VOCAB UNIT #3
4th Block Collaborative
Abominate
 (v.) To have an intense dislike or hatred for
 Syn. Loathe, Abhor, Despise, Detest
 Ant. Relish, Savor, Esteem
 Dominic abominated the girl after she turned him down.
 Sign: Push
Acculturation
 (n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or
structures of one group or society by contact with those
of another; the resultant blend
 Syn: adaptation
 The criminal law was an integral part of his experience
and the process of his acculturation into British society.
 Sign: Circle of Life
Adventitious
 (adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent




cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine)
acquired, not congenital
Syn: extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous
Ant: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital
A system for checking for adventitious presence had also
not yet been developed.
Sign: I’m Sorry Hands
Ascribe
 (v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute
 Syn: impute, credit, attribute
 While you can sometimes ascribe these symptoms to
allergies, I’m pretty sure you have a full-fledged cold.
 Sign: Giving Commands
Circuitous (adj)
 Definition: Roundabout, not
direct
 Synonyms: indirect,
meandering, winding
 Antonyms: straight,
direct, as the crow flies
 Example: Rivers
are often uneven, untidy and take
circuitous courses
 Sign:
snake motion with arms
Commiserate (v)
 Definition: to
sympathize with, have pity
or sorrow for, shares a feeling of distress.
 Synonyms:
feel sorry for, empathize.
 Antonyms: feel
no sympathy for.
 Example: I
hate it when rich people
pretend they commiserate with the poor.
 Sign:
crying motion with hands.
Enjoin (v)
Definition: to direct or order; to prescribe a
course of action in an authoritative way; to
prohibit.
Synonyms: bid, charge, adjure.
Antonyms: allow, permit.
Example: He never formally forbade fasting,
but neither did he ever enjoin it.
Sign: pointing
Expedite (v)
 Definition: to
make easy, cause to progress faster.
 Synonyms: accelerate,
 Antonyms: hinder,
facilitate, speed up
hamper, impede, obstruct.
 Example: To
further expedite the approval process,
you can apply online.
 Sign:
pretend using phone.
EXPIATE (V.)
• To make amends, make up for; to avert
~ Synonyms: redeem, make amends for, make reparation
-Jackson swept the floors of
John's Pizza for free to expiate
his breaking the oven.
[Sign: Sweeping]
FERMENT
• (n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; (v.) to be in or
work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action
~Synonyms: commotion, turmoil, unrest
~Antonyms: peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity
Just squeeze the juice out
of the fruit and leave to
ferment naturally.
[Sign: Jazz hands]
INADVERTENT (ADJ.)
• Resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental
~Synonym: accidental
~Antonyms: deliberate, intentional
Compared to all the bystanders
who just stood by doing nothing,
Don became an inadvertent hero
by running up to the wrecked car
and pulling out the frightened toddler.
[Sign: pointing and questioning]
NOMINAL (ADJ)
• Existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken
seriously
~Synonym: titular, inconsequential
~Antonyms: actual, exorbitant
Most of our services are provided
free or at nominal charge.
[Sign: small gap in fingers]
noncommittal

Definition: (adj.)Not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear postiton
Her tone was noncommittal, and her face gave nothing away.

Synonyms: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest

Antonyms: positive, definite, committed

Hand Motion: shrug shoulders
peculate

(v.) to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly
for one’s own use
The people accused them of having peculated the public money.
Synonyms: defraud, misappropriate
Hand motion: act like you’re putting money in your pockets
proclivity

Definition: (n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of
human character or behavior)
A proclivity for hard work.
Synonyms: penchant, propensity
Antonyms: inability, incapacity
Hand motion: Lift weights
Sangfroid

Definition: (n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances
They committed the robbery with complete sangfroid.
synonyms: poise, self-assurance, equanimity
antonyms: excitability, hysteria, flappability
Hand motion: cross arms like you aren’t worried
Seditious
(Adj) - Resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of
overthrowing an established government
Synonyms - mutinous, rebellious, subversive, treacherous
Antonyms - supportive, faithful, allegiant, obedient
Neo in The Matrix was a crucial member
of a seditious organization that fought for
the sake of mankind.
Tenuous
(Adj) - Thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance; lacking a sound
basis, poorly
supported
Synonyms - flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy
Antonyms - strong, solid, substantial, valid
The child’s arguments were tenuous
at best while he tried to explain that he
didn’t want to eat his vegetables.
Vitriolic
(Adj) - Bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)
Synonyms - withering, acerbic, mordant, spiteful
Antonyms - bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary, kind
After eating too much sour candy,
each piece I put in my mouth began to
feel very vitriolic.
Wheedle
(Verb) - To use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end
Synonyms - inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk, entice
Antonyms - coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm
Because the grand opening of
Retroland was soon, Jimmy tried to
wheedle his mom into letting him go.