Vocabulary Chapter 10

skeptical (sentence)

def- adj. doubting, questioning s- incredulous rw- dubious, cynical a- credulous, naive, gullible kw- I was skeptical that we would win because we are a bad team.

cardinal (story)

def- adj. fundamental, chief, of basic importance s- paramount rw- prime, primary, preeminent a- subordinate, trivial, inconsequential, negligible kw- Red cardinals got their name because of their bright red feathers that resembled a cardinals robes. There are cardinal virtues that are of basic importance.

meretricious (sentence)

def- adj. insincere; vulgarly, showily or cheaply attractive s- tawdry rw- gaudy garish, specious, spurious a- authentic kw- Young girls wearing crop tops and short shorts can be considered meretricious.

trivial (story)

def- adj. of little importance s- inconsequential rw- paltry, petty, negligible, trifling, nugatory, picayune a- consequential, momentous, vital, crucial kw- "tri' mans three and "via" means road. At a three scorss roads, Romans used to chat about stuff with little importance. Therefore, trivial means of little importance.

opportune (sentence)

def- adj. timely, suitable, favorable s- auspicious rw- propitious, advantageous, apt, a- inopportune kw- It would have been opportune to invest in Google when they first began their company.

fetish (sentence)

def- n. object of obsessive concern or unreasoning devotion s- mania rw- preoccupation penchant, fixation, amulet, talisman a- n/a kw- This guy I know has a weird obsession, or fetish, with feet.

Harbinger (sentence)

def- n. person or thing that signals what will follow s- precursor rw- n/a a- n/a kw- I went to a harbinger or a psychic to get told my future.

nadir (story)

def- n. pointing in the sky directly opposite the zenith and directly beneath the observer; lowest point s- nethermost rw- n/a a- n/a kw- Zenith and nadir derive from Arabic astronomical terms. 'sumt' means war over head. Eventually this word entered into English as 'senyth', and becoming 'zenith' meaning overhead high point. Nadir comes from 'nazir' meaning opposite which refers to the opposite of zenith.

zenith (story)

def- n. pointing in the sky directly overhead highest point s- apex rw- culmination, pinnacle, acme, apogee a- n/a kw- Zenith and nadir derive from Arabic astronomical terms. 'sumt' means war over head. Eventually this word entered into English as 'senyth', and becoming 'zenith' meaning overhead high point. Nadir comes from 'nazir' meaning opposite which refers to the opposite of zenith.

lampoon (story)

def- n. ridiculous or humorous attack on a person, group, or institution s- satire rw- travesty, burlesque, parody, farce, caricature, invective a- n/a kw- French students used to sing a lampoon or song. These songs were ridiculous and therefore lampoon means ridiculous.