Vocabulary Workshop
Unit 8: #’s 1-20
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affluence
• (n.) wealth, riches,
prosperity; great abundance,
plenty
• Synonyms: opulence
Education, hard work, and a
very strong desire to
succeed can raise a person
from poverty to affluence.
arrears
• (n., pl.) unpaid or overdue
debts; an unfinished duty
• Synonyms: in default, in the
red, late, overdue
Bad spending habits and
unexpected expenses left
my aunt in arrears.
cascade
• (n.) a steep, narrow waterfall;
something falling or rushing forth in
quantity
• (v.) to flow downward (like a
waterfall)
• Synonyms: (v.) plunge, rush,
tumble
We were thrilled when we hit the
jackpot, which produced a
cascade of loudly jangling coins.
I watched the clear, sparkling water
cascade down the mountainside.
cringe
• (v.) to shrink back or
hide in fear or
submissiveness
• Synonym: flinch, duck,
cower, fawn
My father told me to be
brave and not to
cringe when the doctor
vaccinated me.
crotchety
• (adj.) cranky, ill-tempered;
full of odd whims
• Synonyms: grumpy,
grouchy, crabby,
disagreeable
It is unfortunate that the
teacher asked me to work
with the most crotchety
partner in the class.
format
• (n.) the size, shape, or
arrangement of
something
• Synonyms: layout, design
The clear format of the
website makes it easy for
users to find its key
features.
immobile
• (adj.) not movable; not
moving
• Synonyms: fixed, stationary,
unmoving, rooted
Models must remain
immobile for a long time in
order for an artist to draw or
paint them accurately.
impassable
• (adj.) blocked so that
nothing can go through
• Synonyms: closed,
impenetrable
Fallen trees formed an
impassable barrier across
the highway after the
storm.
innovation
• (n.) something new, a change; the
act of introducing a new method,
idea, device, etc.
• Synonyms: novelty,
modernization, new wrinkle
Our furnace has an energy-saving
innovation that turns the heat on
and off at certain intervals.
jovial
• (adj.) good-humored, in
high spirits; merry
• Synonyms: jolly, cheerful,
festive
My jovial friend is very
entertaining and is always
the life of the party.
manacle
• (n., usually pl.) a handcuff, anything
that chains or confines
• (v.) to chain or restrain (as with
handcuffs)
• Synonyms: (v.) put in chains, fetter
The kidnappers clamped manacles
on their hostages.
The guards were told to manacle
the prisoner to the chair.
martial
• (adj.) warlike, fond of
fighting; relating to war, the
army, or military life
• Synonyms: military, hostile,
bellicose
The army band plays
martial music as the
troops formally march past
the visiting general.
minimum
• (n.) the smallest possible
amount
• (adj.) the lowest permissible
or possible
• Synonyms: (adj.) least
I need to sleep a minimum
of seven hours every night.
Sixteen is the minimum age
to get a driver’s license in
this state.
nimble
• (adj.) quick and skillful in
movement, agile; clever
• Synonyms: lively, keen, flexible
As the nimble climber scaled
Mount Everest, it looked as if
she was barely exerting any
energy at all.
onset
• (n.) the beginning, start
(especially of something
violent and destructive);
an attack, assault
• Synonyms: outset,
commencement
At the onset of the heavy
storm, frightened people
ran to find shelter.
partition
• (n.) something that divides (such
as a wall); the act of dividing
something into parts or sections
• (v.) to divide or subdivide into
parts or shares
• Synonyms: (n.) divider,
separation
A cloth partition in the study
gave each of us some privacy.
We can partition the backyard
into four separate play areas.
perishable
• (adj.) likely to spoil or
decay
• Synonyms: short-lived,
fleeting
You must keep
perishable foods chilled
or they will spoil.
retrieve
• (v.) to find and bring back,
get back; to put right,
make good
• Synonyms: recover,
regain, fetch, remedy,
rectify
I enjoy playing tennis, but I
don’t relish having to
retrieve tennis balls every
time you hit them over the
fence.
sinister
• (adj.) appearing evil or
dangerous; threatening
evil or harm
• Synonyms: frightening,
menacing, ominous
A sinister message left on
our answering machine
made us wonder if we
were safe at home.
taut
• (adj.) tightly drawn,
tense; neat, in good
order
• Synonyms: tight,
strained, orderly,
shipshape
A taut chain kept the
curious dogs away from
the swimming pool.