Vocabulary Unit 13

1. Vocabulary Unit 13

2. Adapt • Definition: • (verb) to adjust or change to suit conditions • Sample sentence: • As anyone who moves to a new home or starts a new job can tell you, it • takes time to adapt to new surroundings. • SYNONYMS: regulate, alter, acclimate • ANTONYMS: remain unchanged

3. Attest • Definition: • (v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine • Sample sentence: • I can attest to the truth of her story, because I, too, saw what • happened. • SYNONYMS: witness, verify, confirm, corroborate • ANTONYMS: deny, disprove, refute, rebut

4. Dovetail Definition: (v.) to fit together exactly; to connect so as to form a whole (n.) a carpentry figure resembling a dove’s tail Sample sentences: We may be able to dovetail activities with theirs, if we all plan ahead. We examined the fine dovetails the carpenter used to make the cabinet. SYNONYMS: mesh, jive, harmonize ANTONYMS: clash, be at odds

5. Enormity Definition: (n.) the quality of exceeding all moral bounds; an exceedingly evil act; huge size, immense Sample sentence: The enormity of the disaster shocked and saddened the nation. SYNONYM: atrociousness, heinous, vastness ANTONYM: mildness, harmless, innocuous

6. Falter • Definition: • (v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage, to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline • Sample sentence: • The newscaster’s voice faltered as he announced to the nation that • the president was dead. • SYNONYMS: waver • ANTONYMS: persevere

7. Foreboding • Definition: • (n.) a warning or feeling that something bad will • happen • (adj.) marked by fear, ominous • Sample sentence: • As the hurricane neared, residents of towns • along the coast were filled with foreboding. • SYNONYMS: misgiving, premonition

8. Forlorn Definition: (adj.) totally abandoned and helpless; sad and lonely; wretched or pitiful; hopeless Sample sentence: When my best friend moved to another state halfway across the country, I felt extremely forlorn. SYNONYMS: woebegone, forsaken, bereft, pathetic ANTONYMS: jaunty, buoyant, blithe, chipper

9. Haughty Definition: (adj) chillingly proud and scornful Sample sentence: The haughty tone of your voice when you refused my invitation offended me deeply. SYNONYMS: disdainful, supercilious ANTONYMS: meek, humble, unassuming, modest

10. Impediment • Definition: • (n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle • Sample sentence: • You must not let impediments in your path keep • you from pursuing your dreams. • SYNONYMS: obstruction, stumbling block • ANTONYMS: help, advantage, asset, plus

11. Imperative Definition: (adj.) necessary, urgent (n.) a form of verb expressing a command; something that is required Sample sentence: If a tick bites you, it is imperative that you see a doctor. Writing a thank-you note after receiving a gift is a social imperative. SYNONYMS: essential, indispensible, mandatory ANTONYMS: nonessential, unnecessary

12. Loiter • Definition: • (v.) to linger in an aimless way, hang around, dawdle, tarry • Sample sentence: • Some students always loiter in the • hallway, instead of getting to class • on time. • ANTONYM: hurry along

13. Malinger • Definition: • (v.) to pretend illness to avoid duty or work • Sample sentence: • If you malinger too often, no one will believe you • when you really are sick. • SYNONYMS: goof off, shirk

14. Pithy Definition: (adj.) short but full of meaning and to the point Sample sentence: A good editorial should be pithy. SYNONYMS: terse, short and sweet, meaty ANTONYMS: wordy, verbose, foolish

15. Plunder Definition: (v.) to rob by force, especially during wartime; to seize wrongfully; (n.) property stolen by force Sample sentences: In the Old West, rustlers plundered ranches and farms for cattle and horses. Thieves often use a third party called a fence to sell jewelry and other plunder. SYNONYMS: pillage, loot, sack; (n.) spoils, pelf

16. Simper Definition: (v.) to smile or speak in a silly, forced/faked way; (n.) a silly, fake smile Sample sentences: Strangers may find it easier to simper about trivial matters than to have a serious conversation. The camera caught me with a simper on my face. SYNONYMS: snicker, smirk

17. Steadfast Definition: (adj.) firmly fixed; constant, not moving or changing Sample sentence: I urge you to be steadfast in your efforts to achieve your goals in life. SYNONYMS: loyal, faithful, unwavering ANTONYMS: inconstant, fickle, unreliable, vacillating

18. Vaunted Definition: (adj.) much boasted about in a vain or swaggering way Sample sentence: The rookie’s vaunted strength was no match for the veteran’s skill and experience. SYNONYMS: trumpeted, heralded ANTONYMS: downplayed, soft-pedaled, de-emphasized

19. Vilify • Definition: • (v.) to abuse or belittle unjustly or maliciously • Sample sentence: • Voters have become thoroughly disgusted with • candidates who vilify their rival’s reputations. • SYNONYMS: malign, defame, denigrate, traduce • ANTONYMS: glorify, extol, lionize

20. Waif Definition: (n.) a person (usually a child) without a home or friend; a stray person or animal; something that comes along by chance Sample sentence: The spunky waif who triumphs over many hardships is a popular character in film and fiction. SYNONYMS: stray, ragamuffin, street urchin

21. Wry • Definition: • (adj.) twisted, turned to one side, cleverly and • often grimly humorous • Sample sentence: • Charles Addams was famous for wry • cartoons chronicling the adventures • of a ghoulish family. • SYNONYMS: dryly amusing, ironic, • ANTONYMS: humorless, solemn