Vocabulary – Level E

1. Vocabulary – Level E Unit 5

2. altruistic DEF = (adj.) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others SYN = selfless ANT = selfish, self-centered WORD CONNECTION: ALtruistic = cares about ALL the people This ALTRUISTIC little boy is sharing ice cream and germs!

3. assent DEF = (v.) to express agreement; (n.) agreement SYN = concur, consent, accede ANT = disagree, differ, dissent The world leaders at the United Nations ASSENTED that making more nuclear bombs was not in the world’s best interest.

4. benefactor DEF = (n.) one who does good to others SYN = patron, humanitarian ANT = misanthrope, malefactor WORD CONNECTION: A benefactor benefits other people.

5. chivalrous DEF = (adj.) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly SYN = gallant, civil, valiant ANT = crude, uncouth, churlish, loutish The CHIVALROUS man held the car door open for his wife.

6. clemency DEF = (n.) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness SYN = leniency, forbearance, gentleness ANT = harshness, severity, cruelty WORD CONNECTION: cleMERCY cleMENCY Every year on Thanksgiving, the president “pardons” one turkey, and that turkey doesn’t have to be eaten. That turkey is given CLEMENCY.

7. dearth DEF = (n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine SYN = insufficiency, want, paucity ANT = surplus, oversupply WORD CONNECTION: A DEARTH of food could cause DEATH

8. diffident DEF = (adj.) shy, lacking in self-confidence; modest, reserved SYN = timid, bashful, unassertive, withdrawn ANT = bold, brash, audacious, self-confident The DIFFIDENT little boy was afraid to meet new students at his school.

9. discrepancy “He Said- She Said” 2 different stories that have DISCREPANCIES DEF = (n.) a difference, a lack of agreement SYN = disagreement, divergence, inconsistency ANT = agreement, convergence, consistency WORD CONNECTION: DIS = negative prefix DISagreement There is a DISCREPANCY on this tree. Some of the apples have been eaten and some haven’t.

10. embark DEF = (v.) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest SYN = commence, launch, begin, board Literature CONNECTION: In Shakespeare’s time, a “ship” was called a “bark.” em-BARK = on-SHIP

11. facile DEF = (adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt SYN = effortless, assured, poised ANT = labored, awkward, halting Spanish CONNECTION: In Spanish “facil” = “easy” Donating a large amount of money is a FACILE way for wealthy people to give back to their communities.

12. altruistic facile diffident clemency assent • Before you can go on the field trip, you must have your parents’ ____________ in writing. • Although the formula may seem _________________, it is actually a complex series of mathematical equations. • The _________________ young man was too nervous to ask his crush to the dance. • In today’s selfish, materialistic world, it is difficult to find a truly __________________ person. • Because the defendant was a juvenile, the judge showed him ______________ and reduced his sentence.

13. discrepancy dearth benefactor embark chivalrous • The extreme ______________ of qualified nurses left the hospital severely understaffed. • Many high school seniors are a bit nervous to _______________ upon the journey of adulthood that graduation brings. • The ________________ young man kindly held open the door for the elderly couple walking in behind him. • Unfortunately, the _________________ in the testimonies of the two eye witnesses gave the jury members room for reasonable doubt. • Sharon wouldn’t have been able to afford college, but she received a generous donation from her _________________, her Aunt Joan.

14. indomitable DEF = (adj.) unconquerable; refusing to yield SYN = unbeatable, invincible, unyielding ANT = surrendering, submissive, yielding WORD CONNECTION: UN – Dominate-able You CANNOTdominate someone who is indomitable!!! The INDOMITABLE athlete refused to stop training until she reached her goal – the Olympics!

15. infallible DEF = (adj.) free from error; absolutely dependable SYN = unerring, certain ANT = imperfect WORD CONNECTION: Infallible An infallible person will never fall. An infallible person will never fail. 100% A+ Good JOB!

16. plod DEF = (v.) to walk heavily or slowly SYN = lumber, trudge ANT = scamper, skip, prance Sound-alike CONNECTION: Pilgrims would PLOD slowlybehind their horses when they plowed their fields. Frankenstein PLODS slowly when he walks.

17. pungent DEF = (adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting SYN = sharp, spicy, caustic, racy ANT = bland, unappetizing, colorless The PUNGENT smell of the skunk stung my nose and made my eyes water.

18. remiss DEF = (adj.) neglectful in performance of one’s duty, careless SYN = negligent, lax, slack ANT = scrupulous, dutiful WORD CONNECTION: A reMISS person makes many MIStakes… and get’s fired!

19. repose DEF = (v.) to rest; lie; place; (n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness SYN = (v.) sleep; (n.) tranquility ANT = (n.) exertion, wakefulness, bustle After a long week of working hard, my father enjoys the REPOSE of napping in his hammock on Saturdays.

20. temerity DEF = (n.) rashness, boldness SYN = recklessness, foolhardiness ANT = timidity, fearfulness It takes a lot of TEMERITY to bungee jump toward a rocky shore!

21. truculent DEF = (adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh SYN = brutal, savage ANT = gentle, mild, unthreatening Sound-alike CONNECTION: Monster TRUCK = truculent The TRUCULENT monster truck drove aggressively over the other cars and destroyed them.

22. unfeigned DEF = (adj.) sincere, real, without pretense SYN = genuine, heartfelt ANT = insincere, phony On reality TV shows we often see people living their lives UNFEIGNED.

23. virulent DEF = (adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful SYN = venomous, hateful ANT = harmless, benign WORD CONNECTION: a virulent VIRUs. The H1N1 flu virus is so VIRULENT that doctor’s recommend patients get a vaccine. The bratty girl’s virulent tone as she spoke to her mother was very disrespectful.

24. unfeigned indomitable plod truculent • A good school counselor must have a(n) ___________________ interest in the well-being of the students. • As Jimmy ________________ angrily through the mud and snow on the sidewalk, he regretted not getting to the bus stop on time. • The street gang was made up of ______________ band of hardened criminals. • The movie Rudy is the story of a small-statured football player with a(n) _________________ spirit that helps him succeed in life and in football.

25. virulent temerity repose • The ________words of the school bully echoed in the shy girl’s mind and made her feel terrible about herself. • The 14-year-old boy had no understanding of his own mortality and so behaved with _______. • I’m hoping I will be able to get rid of my cold if I get a weekend of quiet _______.

26. truculent pungent remiss • The _____ behavior of the linebacker made me very nervous when it was my turn to face him down. • It would be ______ of me to forget to send thank-you notes for the graduation gifts I received. • The _____ aroma of dirty gym clothes assaulted my nose as soon as I walked into the locker room.