Sadlier- Oxford Vocabulary Workshop

1. Sadlier- Oxford Vocabulary Workshop • Level F • Unit 2

2. ameliorate Verb Definition: to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming Synonym: amend, better Antonyms: aggravate, exacerbate Sentence: The pain you are feeling from the injury can be ameliorated by taking these pain killers; your comfort level should improve soon after taking your prescribed medicine.

3. Aplomb • Noun • Definition: poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity • Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness • Antonyms: confusion, embarrassment, abashment • Sentence: These soldiers handled their mission with great aplomb; thanks to their composure, the mission was a success.

4. bombastic “Let go of your blasphemous and impious ways!” • Adjective • Definition: pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas • Synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious • Antonym: unadorned, simple, plain, austere • Sentence: I cannot believe the minister’s bombastic sermon lasted three hours; his inflated and pretentious language made the visitors question their decision to attend this church. “Repent of your moral turpitude!” “The reprobates and malefactors among us must change their ways!”

5. callow Adjective Definition: without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers Synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced Antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated Sentence: The callow boater did not have a life preserver, paddle, or radio onboard his sailboat; his inexperienced ways was bound to cause an emergency onboard.

6. drivel • Noun; Verb • Definition: (n) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly • Synonyms: (n) balderdash, tommyrot (v) slaver • The salesman felt confident in the presentation he was giving to the board, but because they were not familiar with the technical language, it sounded like drivel to them; consequently, they did not buy what they thought was nonsense. Blah, blah, blah And more blah, blah, blah

7. epitome Noun Definition: a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality Synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype, prime example The ballerina was the epitome of grace and beauty as she performed the lead role in Swan Lake; her performance was the prime example of how the part should be performed

8. exhort Verb Definition: to urge strongly, advise earnestly Synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure Antonyms: discourage, advise against, deprecate The teenager exhorted his mother to let him attend the chess match of the year; she, however, ignored him as he dramatically implored her to not say no.

9. Ex officio • Adjective; Adverb • Definition: by virtue of holding a certain of office • The President is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the armed forces in time of war; this is a right given to him by virtue of holding the office of President.

10. infringe • Verb • Definition: to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds • Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude • Antonyms: stay in bounds, comply • When I am doing my homework, I need complete quite, and no one can infringe on my solitude; if my sister trespasses into my space, I am not forgiving. Shhhh! Student At Work

11. ingratiate Verb Definition: to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense) Synonyms: cozy up to curry favor with Antonyms: humiliate oneself The student who was in trouble of failing, tried to ingratiate himself into the teacher’s good graces by offering compliments; he hoped this cozying up would get her to pad his failing grade on the test. My, but you are looking lovely today, Mrs. Adams!

12. interloper • Noun • Definition: one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder • Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky • The other children, all well-acquainted with one another, made no effort to include her in their conversations, making her feel like an interloper during the game; she just wanted to make friends and never wanted to be a buttinsky.

13. intrinsic • Adjective • Definition: belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part • Synonyms: immanent, organic • Antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward • The book had very little monetary value, but it had great intrinsic value because it had belonged to her grandfather; it was an essential part of her family memories.

14. inveigh • Verb • Definition: to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval • Synonyms: harangue, remonstrate • Antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol • You should not inveigh against the plan with quite so much vigor until you have read it; to express such strong disapproval without proof to back your words could prove foolish. No, no, no, no, not ever, no!

15. lassitude • Noun • Definition: weariness of body or mind, lack of energy • Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor • Antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness • On some days I am overcome by lassitude at the thought of so many more years of schooling; when I feel such lack of energy, I rethink my decision to become a doctor.

16. Millennium (PL., MILLENNIA) • Noun • Definition: a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy • Synonyms: chiliad, golden age • Antonyms: doomsday • In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new millennium; I always thought that 2001 was the beginning of the next thousand years. January 2000 vs. January 2001

17. occult • Adjective; Verb; Noun • Definition: (adj.) secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny; (v). to hide, cover up; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural. • Synonyms: (adj.) esoteric, abstruse, arcane • Antonyms: (adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric • We watched the show called Supernatural Detectives, but we were not convinced of the occult happenings and the reality of ghosts; we thought the mysterious happenings were nothing more than trick photography and the ability to photoshop.

18. permeate • Verb • Definition: to spread through, penetrate, soak through • The rain permeated all of my clothing; the fact that it penetrated even my pockets insured that the map I carried was reduced to a pulpy mass.

19. precipitate • Verb, Adjective, Noun • Definition: (v.) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to (adj.) characterized by excessive haste (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process • Synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce (adj.) reckless, impetuous • Antonyms: (adj.) wary, circumspect • The precipitate that started falling from the sky precipitated the concert being cancelled; I was very disappointed to find out that a little moisture from the sky provoked the stopping of the event.

20. stringent • Adjective • Definition: strict, severe; rigorously or urgently finding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste • Synonyms: stern, rigorous, touch, urgent • Antonyms: lenient, mild, lax, permissive • Some argue that more stringent laws against speeding will make our streets safer, but many feel that these severe changes really won’t stop people from speeding.

21. surmise • Verb, Noun • Definition: (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof • Synonyms: (v.) infer, gather (n.) inference, presumption • I cannot be sure, but I surmise that she would not accept my apology even if I made in on my knees; hopefully, what I am inferring is wrong because I do want her forgiveness.