•Level F•Unit 2

SADLIER- OXFORD VOCABULARY WORKSHOP

AMELIORATEVerb

Definition: to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Synonym: amend, better

Antonyms: aggravate, exacerbate

Sentence: The pain you are feeling from the injury can be ameliorated by taking these pain killers; your comfort level should improve soon after taking your prescribed medicine.

APLOMBNoun

Definition: poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness

Antonyms: confusion, embarrassment, abashment

Sentence: These soldiers handled their mission with great aplomb; thanks to their composure, the mission was a success.

Adjective

Definition: pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

Synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious

Antonym: unadorned, simple, plain, austere

Sentence: I cannot believe the minister’s bombastic sermon lasted three hours; his inflated and pretentious language made the visitors question their decision to attend this church.

BOMBASTIC

“Repent of your moral turpitude!”

“Let go of your blasphemous and impious ways!”

“The reprobates and malefactors among us must change their ways!”

Adjective

Definition: without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced

Antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

Sentence: The callow boater did not have a life preserver, paddle, or radio onboard his sailboat; his inexperienced ways was bound to cause an emergency onboard.

CALLOW

Noun; Verb

Definition: (n) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

Synonyms: (n) balderdash, tommyrot (v) slaver

The salesman felt confident in the presentation he was giving to the board, but because they were not familiar with the technical language, it sounded like drivel to them; consequently, they did not buy what they thought was nonsense.

DRIVEL

Blah, blah, blah And more blah, blah, blah

Noun

Definition: a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype, prime example

The ballerina was the epitome of grace and beauty as she performed the lead role in Swan Lake; her performance was the prime example of how the part should be performed

EPITOME

Verb

Definition: to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure

Antonyms: discourage, advise against, deprecate

The teenager exhorted his mother to let him attend the chess match of the year; she, however, ignored him as he dramatically implored her to not say no.

EXHORT

Adjective; AdverbDefinition: by virtue of holding a certain of officeThe President is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the armed forces in time of war; this is a right given to him by virtue of holding the office of President.

EX OFFICIO

Verb

Definition: to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude

Antonyms: stay in bounds, comply

When I am doing my homework, I need complete quite, and no one can infringe on my solitude; if my sister trespasses into my space, I am not forgiving.

INFRINGE

Shhhh! Student At Work

Verb

Definition: to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

Synonyms: cozy up to curry favor with

Antonyms: humiliate oneself

The student who was in trouble of failing, tried to ingratiate himself into the teacher’s good graces by offering compliments; he hoped this cozying up would get her to pad his failing grade on the test.

INGRATIATE

My, but you are looking lovely today, Mrs. Adams!

Noun

Definition: one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

The other children, all well-acquainted with one another, made no effort to include her in their conversations, making her feel like an interloper during the game; she just wanted to make friends and never wanted to be a buttinsky.

INTERLOPER

Adjective

Definition: belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Synonyms: immanent, organic

Antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward

The book had very little monetary value, but it had great intrinsic value because it had belonged to her grandfather; it was an essential part of her family memories.

INTRINSIC

Verb

Definition: to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Synonyms: harangue, remonstrate

Antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol

You should not inveigh against the plan with quite so much vigor until you have read it; to express such strong disapproval without proof to back your words could prove foolish.

INVEIGH

No, no, no, no, not ever, no!

Noun

Definition: weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor

Antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

On some days I am overcome by lassitude at the thought of so many more years of schooling; when I feel such lack of energy, I rethink my decision to become a doctor.

LASSITUDE

Noun

Definition: a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Synonyms: chiliad, golden age

Antonyms: doomsday

In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new millennium; I always thought that 2001 was the beginning of the next thousand years.

MILLENNIUM (PL., MILLENNIA)

January 2000

January 2001

vs.

Adjective; Verb; Noun

Definition: (adj.) secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny; (v). to hide, cover up; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural.

Synonyms: (adj.) esoteric, abstruse, arcane

Antonyms: (adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric

We watched the show called Supernatural Detectives, but we were not convinced of the occult happenings and the reality of ghosts; we thought the mysterious happenings were nothing more than trick photography and the ability to photoshop.

OCCULT

Verb

Definition: to spread through, penetrate, soak through

The rain permeated all of my clothing; the fact that it penetrated even my pockets insured that the map I carried was reduced to a pulpy mass.

PERMEATE

Verb, Adjective, Noun

Definition: (v.) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to (adj.) characterized by excessive haste (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process

Synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce (adj.) reckless, impetuous

Antonyms: (adj.) wary, circumspect

The precipitate that started falling from the sky precipitated the concert being cancelled; I was very disappointed to find out that a little moisture from the sky provoked the stopping of the event.

PRECIPITATE

Adjective

Definition: strict, severe; rigorously or urgently finding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Synonyms: stern, rigorous, touch, urgent

Antonyms: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

Some argue that more stringent laws against speeding will make our streets safer, but many feel that these severe changes really won’t stop people from speeding.

STRINGENT

Verb, Noun

Definition: (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Synonyms: (v.) infer, gather (n.) inference, presumption

I cannot be sure, but I surmise that she would not accept my apology even if I made in on my knees; hopefully, what I am inferring is wrong because I do want her forgiveness.

SURMISE