Post on 22-Jan-2016
English 1H Vocabulary
Units 13-15
1. ad infinitum(adv.) endlesslySYN: forever,
unceasingly, incessantly, ceaselessly
ANT: succinctly, concisely, tersely, briefly
2. apportion(v.) to divide and give
out in sharesSYN: distribute, allot,
parcel out, allocate
3. bona fide(adj.) genuine; sincereSYN: authentic,
indisputable, legitimate, certified
ANT: false, fake, bogus, spurious, counterfeit
4. buoyant(adj.) able to float easily;
able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful
SYN: blithe, jaunty, lighthearted, animated
ANT: downcast, depressed, gloomy, morose
5. clique(n.) a small, exclusive
group of peopleSYN: inner circle, coterie
6. concede(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submitSYN: acknowledge, grant, allow, assentANT: contest, dispute, gainsay, challenge
7. congenial(adj.) getting on well
with others; agreeable, pleasant
SYN: friendly, sociable, amiable, compatible
ANT: disagreeable, surly, cold, standoffish
8. lofty(adj.) very high; nobleSYN: elevated, towering,
exalted, grandANT: base, petty, low,
sordid, despicable
9. migration(n.) a movement from one country or region to
anotherSYN: population shift, mass movement
10. perceive(v.) to be aware of
through the senses, observe; to grasp mentally
SYN: notice, discern, understated
ANT: miss, overlook, be blind to
11. perverse(adj.) inclined to go
against what is expected; stubborn; turned away from what is good and proper
SYN: obstinate, contrary, mulish, wayward
ANT: tractable, docile, amenable, yielding
12. prelude(n.) an introduction;
that which comes before or leads off
SYN: preface, overture, prologue, “curtain-raiser”
ANT: epilogue, postlude, aftermath
13. rancid(adj.) stale, spoiledSYN: foul, rank, fetid,
sour, rotten, putridANT: wholesome, fresh
14. rustic(adj.) country-like;
simple, plain; awkward(n.) one who lives in the
countrySYN: (adj.) rough,
unsophisticated, countrified
ANT: (adj.) citified, urban, sophisticated, suave
15. sever(v.) to separate,
divide into parts
SYN: cut off, amputate, break off, dissolve
ANT: join, unite, weld together
16. sordid(adj.) wretchedly
poor; run-down; mean or selfish
SYN: filthy, squalid, base, vile, seedy, sleazy
ANT: pure, noble, opulent, lavish
17. untenable(adj.) not capable of
being held or defended; impossible to maintain
SYN: indefensible, insupportable, groundless
ANT: irrefutable, impregnable, incontestable
18. versatile(adj.) able to do
many things, well; capable of many uses
SYN: adaptable, handy, all-around, many-sided
ANT: limited, specialized, restricted
19. vindicate(v.) to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing;
to defend successfully against opposition; to justify
SYN: acquit, absolve, exonerate, advocateANT: implicate, incriminate, condemn, convict
20. wane(v.) to lose size,
strength, or power
SYN: diminish, decline, subside, dwindle
ANT: grow, wax, amplify, balloon, increase
1. annex(v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate(n.) an attachment or additionSYN: (v.) join, acquire, appropriate, procure
2. cleave(v.) to cut or split open; to
cling toSYN: sever, halve, sunder,
adhere, clasp
3. cordial(adj.) in a friendly
manner, hearty; cheery
(n.) a liqueur SYN: (adj.) hospitable,
affable, warm, convivial
ANT: (adj.) gruff, unfriendly, unsociable
4. cornerstone(n.) the starting
point of a building; a fundamental principle or element
SYN: foundation, base, underpinning, support
5. debacle(n.) an
overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure
SYN: disaster, fiasco, calamity
ANT: success, triumph, victory, coup
6. devitalize(v.) to make weak or
lifelessSYN: enfeeble, sap,
enervateANT: enliven, stimulate,
energize, excite
7. embroil(v.) to involve in a
conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion
SYN: entangle, ensnarlANT: disentangle,
separate, disconnect
8. exonerate(v.) to clear from a charge or accusationSYN: absolve, acquit, vindicate, exculpateANT: implicate, incriminate, inculpate
9. glib(adj.) ready and fluent in
speech; thoughtless, insincere
SYN: superficial, pat, oily, unctuous, facile
ANT: halting, tongue-tied, speechless, awkward she [Kim K.] didn’t make a dime of the wedding
Whatever [political system]
they have in Korea,
that’s bad.
10. haphazard(adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking orderSYN: random, accidental, slapdashANT: deliberate, purposeful, orderly, meticulous
11. improvise(v.) to compose or
perform without preparation; to construct from available materials
SYN: ad-lib, play it by ear, wing it, extemporize
ANT: plan, rehearse, practice, prepare
12. incite(v.) to rouse, stir up,
urge onSYN: spur, kindle,
provoke, instigate, prompt
ANT: check, curb, impede, restrain, smother
13. influx(n.) a coming in, inflowSYN: inpouring, inrush, invasionANT: outpouring, exodus, departure
14. pallor(n.) an extreme or
unnatural palenessSYN: wanes, lividness,
bloodlessnessANT: flush, blush,
rosiness, bloom
15. pedigree(n.) a list of ancestors,
family tree; the history or origins of something
SYN: lineage, ancestry, genealogy
16. precipitous(adj.) very steepSYN: sheer, abrupt,
sharpANT: gradual, shallow,
graded, incremental
17. profuse(adj.) very abundant; given or flowing freelySYN: extravagant, lavish, bounteous, plenteousANT: sparse, scanty, meager, insufficient
18. reconcile(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign
(oneself)SYN: unite, conciliate, mend fencesANT: antagonize, alienate, drive a wedge
between
19. shackle(v.) to put into chains(n., usually pl.) a chain,
fetterSYN: (v.) manacle,
enslave; (n.) handcuffs, bonds, irons
ANT: (v.) free, unfetter, emancipate, liberate
20. threadbare(adj.) shabby, old and wornSYN: frayed, seedy, ragged, shopworn, triteANT: luxurious, plush, costly, sumptuous
1. abase(v.) to lower in esteem,
degrade; to humbleSYN: lower, humiliate,
prostrate, demeanANT: elevate, ennoble,
exalt
2. actuate(v.) to move to
action; to impelSYN: trigger, incite,
instigate
3. avert(v.) to turn aside, turn
away; to prevent, avoid
SYN: stop, deflect, ward off, preclude
ANT: invite, induce, provoke, cause
4. boorish(adj.) rude, unrefined;
clumsySYN: vulgar, crude,
uncouth, ill-mannered, gauche
ANT: suave, urbane, polished, courtly, well-bred
5. brunt(n.) the main impact,
force, or burdenSYN: blow, shockANT: aftershock,
aftermath, repercussion
6. combatant(n.) a fighter(adj.) engaged in
fightingSYN: (n.) soldier,
disputant, warrior; (Adj.) hostile, battling
ANT: (n.) civilian; (adj.) peaceful, neutral
7. dormant(adj.) inactive; in a state of suspension; sleepingSYN: resting, still, quiescentANT: awake, active, lively, productive
8. dubious(adj.) causing uncertainty
or suspicion; in a doubtful or uncertain state of mind, hesitant
SYN: questionable, suspect, unsettled, undecided
ANT: certain, positive, indubitable, reliable
9. harangue(v.) to deliver a loud,
ranting speech(n.) a loud speechSYN: (v.) rant,
lecture; (n.) tirade, diatribe
ANT: (n.) whisper, murmur, undertone
10. harry(v.) to make a destructive raid on; to torment,
harassSYN: badger, pester, hound, pillage, ravage
11. impertinent(adj.) not feeling
remorse or sorrow for errors or offenses
SYN: remorseless, unrepentant, incorrigible
ANT: ashamed, remorseful, contrite, apologetic
Let them eat cake!
12. knave(n.) a tricky,
unprincipled, or deceitful fellow
SYN: rascal, rogue, scoundrel, miscreant
13. legion(n.) a large military force; any large group or
number (adj.) many, numerousSYN: (n.) multitude, host, throng, division, regimentANT: (n.) squad, platoon; (adj.) few, sparse
14. liberality(n.) generously,
generous act; breadth of mind or outlook
SYN: largesse, magnanimity, broad-mindedness
ANT: stinginess, miserliness, narrow-mindedness
15. plaintiff(n.) one who begins a
lawsuitSYN: complainant,
accuserANT: defendant,
accused
16. probe(v.) to examine, investigate
thoroughly(n.) an investigation; a
device used to explore or examine
SYN: (v.) explore, scrutinize; (n.) inquiry, detector
ANT: (v.) conceal, hide; (n.) cover-up, whitewash
17. protract(v.) to draw out or lengthen in space or timeSYN: prolong, extend, elongate, spin outANT: contract, compress, concentrate
18. quarry(v.) to cut or take from (or as if from) a quarry(n.) a place from which stone is taken; something
that is hunted or pursuedSYN: (n.) prey, game, victim, excavation, pit, mineANT: (n.) hunter, predator, pursuer
19. spurn(v.) to refuse with
scorn, disdainSYN: turn down,
reject, decline, snub, repudiate
ANT: accept, welcome, greet
20. subterfuge(n.) an excuse or trick
for escaping or hiding something
SYN: dodge, blind, ruse, deception, artifice