Unit 4
Acute
adj. - serious and sudden
Durable
adj. - able to withstand wear, decay,
or tough conditions; long-lasting
Words within a word cue: “U R
ABLE” to survive tough conditions.
Another way to remember is “UR
TABLE.” Imagine a tough, steel table
that is really old.
Eavesdrop
v. - to listen secretly to private
conversations
Word origin: The word “eaves” refers
to the edge of a roof. Eavesdrop
literally refers to water that drips from
the eaves. By the fifteenth century, the
word literally meant 'a person who
stands on the eavesdrop of a house to
listen to what is happening inside'.
source:
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980316
Unit 4
Ethical
adj. - pertaining to accepted
standards of behavior; conforming
to accepted standards of behavior
Fjord
n. - a narrow inlet of the sea
between tall cliffs or steep banks
Gaudy
adj. - tastelessly showy
Unit 4
Nominal
adj. - existing in name only;
insignificantly small; token
Nurture
v. - to nourish; to help grow or develop
Pommel
(v.)
to strike; to beat
Pommel
(n.)
a knob on the handle of a sword or
weapon
Unit 4
Quibble (v.)
to evade the main point by arguing over
petty details
Quibble (n.)
an irrelevant argument
Rampart
n. - a defensive structure or
embankment
Unit 4
Respite
n. - a short rest or period of relief; delay
Rite
n. - a customary or religious ceremonial
act
Seismic
adj. - pertaining to earthquakes or
vibrations of the earth
Unit 4
Terrestrial
adj. - of or pertaining to solid land