Vocabulary Unit 14
Exercise 1. Due: ______________________.
Find each of the unit’s words in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (m-w.com). Copy the word and its entry onto a separate sheet of
paper. Copy the word broken into its syllables; copy ALL meanings; copy ALL parts of speech; copy ALL related words; copy ALL
synonyms and antonyms; copy any sample sentences or phrases given. There are only two things that you do not need to copy: (1)
anything related to pronunciation and (2) anything related to word origin. Use the information you find to complete Exercises 2, 3, and 4.
Do not use a word processor for this exercise. Credit will be given for handwritten work only. A minimum of half credit will be deducted
for failing to copy over ALL parts of any entry.
termagant
usurer
ostentation
parsimony
munificent
craven
importunate
pensive
sepulcher
ubiquitous
Exercise 2A and 2B. Due:_______________________.
2A. Match the word on the left to its correct definition on the right.
_____ 1. termagant
A. ever-present; everywhere or seeming to be everywhere
_____ 2. usurer
B. lost in thought; meditative
_____ 3. ostentation
C. a quarrelsome, scolding woman
_____ 4. parsimony
D. cowardly
_____ 5. munificent
E. a grave; a tomb
_____ 6. craven
F. stinginess
_____ 7. importunate
G. a moneylender
_____ 8. pensive
H. showiness; pretentious display
_____ 9. sepulcher
I. demanding; unreasonably persistent
_____10. ubiquitous
J. generous
2B. Complete the sentences by inserting the correct vocabulary words in the spaces provided.
1. The IRS was ______________________________ in its requests for more money from Bob. They kept
demanding more of his paycheck.
2. "Get a job, put your socks away – no, you're doing it all wrong. You do everything wrong," whined Bob's
wife, Grisella, a ______________________________.
3. Bob was _____________________ and, therefore, didn't have the guts to stand up to Grisella.
4. Feeling the pressure from the IRS, Bob felt compelled to turn to Vinnie, a _______________________,
for a loan.
5. In a typical display of ________________________, Grisella wouldn’t allow Bob to spend any of the
money he received from Vinnie; she wouldn’t even let him pay his tax debt.
6. Bob couldn’t stand it anymore. He became ___________________________ for days, trying to figure
out a way out of his suffering.
7. Bob called Vinnie, who had “connections,” and took out a contract on Grisella. Now, she resides in a
marble ___________________________.
8. Soon after the funeral, Bob hit the Lucky 7 Lotto and now lives a life of __________________________,
driving fast cars, wearing gold chains and eating unpronounceable foods.
9. He now eschews the more __________________________shopping spots of middle America, such as
Wal-Mart, preferring more selective shops.
10. Bob showed his __________________________ side when he donated millions to the Retired Hit Men
of America Society (RHMAS).
Exercise 3A and 3B. Due:_______________________.
3A. Answer the following questions with the best vocabulary word.
1. Which word describes the lion in The Wizard of Oz? _______________________________
2. Which word describes McDonald’s "Golden Arches"? _______________________________
3. Which word is what Scrooge exhibited? _____________________________
4. What might you call Fred Sanford's nagging sister-in-law, Aunt Esther? _________________________
5. What is another word for "loan shark"? ________________________________
6. Which word describes a child who wants his 10th popsicle of the day? ________________________
7. Which word might describe a person who is in the midst of making a big decision? _________________
8. Where would you find bones and rotting flesh? ___________________________
9. What would you call Ted Turner's gift of one billion dollars to charity? __________________________
10. What might you call Donald Trump's lifestyle? __________________________
Exercise 3B. Make up your own synonymous phrase for each vocabulary word. Do not copy phrases from the dictionary.
1. termagant __________________________________________________________________________________
2. usurer _____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ostentation _________________________________________________________________________________
4. parsimony __________________________________________________________________________________
5. munificent __________________________________________________________________________________
6. craven _____________________________________________________________________________________
7. importunate _________________________________________________________________________________
8. pensive ____________________________________________________________________________________
9. sepulcher __________________________________________________________________________________
10. ubiquitous __________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 4. Due: ___________________________:
On a separate sheet of paper, write a pair of original sentences for each vocabulary word. To receive credit for your efforts, be sure to follow the
instructions given in your handout: Instructions for Writing Sentences with Vocabulary Words.