Unit 4 Vocabulary Words
pliant definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) bending readily; easily influenced synonyms: supple, flexible, elastic, plastic antonyms: rigid, stiff, inflexible, set in stone
fated definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune synonyms: destined, preordained, doomed antonyms: fortuitous, chance, random
auspicious definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) favorable; fortunate synonyms: promising, encouraging, propitious antonyms: ill-omened, sinister
arduous definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort synonyms: hard, difficult, laborious, fatiguing antonyms: easy, simple, effortless
inanimate definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit synonyms: dead, spiritless antonyms: living, alive, energetic, sprightly
pompous definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious synonyms: highfalutin, bombastic antonyms: unpretentious, plain
intrepid definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable synonyms: valiant, audacious, daring antonyms: timid, cowardly, craven, pusillanimous
anarchy definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) a lack of government and law; confusion synonyms: chaos, disorder, turmoil, pandemonium antonyms: law and order, peace and quiet
reprieve definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a postponement synonyms: stay, respite, delay antonym: proceed
precipice definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster synonyms: crag, bluff, ledge antonyms: abyss, chasm, gorge
prototype definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) an original model on which later versions are patterned synonyms: example, sample antonym: copy
access definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) approach or admittance to places, persons, things; an increase; (v.) to get at, obtain synonyms: entry, ingress antonym: total exclusion
larceny definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(n.) theft synonyms: stealing, robbery
revile definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to attack with words, call bad names synonyms: inveigh against, malign, vilify antonyms: praise, acclaim, revere, idolize
incinerate definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to burn to ashes synonyms: burn up, cremate, reduce to ashes
disentangle definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to free from tangles or complications synonyms: unravel, unwind, unscramble, unsnarl antonyms: tangle up, ensnarl, snag
rectify definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to make right, correct synonym: set right antonyms: mess up, botch, bungle
hoodwink definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive synonyms: put on over on, fool antonym: disabuse
daunt definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage synonyms: dismay, cow antonyms: encourage, embolden, reassure
abscond definition (+synonyms/antonyms)
(v.) to run off and hide synonyms: bolt, make off, skip town
... [S]ome that stayed were not only boasting too much of themselves, but REVILING those that fled, reading them with cowardice, deserting their flocks, and acting the part of the hireling, and the like. To revile is to: A) attack with words B) beat with sticks C) admire greatly D) take pleasure in
A) attack with words
... [He]Approached the mountains another way; and though it is true the hills and PRECIPICES looked dreadful... we insensibly passed the height of the mountains without being much encumbered with the snow... A precipice is a: A) very steep cliff B) pile of rocks C) large canopy D) group of trees
A) very steep cliff
They know what it is to have a REPRIEVE brought to them upon the ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murder them, or to have been in such extremities, may guess what my present surprise prize of joy was... If you have a reprieve, you have been given: A) a meal B) relief C) praise D) a reward
B) relief
... [T]he corpse was always left till the officers had notice to come and take them away, or till night, when the bearers attending the dead-cart would take them up and carry them away. Nor did those UNDAUNTED creatures... fail to search their pockets, and sometimes strip off their clothes if they were well dressed, as sometimes they were, and carry off what they could get. If you are undaunted, you are NOT: A) eager B) courageous C) frightened D) bold
C) frightened
... and then I entered into a long discourse with him about the devil... and the many stratagems he made use of to delude mankind to their ruin; how he had a secret ACCESS to our passions and to our affections... so as to cause us even to be our own tempters, and run upon our destruction by our own choice. If you have access, you have: A) envy of B) love for C) hatred of D) admittance to
D) Admittance to
The treasurer who had ______ with the company's funds was quickly captured by alert federal agents.
absconded
How can you accuse me of (absconding, reviling) with all your brilliant ideas when you have never had an original thought in your life?
absconding
Far from being useless, mathematics will give you (reprieve, access) to many fields of scientific study.
access
This master key will give you _____ to any of the rooms in the building.
access
To (access, disentangle) the large safe, we will need the five-digit combination to the lock.
access
synonym: gained ENTREE to an exclusive club
access
There is a vast difference between democracy, under which everyone has duties and privileges and (larceny, anarchy), under which no one has.
anarchy
With no government around to restore order, the small country remained in a state of _____ for weeks after the revolution.
anarchy
For most retired athletes, the comeback trail is an (arduous, inanimate) one, and few ever get to the end of it.
arduous
Since I'm only an average linguist, mastering the irregular verbs in French was one of the most ____ tasks I have ever undertaken.
arduous
His broad education gave him a(n) (auspicious, fated) view of cultures different from his own.
auspicious
Since everything had gone so smoothly, we felt that the campaign to elect Ellen captain was off to a(n) _______ beginning.
auspicious
Spring, with its ever-renewing promise of life, is for me the most (arduous, auspicious) one, and few ever get to the end of it.
auspicious
antonym: a series of OMINOUS events
auspicious
Though the dangers and uncertainties of a westward passage to the Orient cowed many a brave sailor, they did not (rectify, daunt) Columbus.
daunt
Her extraordinary faith in her own abilities enabled her to overcome many obstacles that would have _____ someone less confident.
daunted
Like farmers separating the wheat from the chaff, the members of a jury must (disentangle, daunt) the truth from the evidence presented to them.
disentangle
The film had gotten so badly entwined in the old movie projector that I had a hard time _______ it.
disentangling
Although the hero and the heroine were parted by circumstance, I knew that they were (intrepid, fated) to meet again before the last commercial.
fated
Ancient astrologers developed the idea that what is _____ to happen to a person is determined by the stars.
fated
antonym: an ACCIDENTAL meeting
fated
Although she looks young and inexperienced, it is not easy to (hoodwink, rectify) her, since she is a private detective by profession.
hoodwink
No matter how much protective legislation we pass, there will probably always be gullible consumers for swindlers to _______.
hoodwink
The voters may seem unaware of the underlying issues, but in the long run they cannot be (disentangled, hoodwinked) by self-serving politicians.
hoodwinked
antonym: UNDECEIVED by the joke
hoodwinked
synonym: DUPED into buying a flawed diamond
hoodwinked
A great playwright's characters always seem to come alive; those of a third-rate hack stubbornly remain (pliant, inanimate)
inanimate
Though many people firmly believe that life-forms exist somewhere in outer space, everything that our astronauts have so far encountered has be decidedly ______.
inanimate
antonym: the author's surprisingly VIGOROUS prose
inanimate
synonym: an INERT stone
inanimate
When her eyes suddenly blazed with such fury, I felt that the heat of her glance would all but (disentangle, incinerate) me.
incinerate
The steak I'd accidentally left in the broiler too long wasn't just over-done; it was positively _____.
incinerated
Despite the threats made against his life, the (arduous, intrepid) district attorney was able to obtain a conviction of the corrupt official.
intrepid
Without the slightest hesitation, _____ firefighters will enter a blazing building to rescue anyone who may be trapped.
intrepid
synonym: COURAGEOUS in the face of danger
intrepid
Anyone who takes the writings of other people and presents them as his or her own is guilty of literary (larceny, anarchy).
larceny
The youths who had "borrowed" the car for joyriding were caught by the police and charged with ______.
larceny
synonym: scheduled to stand trial for BURGLARY
larceny
Though somewhat massively built, the gymnast's body was as supple and _____ as a ballet dancer's.
pliant
We should begin studying foreign languages at an early age because it is during those years that our minds are most (pompous, pliant) and receptive.
pliant
His speech and manners were so (auspicious, pompous) and stiff that he cut a somewhat ridiculous figure at our informal little get-together.
pompous
My uncle can be so (pompous, intrepid) when he lectures me about politics.
pompous
The overly ornate style of many 19th century writers seems rather forced and _______ to us today.
pompous
antonym: their UNAFFECTED way of expressing themselves
pompous
synonym: OSTENTATIOUS style of dress
pompous
The general feared that the latest attacks on the city would push the situation over the (precipice, access), leading directly to a full-blown war.
precipice
The guardrail was reinforced to prevent cars from skidding over the edge of the _____ and falling into the abyss below.
precipice
synonym: a house built on a PROMONTORY
precipice
This handmade chair is a(n) ____ for the machine-built ones we will produce by the thousands
prototype
At the design firm, the most well-received (reprieves, prototypes) for the new line of evening gowns were the ones made from a new silk blend.
prototypes
As soon as I discovered that the project was being mismanaged, I tried my best to _____ the situation.
rectify
The team accountants spent hours trying to locate then to (rectify, prototype) the error I had so carelessly made.
rectify
synonym: tried to REMEDY their mistaken impression of me
rectify
I was not completely surprised when my aunt decided to (daunt, reprieve) her decision to let me borrow her car next weekend.
reprieve
Only by admitting your fault and trying to make up for it can you obtain a(n) (reprieve, access) from the pangs of conscience.
reprieve
Since I did not feel well prepared, the three-day postponement of final exams was a most welcome ______.
reprieve
synonym: granted a thirty-day DEFERRAL
reprieve
Instead of recognizing that he caused his own troubles, he continues to (revile, hoodwink) all the people who were "unfair" to him.
revile
synonym: editorials that DENOUNCED the mayor's actions
revile
One of the most controversial figures of his time, the former president was revered by some and _____ by others.
reviled
