Vocabulary Unit 8

Hypothetical (adj.)

(adj.) based on an assumption or guess; used as a tentative idea to direct an investigate Our discussion that day was a(n) _____ one, based on the possibility - still far from definite - that I would take the job. S: assumed, supposed, conjectural, conditional; A: actual, real, tested, substantiated

Corpulent (adj)

(adj.) fat; having a large, bulky body. People with a tendency toward being ______ must wage a lifelong struggle against rich foods. S: overweight, heavy, obese, stout, portly; A: slender, lean, spare, gaunt, emaciated

Intemperate (adj.)

(adj.) immoderate; lacking in self-control. Though her overall position seemed to be sensible, her language was so unrestrained and ______ that people wouldn't support her. S: excessive, extreme, unrestrained, inordinate; A: moderate, restrained, cool and collected

Dispassionate (adj.)

(adj.) impartial; free from emotion. We have had enough of high-powered, excited oratory; what we need now is a(n) ______ examination of the facts. S: unbiased, disinterested, cool, detached; A: committed, engaged, partial, biased

Squeamish (adj.)

(adj.) inclined to nausea; easily shocked or upset. Anyone as ______ as that trainee will have trouble accustoming himself to the sights, sounds, and smells of hospital work. S: nauseated, queasy, delicate, oversensitve, priggish

Ignoble (adj.)

(adj.) mean, low, base She is a person of such fine moral standards that she seems incapable of a(n) ______ act. S: inferior, unworthy, dishonorable, sordid; A: admirable, praiseworthy, lofty, noble

Susceptible (adj.)

(adj.) open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance He is so ______ to flattery that with a few complimentary words I can get him to do almost anything I want. S: vulnerable, receptive, impressionable A: resistant, immune

Bovine (adj)

(adj.) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive. Although she seems rather plodding in her behavior and rarely becomes excited, I think it is unfair to call her "______." S: stolid, dull, slow, stupid; A: alert, sharp, bright, keen, quick

Acrimonious (adj.)

(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone. Vigorous debate is fine, but is there any real need for such unrestrained and ______ name-calling? S: biting, caustic, rancorous, hostile, peevish A: gentle, warm, mild, friendly, cordial

Subservient (adj.)

(adj.) subordinate in capacity or role; serving to promote some end; submissively obedient. Under the American form of government, all branches of the military are cleary ______ to the civilian authority. S: secondary, servile, obsequious, useful A: primary, principal, bossy, domineering

Gauntlet (n.)

(n.) an armored or protective glove; a challenge to combat The bold candidate threw down the ______ and dared her opponent to face her in a televised debate. S: dare, provocation, trial, punishment

Dissension (n.)

(n.) disagreement, sharp difference of opinion. Far from presenting a unified front, the party is torn by all kinds of strife and ______. S: strife, discord, contention; A: agreement, accord, harmony

Consternation (n.)

(n.) dismay, confusion To the ______ of the people in the stands, the lion leaped out of the cage and bounded toward the exit. S: shock, amazement, bewilderment, dismay; A: calm, composure, aplomb

Perfidy (n.)

(n.) faithlessness, treachery. Because Vidkun Quisling cooperated with the Nazis, his name has become a symbol of ______ in his home country of Norway. S: betrayal, disloyalty, treason, duplicity A: faithfulness, loyalty, steadfastness

Odium (n.)

(n.) hatred, contempt. The ______ for this tragic failure does not belong to any individual or small group but to the community as a whole. S: abhorrence, opprobrium, shame, ignominy; A: esteem, admiration, approbation

Impugn (v.)

(v.) to call into question, to attack as false. I am not trying to ______ his truthfulness, but I still do not see how the facts support his claims. S: challenge, deny, dispute, query, question; A: confirm, prove, verify, validate

Dissipate (v.)

(v.) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel. Instead of using their forces in one concerted attack on the enemy, they ______ their strength in minor engagements. S: disperse, strew, diffuse, waste; A: gather, collect, conserve, husband

Disavow (v.)

(v.) to deny responsibility for or connection with. Now that these ugly facts about his business dealings have come to light, I must _____ my support of his candidacy. S: disown, disclaim, retract, abjure; A: acknowledge, admit, grant, certify

Relegate (v.)

(v.) to place in a lower position; to banish. The job of cleaning up the field and the stands after the big game was ______ to the freshmen. S: transfer, consign, demote, exile A: promote, elevate, advance, recall

Expurgate (v.)

(v.) to remove objectionable passages or words from a written text. Thomas Bowdler ______ certain words from Shakespeare's plays because he felt that they were unfit to "beread aloud in a famity." S: purge, censor, bowdlerize