UNIT 2
VOCABULARY
Accelerated English 10
ameliorate
A hot meal can ameliorate the
discomforts of even the coldest day.
“ a meal you ate”
ameliorate
(v.) to improve, make better, correct a
flaw or shortcoming
synonyms: amend, better
antonyms: worsen, aggravate,
exacerbate
AMELIORATE
aplomb
Considering the family’s tense mood,
you handled the situation with
aplomb.
“ a plum”
aplomb
(n.) poise, assurance, great selfconfidence, perpendicularity
synonyms: composure, self-possession
antonyms: confusion, embarrassment,
abashment
APLOMB
bombastic
He delivered a bombastic speech that
didn’t address our problems.
bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language;
full of high-sounding words intended to
conceal lack of ideas
synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious
antonyms: unadorned, simple, plain,
austere
BOMBASTIC
callow
They entered the army as callow
recruits.
“cow low”
callow
(adj.) Without experience; immature
synonyms: green, raw, unfledged,
inexperienced
antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished,
sophisticated
CALLOW
drivel
Knowing that his time was nearly up,
we kept silence and let him drivel on.
drivel
(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the
mouth or nose; aimless talking or
thinking; nonsense; (v) to let saliva flow
from the mouth; to utter nonsense; to
waste away foolishly
synonyms: (n.) balderdash, tommyrot
v. slaver
DRIVEL
epitome
Admitting when you have been fairly
defeated is the epitome of
sportsmanship.
epitome
(n.) a summary, condensed account
synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype
EPITOME
exhort
With dramatic gestures, our fans
vigorously exhort the team to play
harder.
exhort
(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure
antonyms: discourage, advise against,
deprecate
EXHORT
ex officio
The President is the ex officio
commander-in-chief of the armed
forces.
ex officio
(adj., adv) by virtue of holding a
certain office
EX OFFICIO
infringe
If you continue to infringe on my
responsibilities, will you also take
the blame for any mistakes?
infringe
(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond
recognized bounds
synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude
antonyms: stay in bounds, comply
INFRINGE
ingratiate
It’s not a good idea to ingratiate
oneself by paying cloying
compliments.
ingratiate
(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus
gain favor by others
synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with
antonyms: humiliate oneself
INGRATIATE
interloper
The crowd was so eager to see the
band perform that they resented the
opening singer as an interloper.
interloper
(n.) one who moves in where he is not
wanted
synonyms: trespasser, meddler,
buttinsky
“cantaloper”
INTERLOPER
intrinsic
It had been my father’s favorite book
when he was my age, but for me it
held little intrinsic interest.
intrinsic
(v.) belonging to someone or
something by its very nature,
essential, inherent
synonyms: immanent, organic
antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward
INTRINSIC
inveigh
You should not inveigh against the
plan with quite so much vigor until
you have read it.
inveigh
(v.) to make a violent attack in words,
express strong disapproval
synonyms: harangue, remonstrate
antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol
INVEIGH
lassitude
On some days I am overcome by
lassitude at the thought of so many
years of schooling.
lassitude
(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of
energy
synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor
languor
antonyms: energy, vitality, animation,
liveliness
LASSITUDE
millennium
In 1999 an argument raged over
whether 2000 or 2001 would mark
the beginning of the new millennium.
millennium
(n.) A period of one thousand years; a
period of great joy
synonyms: chiliad, golden age,
antonyms: doomsday
MILLENNIUM
occult
One need not rely on occult knowledge
to grasp why things disappear in a
house where two cats live.
occult
(adj.) mysterious, magical,
supernatural (v.) to hide, conceal (n.)
matters involving the supernatural
synonym: esoteric, abstruse, arcane
antonym: mundane, common, public,
exoteric
OCCULT
permeate
The rain permeated all of my clothing.
permeate
(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak
through
PERMEATE
precipitate
Scholars often disagree over which
event or events precipitate an historic
moment.
I admit that my outburst was
precipitate.
precipitate
(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause about
suddenly; to hurl down from great height
(adj.) characterized by excessive haste
(n.) moisture
synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce; (adj.)
reckless , impetuous
antonyms: wary, circumspect
PRECIPITATE
stringent
Some argue that more stringent laws
against speeding will make our
streets safer.
stringent
(adj.) strict, severe; sharp or bitter to
the taste
synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough,
urgent
antonyms: lenient, mild, lax,
permissive
STRINGENT
surmise
I cannot be sure, but I surmise that she
wouldn’t accept my apology.
surmise
(v.) to think or believe without
supporting evidence; to conjecture or
guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks
definite proof
synonyms: (v.) infer, gather; (n.)
inference, presumption
SURMISE