Monday April 23, 2012
Vocabulary unit 14!
When Mrs. Rector and Ms. O’Neil asked
their classes if they wanted to go outside for
independent reading, they responded with
alacrity.
alacrity-(n)
• cheerful readiness to do something
• Synonym- eager action
At the start of the U.S. Civil War thousands of
young men responded to the call to arms with
alacrity.
• If you have a headache, taking Aleve
or Tylenol, may alleviate your pain.
alleviate-(v)
to relieve or make more bearable
• Synonym- to make something less bad
Food drives are organized to help alleviate
hunger in many communities.
• Luciano Pavarotti’s opera singing was
the antithesis of Eminem’s rap
singing.
antithesis-(n)
the exact opposite of something
• Synonym- a sharp contrast
• In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is the
antithesis of the Wicked Witch of the West.
• The world was appalled by the 9/11
terrorist attacks.
•
appall-(v)
to fill with dismay or horror
• Synonym- to shock someone greatly
The state of Indiana was appalled at the
damage caused by the recent tornadoes.
• I wouldn’t want to cross paths with a
very bellicose dog.
bellicose-(adj)
eager to fight
• Synonym- having a warlike temperament
In 1941 after the Japanese attacked the U.S. at
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, our nation’s attitude
turned bellicose.
In the novel Sunrise Over Fallujah,
Sergeant Harris makes disparaging
comments about women.
disparage-(v)
to criticize in a way that shows you don’t
think something is important
Synonym-to undervalue
It is a mistake to disparage the importance
of good manners!!
A trumpet and a harp playing together in
two different musical keys would
sound dissonant.
dissonant-(adj)
harsh and not harmonious in sound
• Synonym-disagreeing in sound
When they argued, their dissonant voices
irritated everyone.
• On the TV show “The Big Bang
Theory” Sheldon is supposed to be a
nerd who is quite droll.
droll-(adj)
unusual and slightly funny
• Synonym- funny in an unusual way
The American Author Mark Twain was famous
for droll remarks like:
For every problem there is always a solution
that is simple, obvious and wrong.
Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down
until it goes away.
Osama bin Laden issued edicts that
declared war against the U.S.
government.
edict-(n)
an order made issued someone in
authority
Synonym- an official order
• President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation
is an example of an edict.
After a car accident, it is difficult to
elucidate to an officer what happened.
• .
elucidate-(v)
to explain very clearly something that
is difficult to understand.
• Synonym-to clarify
• When you read Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet, the modern English version on the right
side of the page helped to elucidate the old
English on the left.
The student athletes at Keefe Tech were
lauded for their participation in the sports
program.
laud-(v)
to praise
• Synonym- to admire
• The students in the Keefe Tech Health Careers
shop were lauded for their recent successful
blood drive ; a record 71 people donated!
There are certain times of the day when
you just want to do nothing but loll about
and listen to music or chill.
loll-(v)
to sit or lie in a lazy or relaxed way
• Synonym- to lounge or to loaf
• A great way to spend time in the summer is
lolling around in a hammock and reading a
book!
It is sometimes said that women are
more loquacious than men, but all the
men I know seem to do their full share of
talking.
loquacious-(adj) talkative
• Synonym-wordy; garrulous
• The loquacious little girl didn’t want to hang
up the phone.
My friend made the magnanimous
offer to lend me the money I needed
to buy a new car.
magnanimous- (adj)
kind and generous toward other
people, especially in forgiving
Synonym-bighearted
With a magnanimous heart, he forgave those
who had hurt him, setting himself free!!
At Keefe Tech it is mandatory to take final
exams at the end of the school year.
mandatory-(adj)
required
• Synonym- obligatory
• In Massachusetts it is mandatory for new
drivers under 18 to take a driver’s education
course before getting a license.
Big Box Stores like Walmart and Cosco
all look the same; they have no distinct
character or distinguishing features;
they are nondescript.
nondescript-(adj)
ordinary, plain
• Synonym-not having noticeable or interesting
qualities
• Do you prefer a shoe that is colorful and
flamboyant or one that is more nondescript?
The sloth seems to be quite a phlegmatic
animal; he’s slow and doesn’t show too
much character or emotion.
phlegmatic-(ad)
slow moving; not too emotional
• Synonym-calm and not easily excited or
worried
Having a phlegmatic personality means you are
basically easygoing. Does this describe you?
Keefe Tech students would be happy if
the school rescinded the rule that does
not allow use of electronic devices
during lunch!
rescind-(v) to officially end a law,
agreement or decision
• Synonym-to cancel
The young lady was surprised when her job offer
at Cisco was possibly rescinded because she tweeted
about her future employer.
Keefe Tech freshmen are definitely a vivacious
group of students; you are lively and full of
energy!
vivacious-(adj)
lively; full of energy
• Synonym-spirited and fun to be with
• Many musical performers are vivacious!!
The chef whetted the dull blade on his steel
sharpener.
The smell of the food from culinary whetted
my appetite.
whet-(v)
to sharpen; to excite
• Synonym- to make eager
• The Hunger Games movie has whetted many
people’s curiosity about the entire book
trilogy as well.