Vocabulary Workshop, Level A: Unit 14 (Definitions)

responsive

(adj.) answering or replying; reacting readily to requests, suggestions, etc.; showing interest and understanding

glum

(adj.) depressed, gloomy

sanctuary

(n.) a sacred or holy place; refuge or protection from capture or punishment; a place of refuge or protection

allegiance

(n.) the loyalty or obligation owed to a government, nation, or cause

append

(v.) to attach, add, or tack on as a supplement or extra item

commemorate

(v.) to preserve, honor, or celebrate the memory of

submissive

(adj.) humbly obedient; tending to give in to authority; obeying without protest

self-seeking

(adj.) selfishly ambitious

far-fetched

(adj.) strained or improbable (in the sense of not being logical or believable), going far afield from a topic

replica

(n.) a copy, close reproduction

upheaval

(n.) a sudden, violent upward movement; great disorder or radical change

taskmaster

(n.) one whose job it is to assign work to others; one who uses his or her power to make people work very hard

transform

(v.) to change completely in appearance or form; to make into something else

tally

(v.) to count up; to keep score; to make entries for reckoning; to correspond or agree (n.) a total or score

enumerate

(v.) to count; to name one by one, list

accommodate

(v.) to do a favor or service for, help out; to provide for, supply with, to have space for; to make fit or suitable

exalt

(v.) to make high in rank, power, character, or quality; to fill with pride, joy, or noble feeling; to praise, honor

extort

(v.) to obtain by violence, misuse of authority, or threats

abstain

(v.) to stay away from doing something by one's own choice

amalgamate

(v.) to unite; to combine elements into a unified whole