Advancing Vocabulary Skills Ch. 1-6
Kay used to be friendly, but since her promotion, she has become so cold that she has _______(e)d former coworkers.
estrange
Mei Lin was _____ when the college that was her first choice accepted her.
euphoric
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time
vicarious (adj)
experienced through the imagination; not experienced directly
funny
facetious
liber, liver
free
to spend or waste a little at a time
fritter
rudimentary (adj)
fundamental; necessary to learn first
discretion (n)
good judgement or tact in actions or speaking
outgoing
gregarious
To many people, Mozart's works represent the ________ of eighteenth-century music.
zenith
a person opposed to established ideas or beliefs, especially in politics or religion
dissident
impetuous
done; acting in a hurry
despondent (adj.)
downhearted; hopeless; overwhelmed with sadness
to decorate; beautify by adding details
embellish
embellish
to decorate; beautify by adding details
scoff (v)
to make fun of; mock; refuse to take seriously
estrange
to make unsympathetic or unfriendly; alienate
subsidize
to pay for; to support financially; provide a grant or contribution
juxtapose
to put side by side; to place close together, especially in order to compare or contrast
venerate (v)
to respect deeply; revere
regress
to return to an earlier, generally worse, condition or behavior
squelch (v)
to silence or suppress; crush
relinquish
to surrender (something); give (something) up
fritter
to waste; to spend or waste a little at a time
collaborate (v)
to work together on a project; cooperate in an effort
In our neighborhood, litter is________- the sidewalks are ankle-deep in trash. We need a cleanup campaign.
ubiquitous
ambiguous
unclear; able to be interpreted in more than one way; not clear
to honor
venerate
indirect
vicarious
voc, vok
voice
lethargy
weariness; a great lack of energy; inactivity due to laziness; sluggishness
collaborate
Several writers and editors have _____________________ed in preparing this vocabulary text, sharing their knowledge and skills.
scoff; resilient
"Everyone gets ___________ed at now and then," Lynn said. You just have to be _______________ enough to bounce back after a facetious remark."
lethargy; sporadic
"Spring fever" isn't really a detriment to health, but it often includes ________: people just want to sleep. Also, attention to work is interrupted off and on by a(n) _______ need to daydream.
an extremist
zealot
charlatan
A fake; a person who falsely claims to have some special skill or knowledge
proliferation
A rapid spread or increase
dexterous
Although he has arthritis in his hands, Phil is very _________________.For example, he builds detailed model airplanes.
instigate
An English captain named Robert Jenkins ____________d a war in 1738 by displaying his pickled ear, which he said had been cut off by a Spanish patrol. The horrified British declared war on Spain--the "War of Jenkins' Ear."
fritter; inane
Why do you want to _______ away your money week after week on tickets for silly movies that all the critics agree are _______?
instigate; retrospect
At the time of the American Revolution, many people viewed those who _______ed the rebellion as troublemakers. In ____________, however, we view them as heroes.
sensory
Because our ______________ experiences are interrelated, what we taste is greatly influenced by smell.
squelch; zealot
Being illiterate until the age of 20 didn't _______ George Washington Carver's spirit. He went on to become a great botanist--and a _______about using peanuts, from which he made such products as ink, shampoo, and linoleum.
squelch
Decades of communism in Eastern Europ didn't _______________ the desire for freedom. As soon as they could, the people in these countries began to form democracies.
rudimentary; collaborate
Even though their knowledge of carpentry was only ________________, the boys ________________ed on building a treasure chest.
despondent
For months after his wife died, Mr. Craig was ________________. No matter how hard they tried, his family and friends could not cheer him up.
optimum
For the weary traveler, _________________ hotel accommodations include a quiet room, a comfortable bed, and efficient room service.
rudimentary
I'm so used to adding and subtracting on a calculator that I've probably forgotten how to do those ________________ mathematical calculations on my own.
impetuous; berate
I'm trying to be less _____, but I still sometimes act on impulse. Later, in retrospect, I always _____ myself for not using better judgement.
infallible; relinquish
If people were _____, we could _____ our erasers, our correction tape or fluid, and the "delete" key.
vicarious
If you can't afford to travel, watching videos and visiting tourist websites can give you the _______________ experience of traveling in foreign countries.
illicit
Illegal
dormant
Inactive; alive but not actively growing, as if asleep
subsidize; embellish
Local businesses _______ (e)d our club's Christmas party for the homeless, so we were able to afford a special meal as well as decorations to ________ the room.
venerate; despondent
Many people who ______________ed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were ___________ when he was killed, but then courageously vowed to carry on his work.
gregarious
My ________________ brother loves parties, but my shy sister prefers to be alone.
facetious
My boss always says, "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps." I hope he's just being _________________.
irrevocable
Not able to be canceled or undone; irreversible
juxtapose; dissident
On the cover of the news magazine, two pictures were __________(e)d; those of a young _____ and the elderly ruler he was opposing.
zenith; euphoric
Our neighborhood basketball team reached its _______ when it won the citywide championship. The local businesses that had subsidized the team were delighted, and the players themselves were _______.
estrange; regress
Patrick ______(e)d his wife when she wasted their money on gambling and ostentatious clothes. Since their separation, their young daughter has _______(e)d to infantile behavior.
resilient
Plant life is __________________. For example, a few weeks after the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted in Washington in 1980, flowers were growing in the ashes.
ubiquitous; maudlin
Since my father died, reminders of him seem _________. I know I'm being ______, but everywhere I look, I see something that makes me cry.
discretion
Small children haven't yet developed __________________. They ask embarrassing questions like "When will you be dead, Grandpa?"
detriment
Smoking is a _________________ to your health. It's estimated that each cigarette you smoke will shorten your life by one and a half minutes.
zealot
The Crusaders were Christian _____________s during the Middle Ages who left their homes and families and went off to try to capture the Holy Land.
venerate
The guests at our dean's retirement banquet made it clear that they _____________ed her; when she entered the room, everybody rose.
ostentatious
The lobby of that hotel is ________________, with fancy furniture, thick rugs, and tall flower arrangements. The guest rooms upstairs, however, are extremely plain.
scrupulous
The senator promised to run a ________________ campaign, but her ads were filled with lies about her opponent's personal life.
ambiguous; inadvertant
This week's episode of one television serial had a(n) _______ ending: we don't know whether one of the characters survives his heart attack or dies. In retrospect, I don't think this was _______. I believe the producers want to keep us guessing so we'll tune in again next week.
diverge
To branch off in different directions from the same starting point; to become different
precipitate
To cause to happen quickly, suddenly, or sooner than expected
corroborate
To confirm; strengthen with further evidence; provide proof of
berate
To criticize or scold harshly
hoist
To lift, especially with some mechanical means, like a cable
disseminate
To spread or scatter widely; distribute
scoff
Tony ____________ed at reports that a hurricane was coming until he saw the winds knocking down trees and overturning cars.
retrospect
When I took Ms. Klein's writing course , I thought she was too demanding. In _____________ though, I realize that she taught me more than anyone else.
zealot (n)
a person totally devoted to a purpose or cause
dissident
a rebel; a person opposed to established ideas or beliefs, especially in politics or religion
resilient (adj)
able to recover quickly from harm; illness, or misfortune
able to be interpreted in more than one way; not clear
ambiguous
ante-, anti-
before
"I know I was late," Liz said, "but you could have pointed it out quietly. You didn't have to _____ me."
berate
optimum (adj)
best possible; most favorable; most desirable
scrupulous (adj)
careful about moral standards; conscientious
to act as a team
collaborate
depressed
despondent
a disadvantage
detriment
skilled
dexterous
good sense
discretion
sensory (adj)
having to do with seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling
facetious (adj)
humorous; playfully joking
Joyce isn't usually _____, but last week she had a sudden urge to try out her nephew's skateboard. Everyone in the office has already signed the cast on her broken wrist.
impetuous
unintentional; accidental
inadvertant
without sense or meaning; foolish
inane
"I don't expect you to be ______,"the boss said, "but I don't want you to make the same mistakes over and over."
infallible
to cause
instigate
sporadic
irregular; happening now and then; occasional
to place close together, especially in order to compare or contrast
juxtapose
-cide
kill
a great lack of energy; inactivity due to laziness
lethargy
vit, viv
life
Uncle Antonio becomes ______ when he talks about his dear old mother in Italy. Tears also come to the eyes of all who listen.
maudlin
ostentatious (adj)
meant to impress others; flashy
infallible
not capable of error or failure; unable to make mistake
inadvertent
not intended; unintentional; accidental
ideal
optimum
showy
ostentatious
extra-
outside
euphoric
overjoyed
People in bombed-out, war torn cities sometimes _____ to more primitive ways of life.
regress
When Dad lost his job, he had to _______ his identification card, his employee parking permit, and the key to his desk.
relinquish
de-
removal
quick to recover
resilient
looking back
retrospect
retrospect (n)
reviewing the past; considering past events
basic
rudimentary
to laugh at
scoff
ethical
scrupulous
of the senses
sensory
inane
silly; without sense or meaning; foolish
dexterous (adj)
skillful in using the hands or body
dorm
sleep
gregarious (adj)
sociable; enjoying and seeking the company of others
detriment (n)
something that causes damage, harm, or loss
happening now and then; occasional
sporadic
to hold back
squelch
to support financially; provide a grant or contribution
subsidize
maudlin
tearfully sentimental; overly emotional
zenith
the highest point or condition; peak
ject
throw
chron, chrono-
time
instigate (v)
to bring about by moving others to action; stir up
