11 CP American Literature

Vocabulary Unit 2

ameliorateaplombbombasticcallowdrivel

epitomeexhortex officioinfringeingratiate

interloperintrinsicinveighlassitudemillennium

occultpermeateprecipitatestringentsurmise

  1. Definitions

1. (adj.) pompous in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas1. ______

2. (adj.) without feathers; without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking poise2. ______

3. (adj. /adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office3. ______

4. (adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste4. ______

5. (adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent5. ______

6. (adj.) mysterious, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse6. ______

7. (v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds7. ______

8. (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming8. ______

9. (v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly9. ______

10. (v.) to make oneself agreeable and gain favorable acceptance by others 10. ______

11. (v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through11. ______

12. (v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval12. ______

13. (v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height13. ______

(adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of a process

14. (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to guess14. ______

(n.) an idea that seems likely but lacks proof

15. (n.) weariness of body or mind; lack of energy15. ______

16. (n.) an intruder, one who moves in where he or she has no right to be16. ______

17. (n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy, prosperity, or peace17. ______

18. (n.) a summary, condenses account; an instance that represents a larger reality18. ______

19. (n.) saliva flowing from the mouth; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense19. ______

(v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense; to waste or fritter away foolishly

20. (n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity20. ______

  1. Synonyms

1. by virtue of one’s job1. ______

2. essential, inherent, immanent, organic2. ______

3. to better, improve, amend3. ______

4. to rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate4. ______

5. an abstract, digest, a model, archetype5. ______

6. poise, assurance, confidence, composure6. ______

7. to cozy up to, curry favor with7. ______

8. fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor8. ______

9. inflated, pompous, highfalutin, high-flown9. ______

10. reckless, impetuous; to provoke, produce10. ______

11. an inference, presumption; to infer, gather11. ______

12. an intruder, meddler12. ______

13. to encroach, impinge, intrude, poach13. ______

14. stern, rigorous, tough; urgent, imperative14. ______

15. twaddle, balderdash, hogwash, slaver15. ______

16. to pervade, suffuse, saturate16. ______

17. a chiliad, a “golden age”17. ______

18. immature, inexperienced, green, raw18. ______

19. supernatural, esoteric, abstruse; concealed19. ______

20. to urge, entreat, implore, adjure20. ______

  1. Antonyms

1. extrinsic, external, outward1. ______

2. to stay in bounds2. ______

3. to talk sense; trenchant comments3. ______

4. a proven fact, a certainty4. ______

5. confusion, embarrassment, abashment5. ______

6. mature, grown-up; polished, sophisticated6. ______

7. to humiliate oneself, mortify oneself7. ______

8. energy, vitality, animation, liveliness8. ______

9. to worsen, aggravate, exacerbate9. ______

10. wary, cautious, circumspect10. ______

11. doomsday, day of judgment11. ______

12. mundane; common, public, exoteric12. ______

13. a rightful member or participant13. ______

14. unadorned, simple, plain, austere14. ______

15. to discourage, advise against, deprecate15. ______

16. lenient, mild, lax, permissive16. ______

  1. Sentence Completion
  1. How can we have any respect for people who try to ______themselves with their superiors by flattery and favors?
  2. Emily no doubt is an attractive girl, but isn’t it going rather far to call her “the very ______of beauty and grace”?
  3. This old necklace has little ______value, but it means a great deal to me because it belonged to my mother.
  4. Representing an organization of senior citizens, the rally’s keynote speaker ______vehemently against conditions that rob the elderly of their dignity and independence.
  5. A good definition of freedom is: “The right to do anything you wish as long as you do not ______on the rights of others.”
  6. The people trying to “crash” our dance may think of themselves as merry pranksters, but they are really ______who would prevent us all from having a good time.
  7. Addressing the school assembly for the first time was a nerve-wracking experience, but I managed to deliver my speech with a reasonable amount of ______.
  8. I refuse to accept the idea that conditions in this slum have deteriorated so far that nothing can be done to ______them.
  9. There mere fact that we cannot explain how she was hurt does not mean that she was the victim of some ______power.
  10. After completing those long, grueling exams, I was overwhelmed by a (n) ______so great that I felt I would never be able to study again.
  11. He has a great deal to say on the subject, but unfortunately, most of it is meaningless ______.
  12. The prophets of old fervently ______the people to amend their lives and follow the path of righteousness.
  13. We looked up hungrily as the delightful odor of steak and onions ______the room.
  14. The voters of this city are looking for practical answers to urgent questions and will not respond to that kind of ______and pretentious nonsense.
  15. We do not know what her motives were, but we may ______that she was concerned mainly for the child’s well-being.
  16. He tries to give the impression of being a true man of the world, but his conduct clearly shows him to be a (n) ______and somewhat feckless youth.
  17. “The rash and ______actions of that young hothead almost cost us the battle, to say nothing of the war,” the general remarked sourly.
  18. The Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense are ______members of the National Security Council.
  19. Though fossils show that human beings have been on earth a very long time, the earliest written records of their activities date back only about five ______.
  20. “If you think my training rules are too ______and confining,” the coach said, “then you shouldn’t try out for the team.”