propensity4. matriculate purport5. fatalist cynic6. fecund desiccated7. exhort admonish8. polarize prevail9. condescension adulation10. discreet blatant


1. uniform,monolithic,existential,homogeneous2. flaunt,malign,slander,libel3. felicity,audacity,temerity,impetuosity4. meager,tenuous,pivotal,paltry5. indulgent,salutary,prodigal,profligate6. disparate,incongruous,heterogeneous,ubiquitous7. apprehensive,diffident,succinct,circumspect8. cogent,eminent,potent,robust

9. farcical,affected,contrived,ostentatious10. ennui,satiety,languor,volition


1. zealous catholic2. aloof nefarious3. mitigate assuage4. agnostic atheist5. clique consensus6. coalition faction7. husbandry itinerary8. coalesce dissipate9. slavish subservient10. flaunt reproach


1. TheSandersonsviewedtheflamingimageofthedevil,whichhoveredabovetheirhouseforthirteendays,asa(n)______ofeviltocome.a. stratumb. portentc. peripheryd. infidelitye. aberration

2. Therewasnothing______aboutHerbert’sscientific theories; in fact, theywerequiteshallow.a. sentientb. vociferousc. peremptoryd. profounde. nepotistic

3. The______authorturnedoutanewbookeveryweekofheradultlife.a. prolificb. caninec. dialecticald. implicite. contiguous

4. The ______ girls stubbornly refused to call off their rock fight, despite thepleadingsoftheirmothers.a. recalcitrantb. pacificc. egalitariand. exemplarye. fervent

5. Hal’sdisappointedwife______himforbeingalazy,foul-smelling,obnoxiousslob.a. instigatedb. reproachedc. flauntedd. desecratede. belied


1. profess espouse2. extrovert introspective3. foible hiatus4. caricature touchstone5. debilitate enervate6. placid frenetic7. depravity debauchery8. infinitesimal grandiose9. grandiloquent rhetorical10. malefactor benefactor


1. avaricious,covetous,officious,parsimonious2. reprove,scrutinize,censure,rebuke3. reprehensible,transient,ephemeral,transitory4. belittle,depreciate,disparage,,founder5. palpable,resolute,tenacious,steadfast6. absolve,condone,qualify,exculpate7. civil,culinary,aristocratic,genteel8. stricture,reproach,admonishment,corollary9. fidelity,proximity,steadfastness,resolution10. circumlocutory,redundant,tautological,vicarious


1. elude circumvent2. rustic urbane3. circuitous oblique4. beset beleaguered5. imperial servile6. pedestrian prosaic7. reprisal reparation8. daunt stymie9. apotheosis epitome10. inaugurate abort

FinalExamDrill#23:CompletionsForeachquestiononthenextpage,choosethewordthatbestcompletesthemeaningofthesentence.

1. Sallyhadalreadyeatenallhercookies,soshe______mine.a. permeatedb. mortified

c. protractedd. appropriatede. defamed

2. The country’s ______ ruler required her citizens to receive official permissionbeforechangingchannelsontheirtelevisionsets.a. definitiveb. dubiousc. indigenousd. autocratice. redolent

3. Idon’tenjoyoystersmyself,butI’mnot______tolettingotherseatthem.a. innateb. aversec. opaqued. adversee. oblique

4. Thepresidentwas so ______by international crises that he found it difficult towatchanentirebaseballgamewithoutbeinginterrupted.a. besetb. belittledc. bereavedd. bequeathede. bemused

5. The representative had ______ so many losing causes that she fainted deadawaywhenherproposalwasunanimouslyadoptedbythelegislature.a. championedb. caricaturedc. misappropriatedd. floutede. mediated


1. preempt usurp2. turpitude confluence3. incipient culminating4. burgeon arbitrate5. belittle stymie6. dictum paradigm7. luminous incandescent8. mortified chagrined9. precipitate prudent10. inscrutable obscure


1. intrinsic,innate,omnipotent,inherent2. fortuitous,gregarious,convivial,amicable3. cliché,verisimilitude,maxim,epigram4. belligerent,indignant,pertinent,contentious5. inane,hackneyed,platitudinous,conducive6. vitriolic,acrimonious,choleric,prolific7. gravity,austerity,vicissitude,sobriety8. noxious,obsequious,pernicious,deleterious9. finesse,competence,proficiency,euphemism10. incorrigible,recalcitrant,diffident,obdurate


1. catalyst coherence2. concord dissonance3. discord consonant4. ingenuous urbane5. infatuated beguiled6. categorical contingent

7. novel banal8. parsimony munificence9. permeate pervade10. tentative definitive


1. Thetrees,vines,andotherplantsinthetropicalforestweretrulyremarkable,butitwastheexotic______thatcaughtthezoologist’sattention.a. accoladeb. compendiumc. acumend. faunae. surfeit

2. Ernesto hated to pay extra for a fancy name, but he had discovered that hegreatlypreferredexpensivebrand-nameproductstothecheaper______ones.a. genericb. hypotheticalc. superciliousd. amorphouse. contentious

3. Afterseveralyearsofdisappointingcrops,theenormousharvestleftthefarmersconfrontinga(n)______ofsoybeans.a. alacrityb. blightc. glutd. chasme. debacle

4. The previously undefeated team found it difficult to cope with the ______ ofdefeat.a. attritionb. ignominyc. prerequisite

d. penchante. neologism

5. Thedarkeningskyindicatedtoallofusthatathunderstormwas______.a. ambivalentb. imminentc. conciliatoryd. inherente. lugubrious


1. hegemony heyday2. fortuitous nominal3. deride venerate4. deduce infer5. supercilious servile6. placid nonchalant7. reverence insolence8. extraneous extrinsic9. levity irony10. onerous exacting


1. comprise,placate,appease,mollify2. beguile,bemuse,cajole,delude3. provident,egregious,flagrant,unconscionable4. adept,adroit,anecdotal,dexterous5. iconoclast,insurgent,maverick,prodigy6. cadence,incisiveness,acumen,acuity7. gratuitous,superfluous,soporific,inordinate8. incongruous,staunch,anomalous,eccentric

9. vacillate,incense,foment,instigate10. aberration,vestige,anomaly,singularity


1. mandate martyr2. laud defame3. belabor complement4. disdain supercilious5. distinguish distend6. eulogize censure7. apocalypse covenant8. segregate sequester9. quixotic utopian10. microcosm magnate


1. The ______ salesperson bowed deeply and said, “Yes, ma’am, of course,ma’am,”wheneverIrequestedanything.a. verboseb. incumbentc. evanescentd. malingeringe. obsequious

2. Becausehehadneverlostatennismatch,Lutherbelievedhimselftobe______onthecourt.a. asceticb. deleteriousc. omnipotentd. inanee. amorous

3. Ourteacherwasso______inhisinterpretationofthenovelthatitwasdifficulttobelievehehadtakenanypleasureinreadingit.a. pedanticb. laudablec. intrepidd. inveteratee. coherent

4. Theprisonerswereall______as theywere ledoff to the firingsquad,but theywereshotallthesame.a. perfunctoryb. concisec. virulentd. prosaice. penitent

5. The divisive issue ______ the community; half the residents seemed to bestronglyforit,andhalfstronglyagainst.a. circumscribedb. polarizedc. assuagedd. castigatede. disseminated


1. reverence disdain2. conjure incant3. profound superficial4. protract curtail5. fauna glut6. deprecate lament7. abridge augment8. eccentric orthodox9. iconoclast maverick

10. idiosyncratic conventional


1. infamous,abhorrence,innocuous,nefarious2. assimilate,abate,mitigate,alleviate3. laconic,unctuous,concise,terse4. relinquish,renounce,forsake,exult5. axiom,maxim,surrogate,precept6. virulent,tantamount,adverse,baneful7. catharsis,abhorrence,rancor,animosity8. idiosyncrasy,eccentricity,complacency,affectation9. antecedent,precursor,precedent,recrimination10. exonerate,patronize,exculpate,vindicate


1. slothful assiduous2. affluent opulent3. consummate rudimentary4. chastisement amnesty5. sycophant cajoler6. implication allusion7. quantitative qualitative8. agenda itinerary9. pragmatic quixotic10. paradox anomaly


1. torpid a. subservient2. sublime b. astuteness3. recapitulate c. ingenuous4. acuity d. subtlety5. replete e. provincial6. subordinate f. inert7. parochial g. transcendent8. credulous h. reiterate9. recant i. satiated10. nuance j. repudiate


1. colloquial contiguous2. auspicious portentous3. moribund viable4. aristocratic patrician5. perquisite prerogative6. stagnation metamorphosis7. ebullient roguish8. turpitude sordidness9. cosmopolitan urbane10. denizen lampoon


1. The______spring weather was a great relief to all of us who had struggledthroughthelong,harshwinter.a. abortiveb. volatilec. temperate

d. pragmatice. intrinsic

2. Imadea(n)______efforttorepairtheleak,butmyimprovisedpatchdidn’thold.IsoonrealizedthatIwouldhavetocallaplumber.a. vindictiveb. tentativec. pristined. acride. caustic

3. Theadoringmembersofthetribe______theiroldkingeventhoughhewasblindandsenile.a. squanderedb. extrapolatedc. beleagueredd. exacerbatede. venerated

4. Thehikerswere______by thebillionsofmosquitoes thatdescendedupon themassoonastheyhitthetrail.a. extolledb. vitiatedc. palliatedd. vexede. promulgated

5. Seeingthepicturesofouroldhomemadeusfeel______andnostalgic.a. adeptb. fastidiousc. wistfuld. infamouse. impartial


1. ardent indifferent

2. adherent forsaker3. poignant redolent4. inundate reconcile5. abject exalted6. proselytize implement7. latent manifest8. burgeon accost9. immutable static10. perfidy piety


1. quixotic,scintillating,chimerical,visionary2. antipathy,malfeasance,digression,malevolence3. absolute,unqualified,categorical,wistful4. static,cerebral,inert,immutable5. destitute,insolvent,affable,indigent6. altruist,benevolent,philanthropic,ideological7. vexed,unequivocal,unalloyed,unmitigated8. comprehensive,stringent,rigorous,exacting9. abstract,abstruse,intangible,impervious10. discernment,tirade,discrimination,sagacity


1. plethora dearth2. autonomy subjugation3. aggregate augment4. vocation avocation5. extraneous intrinsic6. implicit inferred

7. invective eulogy8. acerbic caustic9. insinuation hyperbole10. adulterated unalloyed


1. An______current of dissatisfaction among the soldiers indicated to theambassadorthatrevolutionwasbecomingapossibility.a. incipientb. inertc. imperviousd. impeccablee. inept

2. The______bakerhadburntanentirebatchofchocolatechipcookies.a. bucolicb. ursinec. cosmopolitand. infinitesimale. incompetent

3. Irene’s______cureforherhusband’ssnoringwasapaperbagtiedsnuglyaroundhishead.a. agnosticb. congenitalc. extrinsicd. ingeniouse. diffident

4.Myron looked harmless, but therewas nothing______about his plan to enslavethehumanrace.a. terseb. innocuousc. mendaciousd. nominal

e. preeminent

5. Attempting to bask in reflected glory, the candidate______the names of elevenpastpresidentsinhisspeechtotheconventionofschoolteachers.a. absolvedb. impliedc. litigatedd. invokede. allocated


1. ambience milieu2. literal figurative3. hypothetical empirical4. subjugate enfranchise5. taciturn integral6. congenital innate7. enfetter expedite8. peripheral tangential9. usurp abdicate10. consummate abortive


1. cacophony,antagonism,rancor,antipathy2. discord,benefactor,contention,incongruity3. apathy,indifference,manifesto,languor4. amenable,tractable,docile,reciprocal5. clandestine,surreptitious,provisional,furtive6. intrepid,blithe,squalid,equanimity7. callow,apocryphal,dubious,spurious

8. putative,overt,explicit,patent9. desultory,derisory,cursory,perfunctory10. conciliate,proscribe,appease,placate

FinalExamDrill#44:AntonymsFor each question below, match the word on the left with the word most nearly itsOPPOSITEontheright.

1. deferential a. irreverent2. remonstrate b. assiduous3. tacit c. amorous4. clement d. explicit5. indolent e. acquiesce6. ambivalent f. intemperate7. aloof g. aversion8. lucid h. antagonist9. partisan i. enigmatic10. affinity j. resolute


1. artifice machination2. obtuse myopic3. respite premise4. exalt laud5. assimilate appreciate6. edify obfuscate7. pensive ruminating8. narcissist egocentric9. precipitate stigmatize10. polemical contentious


1. Thethree-year-oldwas______inherrefusaltotastethebroccoli.a. reconditeb. didacticc. fortuitousd. resolutee. genteel

2.We______the fineprint in thedocumentbutwereunable to find the clause thelawyerhadmentioned.a. scrutinizedb. reconciledc. exculpatedd. cajolede. accrued

3. Astateinwhichonecansee,hear,feel,smell,andtastelittleornothingisknownas______deprivation.a. aggregateb. subversivec. sensoryd. sensuale. sensuous

4. Thechildren tried tobe______about the fact that theirparentscouldn’tafford togive them Christmas presents, but you could tell that they were really quitedepressedinside.a. tangentialb. abysmalc. stoicd. disingenuouse. eclectic

5.We felt repeatedly______by the impersonal and inflexible bureaucracy in ourattempttowinanexemptiontotherule.a. vindicated

b. delugedc. stymiedd. reiteratede. gesticulated


1. cliché platitude2.malevolent macroeconomic3. juxtaposed contiguous4. defame laud5. idyllic bucolic6. inexorable irrevocable7. despondent sanguine8. lethargy zeal9. dogma tenet10. ebullient stoic


1. The gasoline spill had so thoroughly______the town’s main well that it waspossibletorunanautomobileontapwater.a. exultedb. exaltedc. engenderedd. adulteratede. preempted

2.Mr.Jones______theteenagersaftertheyhaddriventhestolencarintohislivingroomandputadentinhisnewcolorTV.a. admonishedb. usurped

c. enervatedd. allegede. professed

3. Elsa’s legsweresoseverely injured in theroller-skatingaccident thatshedidn’tbecomefully______againuntilmorethanayearlater.a. decadentb. exemplifiedc. querulousd. portentouse. ambulatory

4. Thekitchen in thenewhousehadanelectronicvegetablepeeler, anautomaticdishscraper,acomputerizedmeatslicer,anddozensofotherfuturistic______.a. proponentsb. genresc. amenitiesd. mendicantse. protagonists

5.WhenJoebegancollectingstamps,hehadhopedthatthevalueofhiscollectionwould______rapidly;instead,thecollectionhasslowlybecomeworthless.a. qualifyb. appreciatec. polarized. belabore. rebuke

CHAPTER4

SATKeyTerms

Need-to-KnowWordsfortheSATAlthough the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT emphasizescritical reading and writing skills, many questions nevertheless test your vocabularyknowledge, such as vocabulary-in-context questions. Other questions are related tovocabulary in a more peripheral way; the reading passages, grammar sections(especiallythoseinvolvingdiction),andeventheessaywillbemoreeasilydealtwithifyouhaveaneruditevocabulary. Ifyou learneverywordon themainword list in thisbook,you’llhaveabigadvantageontheSAT.Thebiggeryourvocabulary, thebetteryou’lldo.Butnoteverywordonthemain list is thesortofwordthat is testedontheSAT.Ifyou’regettingreadytotaketheSATorasimilarstandardizedtest,youshouldfocusyourattentiononthewordsinthefollowinglist.

We’ve included short definitions tomake it easier for you to learn thewords. Thesedefinitionsaren’talwaysexactly like theonesyou’ll find in thedictionaryor themainword list of thisbook; the y’re thedefinitionsof thewordsas theyare testedon theSAT.

KeepinmindthatthesearenottheonlywordsyouneedtoknowfortheSAT.They’rejust thewords thathavebeen testedmost frequently in thepast—thewords that thetestwriterstendtocomebacktooverandoveragain

SomeSATsareabsolutelyloadedwordsonthislist;othersdon’tcontainasmany.Oneof the most important things these key terms will teach you is the level of thevocabularyon the test.Onceyougeta feel for this level,you’llbeable tospototherpossibleso-calledSATwordsinyourreading.

Afteryoureviewthesekeyterms,youshouldalsoturntotheGREliststartingonthispage. Of course, all of the words in this book are ones that will help you onstandardizedtests.

ABSTRACTTheoretical;lackingsubstance(theoppositeofconcrete)ACUTESensitive;sharp;discerningADVOCATE v Topromote; n onewhopromotesacauseAESTHETICHavingtodowithartisticbeauty;artistic(nottobeconfusedwithascetic)ALLEVIATETorelieve,especiallypain

AMASSToaccumulateAMBIVALENTSimultaneouslyfeelingopposingfeelings;uncertainANALOGYAcomparisonANARCHYAbsenceofgovernmentorcontrol;lawlessness;disorderANECDOTEAshortaccountofaninterestingincidentANIMATEDAlive;movingANOMALYSomethingthatisabnormalorirregularAPATHYLackofemotionorinterestAPPEASETosoothe;topacifybygivingintoAPPREHENSIVEFearfulaboutthefutureARROGANTFeelingsuperiortoothers;snootyARTICULATESpeakingclearlyandwellASCERTAINTodeterminewithcertaintyAUTHENTICRealBELITTLETomaketoseemlittleBELLIGERENTCombative;quarrelsome;wagingwarBENEVOLENTKind;good-hearted;generousBENIGNGentle;notharmful;kind;mildBIASPrejudice;tendency;tiltBREVITYThequalityorstateofbeingbriefindurationCANDORCompletelyhonest,straightforwardCOMPLACENTSatisfiedwiththecurrentsituationandunconcernedwithchangingitCOMPLIANTYielding;submissiveCONCISEBriefandtothepoint;succinctCONDONETooverlook;topermittohappenCONGENIALAgreeablysuitable;pleasantCONSPICUOUSEasytonotice;obvious(antonym:inconspicuous)CONTEMPTReproachfuldisdainDEBILITATEToweakenDEFERENCESubmissionorcourteousrespectDENOUNCETocondemnopenlyDEPLETETouseup;toreduce;tolessenDESPONDENTDepressedDETERToprevent;tostop;tokeepfromdoingsomethingDIGRESSTogooffthesubjectDILIGENTHardworking

DISCERNMENTInsight;abilitytoseethingsclearlyDISCRIMINATETodifferentiate;tomakeacleardistinction;toseethedifferenceDISDAINToregardwithcontemptDISPARAGETospeakofnegatively;tobelittleDISPASSIONATEWithoutpassion;objective;neutralDISSENTDisagreementDISTINGUISHTotellapart;tocausetostandoutDIVERSEVariedDIVERTTochangethedirectionof;toalterthecourseof;toamuseDUBIOUSDoubtful;ofunlikelyauthenticityECCENTRICNotconventional;alittlekooky;irregularELABORATEDetailed;careful;thoroughELOQUENTWell-spokenEMPIRICALDerivedfromobservationorexperimentENCROACHTomakegradualinroads;totrespassENHANCETomakebetter;toaugmentEVOKETosummonordrawforthEXPLICITFullyandclearlyexpressedEXTRANEOUSIrrelevant;extra;unnecessary;unimportantFANATICOnewhoisextremelydevotedtoacauseorideaFICKLECapricious;whimsical;unpredictableFRIVOLOUSNotserious;notsolemn;withlevityFUTILEHopeless;withouteffectGULLIBLEOverlytrusting;willingtobelieveanythingHEEDTolistentoHYPOTHETICALUncertain;unprovenIMPARTIALUnbiased;neutralIMPERATIVECompletelynecessaryIMPLICITImpliedINADVERTENTLax;careless;withoutintentionINCESSANTUnceasing;never-endingINCOHERENTJumbled;chaotic;impossibletounderstandINDIFFERENTHavingnointerestorconcernINDIGNATIONAngerarousedbysomethingperceivedasunjustINDULGENTLenient;yieldingtodesireINEVITABLEUnavoidable;boundtohappen

INNATEExistingsincebirth;inborn;inherentINNOVATIONTheactofintroducingsomethingnewINSTIGATEToprovoke;tostirupIRONICSatiric;unexpectedJEOPARDYDangerLAMENTTomournLETHARGYSluggishness;laziness;drowsiness;indifferenceMALICIOUSDeliberatelyharmfulMALLEABLECapableofbeingshapedMEDIATIONAsettlementbetweenconflictingpartiesMERGERAjoiningormarriageNEGLIGENCECarelessnessNEUTRALUnbiased;nottakingsides;objectiveNOSTALGIAAbittersweetlongingforthingsofthepastNOVEL adj Fresh;original;newOBSCURE adj Notreadilynoticed;vagueOBJECTIVE adj Uninfluencedbyemotions; n agoalOMINOUSMenacing;threateningPERIPHERALUnimportantPERVADETobepresentthroughoutPRAGMATICPractical;down-to-earth;basedonexperienceratherthantheoryPREDECESSORSomeoneorsomethingthatcamebeforeanotherPROFOUNDDeep;insightful(antonym:superficial)PROFUSEFlowing;extravagantPROVOCATIVEGivingrisetoactionorfeelingPRUDENTCareful;wiseRECIPROCATETomutuallytakeorgive;torespondinkindREDUNDANTRepetitive;unnecessary;excessivelywordyREFUTETodisprove;toprovetobefalseREJUVENATETomakeyoungandstrongagainRELEVANTImportant;pertinentREMORSESadness;regretREPRESSToholddownREPUDIATEToreject;todenyRESIGNATIONUnresistingacceptance;submissionRETRACTTotakeback;towithdraw;topullback

RIGOROUSStrict;harsh;severeSCANTYInadequate;minimalSCRUTINIZEToexaminecloselySKEPTICALDoubting(antonym:gullible)SOLEMNSerious;graveSQUANDERTowasteSTAGNATIONMotionlessness;inactivitySTRINGENTStrict;restrictiveSUBSTANTIATETosupportwithprooforevidence;verifySUBTLENotobvious;abletomakefinedistinctions;ingenious;craftySUPERFICIALNearthesurface;shallow;unimportantTANGIBLETouchable;palpableTEMPERATEModerate;restrainedTENACIOUSTough;hardtodefeatTENTATIVEExperimental;temporary;uncertainUNDERMINEToweakenUNDERSCOREToputemphasisonUNIFORMConsistent;unchanging;thesameforeveryoneUNPRECEDENTEDHappeningforthefirsttime;novel;neverseenbeforeVOLATILEQuicktoevaporate;highlyunstable;explosiveVOLUNTARYwilling;unforcedWILLFULDeliberate;obstinate;insistentonhavingone’sway

CHAPTER5

GREKeyTerms

Need-to-KnowWordsfortheGRETheGRE(GraduateRecordExamination) isessentially theSAT forgraduateschool.How well you do on the verbal section of the GRE is largely determined by yourvocabulary. Ifyouknowa lotofwords,you’lldobetter thanmostother test takers; ifyoudon’t,you’dbetterstartlearningsome.Today.

The word list in this chapter includes the terms most likely to appear on the GRE.ThesearenottheonlywordsthatcanappearontheGRE,buttheyarethemostlikely.Thislistisastart.Ifyouknowallofthesewords,getcrackingontheotherWordSmartdefinitions.

ABSTRUSEHardtounderstandorgraspACUTESharp;shrewdADORNTolendbeautytoADROITSkillful;dexterous;clever;shrewd;sociallyateaseADVERSEUnfavorable;antagonisticAESTHETICHavingtodowithartisticbeauty;artisticAFFECTATIONUnnaturalorartificialbehavior,usuallyintendedtoimpressAMBIGUOUSUnclearinmeaning;confusing;capableofbeinginterpretedindifferent

waysAMBIVALENTUndecided;havingopposedfeelingssimultaneouslyAMELIORATETomakebetterormoretolerableANOINTTochoosebyorasifbydivineinterventionARCANEMysterious;knownonlytoaselectfewARCHAICExtremelyold;ancient;outdatedARTLESSHonestorsincere;natural;unculturedandignorantASCENDANCYSupremacy;dominationASPIRATIONAstrongdesireforhighachievementASSIDUOUSHardworking;busy;diligentASTONISHMENTGreatsurpriseoramazementAUGMENTTomakebigger;toaddto;toincreaseAUSTEREUnadorned;stern;forbidding;withoutexcess

AVARICEGreed;excessiveloveofrichesAVERSIONAfixed,intensedislikeBANALUnoriginal;ordinaryBASE adj HavingorshowingalackofdecencyBELIETogiveafalseimpressionof;tocontradictBENIGNGentle;notharmful;kind;mildBOONAtimelyblessingorbenefitBUCOLICCharminglyrural;rustic;country-likeCANDORTruthfulness;sincerehonestyCANNYCarefulandshrewdCANONIZETotreatassacred;glorifyCLANGORAloudracket;adinCOALESCETocometogetherasone;tofuse;touniteCOLLUSIONConspiracy;secretcooperationCOMMENSURATEEqual;proportionateCOMPREHENSIVECoveringorincludingeverythingCONCOCTTodevise,usingskillandintelligenceCONCOMITANTOccurringorexistingconcurrentlyCONFOUNDTocausetobecomeconfusedorperplexedCONJURETosummonorbringintobeingasifbymagicCONSTRUETointerpretCONTINUITYAnuninterruptedsuccessionorflow;acoherentwholeCONVENTIONALCommon;customary;unexceptionalCOSMOPOLITANAthomeinmanyplacesorsituations;internationallysophisticatedCOVETTowishforenviouslyCOW v TofrightenorsubduewiththreatsorashowofforceCREDENCEAcceptanceastrueorvalidCUNNINGMarkedbyorgiventoartfulsubtletyanddeceptivenessCURSORYHasty;superficialDAUNT v Tomakefearful;tointimidateDEBACLEViolentbreakdown;suddenoverthrow;overwhelmingdefeatDEFIANTBoldlyresistingDEFLECTToturnasideorcausetoturnasideDELIMITToestablishthelimitsorboundariesofDERIVATIVECopiedoradaptedfromothersDISPARATEDifferent;incompatible;unequal

DISPASSIONATENotinfluencedbystrongfeelingsoremotionsDISSEMBLETodisguiseorconcealbehindafalseappearanceDISSEMINATETospreadtheseedsofsomething;toscatter;tomakewidelyknownDOCTRINAIREInflexiblycommittedtoadoctrineortheorywithoutregardtoits

practicalityDOGMATICArrogantlyassertiveofunprovenideas;stubbornlyclaimingthat

something(oftenasystemofbeliefs)isbeyonddisputeDUBIOUSFullofdoubt;uncertainDUPLICITYTheactofbeingtwo-faced;double-dealing;deceptionDYNAMISMContinuouschange,activity,orprogressEBULLIENTBoiling;bubblingwithexcitement;exuberantECCENTRICNotconventional;alittlekooky;irregularECLECTICChoosingthebestfrommanysources;drawnfrommanysourcesEFFICACYEffectivenessEFFLORESCENCEAgradualprocessofunfoldingordeveloping;thepointortimeof

greatestvigorEGALITARIANISMThebeliefinthesocialandeconomicequalityofallpeopleEGOISMThedoctrinethathumanbehaviorismotivatedbyself-interestEMINENTWell-knownandrespected;standingoutfromallothersinqualityor

accomplishment;outstandingENIGMAAmysteryEPITOMEAbriefsummarythatcapturesthemeaningofthewhole;theperfect

exampleofsomething;aparadigmEQUIVOCALAmbiguous;intentionallyconfusing;capableofbeinginterpretedinmore

thanonewayERRONEOUSContainingorderivedfromerror;mistakenERSTWHILEInthepast;ataformertime;formerlyERUDITEScholarly;deeplylearnedETHOSThedisposition,character,orfundamentalvaluespeculiartoaspecificperson,

people,culture,ormovementEXACERBATETomakeworseEXIGENTDemandingpromptaction;urgentEXPLICITClearlyanddirectlyexpressedEXPLOIT v Toemploytothegreatestpossibleadvantage;tomakeuseofselfishlyor

unethicallyEXTANTStillinexistence;notdestroyedEXTEMPORANEOUSCarriedoutorperformedwithlittleornopreparation

EXTRANEOUSUnnecessary;irrelevant;extraEXTRAPOLATEToprojectordeducefromsomethingknown;toinferFACETIOUSHumorous;notserious;clumsilyhumorousFECKLESSCarelessandirresponsibleFEEBLELackingbodilystrength;weakFEIGNTogiveafalseappearanceofFORTUITOUSAccidental;occurringbychanceGARRULOUSTalkative;chattyGLUMMoodyandmelancholyHARBINGERAforerunner;asignalofHERALD v Toproclaim,especiallywithenthusiasmHETERODOXNotinagreementwithacceptedbeliefsHIDEBOUNDStubbornlyprejudiced,narrow-minded,orinflexibleHOMOGENEOUSUniform;madeentirelyofonethingHORTATORYMarkedbyexhortationorstrongurgingHUMANISMAsystemofthoughtthatfocusesonhumansandtheirvalues,capacities,

andworthHYPOTHESISSomethingtakentobetrueforthepurposeofargumentorinvestigation;

anassumptionICONOCLASTOnewhoattackspopularbeliefsorinstitutionsILLUMINATETomakeunderstandable;toclarifyIMMINENTJustabouttohappenIMPECUNIOUSHavinglittleornomoneyIMPEDIMENTAhindranceorobstructionIMPENETRABLEImpossibletopenetrateorenter;impossibletounderstandIMPERATIVENecessaryorurgentIMPERCEPTIBLEImpossibleordifficulttoperceivebythemindorsensesIMPETUSAnimpellingforce;animpulseIMPLICITImpliedratherthanexpresslystatedINALIENABLEUnabletobetransferredtoothersINCENDIARYTendingtoarousestrongemotionorconflictINCENSE v TomakeveryangryINCLUSIVETakinginagreatdealoreverythingwithinitsscopeINDEFATIGABLEHavingorshowingacapacityforpersistenteffortINDICTToaccuseofwrongdoing;tocriticizeseverelyINDIFFERENTNotcaringonewayortheother;apathetic;mediocreINDOLENTLazy

INDUSTRIOUSEnergeticinworkorstudyINHIBITToholdback;torestrainINNOCUOUSHarmlessINNOVATIONTheactofintroducingsomethingnewINSCRUTABLEDifficulttounderstandorinterpretINSIPIDDull;blandINSULARLikeanisland;isolatedINTEGRATETocombinetwoormorethingsintoawholeINVALIDATETonullifyIRKSOMECausingannoyanceorwearinessIRONICMeaningtheoppositeofwhatyouseemtosay;usingwordstomean

somethingotherthanwhattheyseemtomeanKINDREDHavingasimilarorrelatedorigin,nature,orcharacterLACONICUsingfewwords,especiallytothepointofbeingrudeLAUDTopraise;toapplaud;toextol;tocelebrateLUCIDClear;easytounderstandLUCRATIVEProducingwealth;profitableLUMINARYApersonwhoinspiresothersorachieveseminenceinafieldMAGNIFYTomakemoreintenseorextremeMAKESHIFTSuitableasatemporarysubstituteMALIGNTomakeevil,harmfulstatementsabout,especiallyuntruestatementsMARGINALIZETorelegateorconfinetoalowerorouterlimitoredgeMEAGERDeficientinquantity,fullness,orextentMENDACIOUSLying;dishonestMITIGATETomoderatetheeffectofsomethingMORBIDUnwholesomethoughtsorfeelings,especiallyofdeathordiseaseMORTIFYTohumiliateMUNDANEOrdinary;prettyboring;notheavenlyandeternalMUNIFICENTVerygenerous;lavishNAIVETÉLackingworldlyexperienceandunderstandingNARCISSISMExcessiveloveofone’sbodyoroneselfNOTORIOUSKnownwidelyandusuallyunfavorablyNOVEL adj New;originalOBJECTIVE adj UninfluencedbyemotionsorpersonalprejudicesOBSCUREUnknown;hardtounderstand;darkOFFSETTocounterbalance,counteract,orcompensatefor

OMNIPRESENTPresenteverywheresimultaneouslyOPAQUEImpossibletoseethrough;impossibletounderstandOPULENTLuxuriousORTHODOXConventional;adheringtoestablishedprinciplesordoctrines,especially

inreligion;bythebookOUTSTRIPTomovepastoraheadofOVERSHADOWTomakeinsignificantbycomparisonPAINSTAKINGExtremelycareful;takingpainsPANACEASomethingthatcureseverythingPARADOXAtruestatementorphenomenonthatnonethelessseemstocontradict

itself;anuntruestatementorphenomenonthatnonethelessseemslogicalPARTIALFavoringonepersonorsideoveranotherorothersPARTISANOnewhosupportsaparticularperson,cause,orideaPATENT adj ObviousPEDDLETotravelaboutselling;toseektodisseminate;togiveoutPENCHANTStrongtasteorlikingPERFUNCTORYUnenthusiastic;carelessPERIPHERYTheoutsideedgeofsomethingPERTURBTodisturbgreatlyPERUSEToreadcarefullyPERVADETospreadthroughoutPHYSIOLOGICALCharacteristicofthenormalfunctioningofalivingorganismPIVOTALCrucialPLURALISMAconditioninwhichnumerousdistinctethnic,religious,orculturalgroups

arepresentandtoleratedwithinasocietyPOLARIZETobreakupintoopposingfactionsorgroupingsPRECARIOUSDangerouslylackinginsecurityorstabilityPRECOCIOUSCharacterizedbydevelopment,aptitude,orinterestsconsidered

advancedforagivenagePREDILECTIONAnaturalpreferenceforsomethingPRESCIENCEKnowledgeofactionsoreventsbeforetheyoccurPRETENTIOUSBehavingasifoneisimportantordeservingofmeritwhensuchisnot

thecasePREVARICATETospeakorwritedishonestlyPROLIFERATETospreadorgrowrapidlyPROLIXTendingtospeakorwriteatexcessivelengthPROMULGATEToproclaim;topubliclyorformallydeclaresomething

PROPITIOUSMarkedbyfavorablesignsorconditionsPROVIDENTPreparingorprovidingforthefuture;frugalPROVOCATIVETendingtoprovokeorstimulatePROXYOneappointedorauthorizedtoactforanotherPRUDENTCareful;havingforesightPUNCTILIOUSStrictlyattentivetominutedetailsofforminactionorconductQUOTIDIANEveryday;commonplaceREBUTTocontradict;toargueinoppositionto;toprovetobefalseRECAPITULATETomakeasummaryRECONCILETosettle;toresolveRECONDITEHardtounderstand;overone’sheadREFERENDUMThesubmissionofaproposedpublicmeasureorstatutetoadirect

popularvoteREFUGEProtectionorshelterRELENTLESSContinuous;unstoppableRELISHHeartyenjoymentorappreciationREPUDIATEToreject;torenounce;todisown;tohavenothingtodowithRESOLUTEDetermined;firm;unwaveringRESONANTStronganddeepintone;resounding;havingalastingpresenceoreffectREVERETorespecthighly;tohonorRIDICULETomakefunofRUTHLESSHavingnocompassionorpitySANGUINECheerful;optimistic;hopefulSCANTYSmall;insufficientSCINTILLATETosparkle,eitherliterallyorfigurativelySECULARHavingnothingtodowithreligionorspiritualconcernsSERENDIPITYAccidentalgoodfortune;discoveringgoodthingswithoutlookingfor

themSHREWDCleverawarenessorresourcefulnessSINISTEREvil,wicked;foreshadowingevil,trouble,orwickednessSOLICITOUSEagerandattentive,oftentothepointofhovering;anxiouslycaringor

attentiveSOLIDARITYUnityofpurpose,interest,orsympathySPECULATIVEBasedonguessworkSPORADICStoppingandstarting;scattered;occurringinburstseveryonceinawhileSPURIOUSDoubtful;bogus;falseSUBJECTIVEBasedonagivenperson’sexperience,understanding,andfeelings

SUPERFICIALOnthesurfaceonly;shallow;notthoroughSUPPLANTTotaketheplaceoforsubstituteforSURROGATESubstituteSYNTHESISThecombiningofpartstoformawholeTACITImplied;notspokenTACITURNNottalkativeTEMPERANCEModerationandself-restraintTEMPORALLastingonlyforatime;noteternal;passingTENABLEDefensible,asinone’spositioninanargument;capableofbeingargued

successfully;validTENSILECapableofbeingstretchedorextendedTEPIDLackinginemotionalwarmthorenthusiasmTRANSGRESSToviolate(alaw);tosinTRIFLINGOflittleworthorimportanceTRIVIALOflittlesignificanceorvalueTUMULTUOUSVeryloud;noisy;disorderlyUBIQUITOUSBeingeverywhereatthesametimeUNDERMINEToweakenUNDERSCOREToputemphasison;tostressUNIFORM adj Consistent;unchanging;thesameforeveryoneVAINHavingorshowingexcessiveprideinone’sappearanceoraccomplishmentsVANQUISHTodefeatorconquerinbattleVERACIOUSTruthfulVEXToannoy;topester;toconfuseVINDICATEToclearfromallblameorsuspicion;tojustifyVINTAGEOldoroutmoded

CHAPTER6

WordRootsYouShouldKnow

YouDon’tHavetoMemorizeTheseRoots—YouAlreadyKnowThem!Here is a list of themost helpful roots to know.Asmentioned earlier, learning rootshelpsyoumemorizewords.We’vefocusedonrootsthatwillhelpyoulearntheWordSmartwords,butthislistwillhelpyoumemorizehundredsofotherwords,too.

Whenyoulookupthedefinitionofawordonthislist,trytorelatethatdefinitiontotheroot.Somestudentsgothroughthislistonerootatatime.Theylookupallthewordsunderonerootandlearnthedefinitionstogether.Asalways,whateverworksforyouisbest.

Toshowyouhoweachroot relates towordsyoualreadyknow,each list includesaneasywordor two.Forexample, the rootspec- comes fromaLatinwordmeaning tolookorsee,asintheeasywordsspectatorandspectacles.Recognizingthatwillhelpyoumemorizethedefinitionofthelesscommonwordsspecterandcircumspect,whichareonthesamelist.Andyouthoughtyoudidn’tknowLatin!

Youwillnoticethatthesamerootcanbespelledindifferentways.Wehaveincludedthemostcommonspellingvariationsinthe

heading.Rememberthatrootstellusthecommonheritageofwordsthousandsofyearsold.Overthecenturiesspellingvariationsare

boundtooccur.

A note to philologists (etymologically, “word lovers”): In keeping with our pragmaticphilosophy,wehavesometimestakenlibertiesincompilingthislist.

a(without)amoralatheistatypicalanonymousapathyamorphousatrophyapartheidanomalyagnostic

ab/abs(off,awayfrom,apart,down)abductabhorabolishabstractabnormalabdicateabstinentabsolutionabstruseabrogateabscondabjureabstemiousablutionabominateaberrant

ac/acr(sharp,bitter)acidacuteacerbic

exacerbateacridacrimoniousacumen

act/ag(todo,todrive,toforce,tolead)actagentagileagitateexactinglitigateprodigalprodigiouspedagoguedemagoguesynagogue

ad/al(to,toward,near)adaptadjacentaddictadmireaddressadhereadministeradoreadviceadjoinadulteryadvocateallurealloy

al/ali/alter(other,another)alternativealiasalibi

alienalteregoalienationaltruistaltercationallegory

am(love)amateuramatoryamorousenamoredamityparamourinamorataamiableamicable

amb(togo,towalk)ambitiousamblepreambleambulanceambulatoryperambulatorcircumambulate

amb/amph(around)amphitheaterambitambienceambient

amb/amph(both,morethanone)ambiguousamphibianambivalentambidextrous

anim(life,mind,soul,spirit)unanimousanimosityequanimitymagnanimouspusillanimous

annu/enni(year)annualanniversarybiannualbiennialcentennialannuityperennialannalsmillennium

ante(before)anteanteriorantecedentantedateantebellumantediluvian

anthro/andr(man,human)anthropologyandroidmisanthropephilanthropyanthropomorphicphilanderandrogynousanthropocentric

anti(against)antidote

antisepticantipathyantipodal

apo(away)apologyapostleapocalypseapogeeapocryphalapotheosisapostasyapoplexy

apt/ept(skill,fitness,ability)adaptaptitudeaptineptadept

arch/archi(chief,principal)architectarchenemyarchetypearchipelago

archy(ruler)monarchymatriarchypatriarchyanarchyhierarchyoligarchy

art(skill,craft)artartificial

artificeartisanartifactartfulartless

auc/aug/aux(toincrease)auctionauxiliaryaugmentaugust

auto(self)automaticautopsyautocratautonomy

be(tobe,tohaveacertainquality)belittlebelatedbemoanbefriendbewilderbegrudgebequeathbespeakbeliebeguilebesetbemusebereft

bel/bell(war)rebelbelligerentbellicoseantebellum

ben/bon(good)benefitbeneficiarybeneficentbenefactorbenignbenevolentbenedictionbonusbonvivantbonafide

bi(twice,doubly)binocularsbiannualbiennialbigamybilateralbilingualbipartisan

bri/brev(brief,short)briefabbreviateabridgebrevity

cad/cid(tofall,tohappenbychance)accidentcoincidencedecadentcascaderecidivismcadence

cand(toburn)candleincandescent

candor

cant/cent/chant(tosing)chantenchantaccentrecantincantationincentive

cap/cip/capit/cipit(head,headlong)capitalcapecaptaindiscipleprincipleprincipalprecipiceprecipitateprecipitouscapitulatecapitalismprecipitationcaptionrecapitulate

cap/cip/cept(totake,toget)captureanticipateinterceptsusceptibleemancipaterecipientincipientpercipientprecept

card/cord/cour(heart)

cardiaccourageencourageconcorddiscordaccordconcordancecordial

carn(flesh)carnivorouscarnivalcarnalcarnagereincarnationincarnation

cast/chast(cut)castecastigatechastisechaste

caust(toburn)causticholocaust

ced/ceed/cess(togo,toyield,tostop)exceedprecederecessconcedecedeaccesspredecessorprecedentantecedentrecede

abscesscessationincessant

centr(center)centralconcentrateeccentricconcentriccentrifugeegocentric

cern/cert/cret/crim/crit(toseparate,tojudge,todistinguish,todecide)concerncriticsecretcrimediscreteascertaincertitudehypocritediscriminatecriteriondiscernrecrimination

chron(time)synchronizechroniclechronologychronicchronologicalanachronismchronometer

circu(around,onallsides)circumferencecircumstances

circuitcircumspectcircumventcircumnavigatecircumambulatecircumlocutioncircumscribecircuitous

cis(tocut)scissorspreciseexorciseexciseincisionincisiveconcise

cit(tosetinmotion)exciteincitesolicitsolicitous

cla/clo/clu(shut,close)closetencloseconcludeclaustrophobiadiscloseexclusiverecluseprecludesecludecloisterforecloseclosure

claim/clam(toshout,tocryout)exclaimproclaimacclaimclamordisclaimreclaimdeclaim

cli(toleantoward)declinereclineclimaxproclivitydisinclination

co/col/com/con(with,together)connectconfideconcedecoercecohesivecohortconfederatecollaboratecompatiblecoherentcomplyconjugalconnubialcongenialconvivialcoalescecoalitioncontriteconciliateconclave

commensurate

crat/cracy(togovern)bureaucracydemocracyaristocracytheocracyplutocracyautocracy

cre/cresc/cret(togrow)creationincreasecrescendoincrementaccretionaccrue

cred(tobelieve,totrust)incrediblecredibilitycredentialscreditcreedcredocredencecredulityincredulous

cryp(hidden)cryptcrypticapocryphalcryptography

cub/cumb(toliedown)cubiclesuccumb

incubateincumbentrecumbent

culp(blame)culpritculpableexculpateinculpatemeaculpa

cur/cour(running,acourse)occurrecurcurrentcurriculumcouriercursiveexcursionconcurconcurrentincurincursiondiscoursediscursiveprecursorrecoursecursory

de(away,off,down,completely,reversal)descenddetractdecipherdefacedefiledefrauddepletedenounce

decrydeferdefamedelineatedeferential

dem(people)democracyepidemicendemicdemagoguedemographicspandemic

di/dia(apart,through)dialoguediagnosediameterdilatedigressdilatorydiaphanousdichotomydialectic

dic/dict/dit(tosay,totell,tousewords)dictionarydictatepredictcontradictverdictabdicateedictdictummaledictionbenedictionindict

inditedictioninterdictobiterdictum

dign(worth)dignitydignitarydignifydeignindignantcondigndisdaininfradig

dis/dif(awayfrom,apart,reversal,not)dispersedisseminatedissipatedissuadediffuse

doc/dac(toteach)doctordoctrineindoctrinatedoctrinairedociledidactic

dog/dox(opinion)orthodoxparadoxdogmadogmatic

dol(suffer,pain)condolence

indolencedolefuldolorous

don/dot/dow(togive)donatedonorpardoncondoneantidoteanecdoteendowdowry

dub(doubt)dubiousdubietyindubitable

duc/duct(tolead)conductabductconduciveseduceinductinduceductile

dur(hard)enduredurableduressdourobdurate

dys(faulty)dysfunctiondystopia

dyspepsiadyslexia

epi(upon)epidemicepilogueepidermisepistleepitomeepigramepithetepitaph

equ(equal,even)equationadequateequivalentequilibriumequableequidistantequityiniquityequanimityequivocateequivocal

err(towander)errerrorerraticerroneouserrantaberrant

esce(becoming)adolescentobsolescentiridescent

luminescentcoalescequiescentacquiescenteffervescentincandescentevanescentconvalescentreminiscent

eu(good,well)euphoriaeuphemismeulogyeugenicseuthanasiaeuphony

e/ef/ex(out,outof,from,former,completely)evadeexcludeextricateexonerateextortexhortexpireexaltexulteffervesceextenuateeffaceeffusionegregious

extra(outsideof,beyond)extraordinaryextrasensoryextraneous

extrapolate

fab/fam(speak)fablefabulousaffableineffablefamefamousdefameinfamous

fac/fic/fig/fait/feit/fy(todo,tomake)factoryfacsimilebenefactorfacilefactionfictionfactitiousefficientdeficientproficientmunificentprolificsoporificfigurefigmentconfigurationeffigymagnifyrarefyratifyramificationcounterfeitfeignfaitaccompli

expostfacto

fer(tobring,tocarry,tobear)offertransferconferreferenduminferfertileprofferdeferproliferatevociferous

ferv(toboil,tobubble,toburn)fervorfervideffervescent

fid(faith,trust)confideconfidentconfidantaffidavitdiffidentfidelityinfidelityperfidyfiduciaryinfidelsemperfidelisbonafide

fin(end)finalfinaleconfinedefine

definitiveinfiniteaffinityinfinitesimal

flag/flam(toburn)flameflamboyantflammableinflammatoryflagrantconflagrationinflagrantedelicto

flect/flex(tobend)deflectflexibleinflectreflectgenuflect

flict(tostrike)afflictinflictconflictprofligate

flu,flux(toflow)fluidinfluencefluentaffluentfluctuationinfluxeffluenceconfluencesuperfluousmellifluous

fore(before)foresightforeshadowforestallforgoforbear

fort(chance)fortunefortunatefortuitous

fra/frac/frag/fring(tobreak)fracturefractionfragmentfragilerefractionfractiousinfractionrefractoryinfringe

fruit/frug(fruit,produce)fruitfulfruitionfrugal

fund/found(bottom)foundationfundamentalfounderprofound

fus(topour)confusetransfusionprofuse

effusivediffusesuffuseinfusion

gen(birth,creation,race,kind)generousgenerategeneticsphotogenicdegeneratehomogeneousgenealogygendergenregenesiscarcinogenicgenialcongenialingenuousingenueindigenouscongenitalprogenyengendermiscegenationsuigeneris

gn/gno(know)ignoreignoramusrecognizeincognitodiagnoseprognosisagnosticcognitive

cognoscentecognizant

grand(big)grandgrandeurgrandioseaggrandizegrandiloquent

grat(pleasing)gratefulingrateingratiategratuitygratuitous

grav/griev(heavy,serious)gravegriefaggrievegravitygrievous

greg(herd)congregationsegregationaggregationgregariousegregious

gress/grad(tostep)progressgraduategradualaggressiveregressdegrade

retrogradetransgressdigressegress

her/hes(tostick)coherentcohesiveadhesiveadherentinherent

(h)etero(different)heterosexualheterogeneousheterodox

(h)om(same)homogeneoushomonymhomosexualanomalyhomeostasis

hyper(over,excessive)hyperactivehyperbole

hypo(under,beneath,lessthan)hypodermichypochondriachypothesishypocritical

id(one’sown)idiotidiomidiosyncrasy

im/in(not,without)inactiveindifferentinnocuousinsipidindolenceimpartialineptindigent

im/in/em/en(in,into)inembraceencloseingratiateintrinsicinfluxincarnateimplicitindigenous

infra(beneath)infrastructureinfraredinfrasonic

inter(between,among)interstateinteriminterloperinterludeintermittentinterplayintersperseintervene

intra(within)intramural

intrastateintravenous

ject(tothrow,tothrowdown)injectejectprojecttrajectoryconjecturedejectedabject

join/junct(tomeet,tojoin)junctionjointadjoinsubjugatejuxtaposeinjunctionrejoinderconjugaljunta

jur(toswear)juryperjuryabjureadjure

lect/leg(toselect,tochoose)collectelectselectelectoratepredilectioneclecticelegant

lev(lift,light,rise)elevatorrelieveleveralleviatelevitaterelevantleveelevity

loc/log/loqu(word,speech)dialogueeloquentelocutionlocutioninterlocutorprologueepiloguesoliloquyeulogycolloquialgrandiloquentphilologyneologismtautologyloquacious

luc/lum/lus(light)illustrateilluminateluminousluminescentillustriouslacklustertranslucentlucidelucidate

lud/lus(toplay)illusionludicrousdeludeeludeelusivealludecollusionpreludeinterlude

lut/lug/luv(towash)lavatorydilutepollutedelugeantediluvian

mag/maj/max(big)magnifymagnitudemajormaximummajesticmagnanimousmagnatemaximmagniloquent

mal/male(bad,ill,evil,wrong)malfunctionmalodorousmaliciousmalcontentmalignmalignantmalaisedismal

malapropismmaladroitmalevolentmalingermalfeasancemalefactormalediction

man(hand)manualmanufactureemancipatemanifestmandatemandatory

mater/matr(woman,mother)matrimonymaternalmaternitymatriculatematriarch

min(small)minuteminutiaediminutionminiaturediminish

min(toproject,tohangover)eminentimminentprominentpreeminent

mis/mit(tosend)transmit

manumitemissarymissiveintermittentremitremissiondemise

misc(mixed)miscellaneousmiscegenationpromiscuous

mon/monit(towarn)monumentmonitorsummonsadmonishremonstrate

morph(shape)amorphousmetamorphosispolymorphousanthropomorphic

mort(death)immortalmorguemorbidmoribundmortify

mut(change)commutemutationmutantimmutable

transmutationpermutation

nam/nom/noun/nown/nym(rule,order)astronomyeconomyautonomyantimonygastronomytaxonomy

nat/nas/nai(tobeborn)naturalnativenaivecognatenascentinnaterenaissance

nec/nic/noc/nox(harm,death)innocentnoxiousobnoxiousperniciousinternecineinnocuousnecromancy

nom/nym/noun/nown(name)synonymanonymousnominatepseudonymmisnomernomenclatureacronymhomonym

nominalignominydenominationnounrenownnomdeplumenomdeguerre

nov/neo/nou(new)novicenovelnoveltyrenovateinnovateneologismneophytenouvellecuisinenouveauriche

nounc/nunc(toannounce)announcepronouncedenouncerenounce

ob/oc/of/op(toward,to,against,completely,over)obeseobjectobstructobstinateobscureobtrudeobliqueobliviousobnoxiousobstreperousobtuseopprobrium

obsequiousobfuscate

omni(all)omnipresentomniscientomnipotent

pac/peac(peace)peaceappeasepacifypacifistpacifierpact

pan(all,everywhere)panoramapanaceapanegyricpantheonpanoplypandemic

par(equal)parparityapartheiddisparitydisparatedisparage

para(nextto,beside)parallelparaphraseparasiteparadoxparody

paragonparableparadigmparamilitaryparanoidparanormalparapsychologyparalegal

pas/pat/path(feeling,suffering,disease)apathysympathyempathyantipathypassionatecompassioncompatibledispassionateimpassivepathospathologysociopathpsychopath

pater/patr(father,support)patronpatronizepaternalpaternalismexpatriatepatrimonypatriarchpatrician

pau/po/pov/pu(few,little,poor)poorpovertypaucity

pauperimpoverishpuerilepusillanimous

ped(child,education)pedagoguepediatricianencyclopedia

ped/pod(foot)pedalpedestalpedestrianpodiatristexpediteexpedientimpedeimpedimentpodiumantipodes

pen/pun(topay,tocompensate)penalpenaltypunitiverepentpenancepenitentpenitentiaryrepineimpunity

pend/pens(tohang,toweigh,topay)dependdispenseexpendstipend

spendexpendituresuspensecompensatepropensitypensiveindispensableimpendingpendulumappendixappendappendageponderouspendant

per(completely,wrong)persistentperforateperplexperspireperusepervadeperjuryperturbperfunctoryperspicaciouspermeateperniciousperennialperemptorypertinacious

peri(around)perimeterperiscopeperipheralperipatetic

pet/pit(togo,toseek,tostrive)appetitecompetepetitionperpetualimpetuouspetulantpropitious

phil(love)philosophyphilanthropyphilatelistphilologybibliophile

phone(sound)telephonesymphonymegaphoneeuphonycacophony

plac(toplease)placidplaceboplacateimplacablecomplacentcomplaisant

ple(tofill)completedepletecomplementsupplementimplementplethora

replete

plex/plic/ply(tofold,totwist,totangle,tobend)complexcomplexioncomplicateduplexreplicaplycomplyimplicitimplicateexplicitduplicitycomplicitysupplicateaccompliceexplicate

pon/pos/pound(toput,toplace)componentcompounddepositdisposeexposeexpositionexpoundjuxtaposedeposeproponentrepositorytransposesuperimpose

port(tocarry)importportableporter

portfoliodeportdeportmentexportportmanteauportlypurportdisportimportune

post(after)posthumousposteriorposterityexpostfacto

pre(before)precariousprecociouspreludepremeditatepremonitionpresagepresentimentpresumepresupposeprecedentpreceptprecipitousprecludepredilectionpreeminentpreemptprepossessprerequisiteprerogative

prehend/prise(totake,toget,toseize)surprisecomprehendenterpriseimpregnablereprehensibleapprehensioncompriseappriseapprehendcomprehensivereprisal

pro(much,for,alot)prolificprofusepropitiousprodigiousprofligateprodigalprotractedproclivityproliferatepropensityprodigyproselytizepropoundprovidentprolix

prob(toprove,totest)probeprobationapprobationprobityopprobriumreprobate

pug(tofight)pugilismpugpugnaciousimpugnrepugnant

punc/pung/poign/point(topoint,toprick)pointpuncturepunctualpunctuatepungentpoignantcompunctionexpungepunctilious

que/quis(toseek)acquireacquisitionexquisiteacquisitiverequestconquestinquireinquisitiveinquestqueryquerulousperquisite

qui(quiet)quietdisquiettranquilacquiescequiescent

rid/ris(tolaugh)ridiculederisionrisible

rog(toask)interrogatearrogantprerogativeabrogatesurrogatederogatoryarrogate

sal/sil/sault/sult(toleap,tojump)insultassaultsomersaultsalientresilientinsolentdesultoryexult

sanct/sacr/secr(sacred)sacredsacrificesanctuarysanctifysanctionexecrablesacramentsacrilege

sci(toknow)scienceconscious

conscienceunconscionableomniscientprescientconscientiousnescient

scribe/scrip(towrite)scribbledescribescriptpostscriptprescribeproscribeascribeinscribeconscriptionscripturetranscriptcircumscribemanuscriptscribe

se(apart)selectseparateseducesecludesegregatesecedesequestersedition

sec/sequ(tofollow)secondprosecutesequelsequence

consequenceinconsequentialobsequiousnonsequitur

sed/sess/sid(tosit,tobestill,toplan,toplot)presideresidentsedimentsessiondissidentobsessionresidualsedatesubsidesubsidysubsidiarysedentarydissidentinsidiousassiduoussedulous

sens/sent(tofeel,tobeaware)sensesensualsensorysentimentresentconsentdissentassentconsensussentinelinsensatesentientpresentiment

sol(toloosen,tofree)dissolvesolublesolveresolveresolutionirresolutesolventdissolutiondissoluteabsolution

spec/spic/spit(tolook,tosee)perspectiveaspectspectatorspecterspectaclesspeculationsuspiciousauspiciousspectrumspecimenintrospectionretrospectiveperspectiveperspicaciouscircumspectconspicuousrespitespecious

sta/sti(tostand,tobeinaplace)staticstationarydestituteobstinate

obstaclestalwartstagnantsteadfastconstituteconstantstasisstatusstatusquohomeostasisapostasy

sua(smooth)suaveassuagepersuadedissuade

sub/sup(below)submissivesubsidiarysubjugatesubliminalsubduesublimesubtlesubversivesubterfugesubordinatesuppresssupposition

super/sur(above)surpasssupercilioussuperstitionsuperfluoussuperlative

supersedesuperficialsurmountsurveillancesurvey

tac/tic(tobesilent)reticenttacittaciturn

tain/ten/tent/tin(tohold)containdetainpertainpertinacioustenaciousabstentionsustaintenurepertinenttenanttenabletenetsustenance

tend/tens/tent/tenu(tostretch,tothin)tensionextendtendencytendontenttentativecontendcontentioustendentiouscontention

contendertenuousdistendattenuateextenuating

theo(god)atheistapotheosistheocracytheology

tom(tocut)tomemicrotomeepitomedichotomy

tort(totwist)tortextorttorturetortuous

tract(todrag,topull,todraw)tractorattractcontractdetracttracttractableintractableprotractabstract

trans(across)transfertransaction

transparenttransporttransitiontransitorytransienttransgresstranscendentintransigenttranslucent

us/ut(touse)abuseusageutensilusurputilityutilitarian

ven/vent(tocome,tomovetoward)adventureconveneconvenienteventventuresomeavenueinterveneadventcontravenecircumvent

ver(truth)verdictverifyveraciousverisimilitudeaververity

vers/vert(toturn)controversyrevertsubvertinvertdivertdiverseaversionextrovertintrovertinadvertentversatiletraversecovertovertavertadvert

vi(life)vividvicariousconvivialviablevivacityjoiedevivrebonvivant

vid/vis(tosee)evidenttelevisionvideovisionprovisionadviserprovidentsurveyvista

visionaryvisage

voc/vok(tocall)vocabularyvocalprovocativeadvocateequivocateequivocalvocationavocationconvokevociferousirrevocableevocativerevokeconvokeinvoke

vol(towish)voluntaryvolunteervolitionmalevolentbenevolent

CHAPTER7

CommonUsageErrors

Some of themost embarrassing language errors involve words so common and soapparentlysimplethatalmostnoonewouldthinkoflookingthemup.Thefollowinglistcontains a number of the most frequently misused words and expressions in thelanguage.

ALLRIGHTNot“alright.”

AMONG/BETWEENAmong isusedwith threeormorepeopleor things;between isusedwithtwo.• Thetin-cantelephonelineranbetweenthetwohouses.• Amongthetwelvemembersofthecommitteewereonlythreewomen.• Mr.Nuñezdistributedthecandyamongthefourofus.

BetweenyouandIisincorrect;betweenyouandmeiscorrect.

ANXIOUSThiswordproperlymeans“filledwithanxiety,”not“eager.”Don’tsayyou’reanxiousforschooltoendunlesstheendingofschoolmakesyoufeelfearful.

ASFARAS…ISCONCERNEDNotastylishexpression,butifyouuseit,don’t leaveout the is concerned. It is not correct to say, “As far as money, I’d like to be rich.”Instead,youshouldsay,“Asfarasmoneyisconcerned,I’dliketoberich.”

AS/LIKEYoucanrunlikeafox,butyoucan’trunlikeafoxruns.Like is used only with nouns, pronouns, and grammatical constructions that act likenouns.• Joerunslikeafox.• Joerunsasafoxruns.• Joerunsthewayafoxruns.

BIWEEKLY, BIMONTHLY.Biweekly means either twice a week or once every twoweeks, depending on who is using it. Likewise with bimonthly. If you need to beprecise, avoid thesewords by saying “twice aweek” or “every other week” instead.Fortnightlymeansonceeverytwoweeks.

CAN/MAYCandenotesability;maydenotespermission.Ifyoucandosomething,youareabletodoit.Ifyoumaydosomething,youarepermittedtodoit.

CAPITAL/CAPITOLWashington,D.C.,isthecapitaloftheUnitedStates.Thebuilding

whereCongressmeetsistheCapitol.

COMMON/MUTUALCommonmeans“shared”;mutualmeans“reciprocal.” IfTimandTomhaveacommondislike, theybothdislikethesamething(anchovies). IfTimandTomhaveamutualdislike,theydislikeeachother.

COMMONPLACE In careful usage, this word is an adjective meaning “ordinary” or“uninteresting.”Itcanalsobeusedasanounmeaninga“triteorobviousobservation”ora“cliché.”Itshouldnotbeusedsloppilyasasubstitutefortheword“common.”• TosaythatFrenchfoodisthebestintheworldisacommonplace.• It iscommonplacebutneither interestingnorperceptive tosaythatFrenchfood isthebestintheworld.

COMPARETO/COMPAREWITHTocompareanappletoanorangeistosaythatanapple is like an orange. To compare an apple with an orange is to discuss thesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwofruits.• Daisukecomparedhisgirlfriend’svoice to thesoundofacathowling in thenight;thatis,hesaidhisgirlfriendsoundedlikeacathowlinginthenight.

• IcomparedmygradeswithBeth’sanddiscoveredthatshehaddonebetterineverysubjectexceptmath.

DIFFERENTFROMDifferentfromiscorrect;“differentthan”isnot.• Mydogisdifferentfromyourdog.

EACHOTHER/ONEANOTHEREachotherisusedwithtwo;oneanotherisusedwiththreeormore.• Ahusbandandwifeshouldloveeachother.• Thefifteenmembersofthegrouphadtolearntogetalongwithoneanother.

EQUALLYASNothingisever“equallyas”anythingasanythingelse.• YourcarandDave’scarmightbeequallyfast.

Youshouldneversay that the twocarsareequallyas fast.Norshouldyousay thatyourcarisequallyasfastasDave’s.Youshouldsimplysaythatitisasfast.

(THE)FACTTHAT/THATYoualmostneverneedtouse“thefactthat”;thatalonewillsuffice.Insteadofsaying,“Iwasappalledbythefactthathewasgoingtothemovies,”say,“Iwasappalledthathewasgoingtothemovies.”

FARTHER/FURTHERFarther refers toactual, literal distance—thekindmeasured ininchesandmiles.Further refers to figurativedistance.Use farther if thedistancecanbemeasured;usefurtherifitcannot.

• ParisisfartherfromNewYorkthanLondonis.• ParisisfurtherfrommythoughtsthanLondonis.• Wehikedsevenmilesbutthenwereincapableofhikingfarther.• Imadeaniceoutlineformythesisbutneverwentanyfurther.

FEWER,LESSFewer is usedwith things that can be counted, lesswith things thatcannot.Thatis,fewerreferstonumber;lessreferstoquantity.• IhavefewersugarlumpsthanHenrydoes.• Ihavelesssugar.

Despitewhatyouhearontelevision,itisnotcorrecttosaythatonesoftdrinkcontains“lesscalories” thananother. Itcontains fewer calories (caloriescanbecounted); it islessfattening.

FORMER,LATTERFormermeans the firstof twopeopleor things; lattermeans thesecondof two. If youare referring to threeormore things, youshouldn’t use formerandlatter.It is incorrect to say, “The restaurant had hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizzas; weorderedtheformer.”Instead,say,“Weorderedthefirst,”or,“Weorderedhamburgers.”

IF/WHETHERAlmosteveryoneuses if insituationsthatcall forwhether. Ifshouldbeused when something may or may not happen and is usually followed by then.Whether should be used when more than one alternative is being discussed. Forexample:“Weneedtodecidewhetherweshouldgo to theshoworstayhome.”Theuseof if inthissituationiswidelyaccepted,buttheuseof if insomesituationsmightcause confusion. Consider this sentence: “Let me know if you’re coming tonight.”Someonemight interpret this tomean “If you’re coming tonight, then letmeknow. Ifyou’re not coming tonight, then you don’t have to reply.” To make it clear that youexpecta response,usewhether: “Letmeknowwhether you’recoming tonight.”Thisshouldbeinterpretedas“Nomatterwhatyoudecide,pleaseletmeknowyourplans.”

IRREGARDLESSThisisnotaword.Sayregardlessorirrespective.

LAY/LIETheonlywayto“laydownonthebeach”istotakesmallfeathersandplacetheminthesand.Tolayistoplaceorset.• Willthewidowlayflowersbythegrave?Shealreadylaidthem,orshehasalreadylaid them. Who lies in the grave? Her former husband lies there. He lay thereyesterday,too.Infact,hehaslainthereforseveraldays.

PLURALSANDSINGULARSThefollowingwordstakepluralverbs:

bothcriteriamedia

phenomena

Thefollowingwordstakesingularverbs:

criterioneacheither

every,everybody,everyone,everythingmediumneither

none,noone,nobody,nothingphenomenon

PRESENTLYPresentlymeans“soon,”not“now”or“currently.”• The mailman should be here presently; in fact, he should be here in about fiveminutes.

• Themailmanisherenow.STATIONARY/STATIONERYStationarymeansnotmoving;stationeryisnotepaper.

THAT/WHICH Most people confuse these two words. Many people who know thedifference have trouble remembering it. Here’s a simple rule that will almost alwayswork:thatcanneverhaveacommainfrontofit;whichalwayswill.• Thereisthecarthatranovermyfoot.• Ed’scar,whichranovermyfoot,isoverthere.• Ilikesandwichesthataredrippingwithmustard.• Mysandwich,whichwasdrippingwithmustard,wasthekindIlike.

Whichisusedinplaceofthatifitfollowsanotherthat:“Wewerefondofthatfeelingofcontentmentwhichfollowsvictory.”

CHAPTER8

Abbreviations

Abbreviations may not technically be considered vocabulary, but being able torecognizecertainacronymsandotherabbreviationswilldefinitelyhelpyouunderstandwhatyouread.Herearesomeofthemostcommonabbreviationsyoumayencounterinyourreading,whethereverydayoracademic.

AP AdvancedPlacementASAP AssoonaspossibleAssn. AssociationAssoc. Associatesasst. AssistantATM Automatedtellermachineattn. Totheattentionofaux. AuxiliaryAWOL AbsentwithoutleaveBA BachelorofArtsBMOC BigmanoncampusBS BachelorofScienceBW BlackandwhiteC Celsius,centigradec/o Incareofcc Cubiccentimeter;carboncopyCD CertificateofDeposit;compactdisccf. [Latin—confer]SeealsoCMYK Cyan-magenta-yellow-blackCO CommandingofficerCo. CompanyCOD CashondeliveryCorp. CorporationCPA CertifiedpublicaccountantCPU Centralprocessingunit

CRT CathoderaytubeDA DistrictAttorneydb DecibelsDDM DoctorofDentalMedicineDDS DoctorofDentalSciencedept. DepartmentDUI DrivingundertheinfluenceDVD Digitalvideodisk;digitalversatilediskDWI DrivingwhileintoxicatedED Executivedirectore.g. [Latin—exempligratia]ForexampleEKG ElectrocardiogramEP Extended-playrecordESP Extrasensoryperceptionetal. [Latin—etalii]Andothersetseq. [Latin—etsequens]AndfollowingETA Estimatedtimeofarrivaletc. [Latin—etcetera]AndsoonETD EstimatedtimeofdepartureETS EducationalTestingServiceF Fahrenheitff. AndfollowingpagesFYI ForyourinformationGI Governmentissuegovt. GovernmentGRE GraduateRecordExaminationsIB InternationalBaccalaureateibid [Latin—ibidem]Inthesameplacei.e. [Latin—idest]ThatisInc. IncorporatedIQ IntelligencequotientISO insearchofISP Internetserviceprovider

IV Intravenous

JD [Latin—jurisdoctor]DoctorofLawK [Latin—kilo]Thousandkm KilometerLLP LimitedliabilitypartnershipLP Long-playingrecordLPG LiquefiedpetroleumgasMA MasterofArtsMC MasterofCeremoniesMD DoctorofMedicineMIA Missinginactionmm MillimeterMP MemberofParliamentormilitarypoliceMs ManuscriptMS MasterofScienceMss ManuscriptsMVP Mostvaluableplayerop.cit. [Latin—operecitato]IntheworkpreviouslycitedOS Operatingsystemp. PagePA PublicaddressPC PersonalcomputerPhD DoctorofPhilosophyPIN PersonalidentificationnumberPOW Prisonerofwarpp. PagesP.S. [Latin—postscriptum]PostscriptQED [Latin—quoderatdemonstrandum]WhichwastobedemonstratedR&D ResearchanddevelopmentRep. RepresentativeRGB Red-green-blueROTC ReserveOfficers’TrainingCorps

RSVP [French—Répondezs’ilvousplaît]PleasereplySRO Standingroomonly

SWAK SealedwithakissTKO TechnicalknockoutTLC TenderlovingcareUFO UnidentifiedflyingobjectVIP Veryimportantpersonviz. [Latin—videlicet]Namelyw/ Withw/o WithoutWWW Worldwideweb

CHAPTER9

TheArts

Youdon’tneedtobeamasterofmusic,literature,film,oranotherartisticdisciplinetokeepupinaconversationorcourseaboutthearts.Herearesomemajorkeyarttermstokeepinyourbackpocket.

ALLITERATIONApoeticdeviceinvolvingtheuseoftwoormorewordswiththesameinitialconsonantsounds.BigBirdisanalliterativename.

BAUHAUSAGermanschoolofartandarchitecturefoundedin1919.Bauhausstyleischaracterizedbyharshgeometricformandgreatausterityofdetail.

BIOPIC A biographical film.Gandhi andMalcolm X are well-known biopics. Some,such as The Hours (about Virginia Woolf) and Capote (about Truman Capote andHarperLee),interweaverealandfictitiousplotsoruseasingleincidenttoshedlightonaperson’sentirelife.

BLANKVERSEUnrhymedverse,especiallyiniambicpentameter.

CHAMBERMUSICMusicwritten for and performed by small ensembles of players.Thestringquartet(twoviolins,viola,andcello)isthemostinfluentialformofchambermusicensemble.

CHIAROSCUROAnartistictechniqueinwhichformisconveyedbylightanddarkonly,notbycolor.

CONCERTOAmusicalcompositionforanorchestraandoneormoresoloists.

CUBISM An early 20th century artisticmovement involving, amongother things, thefragmented portrayal of three-dimensional objects. Cubism was given its highestexpressionbyPabloPicasso.

DOCUMENTARYAnonfiction film intended to recordorcapture (andoftencommenton)somepartofreality.HoopDreams,MarchofthePenguins,andFahrenheit9/11areexamplesofwell-knowndocumentaries.

FREEVERSEUnrhymedandunmetered(orirregularlyrhymedandmetered)verse.

FRESCO An artistic technique in which paint is applied to wet plaster, causing thepaintedimagetobecomeboundintothedecoratedsurface.

HAIKU A three-line, non-rhyming poem inwhich the first and third lines contain fivesyllables, and the second contains seven. Traditional Japanese haiku (plural andsingularformsareidentical)oftenevoketheseasons.

IAMBICPENTAMETERApoeticmetricalforminwhicheachlineofverseconsistsoftensyllables,ofwhichonlytheeven-numberedsyllablesarestressed.

IMPRESSIONISM A late 19th century Frenchmovement in painting that attempted,amongotherthings,toconveytheeffectoflightmorevividlythanhadpreviouslybeendone.ClaudeMonetwasamongthemostinfluentialoftheImpressionists.

JAZZ An influential American music style rooted in African and African-Americantraditions with input from diverse sources. Jazz has many spin-offs and subgenres.FamousjazzmusicianshaveincludedDukeEllingtonandCharlieParker.

LIBERAL ARTS A general course of study focusing on literature, art, history,philosophy,andrelatedsubjectsratherthanonspecificallyvocationalinstruction.

METAPHORAfigureofspeechinvolvingtheuseofwordsassociatedwithonethinginconnectionwithanotherinordertopointupsomerevealingsimilaritybetweenthetwo.To refer tosomeone’snoseashisorherbeak is tousemetaphor to saysomethingunflatteringabouttheperson’snose.

MOSAICAnartforminwhichdesignsareproducedbyinlayingsmalltilesorpiecesofstone,glass,orothermaterials.

NARRATIVEFILMAfictionfilmtoldprimarilyinchronologicalorder.Mostpopularfilmsfallintothiscategory.

NOIR A film and literature style portraying crime and sleaze in an atmosphere ofmystery,bleakness,cynicism,and/orglamour.Noir(pronounced“nwar”)oftencontainsa political subtext of corruption or paranoia. Well-known examples include The BigSleepandChinatown.

OPERAAdramasettomusic,inwhichthedialogueissungratherthanspoken.

OVERTURE An introductory musical piece for an opera or other work of musicaldrama.

POSTCOLONIALISMA literary andphilosophicalmovement concernedwith life andidentity in formerly colonized cultures.Well-known postcolonial writers include FranzFanon,JamaicaKincaid,andSalmanRushdie.

RENAISSANCETheblossomingofart, literature,science,andcultureingeneralthat

transformedEuropebetweenthefourteenthandseventeenthcenturies.

ROMANÀCLEFAnovelinwhichthecharactersandeventsaredisguisedversionsofrealpeopleandevents.

ROMANTICISMAnanticlassicalliteraryandartisticmovementthatbeganinEuropeinthe late 18th century. William Wordsworth and John Keats were perhaps thepreeminentRomanticpoets.

SIMILEAfigureofspeechinwhichonethingislikenedtosomethingelse.Asimilewillalways contain the word like or as. To call someone’s nose a beak is to use ametaphor;tosaythatsomeone’snoseislikeabeakistouseasimile.

SONATAAninstrumentalmusicalcompositionconsistingofseveralmovements.

SONNETAverseformconsistingoffourteenlinesofiambicpentameterrhymedinastrictscheme.

STILLLIFEAnartisticdepictionofarrangedobjects.

STREAMOFCONSCIOUSNESSA literary technique inwhichanauthorattempts toreproduceinprosetheunstructuredrushofrealhumanthought.

SURREALISM A primarily French artistic and literary movement of the early 20thcentury thatattemptedto incorporate imagery fromdreamsand theunconscious intoworksofart.

SYMPHONYAmajorworkfororchestra,usuallyconsistingofseveralmovements.

CHAPTER10

Finance

Readingthefinancialpagesofthenewspapercanbeconfusingifyoudon’tknowthelingo.Herearesomeofthetermsthatcropupmostoften.

ANNUALPERCENTAGERATE(APR)A loan’sannualpercentage rate is the loan’strueinterestratewhenallthecostsofborrowingaretakenintoaccount.Beforelendingyou$10,000atanominalinterestrateof12percent,abankmaychargeyouafeeofseveral hundred dollars. The effective interest rate on the loan—its APR—wouldincludethecostofpayingthisfeeandwouldthusbesomewhathigherthan12percent.

ASSETAnassetissomethingyouown.Aliabilityissomethingyouowe.

BANKRUPTCYAprocedurebywhichadeeplyindebtedpersonorcompanysacrificesmostorallremainingassets inexchangeforbeingrelievedof theobligationtorepayanyremainingdebts.

BEARMARKETAfallingstockmarket.

BONDSWhenyoubuyabondyouare,ineffect,lendingmoneytothecity,company,orotherentitythatissuedit.Inreturn,theissuerpaysyouinterest.

Therearemanydifferentkindsofbonds.U.S.governmentbondsarebondsissuedbythefederalgovernment.Whenyoubuyagovernmentbond,you’rehelpingto financethe federal deficit.Municipalbonds arebonds issued by cities, counties, and states.They are often issued to finance specific projects, such as the construction of ahighwayoranathleticstadium.Corporatebondsarebondsissuedbycompanies.Junkbondsarehigh-interest,high-riskbondsissuedbyrelativelyuncredit-worthyborrowers.

BOOKVALUE A company’s book value is what the company would be worth if itsassets (includingofficebuildingsandfurniture)wereallsoldand its liabilitieswereallpaidoff.

BULLMARKETArisingstockmarket.

CALLAnoptiontobuystockatacertainpricewithinacertainperiodoftime.Aputisanoptiontosellstockatacertainpricewithinacertainperiodoftime.Putsandcallsarenotforamateurs.

CAPITALGAINTheprofitonthesaleofstocks,bonds,realestate,andotherso-calledcapitalassets.Ifyoubuyastockfor$5ashareandsellitafewweekslaterfor$1,000

ashare,youhaveacapitalgainof$995ashare.Acapital loss is thesame thing inreverse.

COMMODITIES Pork bellies, beef fat, wheat, corn, gold, silver, and other animal,vegetable, and mineral products are a few examples of commodities. Contracts fortheseitemsaretradedinhighlyriskymarketsthatarenoplaceforsomeonewhocan’taffordtolosealotofmoney.

COMMONSTOCKSAshareofcommonstockrepresentsa(usuallytiny)pieceofthecompanythatissuesit.Ifyouownashareofstockinacompany,youownafractionofthecompanyitselfandareentitledtoacorrespondingfractionofthecompany’sprofits,usuallypaidintheformofquarterlydividends.

COMPOUNDINTERESTCompoundinterest is interestpaidon interest that’salreadybeen paid. If you put $100 in a savings account and don’t withdraw the interestpayments, the effective interest rate on your initial investment rises as each newinterest payment increases the value of your account. The compounding of interestcausesanaccountearning10percentinteresttodoubleinvalueinaboutsevenyearsinsteadofthetenyoumightexpect.

CORPORATEBONDSSeebonds.

DISCOUNT BROKERAGE A stockbrokerage that charges lower commissions thantraditionalstockbrokeragesbutprovidesfewerservices.

DIVIDEND When a company earns profits, it typically reinvests some in itself anddistributes the rest to its shareholders,who are the company’s owners. These profitdistributionsaretypicallypaidquarterlyandarecalleddividends.

DOWJONESINDUSTRIALAVERAGEAnindexbasedonthestockpricesofthirtybigindustrialcompanies.TheDowJonesisn’tarepresentativesampleofeitherthestockmarketortheeconomyingeneral,butithastraditionallybeenusedasabarometerofboth.

EQUITYEquityisthedifferencebetweenassetsandliabilities.Ifyourhouse(anasset)isworth$100,000andyouowe$45,000onit(a liability),yourequityinyourhouseis$55,000.

Ahomeequityloan isaloanbackedbyyourequityinyourhome.Homeequityloansusedtobecalledsecondmortgages.Ifyoustoppayingoffyourhomeequityloan,yourisklosingyourhouse.

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION The FDIC is the governmentagencythatinsuresbankdeposits.

HOMEEQUITYLOANSeeequity.

MARGINBuyingstockonmarginisbuyingstockinpartwithmoneyborrowedfromthestockbroker.Buyingonmarginisrisky.Ifthepriceofastockyouboughtonmarginfallsbelowacertainpoint, thebrokerwill requireyou toputupmoremoney. If youdon’thavethemoney,youmaybeforcedtosellthestockimmediatelyatalossinordertocoveryourposition.

MORTGAGEWhenyouobtainamortgagetobuyahouse,whatyouarereallydoingispersuadingabank tobuyahouse foryouand letyou live in it inexchange foryourpromisetopaybackthebank,withinterest,overaperiodofyears.Ifyoustoppayingbackthebank,thebankmaytakebackthehouse.Inotherwords,thebanklendsyouenoughmoneytobuythehousewiththeunderstandingthatthebankgetsthehouseifyou don’t pay back the loan. A traditionalmortgage runs for thirty years at a fixedinterestratewithfixedmonthlypayments,buttherearemanyvariations.

MUTUAL FUND Amutual fund is an investment pool in which a large number ofinvestorsputtheirmoneytogetherinthehopeofmakingmoremoneythantheywouldhaveiftheyhadinvestedontheirown.Mutualfundsarerunbyprofessionalmanagerswhomayormaynotbebetter thantheaveragepersonatpickinggood investments.Somemutualfundsinvestonlyinstocks;someinvestonlyinbonds;someinvestonlyinmetals;some investonly inJapanesestocks;some invest ina littleofeverything;someinvestinwhateverlooksgoodatthemoment.

ODDLOTLessthan100sharesofacompany’sstock.Groupsofsharesinmultiplesof100areknownasroundlots.Brokeragestypicallychargeslightlyhighercommissionsontransactionsinvolvingoddlots.

OPTION The opportunity to do something else (such as buy a certain number ofsharesatacertainprice)atsometimeinthefuture.

OVER-THE-COUNTERSTOCKAnOTCstockisonethatisn’ttradedontheNewYorkStock Exchange or the NASDAQ; one of several smaller stock exchanges. A stockexchange is a big marketplace where buyers and sellers (or, usually, theirrepresentatives) gather to do business within a framework of mutually agreed-uponrulesandlimitations.Butnotallstocksareboughtandsoldthroughstockexchanges.These stocks (typically those of smaller, less-established companies) are said to bebought and sold “over the counter.” To buy or sell such a stock, you have to dobusiness directly with someone who deals in it, or “makes a market” in it. Moststockbrokers of any size have over-the-counter departments that handle suchtransactions.

PRICE/EARNINGSRATIOAstock’sP/E is the ratioof itspriceand thevalueof the

company’searningsinthepastyeardividedbythenumberofsharesoutstanding.Ifastocksellsfor$20ashareandhadearningsof$2ashare,itsP/Eis10,anditsshareprice issaid tobe “ten timesearnings.” In theory, ifeverythingelse isequal,astockwith a high P/E is a worse buy than a stock with a low P/E, but there are manyexceptions.

PRIME RATE The interest rate that banks charge their biggest and best loancustomers.Everybodyelsepaysmore.Manyloanratesarekeyedtotheprime,whichis why a change in theprime rate affectsmore than just the biggest and best loancustomers.

PROXY Ownership of a share of stock entitles the shareholder to vote at thecompany’sannualmeeting.Shareholderswhocan’tattendthemeetingcanstillvotebysendinginaproxy—essentially,anabsenteeballot.

SECURITIESANDEXCHANGECOMMISSION TheSEC is the government agencythatoverseesthetradingofstocks,bonds,andothersecurities.

SELLING SHORT To sell a stock short is to sell it before you own it. Soundsimpossible?It’snot.Sellingshortisawaytomakemoneyonastockwhenitspriceisgoingdown.Whatyoudo,technically,issellstockborrowedfromyourbroker,thenbuythesamenumberofshareslater,whenthepricehasfallen.Whathappensifthepricedoesn’tfall?Youlosemoney.

STOCKSPLITWhenastock“splitstwoforone,”shareholdersareissuedanadditionalshareforeverysharetheyownatthetimeofthesplit.Theeffectistohalvethepricepershare,becauseeachshareisnowworthhalfofwhatitwasworthwhentherewereonlyhalfasmany.Companiesgenerallysplit theirstocks inorder toknocktheshareprice down to a level at which, the company hopes, it will be more attractive toinvestors.

Stocksplits are sometimes referred to asstockdividends. But a stock dividend isn’treallyadividendatall,becauseitdoesn’thaveanyvalue.

TAX SHELTER Any investment that permits the investor to protect income fromtaxation.Taxreformhaseliminatedmostofthese.Taxsheltersthatsoundtoogoodtobetruetendtobenotonlytoogoodtobetruebutalsoillegal.Therearestilla lotofhumblertaxshelters,though.Buyingahouseisone:interestonmortgagepaymentsisdeductible, and the resulting tax savings amounts to a federal housing subsidy forpeoplewealthyenoughtobuytheirownhomes.

WARRANT An option to buy a certain amount of stock at a certain price within acertainperiodoftime.

YIELDTheannualincomegeneratedbyaninvestmentexpressedasapercentageofits cost. If a stock has a yield of 4 percent, it pays dividends equal to 4 percent ofpurchasepriceofashareofitsstock.

CHAPTER11

ForeignWordsandPhrases

People in France buy their prescriptions at “le drug-store” and look forward to “leweekend”—usefulwordsborrowedfromEnglish.SimilarlywesupplementEnglishwithmanywordsandphrasesborroweddirectly fromother languages.Herearesomeofthemostusefulrecentimports.

ÀPROPOS(ahpruhPOH) adj [French—“tothepurpose”]tothepoint;pertinent

Acommentisàpropos(orapropos)ifitisexactlyappropriateforthesituation.

ADHOC(adHAHK) adj [Latin—“forthis”]foraparticularpurpose;onlyforthematterathandAnadhoccommitteeisacommitteeestablishedforaparticularpurposeortodealwithaparticularproblem.

AFICIONADO (uh fish yuh NAH doh, ah fee syow NAH doh) n [Spanish—“affectionateone”]fanAnaficionadooffootballisafootballfan.Anaficionadooftheaterisatheaterfan.

ALFRESCO(alFRESkoh) adj [Italian—“inthefresh”]outside;inthefreshairAnalfrescomealisapicnic.

APPARATCHIK (app uh RAT shik) n [Russian—“apparat (Communist partymachine)member”]loyalfunctionary;bureaucrat• RecentarticleshavedescribedMr.Petroleumas“anenergycompanyapparatchik”andMayorAtlantaas“aDemocraticPartyapparatchikturnedpopularleader.”

AUCOURANT(ohkooRAWN) adj [French—“inthecurrent”]uptodate;informedTobeaucourantistoknowallthelatestinformation.

BONA FIDE (BO na FIDE) adj [Latin—“in/with good faith”] authentic; sincere;genuineThenounformisbonafides(singular),meaningproofofcredentialsorofsincerity.• Abona fide linguistic expert, Alli speaks forty languages, including six Aboriginaltongues.

CARTEBLANCHE(kahrtblanch,kahrtblawnch) n [French—“blankcard”]thepowertodowhateveronewants

Togivesomeonecarteblancheistogivethatpersonthelicensetodoanything.

DEFACTO(deeFAKtoh) adj [Latin—“fromthefact”]actualYourdefactoboss is thepersonwho tellsyouwhat todo.Yourde jure (deeJYUR)bossisthepersonwhoistechnicallyinchargeofyou.Dejure(“fromthelaw”)meansaccordingtoruleoflaw.

DERIGUEUR(duhriGUR,duhreeGUER) adj [French—“indispensable”]obligatory;requiredbyfashionorcustomLonghair formenwasderigueur in the late1960s.Eveningwear isderigueur at aformalparty.

DÉJÀVU (DAY zhah vu) n [French—“already seen”] an illusory feeling of havingseenordonesomethingbeforeTohavedéjàvu is tobelieve thatonehasalreadydoneor seenwhatone is in factdoingorseeingforthefirsttime.

ENNUI(AHNwee) n [French—“annoyance”]boredom;wearydissatisfaction• Mashathinksennuiissophisticated,butherjadedremarksboremetotears.

FAIT ACCOMPLI (fet uh kohm PLEE, fayt ah kahm PLEE) n [French—“accomplishedfact”]somethingthatisalreadydoneandthatcannotbeundone• Ourcommitteespentalongtimedebatingwhethertohavethebuildingpainted,buttheprojectwasafaitaccompli.Thechairmanhadalreadyhiredsomeonetodoit.

FAUXPAS(fohPAH) n [French—“falsestep”]anembarrassingsocialmistake• Henry committed a faux pas when he told the hostess that her party had beenboring.

IDÉEFIXE(eedayFEEKS) n [French—“fixedidea”]afixedidea;anobsessionAnidéefixeisanideathatobsessesyouorthatyoucan’tgetoutofyourmind.

IPSOFACTO (IPsohFAC toh)adv [Latin—“by the fact itself”]byorbecauseof thatveryfact• Under the discriminatory employment policy, people with children are ipso factoineligibleforpromotion.

JOIEDEVIVRE(zhwahduhVEEvruh) n [French—“joyofliving”]deepandusuallycontagiousenjoymentoflife• Antonia’s joie de vivre made her office a pleasant place to work for everyoneconnectedwithit.

JUNTA (HOON tuh, JUN tuh) n [Spanish—“joined”] a small group that rules acountryafteritsgovernmentisoverthrown• Aftertherebelshaddrivenoutthepresident,theLatinAmericancountrywasruledbyajuntaofarmyofficers.

LAISSEZ-FAIRE (les ay FAIR, lay zay FAIR) n [French—“let do”] a doctrine ofnoninterferencebygovernmentintheeconomy;noninterferenceingeneralTo believe in laissez-faire is to believe the government should exert no control overbusiness.It’salsopossibletoadoptalaissez-faireattitudeaboutothermatters.

MEACULPA(mayahKOOLpah,mayuhKULpuh) n [Latin—“myfault”]myfault• Meaculpa,meaculpa.Iwastheonewhoputthedoginthecat’sbed.

NOLO CONTENDERE (noh loh kahn TEN duh ree) n [Latin—“I do not wish tocontend”]nocontestAplea inacourtcasethat is theequivalentofaguiltyplea,but itdoesn’t includeanactualadmissionofguilt.

NONSEQUITUR (nahnSEKwi tur) n [Latin—“itdoesnot follow”]astatement thatdoesnotfollowlogicallyfromwhathasgonebefore• Bill’ssaying,“Forty-threedegrees,”whenLolaasked,“MayIhavethebutter?”wasanonsequitur.

PERSONANONGRATA(perSOHnuhnahnGRAHtuh) adj [Latin—“unacceptableperson”]specificallyunwelcomeIndiplomacy,personanongrataoftenreferstoanemissaryblacklisted(forsuspectedespionageorcrime,orforpoliticalreasons)byahostcountry.• Fernando’saltercationwiththeprincipalmadehimpersonanongrataintheParent-TeacherAssociation.

QUIDPROQUO(kwidprohKWOH) n [Latin—“somethingforsomething”]somethinggivenordoneinreturnforsomethingelse• Thepoliticiansaidshewoulddowhatwehadaskedhertodo,buttherewasaquidproquo:shesaidwehadtobribeherfirst.

RAISON D’ÊTRE (ray zohn DET, ray zohn DET ruh) n [French—“reason to be”]reasonforbeing• Moneywasthegreedyrichman’sraisond’être.

RENDEZVOUS(RAHNdayvoo,RAHNduhvoo) n [French—“presentyourselves”]ameeting;ameetingplace• Theyoungcouplemetbehindthebleachersforadiscreetrendezvous.

SAVOIR-FAIRE(savwahrFER) n [French—“toknowhowtodo”]tact;theabilitytoactconfidentlyandappropriatelyindifferentsituations• WhileJo tended tobe tactless,hersisterMegwas fullofsavoir-faireandhad theabilitytocharmwhomevershemet.

SINEQUANON(sinaykwohNOHN,syeneekwayNAHN) n [Latin—“withoutwhichnot”]somethingessential• Understandingisthesinequanonofasuccessfulmarriage.

STATUS QUO (stayt us KWOH, stat us KWOH) n [Latin—“state in which”] thecurrentstateofaffairsThestatusquoisthewaythingsarenow.

SUIGENERIS(sooeeJENuris) adj [Latin—“ofone’sownkind”]unique;inaclassofone’sownTobesuigenerisistobeunlikeanyoneelse.

TÊTE-À-TÊTE (tayt uh TAYT, tet ah TET) n [French—“head to head”] a privateconversationbetweentwopeople• The two attorneys resolved their differences in a brief tête-à-tête before the trialbegan.

VIS-À-VIS(veezuhVEE)prep[French—“facetoface”]inrelationto;comparedwith• Thestudents’relationshipvis-à-vistheadministrationwasoneofconfrontation.

ZEITGEIST(TSYTEgyste) n [German—“timespirit”]thespiritofthetimes• Nudnikwasalwaysoutofstepwiththezeitgeist;hehadshorthairin1970andlonghairin1980.

CHAPTER12

Science

Here’sa listofscientific terms that turnup innewspapersandmagazineswithgreatfrequency. You won’t learnmuch science by learning this list, but you’ll learn somewordsthatmayhelpyoukeepyourbearings.

ABSOLUTEZEROThetemperatureatwhichatomsbecomesocoldtheystopmoving:–459.67˚For–273.15˚C.Thisistheoreticallythelowestpossibletemperature.

ANTIBODYThekeypartoftheimmunesystem.Anantibodyisaproteinproducedbythebodyinresponsetoinvasionofthebodybyavirus,bacterium,orotherthreateningsubstance. The antibody attacks the invader and then remains in the bloodstream,providingcontinuingimmunity.

ANTIMATTER Ineffect, themirror imageofordinarymatter.Eachof theelementaryparticleshasacorrespondinganti-particle,withanoppositeelectrical charge.Whenmatterandantimattercollide,bothareannihilated,andenergyisreleased.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The general name for attempts to reproduce humanmentalprocesseswithcomputers.

BEHAVIORISM A branch of psychology whose principal tenet is that all behaviorconsistsofreflexiveresponsestoexternalstimuli.

BIG BANG A massive explosion that theoretically began the universe between 10billionand20billionyearsago.

CHROMOSOME A structure in the nucleus of a cell that containsDNA and carriesgeneticinformation.

CLONING A technology used to produce an organism that is genetically identical toanotherorganism.

COSMOLOGYThestudyoftheorigins,structure,andfutureoftheuniverse.

DARK ENERGY A hypothetical force that some cosmologists believe counteractsgravityandaccountsfortheacceleratingexpansionoftheuniverse;Einsteinwasfirstto posit the existence of dark energy, though he later referred to the idea as his“biggestblunder.”

DARKMATTER Invisiblehypotheticalmatter thoughtbysomescientists toconstitute

asmuchas90percentofthemassintheuniverse.

DNA An abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, the substance that is the principalcomponentofgenes;hence,DNAistheprimarycarrierofgeneticinformation.

ELECTROMAGNETICRADIATIONVisible light,radiosignals,microwaves,ultravioletlight,andXraysareallexamplesofelectromagneticradiation,whichisenergyradiatedinwavesfromcertainelectricallychargedelementaryparticles.

ELECTRONMICROSCOPEAdevicethatusesstreamsofelectronstoprovidegreatlymagnified images of objects far too small to be seen by the humaneye or even byordinaryopticalmicroscopes.

ELEMENTARYPARTICLES The tinyparticles thatmakeupatomsandare thus thebuildingblocksofallmatter.Protons,neutrons,andelectronswereoncebelievedtobetheonlyelementaryparticles,but it isnowknownthat theseparticlesarethemselvesmade up of smaller particles and that the list of elementary particles is quite long.Amongtheneweradditionstothelistarequarks,muons,pions,gluons,positrons,andneutrinos.

ENDORPHINS Sometimes referred to as the body’s own narcotics, endorphins aresubstances produced by the pituitary gland that can reduce pain, alter moods, andhaveothereffects.

ENZYMEAnyofa largenumberofsubstances inorganisms thatspeedupormakepossiblevariousbiologicalprocesses.

GENEAchemicalpatternonachromosome.Genesmakeupunitsofinformationthatgoverntheinheritanceofallbiologicalstructuresandfunctions.

GENETICENGINEERING A science devoted to alteringgenes in order to produceorganismswithmoredesirablecharacteristics,suchasresistancetodisease.

GENOMEThecompletesetofacreature’sgenes.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT The phenomenon whereby the earth’s atmosphere(especiallywhenalteredbytheadditionofvariouspollutants)trapssomeoftheheatofthesunandwarmsthesurfaceoftheearth.

HOLOGRAMA three-dimensional imageproducedbyaphotographicprocesscalledholography,whichinvolveslasers.

HYDROCARBON Any of a large number of organic compounds composed ofhydrogen and carbon. Butane, methane, and propane are three of the lighter

hydrocarbons. Gasoline, kerosene, and asphalt are all mixtures of (mostly relativelyheavy)hydrocarbons.

INVITROFERTILIZATIONThefertilizationofaneggoutsidethemother’sbody.

ISOTOPEAnatomwiththesamenumberofprotonsasasecondatombutadifferentnumberofneutronsissaidtobeanisotopeofthatsecondatom.

LASERAdevicethatproducesanextraordinarilyintensebeamoflight.ThewordlaserisanacronymforLightAmplificationbySimulatedEmissionofRadiation.

LIGHT-YEAR The distance that light travels in a year, or approximately5,878,000,000,000miles.

NATURALSELECTION The theory that species originate andbecomedifferentiatedas certain characteristics of organisms provemore valuable than others at enablingthoseorganisms to reproduce.Thesevaluablecharacteristicsare ineffect “selected”by nature for preservation in succeeding generations, while other characteristicsdisappear.NaturalselectionwasakeyelementinCharlesDarwin’smonumentaltheoryofevolution.

NEBULAAnenormouscloudofdustandgasinouterspace.

NUCLEARENERGYThevastenergy locked in the infinitesimalnucleusofanatom.Thisenergycanbereleasedthroughfission(thesplittingofcertainatomicnuclei)andfusion (the combining of certain atomic nuclei). It is also released naturally in a fewelementsthroughaprocessofdecompositioncalledradioactivity.Fission, fusion,andradioactivityareallprocessesinvolvingtheconversionofsmallamountsofmatterintoenormous amounts of energy. The release of this energy is the basis of nuclearweapons(suchasatomicbombsandhydrogenbombs)andnuclearreactorsused intheproductionofelectricity.

NUCLEAR WINTER A hypothetical chilling of the earth resulting from thecontaminationoftheatmospherebyradioactivematerials,dust,andothersubstancesintheaftermathofanuclearwar.

OSMOSIS The equalization of fluid concentrations on both sides of a permeablemembrane.

OZONELAYER Ozone is a compound of oxygen. The ozone layer is a part of theatmosphere that, among other things, filters out radiation that is harmful to humanbeings. In recentdecades theozone layerhasbeen found tobedecomposingatanalarming rate, owing in large part to the release of certain pollutants into theatmosphere.

PASTEURIZATION A sterilization process in which foods are heated in order to killharmfulorganismsinthem.TheprocessisnamedforLouisPasteur,the19th-centuryFrenchscientistwhodevelopedit.

PERIODICTABLEAchartdepictingtheknownelementsarrangedaccordingtocertaincharacteristics—amust-haveinchemistryclassroomsandtextbooks.

PHEROMONE Substances secreted by animals that influence the behavior of otheranimals,primarilythroughthesenseofsmell.

PHOTONThesmallestunitofelectromagneticradiation.

PHOTOSYNTHESISTheprocesswherebygreenplantstransformenergyfromthesunintofood.

PLATETECTONICS A revolutionary geological theory holding that the earth’s crustconsists of enormousmovingplates that are constantly shifting positionand, amongotherthings,alteringtheshapeandarrangementofthecontinents.

PULSARAnyofanumberof lessthanthoroughlyunderstoodobjects inouterspacethatemitregularpulsesofradiowaves.

QUASAR Any of a number of starlike objects believed to occupy the very farthestfringesoftheuniverse.

RADIOTELESCOPEA largeantennacapableof receiving the radiowavesnaturallyemitted by stars and other objects in outer space. A radio telescope is a telescopecapableof“seeing”formsofelectromagneticradiationnotvisible to thehumaneyeortoanordinaryopticaltelescope.

RELATIVITYAlbertEinstein’smonumental theory,whichholds,amongagreatmanyother things, that space and time are not separate entities but elements of a singlecontinuumcalledspacetime.

RNAAnabbreviationforribonucleicacid,asubstancesimilartoDNAthatisacrucialelementinthesynthesisofproteins.

SEISMOLOGY The study of earthquakes and other tremors (including man-madeones)intheearth’scrust.

SPEEDOF LIGHT The speed at which light travels through a vacuum, or 186,282milespersecond.

SUPERCONDUCTIVITYTheabilityofcertainsubstancestoconductelectricitywithno

resistance.Superconductivityhasusuallybeenproducedbycoolingcertainsubstancestotemperaturesapproachingabsolutezero.Morerecently,scientistshavediscoveredmaterialsthatbecomesuperconductiveatvastlywarmertemperatures.

THERMODYNAMICSAbranchofscienceconcernedwithheatandtheconversionofheatintootherformsofenergy.

VACCINEAsubstancethat,whenintroducedintoanorganism,causestheorganismtoproduceantibodiesagainst,andhenceimmunityto,aparticulardisease.

CHAPTER13

TheAnswers

QuickQuiz#1

1.j abash—embarrass2.f abate—subside3.a abdicate—stepdownfrompower4.i aberration—deviation5.g abhor—detest6.b abject—hopeless7.k abnegate—renounce8.c abortive—unsuccessful9.h abridge—shorten10.e absolute—total11.d absolve—forgive

QuickQuiz#2

1.b abstinent—voluntarilyavoiding2.h abstract—theoretical3.a abstruse—hardtounderstand4.c abysmal—wretched5.i accolade—award6.j accost—approach7.k acerbic—sour8.e acquiesce—comply9.f acrid—harsh10.d acrimonious—bitter11.g acumen—mentalsharpness

QuickQuiz#3

1.a acute—sharp2.h adulation—wildadmiration3.g adamant—unyielding4.e address—speakto5.b adherent—follower6.d admonish—scoldgently7.f adroit—skillful8.f dexterous—skillful9.c gauche—sociallyawkward

QuickQuiz#4

1.f adulterate—contaminate2.h adverse—unfavorable3.a averse—opposedto4.e aesthetic—artistic5.b affable—friendly6.d affectation—unnaturalbehavior7.g affinity—sympathy8.c affluent—rich9.i agenda—program

QuickQuiz#5

1.g aggregate—sumtotal2.a congregate—gettogether3.e segregate—keepapart4.b integrate—unite5.c agnostic—someoneunconvincedabouttheexistenceofagod6.k agrarian—relatingtoland7.j alacrity—cheerfuleagerness

8.i allege—assert9.d alleviate—relieve10.h allocate—distribute11.f alloy—combinationofmetals

QuickQuiz#6

1.e allusion—indirectreference2.b aloof—standoffish3.d altruism—generosity4.a ambience—atmosphere5.c ambiguous—confusing6.f ambivalent—undecided

QuickQuiz#7

1.f ameliorate—makebetter2.c amenable—obedient3.a amenity—pleasantness4.j amiable—friendly5.h amicable—politelyfriendly6.i amnesty—officialpardon7.d amoral—withoutmoralfeeling8.e amorous—feelingloving9.g amorphous—shapeless10.k anachronism—incongruity11.b analogy—comparison

QuickQuiz#8

1.i anarchy—lawlessness2.h monarchy—governmentbykingorqueen3.g anecdote—amusingaccount

4.f anguish—agonizingpain5.a animosity—resentment6.d anomaly—irregularity7.e antecedent—whatwentbefore8.c antipathy—firmdislike9.j antithesis—directopposite10.b apartheid—racialoppression

QuickQuiz#9

1.d apathy—lackofinterest2.i aphorism—wittysaying3.f apocalypse—propheticrevelation4.a apocryphal—ofdubiousauthenticity5.h apotheosis—theperfectexample6.e appease—soothe7.c appreciate—increaseinvalue8.g depreciate—decreaseinvalue9.j apprehensive—worried10.b misapprehension—misunderstanding

QuickQuiz#10

1.f approbation—approval2.c appropriate—takewithoutpermission3.a misappropriate—misusepublicmoney4.h expropriate—takepropertyofficially5.j aptitude—naturalability6.i arbiter—judge7.d arbitrate—weighopposingviews8.g arbitrary—random9.e arcane—mysterious

10.b archaic—extremelyold

QuickQuiz#11

1.i archetype—originalmodel2.a ardent—passionate3.e arduous—difficult4.b aristocratic—ofnoblebirth5.h artful—crafty6.f artifice—trickery7.c ascendancy—supremacy8.g ascetic—hermitlike9.d assiduous—hardworking

QuickQuiz#12

1.g assimilate—absorb2.e assuage—soothe3.a astute—shrewd4.i attrition—gradualwearingaway5.b audacity—boldness6.d augment—makebigger7.c auspicious—favorable8.h austere—unadorned9.f autocratic—extremelybossy

QuickQuiz#13

1.d autonomous—actingindependently2.a avarice—greed3.e avow—claim4.b avuncular—likeanuncle5.f awry—offcourse

6.c axiom—self-evidenttruth

QuickQuiz#14

1.b banal—unoriginal2.e bane—poison3.d bastion—stronghold4.h beget—givebirthto5.c belabor—gooverrepeatedly6.g beleaguer—surround7.f belie—giveafalseimpression8.a belittle—maketoseemlittle

QuickQuiz#15

1.g belligerent—combative2.e bemused—confused3.b benefactor—donor4.i beneficiary—onewhoreceivesbenefits5.f benevolent—generous6.c benign—notharmful7.d malignant—deadly8.h malign—injurewithlies9.a malevolent—intendingharm10.j malefactor—evildoer

QuickQuiz#16

1.b bequest—somethingleftinawill2.e bequeath—leavinginawill3.a bereaved—leftdesolate4.c beset—harass5.f blasphemy—irreverence

6.d blatant—offensivelynoisy

QuickQuiz#17

1.n blight—plantdisease2.c blithe—carefree3.g bourgeois—middleclass4.e bovine—cowlike5.m canine—doglike6.d feline—catlike7.h equine—horselike8.l piscine—fishlike9.j porcine—piglike10.b ursine—bearlike11.i brevity—briefness12.o broach—openasubject13.f bucolic—charminglyrural14.k bureaucracy—inflexibleadministration15.a burgeon—flourish16.p burlesque—ludicrousimitation

QuickQuiz#18

1.b cacophony—harshmixtureofsounds2.l cadence—rhythm3.j cajole—persuadedeceptively4.f callow—immature5.a candor—truthfulness6.g capitalism—freeenterprise7.c capitulate—surrender8.i recapitulate—summarize9.e capricious—unpredictable

10.d caricature—distortedportrait11.k castigate—criticizeseverely12.h catalyst—somethingthatmakesthingshappen

QuickQuiz#19

1.a categorical—unconditional2.b catharsis—relievingpurification3.i catholic—universal4.g caustic—corrosive5.c celibacy—abstinencefromsex6.h censure—condemnseverely7.d cerebral—brainy8.e chagrin—humiliation9.f charisma—magicalattractiveness

QuickQuiz#20

1.h charlatan—fraud2.i chasm—gapinghole3.d chastise—punish4.j chicanery—trickery5.g chimera—illusion6.c choleric—hot-tempered7.b chronic—constant8.a chronological—inorderofoccurrence9.f chronology—alistintimeorder10.e chronicle—anaccountofpasttimes

QuickQuiz#21

1.e circuitous—roundabout2.h circumlocution—indirectexpression

3.b circumscribe—drawalinearound4.a circumspect—cautious5.f circumvent—frustrate6.d civil—polite7.i clique—exclusivegroup8.c clemency—mercy9.j inclement—bad,asinweather10.g cliché—overusedsaying

QuickQuiz#22

1.b coalesce—unite2.g coalition—groupwithapurpose3.d coerce—forcesomeonetodosomething4.h cogent—powerfullyconvincing5.l cognitive—dealingwithhowweknowourenvironment6.a cognizant—perceptive7.f coherent—makingsense8.c colloquial—conversational9.k collusion—conspiracy10.e commensurate—proportionate11.j compelling—forceful12.i compendium—summary

QuickQuiz#23

1.h complacent—self-satisfied2.b complement—complete3.g complicity—participationinwrongdoing4.a comprehensive—coveringeverything5.c comprise—consistof6.d compose—makeup

7.d constitute—makeup8.f conciliatory—makingpeace9.e concise—briefandtothepoint

QuickQuiz#24

1.c concord—harmony2.i discord—disharmony3.h concurrent—happeningatthesametime4.f condescend—stooporpatronize5.g condone—overlook6.e conducive—promoting7.d confluence—flowingtogether8.a congenial—agreeablysuitable9.b congenital—innate

QuickQuiz#25

1.i congregate—gettogether2.h conjecture—guess3.e conjure—summonasifbymagic4.g connoisseur—artisticexpert5.c consecrate—makesacred6.f desecrate—treatirreverently7.d consensus—unanimity8.b consonant—harmonious9.a dissonant—incompatible

QuickQuiz#26

1.b construe—interpret2.c consummate—perfect3.h contentious—argumentative

4.g contiguous—adjoining5.e contingent—dependent6.a contrite—admittingguilt7.d contrived—labored8.j conventional—common9.i convivial—festive10.f copious—abundant

QuickQuiz#27

1.g corollary—naturalconsequence2.d corroborate—confirm3.a cosmopolitan—worldlyandsophisticated4.b countenance—face5.f coup—brilliantvictory6.e covenant—solemnagreement7.h covert—secret8.c covet—wishforenviously

QuickQuiz#28

1.e credulous—eagertobelieve2.b credible—believable3.g incredible—unbelievable4.f incredulous—unbelieving5.c credence—believability6.d creditable—worthyofpraise7.i criterion—standard8.j cryptic—mysterious9.a culinary—relatedtocooking10.h culminate—climax

QuickQuiz#29

1.e culpable—guilty2.a exculpate—freefromguilt3.d cursory—hasty4.b curtail—shorten5.c cynic—onewhodistrustshumanity

QuickQuiz#30

1.e daunt—makefearful2.b dearth—lack3.i debacle—violentbreakdown4.j debauchery—wildliving5.h debilitate—weaken6.f decadent—decayingordecayed7.c decimate—killalargepartof8.g decorous—proper9.a deduce—concludefromevidence10.d defame—libelorslander

QuickQuiz#31

1.d deference—respect2.e definitive—conclusive3.a degenerate—deteriorate4.g deleterious—harmful5.c delineate—describeaccurately6.i delude—deceive7.j deluge—flood8.l demagogue—rabble-rousingleader9.h denizen—inhabitant10.k depravity—extremewickedness11.f deprecate—expressdisapprovalof

12.b deride—ridicule

QuickQuiz#32

1.h derogatory—disapproving2.g desiccate—dryout3.b despondent—extremelydepressed4.i despot—absoluteruler5.e destitute—extremelypoor6.a desultory—withoutpurpose7.m dextrous—skillful8.k dialectical—relatingtodiscussions9.l dictum—authoritativesaying10.j didactic—intendedtoteach11.f diffident—timid12.d digress—strayfromthemainsubject13.c dilettante—amateur

QuickQuiz#33

1.a discern—haveinsight2.f discreet—prudent3.g discrete—unconnected4.c indiscrete—notseparated5.h discriminate—differentiate6.e disdain—arrogantscorn7.d disinterested—nottakingsides8.b disparage—belittle

QuickQuiz#34

1.i disparate—incompatible2.j disseminate—spreadseeds

3.b dissipate—thinout4.k dissolution—disintegration5.g distend—swell6.h distinguish—tellapart7.e docile—easilytaught8.a doctrinaire—committedtoatheory9.f dogmatic—arrogantlyassertive10.d dogma—firmlyheldsystemofideas11.c domestic—ofthehousehold

QuickQuiz#35

1.c dormant—inactive2.a dubiety—uncertainty3.b duplicity—double-dealing

QuickQuiz#36

1.f ebullient—bubblingwithexcitement2.d eccentric—notconventional3.e eclectic—drawnfrommanysources4.i edify—enlighten5.g efface—erase6.a effusion—pouringforth7.j egalitarian—believinginsocialequality8.h egocentric—selfish9.b egotist—self-obsessedperson10.c egregious—extremelybad

QuickQuiz#37

1.b elicit—bringout2.g elliptical—obscure

3.c elusive—hardtopindown4.e emigrate—movefromacountry5.f immigration—movingintoacountry6.a eminent—well-known7.d empirical—relyingonexperience

QuickQuiz#38

1.g emulate—strivetoequal2.j encroach—trespass3.e endemic—native4.d enervate—reducethestrength5.f enfranchise—grantvotingrights6.c disfranchise—removevotingrights7.a engender—causetoexist8.b enigma—mystery9.i enormity—extremeevil10.h ephemeral—lastingaveryshorttime

QuickQuiz#39

1.i epigram—brief,wittysaying2.e epigraph—aptquotation3.g epitaph—inscriptiononagravestone4.j epithet—characterizingterm5.a epitome—briefsummary6.c equanimity—composure7.b equitable—fair8.d equivocal—intentionallyconfusing9.f equivocate—sayconfusingthings10.h erudite—scholarly

QuickQuiz#40

1.a esoteric—peculiar2.i espouse—advocate3.h ethereal—heavenly4.e euphemism—inoffensivesubstituteterm5.j evanescent—fleeting6.b exacerbate—makeworse7.c exacting—extremelydemanding8.d exalt—raisehigh9.g exasperate—annoythoroughly10.k exemplify—illustratebyexample11.l exhaustive—thorough12.f exhort—urgestrongly

QuickQuiz#41

1.m exigency—emergency2.d existential—havingtodowithexistence3.a exonerate—freefromblame4.l expatriate—throwoutofnativeland5.i expedient—immediatelyadvantageous6.f expedite—speedup7.b explicit—clearlyexpressed8.c implicit—indirectlyexpressed9.o extol—praisehighly10.j extraneous—unnecessary11.g extrapolate—infer12.h extricate—freefromdifficulty13.e extrovert—outgoingperson14.k introvert—inwardlydirectedperson15.n exult—rejoice

QuickQuiz#42

1.i fabrication—lie2.e facetious—humorous3.g facile—superficiallyskillful4.h faction—groupwithacause5.c farcical—absurd6.j fastidious—meticulous7.d fatalist—onewhobelievesinfate8.k fatuous—foolish9.f fauna—animals10.a flora—plants11.b fecund—fertile

QuickQuiz#43

1.j felicity—happiness2.l fervor—zeal3.c fetter—restrain4.a fidelity—loyalty5.g figurative—basedonfiguresofspeech6.d literal—meaningexactlywhatissays7.i finesse—skillfulmaneuvering8.k flagrant—glaringlybad9.f flaunt—showoff10.h flout—todisregardcontemptuously11.e foible—minorcharacterflaw12.b foment—stirup

QuickQuiz#44

1.e forbear—refrainfrom2.b forebear—ancestor

3.d forgo—dowithout4.i forsake—abandon5.h fortuitous—accidental6.f founder—sink7.c flounder—moveinconfusion8.j frenetic—frantic9.a frugal—economical10.g furtive—secretive

QuickQuiz#45

1.g futile—hopeless2.a garrulous—chatty3.m gauche—awkward4.l genre—typeofart5.h genteel—refined6.f gesticulate—makegestures7.b glut—surplus8.j grandiloquent—pompous9.k grandiose—absurdlyexaggerated10.d gratuitous—unjustified11.e gravity—seriousness12.i gregarious—sociable13.c guile—cunning

QuickQuiz#46

1.f hackneyed—overused;trite2.j hapless—unlucky3.d harbinger—forerunner4.p hedonism—lifelongpursuitofpleasure5.a hegemony—leadership

6.q heresy—stronglycontrarybelief7.c hermetic—airtight8.h heyday—goldenage9.m hiatus—break10.e hierarchy—peckingorder11.l histrionic—overlydramatic12.n homily—sermon13.b homogeneous—uniform14.i heterogeneous—varied15.o husbandry—thriftymanagementofresources16.g hyperbole—exaggeration17.k hypothetical—uncertain;unproven

QuickQuiz#47

1.e iconoclast—attackerofpopularbeliefs2.h ideology—systemofsocialideas3.a idiosyncrasy—peculiarity4.b idyllic—naturallypeaceful5.j ignominy—deepdisgrace6.l illicit—illegal7.f imminent—justabouttohappen8.k immutable—unchangeable9.g impartial—fair10.d impeccable—flawless11.c imperial—likeanemperor12.i imperious—bossy

QuickQuiz#48

1.d impervious—impenetrable2.g impetuous—impulsive

3.b implement—carryout4.c impotent—powerless5.f impugn—attackthetruthof6.e inane—silly7.a inaugurate—beginofficially

QuickQuiz#49

1.j incandescent—brilliant2.d incantation—chant3.b incense—makeveryangry4.i incessant—unceasing5.c incipient—beginning6.h incisive—cuttingrighttotheheart7.e incongruous—notharmonious8.f incorrigible—incapableofbeingreformed9.a increment—increase10.g indifferent—notcaring;mediocre

QuickQuiz#50

1.a indigenous—native2.f indigent—poor3.h indignant—angry4.c indolent—lazy5.j indulgent—lenient6.k ineffable—inexpressible7.i inept—clumsy8.b inert—inactive9.g inexorable—relentless10.e infamous—shamefullywicked11.d infatuated—foolish

QuickQuiz#51

1.f infer—conclude2.c imply—hintat3.i infinitesimal—infinitelysmall4.d ingenuous—artless5.b inherent—partofthenatureof6.j injunction—courtorder7.e innate—inborn8.h innocuous—harmless9.g inordinate—excessive10.a insatiable—hardorimpossibletosatisfy

QuickQuiz#52

1.c insidious—treacherous2.a insinuate—hint3.h insipid—dull4.j insolent—arrogant5.e instigate—provoke6.f insular—likeanisland7.g insurgent—rebel8.d integral—essential9.k integrate—combine10.b intractable—uncontrollable11.i intransigent—uncompromising

QuickQuiz#53

1.e intrinsic—inherent2.f introspective—examiningone’sfeelings3.d inundate—flood4.b invective—insultingspeech

5.j inveterate—habitual6.i irascible—irritable7.g ironic—meaningotherthanwhat’ssaid8.a irrevocable—irreversible9.h itinerant—movingfromplacetoplace10.c itinerary—plannedtriproute

QuickQuiz#54

1.m judicious—exercisingsoundjudgment2.e juxtapose—placesidebyside3.h kinetic—active4.d labyrinth—maze5.c laconic—usingfewwords6.k lament—mourn7.j lampoon—satirize8.i languish—becomeweak9.f latent—presentbutnotvisible10.l laud—praise11.g legacy—bequest12.a lethargy—sluggishness13.b levity—lightness

QuickQuiz#55

1.e libel—writteninjuriousfalsehood2.f slander—spokeninjuriousfalsehood3.b litigate—tryincourt4.g loquacious—talkingalot5.d lucid—easytounderstand6.c lugubrious—exaggeratedlymournful7.a luminous—givingofflight

QuickQuiz#56

1.e machination—schemingevilactivity2.a magnanimous—forgiving3.n magnate—richbusinessperson4.c malaise—depression5.p malevolent—wishingtodoevil6.k malfeasance—illegalact7.o malignant—harmful8.g malinger—pretendtobesick9.b malleable—easytoshape10.d mandate—commandtodosomething11.h manifest—visible12.f manifesto—publicdeclaration13.j marshal—arrangeinorder14.m martial—warlike15.i martyr—onewhodiesforacause16.l matriculate—enroll

QuickQuiz#57

1.i maudlin—overlysentimental2.f maverick—nonconformist3.b maxim—fundamentalprinciple4.d mediate—helpsettledifferences5.e mellifluous—sweetlyflowing6.c mendacious—lying7.k mendicant—beggar8.a mentor—teacher9.j mercenary—hiredsoldier10.g mercurial—emotionallyunpredictable11.h metamorphosis—magicalchangeinform

QuickQuiz#58

1.m microcosm—worldinminiature2.j milieu—environment3.h minuscule—verytiny4.n misanthropic—hatingmankind5.b mitigate—moderatetheeffectof6.f mollify—soften7.c monolithic—massiveandunyielding8.l moribund—dying9.i morose—gloomy10.d mortify—humiliate11.e mundane—ordinary12.k munificent—verygenerous13.g myopia—nearsightedness14.a myriad—ahugenumber

QuickQuiz#59

1.a narcissism—excessiveloveofself2.h nebulous—vague3.e nefarious—evil4.l neologism—newword5.j nepotism—favoritism6.k nihilism—beliefintheabsenceofallvaluesandmorals7.b nominal—innameonly8.i nostalgia—longingforthepast9.g notorious—famousforsomethingbad10.d novel—original11.c noxious—harmful12.f nuance—subtledifference

QuickQuiz#60

1.c obdurate—stubborn2.k obfuscate—confuse3.g oblique—indirect4.a oblivion—forgetfulness5.b obscure—hardtounderstand6.l obsequious—fawning7.d obtuse—insensitive8.n officious—annoyinglyhelpful9.e onerous—burdensome10.j opaque—impossibletoseethrough11.f opulent—luxurious12.m orthodox—conventional13.h ostensible—misleadinglyapparent14.i ostentatious—showingoff

QuickQuiz#61

1.g pacify—calmsomeonedown2.j painstaking—extremelycareful3.l palliate—alleviate4.a palpable—obvious5.i paltry—insignificant6.h panacea—cureforeverything7.b paradigm—model8.e paradox—contradictorytruth9.d parochial—narrowinpointofview10.k parody—satiricalimitation11.f parsimonious—stingy12.c partisan—supporterofacause

QuickQuiz#62

1.i patent—obvious2.l paternal—fatherly3.f pathology—scienceofdiseases4.a patriarch—maleheadofafamily5.j patrician—aristocrat6.g patronize—treatasaninferior7.k paucity—scarcity8.b peccadillo—minoroffense9.e pedantic—boringlyscholarly10.c pedestrian—unimaginative11.h pejorative—negative12.n penchant—strongliking13.m penitent—sorry14.d pensive—thoughtfulandsad

QuickQuiz#63

1.k peremptory—final2.f perennial—continual3.j perfidy—treachery4.b perfunctory—unenthusiastic5.l peripatetic—wandering6.a periphery—outsideedgeofsomething7.d perjury—lyingunderoath8.c permeate—penetrate9.n pernicious—deadly10.e perquisite—job-relatedprivilege11.h prerequisite—necessity12.m pertinent—relevant13.g perturb—disturbgreatly

14.i peruse—readcarefully

QuickQuiz#64

1.b pervade—spreadthroughout2.i petulant—rude3.k philanthropy—loveformankind4.d philistine—smuglyignorantperson5.g pious—reverent6.j pivotal—crucial7.c placate—pacify8.f plaintive—expressingsadness9.h platitude—triteremark10.l plebeian—lowclass11.e plethora—excess12.a poignant—painfullyemotional

QuickQuiz#65

1.g polarize—causeopposingpositions2.d polemic—powerfulrefutation3.a ponderous—massiveandclumsy4.j portent—omen5.h portentous—ominous6.k postulate—axiom7.c pragmatic—practical8.i precedent—earlierexample9.b precept—ruletoliveby10.f precipitate—causetohappenabruptly11.e precipitous—steep

QuickQuiz#66

1.k preclude—prevent2.j precursor—forerunner3.f predilection—naturalpreference4.a preeminent—outstanding5.c preempt—seizebypriorright6.i premise—assumption7.g prepossess—preoccupy8.h prerogative—rightorprivilege9.b prevail—triumph10.e pristine—unspoiled11.d prodigal—wastefullyextravagant

QuickQuiz#67

1.f prodigious—extraordinary2.e prodigy—extremelytalentedchild3.b profane—irreverent4.a profess—declare5.i proficient—thoroughlycompetent6.j profligate—extravagantlywasteful7.h profound—deep8.d profuse—flowing9.k proletariat—industrialworkingclass10.g proliferate—spreadrapidly11.c prolific—abundantlyproductive

QuickQuiz#68

1.l promulgate—proclaim2.a propensity—naturalinclination3.j propitious—markedbyfavorablesigns4.c proponent—advocate

5.g proprietary—constitutingproperty6.b propriety—goodmanners7.i prosaic—dull8.d proscribe—prohibit9.k proselytize—convert10.f protagonist—leadingcharacter11.e protract—prolong12.h provident—frugal

QuickQuiz#69

1.c provincial—narrowinoutlook2.f provisional—conditional3.b proximity—nearness4.e prudent—careful5.d purported—rumored6.a putative—commonlyaccepted

QuickQuiz#70

1.d qualify—modifyorrestrict2.e qualitative—havingtodowithquality3.a quantitative—havingtodowithquantity4.c querulous—complaining5.b quixotic—foolishlyromantic

QuickQuiz#71

1.c ramification—consequence2.f rancor—bitterresentment3.j rapacious—greedy4.b rebuke—criticizesharply5.i rebut—contradict

6.g recalcitrant—stubbornlydefiant7.h recant—publiclydeny8.d reciprocal—mutual9.e reclusive—hermitlike10.a recondite—hardtounderstand

QuickQuiz#72

1.h recrimination—bittercounteraccusation2.e redolent—fragrant3.i redundant—unnecessarilyrepetitive4.j refute—provetobefalse5.g reiterate—sayagain6.f relegate—banish7.a relinquish—surrender8.d remonstrate—argueagainst9.c renaissance—rebirth10.b renounce—disown

QuickQuiz#73

1.g reparation—payingback2.d repercussion—consequence3.j replenish—fillagain4.f replete—completelyfilled5.c reprehensible—worthyofblame6.a reprisal—actofrevenge7.e reproach—scold8.i reprove—criticizemildly9.k repudiate—reject10.h requisite—necessary11.b resolute—determined

QuickQuiz#74

1.g respite—periodofrest2.e reticent—restrained3.i revere—honor4.d rhetoric—formalwritingorspeaking5.h rigorous—strict6.c robust—vigorous7.j rogue—scoundrel8.a rudimentary—basic9.b ruminate—contemplate10.f rustic—rural

QuickQuiz#75

1.c saccharine—sweet2.a sacrilege—blasphemy3.h sacrosanct—sacred4.j sagacious—discerning5.b sage—wise6.i salient—stickingout7.e salutary—healthful8.d sanctimonious—pretendingtobedevout9.g sanguine—cheerful10.f sardonic—mocking

QuickQuiz#76

1.a scintillate—sparkle2.f scrupulous—strict3.h scrutinize—examineverycarefully4.b secular—havingnothingtodowithreligion5.c sedition—treason

6.k segregate—separate7.d sensory—havingtodowiththesenses8.i sensual—devotedtopleasure9.g sensuous—delightingthesenses10.j sentient—conscious11.e sequester—setapart

QuickQuiz#77

1.a serendipity—accidentalgoodfortune2.e servile—submissive3.j singular—unique4.k sinister—wicked5.i slavish—extremelysubservient6.g sloth—laziness7.h sobriety—stateofbeingsober8.c solicitous—eagerandattentive9.d solvent—notbankrupt10.f insolvent—broke11.b soporific—sleepinducing

QuickQuiz#78

1.h sordid—vile2.g spawn—bringforth3.l specious—deceptivelyplausible4.b sporadic—stoppingandstarting5.m spurious—false6.n squander—waste7.d stagnation—inactivity8.k static—stationary9.i staunch—firmlycommitted

10.i steadfast—firmlycommitted11.a stigmatize—disgrace12.e stipulate—require13.f stoic—indifferenttopain,pleasure14.j stratum—layer15.c stricture—restriction

QuickQuiz#79

1.k strife—bitterconflict2.h stringent—strict3.d stymie—thwart4.e subjugate—subdue5.b sublime—awesome6.i subordinate—lowerinimportance7.g insubordinate—notrespectfulofauthority8.j substantive—havingsubstance9.a subtle—notobvious10.f subversive—corrupting11.c succinct—briefandtothepoint

QuickQuiz#80

1.b succumb—yield2.a supercilious—haughty3.f superficial—onthesurfaceonly4.e superfluous—unnecessary5.h surfeit—excess6.g surreptitious—sneaky7.d surrogate—substitute8.c sycophant—flatterer9.i synthesis—combiningofparts

QuickQuiz#81

1.i tacit—implied2.b taciturn—naturallyuntalkative3.e tangential—notdeeplyrelevant4.j tangible—touchable5.d tantamount—equivalentto6.f tautological—redundant7.c temerity—boldness8.g temperate—mild9.h tenable—defensible10.a tenacious—persistent

QuickQuiz#82

1.h tenet—sharedprinciple2.e tentative—experimental3.k tenuous—flimsy4.a terse—withoutunnecessarywords5.j torpor—sluggishness6.m theology—studyofreligion7.g tirade—bitterspeech8.n touchstone—standard9.c tout—bragpubliclyabout10.b transcend—gobeyond11.o transgress—violate12.f transient—notlastinglong13.f transitory—notlastinglong14.l trepidation—fear15.d intrepid—fearless16.i turpitude—wickedness

QuickQuiz#83

1.c ubiquitous—everywhereatonce2.f unconscionable—unscrupulous3.a unctuous—oily;slick4.i uniform—consistent5.j unremitting—unceasing6.h unwitting—unintentional7.b urbane—poisedandsophisticated8.e usurp—seizewrongfully9.d utilitarian—pragmatic10.g utopia—anidealsociety

QuickQuiz#84

1.b vacillate—beindecisive2.f vapid—dull3.o vehement—intense4.l venal—corrupt5.h venerate—revere6.k veracity—truthfulness7.m verbose—wordy8.j verisimilitude—similaritytoreality9.n vernacular—slang10.i vestige—lasttrace11.a vex—annoy12.d viable—capableofliving13.e vicarious—experiencedthroughanother14.g vicissitude—upheaval15.c vilify—defame

QuickQuiz#85

1.e vindicate—clearfromsuspicion2.h vindictive—seekingrevenge3.b virtuoso—masterfulmusician4.a virulent—extremelypoisonous5.c visionary—dreamer6.j vitiate—makeimpure7.d vitriolic—caustic8.i vocation—occupation9.k vociferous—noisy10.g volatile—quicktoevaporate11.f volition—will

QuickQuiz#86

1.d wanton—malicious2.c willful—deliberate3.b wistful—yearning4.a zealous—fervent

FinalExamDrill#1

1.d2.e3.b4.e5.c

FinalExamDrill#2

1.b2.a3.f4.h

5.g6.e7.i8.j9.d10.c

FinalExamDrill#3

1. address2. integral3. delineate4. relegate5. didactic6. labyrinthine7. amoral8. analogous9. magnanimous10. malleable

FinalExamDrill#4

1.O2.S3.U4.S5.O6.O7.S8.S9.U10.S

FinalExamDrill#5

1.a2.c3.d4.b5.b

FinalExamDrill#6

1.O2.U3.O4.S5.O6.O7.O8.S9.S10.S

FinalExamDrill#7

1. renaissance2. requisite3. apprehensive4. sacrosanct5. replenish6. arbitrary7. eclectic8. elliptical9. allocate10. avuncular

FinalExamDrill#8

1.S2.O3.O4.S5.O6.S7.S8.U9.S10.U

FinalExamDrill#9

1.e2.d3.e4.c5.e

FinalExamDrill#10

1.U2.S3.S4.O5.O6.S7.O8.S9.U10.U

FinalExamDrill#11

1.O2.O3.S4.O5.U6.O7.O8.O9.U10.O

FinalExamDrill#12

1. awry2. ascendancy3. cadence4. oblivion5. nominal6. equitable7. nostalgic8. bereft9. bourgeois10. pejorative

FinalExamDrill#13

1.O2.O3.U4.U5.U

6.S7.U8.S9.O10.S

FinalExamDrill#14

1.a2.c3.b4.e5.c

FinalExamDrill#15

1.a2.f3.g4.b5.d6.e7.h8.c9.j10.i

FinalExamDrill#16

1.U2.S3.S4.U

5.S6.O7.S8.U9.O10.O

FinalExamDrill#17

1. existential2. flaunt3. felicity4. pivotal5. salutary6. ubiquitous7. succinct8. eminent9. farcical10. volition

FinalExamDrill#18

1.U2.U3.S4.S5.U6.S7.U8.O9.S10.U

FinalExamDrill#19

1.b2.d3.a4.a5.b

FinalExamDrill#20

1.S2.O3.U4.U5.S6.O7.S8.O9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#21

1. officious2. scrutinize3. reprehensible4. founder5. palpable6. qualify7. culinary8. corollary9. proximity10. vicarious

FinalExamDrill#22

1.S2.O3.S4.S5.O6.S7.O8.S9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#23

1.d2.d3.b4.a5.a

FinalExamDrill#24

1.S2.U3.O4.U5.U6.U7.S8.S9.O10.S

FinalExamDrill#25

1. omnipotent2. fortuitous3. verisimilitude4. pertinent5. conducive6. prolific7. vicissitude8. obsequious9. euphemism10. diffident

FinalExamDrill#26

1.U2.O3.O4.O5.S6.O7.O8.O9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#27

1.d2.a3.c4.b5.b

FinalExamDrill#28

1.U2.U3.O4.S5.O6.S7.O8.S9.S10.S

FinalExamDrill#29

1. comprise2. bemuse3. provident4. anecdotal5. prodigy6. cadence7. soporific8. staunch9. vacillate10. vestige

FinalExamDrill#30

1.U2.O3.U4.S5.U

6.O7.U8.S9.S10.U

FinalExamDrill#31

1.e2.c3.a4.e5.b

FinalExamDrill#32

1.O2.S3.O4.O5.U6.S7.O8.O9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#33

1. innocuous2. assimilate3. unctuous4. exult

5. surrogate6. tantamount7. catharsis8. complacency9. recrimination10. patronize

FinalExamDrill#34

1.O2.S3.O4.O5.S6.S7.O8.S9.O10.U

FinalExamDrill#35

1.f2.g3.h4.b5.i6.a7.e8.c9.j10.d

FinalExamDrill#36

1.U2.O3.O4.S5.S6.O7.U8.S9.S10.U

FinalExamDrill#37

1.c2.b3.e4.d5.c

FinalExamDrill#38

1.O2.O3.U4.U5.O6.U7.O8.U9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#39

1. scintillating2. digression3. wistful4. cerebral5. affable6. ideological7. vexed8. comprehensive9. impervious10. tirade

FinalExamDrill#40

1.O2.O3.S4.O5.O6.S7.O8.S9.O10.O

FinalExamDrill#41

1.a2.e3.d4.b5.d

FinalExamDrill#42

1.S2.O3.O4.O5.U6.S7.O8.S9.O10.O

FinalExamDrill#43

1. cacophony2. benefactor3. manifesto4. reciprocal5. provisional6. squalid7. callow8. putative9. derisory10. proscribe

FinalExamDrill#44

1.a2.e3.d4.f5.b

6.j7.c8.i9.h10.g

FinalExamDrill#45

1.S2.S3.U4.S5.U6.O7.S8.S9.U10.S

FinalExamDrill#46

1.d2.a3.c4.c5.c

FinalExamDrill#47

1.S2.U3.S4.O

5.S6.S7.O8.O9.S10.O

FinalExamDrill#48

1.d2.a3.e4.c5.b

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