British Literature
Vocabulary Unit #3
Abominate
Flashpulp.com - Sorry, I couldn’t get a picture of a really abominable snowman. You have to
use your imagination with this cute one – pretend he is gross.
I hate the abominable snowman.
I abominate the abominable snowman.
To bomb a city is despicable.
To bomb a city is abominable.
Most students detest homework assigned during school vacations.
Most students abominate homework assigned during school
vacations.
Harry Potter disliked the vomit flavored Bertie Botts beans.
Harry Potter abominated the vomit flavored Bertie Botts beans.
Acculturation
kkatielynn.blogspot.com
When Katie and her friends first went to India as exchange
students they wore jeans and t-shirts, but they soon modified their
American cultural ideas to conform to Indian society and adopted
local clothing styles.
When Katie and her friends first went to India as exchange
students they wore jeans and t-shirts, but they soon acculturated
into Indian society and adopted local clothing styles.
After his family moved to New Jersey from Botswana, Obed when
through a process of adaptation to American culture.
After his family moved to New Jersey from Botswana, Obed when
through a process of acculturation to American culture.
Adventitious
It was simply fortuitous that Rocco was the 100,000th customer at
the local A & P and won $100,000.
It was simply adventitious that Rocco was the 100,000th customer
at the local A & P and won $100,000.
It was incidental that the lost adventurer had accidentally packed
his Boy Scout handbook instead of his diary as he was able to use
the instructions in it to locate due north.
It was adventitious that the lost adventurer had accidentally packed
his Boy Scout handbook instead of his diary as he was able to use
the instructions in it to locate due north
The discovery of the mini-mee marmot was extrinsic to the
Rutgers University field study of the mating habits of the maxi
marmot.
The discovery of the mini-mee marmot was adventitious to the
Rutgers University field study of the mating habits of the maxi
marmot.
Ascribe
assuied.com
Some scholars have attributed the writing of the Dead Sea Scrolls
to an ancient Jewish scribe.
Some scholars have ascribed the writing of the Dead Sea Scrolls to
an ancient Jewish scribe.
You may give credit for the mess in Bobby’s room to a burglar, but
I think he is just a slob.
You may ascribe the mess in Bobby’s room to a burglar, but I
think he is just a slob.
The hole in the ozone layer is said to be caused by human activity.
The hole in the ozone layer is ascribed to human activity.
Circuitous
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Many people enjoy the time consuming act of following the
winding path of a maze.
Many people enjoy the time consuming act of following the
circuitous path of a maze.
We would have been on time if we had gone straight to the party,
but Carolyn insisted on taking the meandering scenic route and we
wandered all over the county instead.
We would have been on time if we had gone straight to the party,
but Carolyn insisted on taking the circuitous scenic route and we
wandered all over the county instead.
The travelers had two choices. They could take the direct flight to
Athens or indirect flight that stopped in London, Paris and Rome
before heading for Greece.
The travelers had two choices. They could take the direct flight to
Athens or circuitous flight that stopped in London, Paris and Rome
before heading for Greece.
Commiserate
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The coach spent some time sharing the distress of his star player
after he learned the man would miss the rest of the game due to a
sprained ankle.
The coach spent some time commiserating with his star player
after he learned the man would miss the rest of the game due to a
sprained ankle.
I felt sorrow for the people who lost homes in the hurricane and
donated to the Red Cross in an effort to help them.
I commiserated with the people who lost homes in the hurricane
and donated to the Red Cross in an effort to help them.
Walter had a similar toothache not long ago, so he was able to
empathize with his wife.
Walter had a similar toothache not long ago, so he was able to
commiserate with his wife.
Enjoin
cadetcommand.armylive.dodlive.mil
The drill sergeant ordered the new recruit to do 50 push-ups.
The drill sergeant enjoined the new recruit to do 50 push-ups.
The doctor directed the football coach to purchase new helmets for
the team since they had better concussion protection.
The doctor enjoined the football coach to purchase new helmets for
the team since they had better concussion protection.
The principal prohibited the sale of beer, even to those over 21, at
any school sponsored sports or pep rallies.
The principal enjoined the sale of beer, even to those over 21, at
any school sponsored sports or pep rallies.
Expedite
wilogo.com
Using Expedia can make it easier to plan you vacation.
Using Expedia can expedite the planning of your vacation.
An enzyme can cause a chemical reaction to progress faster.
An enzyme can expedite a chemical reaction.
If you remove your shoes when you first get on the airport security
line, you can speed up your security check.
If you remove your shoes when you first get on the airport security
line, you can expedite your security check.
Expedite and Expiate are easy to confuse. The
best I could come up with to help with this is:
Expedite has only I’s and E’s – it makes it easy.
Expiate also has an A – it means to make amends
or to avert.
Expiate
Bruiser tried to make amends for his bad behavior after he ate
Fluffy’s cubs, but she refused to accept his apology.
Bruiser tried to expiate his bad behavior after he ate Fluffy’s cubs,
but she refused to accept his apology.
Jonathan made up for his having run into the garage door by
purchasing and installing a new one the next day.
Jonathan expiated his having run into the garage door by
purchasing and installing a new one the next day.
Many Catholics atone for their sins by going to see their priest for
confession.
Many Catholics expiate their sins by going to see their priest for
confession.
Ferment
planetcalpsoforum.com
The crowd was in a state of agitation as they tracked down Homer.
They were angry with him for drinking all the beer they had been
producing through chemical reactions in the town brewery.
The crowd was in a ferment as they tracked down Homer. They
were angry with him for drinking all the beer they had been
fermenting in the town brewery.
There was a great deal of unrest in the bleachers after the
volleyball player from Godigo High kicked an opposing player in
the knee.
There was a great deal of ferment in the bleachers after the
volleyball player from Godigo High kicked an opposing player in
the knee.
Inadvertent
redcmarketing.net
Mrs. Besserman claimed that hitting the billboard was accidental;
she simply misjudged the distance to the runway and the ad was in
the way.
Mrs. Besserman claimed that hitting the billboard was inadvertant;
she simply misjudged the distance to the runway and the ad was in
the way.
Gemma was just trying to get more mashed potatoes and tipping
over the gravy boat was completely unintentional.
Gemma was just trying to get more mashed potatoes and tipping
over the gravy boat was completely inadvertent.
The loss of the computer cart key was the result of the teachers
lack of attention.
The loss of the computer cart key by the teacher was inadvertent.
Nominal
alincolnlearning.us
Because the children in the neighborhood were very poor, the deli
owner charged only a very small amount for his candies.
Because the children in the neighborhood were very poor, the deli
owner charged only a nominal amount for his candies.
There was a law against sitting on the grass, but the policeman
thought it was not to be taken seriously and ignored the picnicking
students.
There was a law against sitting on the grass, but the policeman
thought it was nominal and ignored the picnicking students.
There was an inconsequential mistake in Megan’s homework, but
the teacher ignored it and gave her full credit.
There was a nominal mistake in Megan’s homework, but the
teacher ignored it and gave her full credit.
Noncommittal
libertyworks.com
The reporters tried to get Senator Hotshot to explain how he would
deal with corruption in the government but he was unwilling to
take a clear position.
The reporters tried to get Senator Hotshot to explain how he would
deal with corruption in the government but he was noncommittal.
George asked Martha to marry him but she was unwilling to say
yes or no until he promised to stay out of politics.
George asked Martha to marry him but she was noncommittal until
he promised to stay out of politics.
Peculate
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Many people trusted Bernie Madoff and invested their money with
him. They did not expect him to steal their life savings to finance
his own lavish lifestyle.
Many people trusted Bernie Madoff and invested their money with
him. They did not expect him to peculate their life savings to
finance his own lavish lifestyle.
Stanley fired his accountant and notified the police when he found
out that the man had embezzled money from the company
retirement fund.
Stanley fired his accountant and notified the police when he found
out that the man had peculated money from the company
retirement fund.
Con artists are often defraud the gullible and elderly.
Con artists are often peculate from the gullible and elderly.
Proclivity
Even as a young child, Marcus displayed a natural inclination for
climbing and his parents were not surprised when he took up
mountain climbing as a hobby.
Even as a young child, Marcus displayed a proclivity for climbing
and his parents were not surprised when he took up mountain
climbing as a hobby.
Many of the people who go into local politics have a penchant to
work for the good of their community.
Many of the people who go into local politics have a proclivity to
work for the good of their community.
The annoying dog next door has a tendency to dig in my garden.
The annoying dog next door has a proclivity to dig in my garden.
Sangfroid
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Even in a hot and dangerous situation, fire chief Anders displays
amazing composure and directs his men with cool self-assurance.
Even in a hot and dangerous situation, fire chief Anders displays
amazing sangfroid and directs his men with cool self-assurance.
Although he was nervous when he first got into television, the
opposite is now true and the old actor’s poise is obvious in his
calm self-assurance.
Although he was nervous when he first got into television, the
opposite is now true and the old actor’s sangfroid is obvious in his
calm self-assurance.
Nick presented his thesis to the class with great composure and did
not feel nervous at all.
Nick presented his thesis to the class with great sangfroid and did
not feel nervous at all.
Seditious
argenweb.net
The South’s attempt to separate from the rest of the United States
was a rebellious act that nearly destroyed our young nation.
The South’s attempt to separate from the rest of the United States
was a seditious act that nearly destroyed our young nation.
The mutinous pirate was thrown in the brig for resisting the
authority of the captain.
The seditious pirate was thrown in the brig for resisting the
authority of the captain.
The rebels tried to gain support for their attempt to over throw the
government by passing out subversive pamphlets.
The rebels tried to gain support for their attempt to over throw the
government by passing out seditious pamphlets.
Tenuous
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Marcus had a poorly supported hold on the rocks and was glad he
was wearing a safety line.
Marcus had a tenuous hold on the rocks and was glad he was
wearing a safety line.
The heavy piano was suspended by only one thin and insignificant
frayed rope and the moving men were afraid it would fall.
The heavy piano was suspended by only one tenuous frayed rope
and the moving men were afraid it would fall.
Vitriolic
success.org
It seemed appropriate that Prunella Lemon was in charge of the
acids division at Applied Chemical since all her comments to her
employees were bitter and sarcastic.
It seemed appropriate that Prunella Lemon was in charge of the
acids division at Applied Chemical since all her comments to her
employees were vitriolic.
Pete thought his girlfriend wouldn’t mind that he used her favorite
nail polish to paint his model fire engine, but her withering stare
quickly let him know that she was really angry.
Pete thought his girlfriend wouldn’t mind that he used her favorite
nail polish to paint his model fire engine, but her vitriolic stare
quickly let him know that she was really angry.
No one likes to be the victim of a highly caustic and nasty put
down.
No one likes to be the victim of a vitriolic and nasty put down.
Wheedle
blogspot.com
Even though she was only four, Wendy knew just how to coax and
flatter her father into buying her ice cream.
Even though she was only four, Wendy knew just how to wheedle
her father into buying her ice cream.
Sarah tried to sweet-talk her husband into a vacation in Hawaii, but
he thought they should use the money to renovate the bathroom.
Sarah tried to wheedle her husband into a vacation in Hawaii, but
he thought they should use the money to renovate the bathroom.
Using all his charm, Walter was able to cajole the information out
of the diplomat and send the information back to his own
government in time to stop the invasion.
Using all his charm, Walter was able to wheedle the information
out of the diplomat and send the information back to his own
government in time to stop the invasion.