Unit 6 Vocabulary Definitions - Level E

supple

(adj.) bending easily. Sent: have you ever read Robert Frost's famous poem about swinging on the supple branches of a birch tree? Syn: flexible, limber, pliable, pliant ANt:rigid, unbending, hidebound

inopportune

(adj.) coming at a bad time; not appropriate. Sent: Why do all of my relatives turn up at the mist inopportune time possible. Syn: ill-timed,inconvenient, inappropriate, unsuitable ANt: timely convenient, felicitous, opportune

explicit

(adj.) definite, clearly stated. Sent: The more explicit your directions are the easier it will be for all of us to find our way around the campus. Syn: distinct, forthright, unambiguous, clear Ant: vague, ambiguous, implied, implicit

destitute

(adj.) deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in. Sent: Some people fled their homes so suddenly that they arrived at the refugee camp absolutely destitute. Syn: wanting devoid, penniless Ant: rich, bountiful, luxurious, replete

stately

(adj.) dignified, majestic. Sent: The stately procession slowly wound its way from the palace to the cathedral. Syn: grand, magnificent, imposing ANt: lowly humble servile. abject

rampant

(adj.) growing without check, running wild. Sent: All kinds of odd rumors run rampant during a political campaign Syn: widespread, unrestrained, extravagant, prevalent Ant: controlled, restrained

officious

(adj.) meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority. Sent: The manager of the store warned the entire sales staff not to be too officious when helping customers Syn: meddlesome, prying,impertinent, obtrusive Ant: reserved, diffident, timid aloof

venal

(adj.) open to or marked by bribery or corruption.

deft

(adj.) skillful, nimble. Sent:The deft fingers of SPanish seamstresses produced some of the finest, most delicate lace ever seen. Syn: adroit,proficient, clever, masterful Ant: clumsy, awkward, bulging, inept

musty

(adj.) stale, moldy; out-of-date. Sent: Houses that have been closed up for a very long time often have an unpleasantly musty smell about them. Syn:hackneyed,antiquated Ant:sweet-smelling, up-to-date,brand-new

ironic

(adj.) suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens. Sent:The short stories of O. Henry are famous for their ironic endings. Syn:incongruous, satiric, sardonic,wry ANt:straightforward, unequivocal

ominous

(adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen. Sent: The ominous sound of distant thunder warned us about the storm's approach Syn:unpropitious,inauspicious, pretentious Ant:propitious, auspicious, promising

premeditated

(adj., part.) considered beforehand, deliberately planned. Sent:Some crimes are spontaneous acts of passion; others are quite premeditated. Syn:preplanned, rehearsed, prearranged Ant:unplanned, spontaneous, impromptu

pinnacle

(n.) a high peak or point. Sent:Some pop stars reach the pinnacle of their careers comparatively early in their life.

solace

(n.) comfort, relief; (v.) to comfort, console. Sent: MAny political leaders seek solace from the cares of state in the pages of great literature. I could find no way to solve my deeply troubled conscience Syn:(V) soothe, reassure, cheer up Ant: vex aggravate, upset

suppress

(v.) to stop by force, put down. Sent:Totalitarian governments take strong measures to suppress free speech. Syn:subdue, crush,stifle, quelch, quash

extirpate

(v.) to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally. Sent:We must do everything we can to extirpate racism from the American society. Syn:uproot, eradicate,wipeout, excise Ant: implant, sow, foster, nourish

comprise

Def:(v.) to include or contain; to be made up of. Sent: Classical symphonies usually comprise of three or four movements of varying musical from, tempo and character Syn:compose, constitute, encompass Ant: exclude

brandish

Def:(v.) to wave or flourish in a menacing fashion. I brandished my umbrella repeatedly in a vain effort to hail a cab Syn: swing, shake

accede (v.)

Def:(v.) to yield to; to assume an office or dignity. Sent:Management was not willing to accede to labor's initial demands, thus increasing the likelihood of a long and bitter strike. Syn: consent, concur, comply, assent Ant: demur, balk at