Unit 6
Definitions
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of
each of the following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative phrase following.
1. marauder
(mə ‘rôd ər)
(n.) a raider, plunderer
a village raided by _____________________
2. lithe
(līth)
(adj.) bending easily; limber
as _______________ and gentle as a ballet dancer
3. pauper
(‘pô pər)
(n.) an extremely poor person
help for the ______________ in our community
4. pilfer
(‘pil fər)
(v.) to steal in small quantities
___________________ stamps from the cash box
5. rift
(rift)
(n.) a split, break. Breach
an unfortunate _________________ in their
friendship
6. semblance
(‘sem bləns)
(n.) a likeness; an outward appearance; an apparition
tried to create a ___________________ of order
7. surmount
(sər ‘ maůnt)
(v.) to overcome, rise above
struggle to ____________________ all obstacles
8. subversive
(səb ‘vər siv)
(adj.) intended to undermine or overthrow (n) one who
advocates or attempts to undermine a political system
confiscate the ________________ pamphlets
9. trite
(trīt)
(adj.) commonplace; overused, stale
full of clichés and __________________ phrases
10. usurp
(yü ‘sərp)
(v.) to seize and hold a position by force or without right
plot to ____________________ power
Synonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly
the same in meaning as each of the following groups of expression. Write the
word on the line given.
1. to conquer, overcome, triumph over _______________________________
2. an appearance, air, aura, veneer, façade ____________________________
3. to steal, rob, filch, swipe, purloin _________________________________
4. a poor person, someone destitute _________________________________
5. a crack, fissure, breach, gap, cleft ________________________________
6. commonplace, banal, hackneyed, “corny”__________________________
7. to seize illegally, commandeer, supplant ___________________________
8. a raider, looter, pirate, freebooter _________________________________
9. agile, nimble, supple ___________________________________________
10. rebellious, defiant, disobedient __________________________________
Antonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning
to each of the following groups of expressions. Write the word on the line given.
1. surrender, submit, yield ___________________________________
2. loyal, dependable, dedicated _______________________________
3. awkward, clumsy, inflexible _______________________________
4. original, novel, fresh, innovative ____________________________
5. to be vanquished, be defeated, succumb to ____________________
6. a millionaire, tycoon _____________________________________
7. to obtain or come to by right _______________________________
8. a dissimilarity, contrast; a total lack _________________________
9. a reconciliation; a closing of a gap __________________________
Unit 7
Definitions
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of
each of the following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative phrase following.
1. abscond
(ab ‘skänd)
(v.) to run off a hide
___________________ with the stolen money
2. hamper
(‘ham pər)
(v.) to hold back
______________ our efforts
3. anarchy
(‘an ər kē)
(n.) a lack of government and law, confusion
a country suffering from _________________
4. arduous
(‘är jü əs)
(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort
__________________ chores
5. auspicious
(ô ‘spish əs)
(adj.) favorable; fortunate
under ____________________ circumstances
6. biased
(‘bī əst)
(adj.) favoring one side unduly; prejudiced
a _______________________ decision
7. daunt
(dônt)
(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten,
discourage
not _________________ by their threats
8. disentangle
(dis en ‘taŋ gəl)
(v.) to free from tangles or complications
_________________ the fishing net
9. fated
(‘fā tid)
(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune
_____________________ to rise to the top
10. hoodwink
(‘hůd wiŋk)
(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive
attempt to ________________ the child
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS SHEET!
Synonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly
the same in meaning as each of the following groups of expression. Write the
word on the line given.
1. promising, encouraging, propitious ______________________________
2. prejudiced, unfair, partial, bigoted_______________________________
3. to deceive, dupe, put one over on________________________________
4. to intimidate, dismay, cow, discourage____________________________
5. doomed, destined, preordained __________________________________
6. to bolt, make off, skip town_____________________________________
7. to unravel, unwind, unscramble, unsnarl___________________________
8. hard, difficult, laborious, fatiguing _______________________________
9. chaos, disorder, turmoil, pandemonium ___________________________
10. hinder, obstruct, slow down ____________________________________
Antonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to each of the following groups of expressions. Write the word on the line given.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
accidental, fortuitous, chance, random_______________________________
to tangle up, ensnarl, snag ________________________________________
to encourage, embolden, reassure __________________________________
easy, simple, effortless __________________________________________
law and order, peace and quiet ____________________________________
ill-omened, ominous, sinister _____________________________________
fair, impartial, unprejudiced, just __________________________________
to undeceive, disabuse, “clue in” __________________________________
Unit 8
Definitions
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of
each of the following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative phrase following.
1. inanimate
(in ‘an ə mit)
(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit
stones and other _________________ objects
2. incinerate
(in ‘sin ər āt)
(v.) to burn to ashes
____________________ the garbage
3. intrepid
(in ‘trep id)
(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable
______________________ explorers of the ocean
4. larceny
(‘lär sə nē)
(n.) theft
found guilty of ________________________
5. pliant
(‘plī ənt)
(adj.) bending readily, easily influenced
a sapling’s _____________________ branches
6. pompous
(‘päm pəs)
(adj.) overly self-important in speech or manner;
excessively stately or ceremonious
a ______________________ and conceited fool
7. precipice
(‘pres ə pis)
(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster
peer cautiously over a _____________________
8. rectify
(‘rek tə fī)
(v.) to make right, correct
___________________ a false impression
9. reprieve
(ri ‘prēv)
(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a
postponement
receive a ________________ from the Governor
10. revile
(ri ‘vīl)
(v.) to attack with words, call bad names
___________________ their enemies
Synonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly
the same in meaning as each of the following groups of expression. Write the
word on the line given.
1. pretentious, highfalutin, bombastic _______________________________
2. to postpone, to delay; a stay, respite ______________________________
3. supple, flexible, elastic, plastic __________________________________
4. a cliff, crag, bluff, promontory; a brink, ledge ______________________
5. to correct, remedy, set right ____________________________________
6. lifeless, dead; inert, spiritless ___________________________________
7. inveigh against, malign, vilify, denounce __________________________
8. to burn up, cremate, reduce to ashes ______________________________
9. stealing, robbery, theft, burglary _________________________________
10. valiant, courageous, audacious, daring ____________________________
Antonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to each of the following groups of expressions. Write the word on the line given.
1. timid, cowardly, craven ________________________________________
2. to praise, acclaim; to revere, idolize ______________________________
3. to mess up, botch, bungle ______________________________________
4. to proceed as scheduled _______________________________________
5. rigid, stiff, inflexible, set in stone ________________________________
6. living, alive; energetic, lively, sprightly ___________________________
7. unpretentious, unaffected; plain _________________________________
8. an abyss, chasm, gorge ________________________________________
Unit 9
Definitions
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of
each of the following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative phrase following.
1. sardonic
(sär ‘dän ik)
(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking; bitterly sarcastic
the satirist’s _________________ laughter
2. annihilate
(ə ‘nī ə lāt)
(v.) to destroy completely
_____________________ the enemy forces
3. arbitrary
(‘är bə trer ē)
(adj.) unreasonable; based on one’s own wishes or whims
without regard for reason or fairness
an __________________ and domineering ruler
4. brazen
(‘brā zən)
(adj.) made of brass; shameless, disrespectful
a __________________ liar
5. catalyst
(‘kat əl ist)
(n.) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical
reaction; any agent that causes change
act as a ________________ in the process
6. exodus
(‘ek sə dəs)
(n.) a large-scale departure or flight
a mass __________________ of refugees
7. facilitate
(fə ‘sil ə tāt)
(v.) to make easier, assist
_________________ the efforts of the rescue team
8. incorrigible
(in ‘kä rə jə bəl)
(adj.) not able to be corrected, beyond control
an __________________ optimist
9. latent
(‘lāt ənt)
(adj.) hidden, present but not realized
a ________________, unexpressed hostility
10. militant
(‘mil ə tənt)
(adj.) given to fighting; active and aggressive in support
of a cause; (n.) activist
a ________________ campaign against drugs
Synonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly
the same in meaning as each of the following groups of expression. Write the
word on the line given.
1. scornful; scathing; cutting_____________________________________
2. an emigration, flight, escape, hegira_____________________________
3. impudent, saucy, bold; shameless ______________________________
4. unruly, intractable; incurable, inveterate _________________________
5. dormant, inactive, undeveloped; hidden__________________________
6. to obliterate, decimate, demolish _______________________________
7. a stimulus, spur; an instigator __________________________________
8. capricious; high-handed, autocratic _____________________________
9. aggressive, truculent; an activist ________________________________
10. to ease, smooth the way, simplify ______________________________
Antonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to each of the following groups of expressions. Write the word on the line given.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
reasoned, rational; objective, equitable _____________________________
to foster, promote, encourage, nurture ______________________________
deferential, respectful; self-effacing ________________________________
sincere; genuine; heartfelt _______________________________________
an immigration, influx, arrival; an entrance __________________________
unassertive, peaceable; passive ____________________________________
exposed, manifest, evident _______________________________________
to hamper, hinder, obstruct, impede ________________________________
docile, tractable; curable, reparable ________________________________
Unit 10
Definitions
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of
each of the following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative phrase following.
1. morose
(mə ‘rōs)
(adj.) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or
sociable
found him in a __________________ mood
2. opaque
(ō ‘pāk)
(adj.) not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense,
stupid
windows that were ________________ with grime
3. paramount
(‘par ə maůnt)
(adj.) chief in importance, above all others
the ___________________ issue in the election
4. prattle
(‘prat əl)
(v.) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; (n.)
baby talk
the ___________________ of the child in her crib
5. rebut
(ri ‘bət)
(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradict an
assertion, to refute
easy to ____________________ his shaky case
6. reprimand
(‘rep rə mand)
(v.) to scold, find fault with; (n.) a rebuke
______________________ the unruly student
7. servitude
(‘sər və tüd)
(n.) slavery, forced labor
penal _________________________
8. slapdash
(‘slap dash)
(adj.) careless and hasty
did a _____________________ job on the repairs
9. stagnant
(‘stag nənt)
(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still;
inactive, sluggish, dull
bred in ____________________ pools of water
10. succumb
(sə ‘kəm)
(v.) to give way to superior force, yield
_______________________ to pressure
Synonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly
the same in meaning as each of the following groups of expression. Write the
word on the line given.
1. gloomy, sullen, morbid, doleful ________________________________
2. hazy, cloudy, foggy, murky; dull, obtuse _________________________
3. a reproof, rebuke; to reprove, reproach ___________________________
4. still, motionless, inert; foul, fetid ________________________________
5. captivity, bondage, thralldom, slavery ____________________________
6. cursory, perfunctory; sloppy, slipshod ____________________________
7. to yield, give way, submit; to die, expire __________________________
8. supreme, foremost, primary, dominant ____________________________
9. to refute, disprove, confute, shoot holes in _________________________
10. to chatter, babble; to purl; twaddle, gibberish _______________________
Antonyms: From the words for this unit, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to each of the following groups of expressions. Write the word on the line given.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
painstaking, meticulous; thorough, in-depth __________________________
cheerful, blithe, jaunty, buoyant ___________________________________
to confirm, corroborate, substantiate ________________________________
freedom, liberty ________________________________________________
flowing, running; fresh, sweet _____________________________________
secondary, subordinate, ancillary __________________________________
to overcome, master, conquer _____________________________________
to praise, pat on the back _________________________________________
transparent, clear; bright, perceptive ________________________________