1.
asseverate(d) – (v) to affirm earnestly and with emphasis
2.
atrophy – (n) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v) to waste away
3.
bastion – (n) a fortified place, stronghold
4.
concord – (n) a state of agreement, harmony; a treaty
5.
consummate – (adj) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v) to bring to a state of completion of perfection
6.
disarray – (n) disorder, confusion; (v) to throw into disorder
7.
exigency(-ies) – (n, often pl.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
8.
flotsam – (n) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
9.
frenetic – (adj) frenzied, frantic, highly agitated
10.
glean(ed) – (v) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers
11.
grouse – (n) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v) to complain, grumble
12.
incarcerate(d) – (v) to imprison, confine, jail
13.
incumbent – (adj) obligatory, required; (n) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
14.
jocular – (adj) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
15.
ludicrous – (adj) ridiculous, laughable, absurd
16.
mordant – (adj) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
17.
nettle(d) – (n) a prickly or stinging plant; (v) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
18.
pecuniary – (adj) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money
19.
prepossessing – (adj) pleasing, tending to create a favorable impression
20.
pusillanimous – (adj) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited
21.
recumbent – (adj) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting
22.
stratagem – (n) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end

1.
Most people regarded the government’s attempt to avert a war by buying off the aggressor as not only shameful but _____________ as well.
2.
The defeated army fled in such ______________ that before long it had become little more than a uniformed mob.
3.
It was pleasant to see the usually quiet and restrained Mr. Baxter in such a(n) _________ and expansive mood.
4.
People who are used to the unhurried atmosphere of a country town often find it hard to cope with the _______________ pace of big-city life.
5.
There was indeed something ______________ about what my father aptly referred to as my sister’s “winning” smile.
6.
Since I had had only one year of high-school French, my attempts to speak that language on my trip to Paris were pretty ________________.
7.
Despite all their highfalutin malarkey about helping the poor, I suspect that their interest in the project is purely ________________.
8.
Almost every case of muscle of tissue _________________ is the result of disease, prolonged disuse, or changes in cell nutrition.
9.
The purpose of our _________________ was to draw in the safety man so that Tom could get behind him to receive a long pass.
10.
The high ground east of the river formed a natural ______________ which we decided to defend with all the forces at our disposal.
11.
Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens is a disillusioned misanthrope who spends him time hurling
___________ barbs at the rest of mankind.
12.
As soon as he struck the opening chords of the selection, we realized that we were listening to a(n) _________________ master of the piano.
13.
I get my best ideas while lying down; the _____________ position seems to stimulate my brain.
14.
The ________________ of my present financial situation demand that I curtail all unnecessary expenses for at least a month.
15.
Though next to nothing is known about Homer, historians have been able to __________ a few odd facts about him from studying his works.
16.
When he takes the Oath of Office, the President ______________ that he will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
17.
It is __________ on all of us to do whatever we can to help our community overcome this crisis.
18.
I regret that Nancy was ________________ by my unfavorable review of her short story, but I had to express my opinion honestly.
19.
Even critics of our penal system admit that so long as hardened criminals are _____________, they can’t commit further crimes.
20.
I have yet to meet an adult who did not ________________ about the taxes he or she had to pay.
21.
The _____________ that we observed here and there in the harbor bore mute testimony to the destructive power of the storm.
22.
Peace is not just the absence of war by t appositive state of _______________ among the nations of the world.

Synonyms
Choose the word from this unit that is most nearly the same in meaning as the groups of expressions.
1. risible, ridiculous, laughable, absurd
2. a ruse, trick, ploy, subterfuge
______________________________ 1
______________________________ 2
3. cowardly, craven, lily-livered
4. winsome, engaging, captivating
5. prone, prostrate, supine; inactive
6. to collect, cull, pick up, gather
7. urgency; a need, demand, requirement
______________________________ 3
______________________________ 4
______________________________ 5
______________________________ 6
______________________________ 7
8. to clinch, conclude; masterful
9. agreement, unanimity; a pact, covenant
10. to imprison, jail, intern, immure
11. a citadel, stronghold, rampart, bulwark
12. frenzied, frantic
13. floating wreckage, debris
14. obligatory, mandatory, required
15. waggish, facetious, droll, witty
16. monetary, financial
17. degeneration, deterioration; to wither
______________________________ 8
______________________________ 9
______________________________10
______________________________11
______________________________12
______________________________13
______________________________14
______________________________15
______________________________16
______________________________17
18. to gripe, complain, kvetch, bellyache
19. to aver, avow, affirm, avouch
20. to peeve, vex, annoy, incense, gall, irk
21. disorder, confusion, disorganization
______________________________18
______________________________19
______________________________20
______________________________21
______________________________22 22. caustic, acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic
Antonyms
Choose the word from this unit that is most nearly the opposite in meaning as the groups of expressions.
1. strife, discord, disagreement _______________________________ 1
2. calm, controlled; relaxed, leisurely
3. solemn, grave, earnest; humorless, grim
4. to please, delight; to soothe, pacify
5. erect, upright; energetic, dynamic
6. to deny, repudiate, disavow
7. to launch, kick off, initiate, begin
8. to liberate, release, free
9. repellent, repulsive, distasteful
10. growth, development; to mature, develop
11. order, organization, tidiness
12. optional; unnecessary
13. heartrending, poignant, pathetic
14. stouthearted, courageous, daring
15. bland, mild, gentle, soothing
_______________________________ 2
_______________________________ 3
_______________________________ 4
_______________________________ 5
_______________________________ 6
_______________________________ 7
_______________________________ 8
_______________________________ 9
_______________________________10
_______________________________11
_______________________________12
_______________________________13
_______________________________14
_______________________________15

Choosing the Right Word
Encircle the boldface word that more satisfactorily completes each sentence.
1.
One the witness stand, the defendant ( asseverated, nettled ) his innocence so firmly and convincingly that it was difficult not to believe him.
2.
We were able to ( consummate, glean ) only a few shreds of useful information from his long, pretentious speech.
3.
During the 19 th century, it was fashionable to spend a few weeks in the fall hunting ( grouse, nettles ), pheasants, and other game birds.
4.
I noticed with approval that his ( pecuniary, mordant ) remarks were intended to deflate the pompous and unmask the hypocritical.
5.
What we need to cope with the crisis is not cute ( grousing, stratagems ) but a bold, realistic plan and the courage to carry it out.
6.
Of the 10 Congressional seats in our state, only one was won by a new member; all the other winners were ( incumbents, bastions ).
7.
All that I needed to ( consummate, nettle ) the most important deal of my career was her signature on the dotted line.
8.
The only was we’ll really be able to increase productivity is to offer our employees a few solid
( frenetic, pecuniary ) incentives to work harder.
9.
To feel fear in difficult situations is natural, but to allow one’s conduct to be governed by fear is
( jocular, pusillanimous ).
10.
In Victorian times, fashionable ladies ( disarrayed, incarcerated ), their waists in tight corsets to achieve a chic “hourglass” figure.
11.
Comfortably ( recumbent, frenetic ) in the shade of the elm tree, I watched the members of the football team go through a hard, sweaty workout.
12.
The affairs of our city are in such ( disarray, flotsam ) that the state may have to intervene to restore some semblance of order.
13.
In the shelter, I saw for the first time people beaten and mutilated by life – the derelicts and
( flotsam, incumbents ) of the great city.
14.
I have always regarded our schools and colleges as citadels of learning and ( bastions, stratagems ) against ignorance and superstition.
15.
Before the ceremony began, we all bowed our heads and prayed for unity, peace, and ( concord, atrophy ) among all nations.
16.
We were fascinated by the ( mordant, frenetic ) scene on the floor of the stock exchange as brokers struggled to keep up with sudden price changes.
17.
There are few things in life as ( prepossessing, ludicrous ) as an unqualified person trying to assume the trappings of authority.
18.
A born leader is someone who can rise to the ( incumbents, exigencies ) of any crisis that he or she may be confronted with.
19.
The huge influx of wealth that resulted from foreign conquests led in part to the physical and moral ( atrophy, flotsam ).
20.
Do you really think that those ( jocular, prepossessing ) remarks are appropriate on such a solemn occasion?
21.
It has been said that the only way to handle a ( nettle, stratagem ), or any difficult problem, without being stung is to grasp it firmly and decisively.
22.
Though Elizabeth I looked every inch the queen she in fact was, Victoria’s appearance was not very ( recumbent, prepossessing ).