Define:
impregnable
(im-preg-nuh-bul)
adj. able to withstand attack
The fortress was surrounded by a moat so as to make it impregnable.
Define:
daft
(daft)
adj. mad, crazy
adj. foolish
The daft man was walking about the room conversing with himself.
Define:
solemn
(sol-uhm)
adj. deeply earnest, grave
adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy
Carter’s solemn voice made his family suspect that a tragedy had occurred.
Define:
impromptu
(im-promp-too)
adj. spontaneously done without preparation
During a lull in the live broadcast, the host began an impromptu dance number with some of the contestants.
Define:
impudent
(im-pyuh-dent)
adj. improperly disrespectful
The girl was forced to apologize in front of the class for her impudent attitude towards her teachers.
Define:
bedizen
(bih-dahy-zuhn)
v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner
Paula was bedizened with gaudy decorations.
Define:
incense
(in-sense)
v. to make angry
The class’s behavior incensed the teacher to the point that she gave them all extra homework.
Define:
volition
(voh-lish-uhn)
n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing
n. willingness
Though his friends had egged him on, it was determined that Pat stole the sunglasses of his own volition.
Define:
tamp
(tamp)
v. to plug
v. to drive in or down by a series of blows
They tamped down the soil around the base of the new sapling.
Define:
steel
(steel)
v. to make hard, strong or obdurate
v. to fill with determination
John realized that he would lose the chess match and steeled himself for disappointment.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. able to withstand attack
impregnable
(im-preg-nuh-bul)
synonyms: impenetrable, unassailable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. mad, crazy
adj. foolish
daft
(daft)
synonyms: absurd, insane
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deeply earnest, grave
adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy
solemn
(sol-uhm)
synonyms: quiet, serious, grave, somber
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. spontaneously done without preparation
impromptu
(im-promp-too)
synonyms: improvised, unrehearsed, spontaneous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. improperly disrespectful
impudent
(im-pyuh-dent)
synonyms: cocky, insolent, overbearing
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner
bedizen
(bih-dahy-zuhn)
synonyms: clothe, embellish, garnish
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make angry
incense
(in-sense)
synonyms: fire up, enrage
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing
n. willingness
volition
(voh-lish-uhn)
synonyms: choice, option, preference
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to plug
v. to drive in or down by a series of blows
tamp
(tamp)
synonyms: fill, jam; ram, butt, drive
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make hard, strong or obdurate
v. to fill with determination
steel
(steel)
synonyms: harden, toughen; brace, embolden
Define:
gossamer
(goss-uh-murr)
adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy
The gossamer kite broke in two at the first gust of wind.
Define:
inimical
(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)
adj. hostile, unfriendly
The Antarctic is inimical to life.
Define:
vainglorious
(veyn-glawr-ee-us)
adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain
Dave’s vainglorious attitude unfortunately overshadowed his considerable accomplishments.
Define:
pariah
(puh-rahy-uh)
n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person
Alex left the party feeling like a pariah.
Define:
indelible
(in-del-uh-buhl)
adj. impossible to remove or to forget
The memory of that day had become indelible in his mind.
Define:
byzantine
(biz-uhn-teen)
adj. complex, intricate, labyrinthine
The byzantine rules of the card game confused everyone.
Define:
inveigh
(in-vey)
v. to attack verbally, to deprecate
The protesters were inveighing against government policies.
Define:
peccadillo
(pek-uh-dil-oh)
n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin
As a society, we tend to take our politicians to task over peccadilloes while overlooking the failings of our political system as a whole.
Define:
panegyric
(pan-ih-djirr-ik)
n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation
The mayor extended a panegyric to all of the citizens who were fighting overseas.
Define:
quaff
(kwaf)
v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment
He quaffed the pint in a three hearty gulps.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy
gossamer
(goss-uh-murr)
synonyms: thin, delicate, light, fragile
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. hostile, unfriendly
inimical
(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)
synonyms: antagonistic, harmful
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain
vainglorious
(veyn-glawr-ee-us)
synonyms: immodest, self-absorbed
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person
pariah
(puh-rahy-uh)
synonyms: vagabond, persona non grata
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. impossible to remove or to forget
indelible
(in-del-uh-buhl)
synonyms: enduring, lasting, unforgettable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. labyrinthine, complex. intricate
byzantine
(biz-uhn-teen)
synonyms: convoluted, elaborate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to attack verbally, deprecate
inveigh
(in-vey)
synonyms: remonstrate, lambaste
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin
peccadillo
(pek-uh-dil-oh)
synonyms: faux pas, misdemeanor, vice
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation
panegyric
(pan-ih-djirr-ik)
synonyms: flattery, compliment, credit
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment
quaff
(kwaf)
synonyms: guzzle, swig
Define:
inchoate
(in-koe-it)
adj. not fully formed
An inchoate sense of duty is no substitute for a sober assessment of the hardships that lie ahead if you decide to follow your husband to his remote post.
Define:
essay
(n., ess-ey; v., ess-ey)
n. an attempt or trial
v. to test, try, experiment, investigate
My frequent essays at piano playing have only met with failure.
Define:
incisive
(in-sahy-siv)
adj. quick to understand or perceptive
adj. clearly expressed; decisive
The boy’s incisive mind allowed him to excel in all of his classes.
Define:
incorrigible
(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)
adj. unable to be corrected or reformed
Incorrigible juvenile offenders are sent to a special program within the prison.
Define:
inculcate
(ing-cull-kate)
v. to teach by frequent repetition
Throughout the year, the faculty is expected to inculcate the essentials of fire safety in the students.
Define:
indigenous
(in-didj-ih-nuss)
adj. originating in a certain place
The Aborigines are a people indigenous to Australia.
Define:
indigent
(in-dih-djunt)
adj. extremely poor
The organization’s mission was to provide educational resources to indigent women in various countries.
Define:
indolent
(in-dull-uhnt)
adj. habitually lazy
adj. causing little or no pain
The company’s owner decided to fire the most indolent workers first.
Define:
redolent
(red-uhl-uhnt)
adj. fragrant, suggestive, or evocative
The fraternity house was redolent of stale beer and day-old pizza
Define:
provident
(prov-ih-duhnt)
adj. looking to the future
adj. frugal
The young couple’s provident financial planning was an asset to them later in life.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not fully formed
inchoate
(in-koe-it)
synonyms: undeveloped, beginning, elementary
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an attempt or trial
v. to test, try, experiment, investigate
essay
(n., ess-ey, v., ess-ey)
synonyms: experiment, endeavor, attempt, trial
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. quick to understand or perceptive
adj. clearly expressed; decisive
incisive
(in-sahy-siv)
synonyms: intelligent, quick; clear-cut
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unable to be corrected or reformed
incorrigible
(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)
synonyms: rebellious, disobedient, incurable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to teach by frequent repetition
inculcate
(ing-cull-kate)
synonyms: communicate, drill, instill
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. originating in a certain place
indigenous
(in-didj-ih-nuss)
synonyms: native, inborn, aboriginal
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. extremely poor
indigent
(in-dih-djunt)
synonyms: destitute, impoverished
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. habitually lazy
adj. causing little or no pain
indolent
(in-dull-uhnt)
synonyms: idle, lazy; insensitive
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. fragrant, suggestive or evocative
redolent
(red-uhl-uhnt)
synonyms: aromatic, imbued with
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. looking to the future
adj. frugal
provident
(prov-ih-duhnt)
synonyms: cautious, prepared; thrifty
Define:
untoward
(uhn-tawrd)
adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent
This is not the first time I have noted untoward similarities between those two students’ papers.
Define:
paean
(pee-uhn)
n. a song or expression of joy or praise
After their country won the World Cup, the band wrote a paean to the national team that became a Top 20 hit.
Define:
aspersion
(uh-spur-zhuhn)
n. the act of defamation or maligning; a derogatory remark
The aspersions cast by his political opponent took weeks to eradicate.
Define:
lucid
(lue-sid)
adj. easy to understand
adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)
adj. having a clear mind
The artist was unable to express his abstract ideas in a lucid manner.
Define:
luminous
(lue-muh-nus)
adj. emitting light; bright
adj. enlightening
My friend raves about this “luminous” collection of poems, though I didn’t think it was particularly insightful.
Define:
luxuriant
(lug-zhure-ee-unt)
adj. growing in extreme abundance
adj. luxurious and complexly detailed
Anne’s luxuriant garden was considered the nicest in the neighborhood.
Define:
malevolent
(muh-lev-uh-lunt)
adj. wishing evil on others
The malevolent old woman was always trying to make her neighbors miserable.
Define:
manifest
(man-ih-fest)
n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane
adj. clearly apparent
v. to exhibit a quality
Linda’s laziness was manifest in the messy state of her apartment.
Define:
mannered
(man-urd)
adj. artificial or affected
The pretentious socialite had a mannered way of speaking that did not impress many of her peers.
Define:
mantle
(man-tul)
n. a covering or concealing object
n. a symbol of power or duty
Amid the spate of resignations at town hall, the untested woman was forced to accept the mantle of leadership as the town’s youngest mayor ever.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent
untoward
(uhn-tawrd)
synonyms: problematic, objectionable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a song or expression of joy or praise
paean
(pee-uhn)
synonyms: hymn, melody
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the act of defamation or maligning; derogatory remark
aspersion
(uh-spur-zhuhn)
synonyms: abuse, belittlement
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. easy to understand
adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)
adj. having a clear mind
lucid
(lue-sid)
synonyms: clearheaded, sensible, unblurred
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. emitting light; bright
adj. enlightening
luminous
(lue-muh-nus)
synonyms: glowing; edifying
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. growing in extreme abundance
adj. luxurious and complexly detailed
luxuriant
(lug-zhure-ee-unt)
synonyms: fertile, lush, prolific
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wishing evil on others
malevolent
(muh-lev-uh-lunt)
synonyms: hateful, malicious, malignant
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane
adj. clearly apparent
v. to exhibit a quality
manifest
(man-ih-fest)
synonyms: ledger; conspicuous, unambiguous; demonstrate, show
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. artificial or affected
mannered
(man-urd)
synonyms: unnatural, stilted
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a covering or concealing object
n. a symbol of power or duty
mantle
(man-tul)
synonyms: cloak, covering
Define:
mar
(mar)
v. to make imperfect
n. a mark that damages the appearance of something
Although entertaining and well-written, the screenplay was marred by its dependence on stereotypes instead of well-developed characters.
Define:
martinet
(mar-tih-net)
n. one who demands strict adherence to rules
The nanny was hired for the unruly children because of her reputation as a martinet who would be sure to keep them in line.
Define:
matrix
(may-tricks)
n. a place in which something originates or develops
This computer program is the matrix for the movie’s digital art.
Define:
palette
(pal-it)
n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors
n. a range of colors
The poor artist managed to make an interesting piece with a palette of only black and white.
Define:
paradigm
(pair-ih-dahym)
n. a standard example
n. a pattern or model
He used the Civil War as a historical paradigm to support his point.
Define:
paramount
(pair-ih-mount)
adj. most important
Educational reform was a paramount issue for both mayoral candidates.
Define:
parch
(parch)
v. to make dry
v. to make thirsty
The sun’s intense heat parched the ground and wilted the leaves on the trees.
Define:
parsimonious
(par-suh-moh-nee-us)
adj. frugal; cheap
Her aunt was too parsimonious to chip in for the family’s annual reunion.
Define:
pathology
(pah-thol-uh-djee)
n. the study of disease
n. a disease’s progression or manifestation
An oncologist concerns herself with the pathology of cancer.
Define:
paucity
(paw-suh-tee)
n. a small amount
The paucity of resources meant the film had to be made with unpaid actors and few crew members.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make imperfect
n. a mark that damages the appearance of something
mar
(mar)
synonyms: hurt, blemish, ruin
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. one who demands strict adherence to rules
martinet
(mar-tih-net)
synonyms: authoritarian, enforcer
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a place in which something originates or develops
matrix
(may-tricks)
synonyms: forge, source, origin
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors
n. a range of colors
palette
(pal-it)
synonyms: paint board, spectrum
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a standard example
n. a pattern or model
paradigm
(pair-ih-dahym)
synonyms: archetype, template
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. most important
paramount
(pair-ih-mount)
synonyms: principal, prominent, significant
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to make dry
v. to make thirsty
parch
(parch)
synonyms: dehydrate, dry, evaporate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. frugal; cheap
parsimonious
(par-suh-moh-nee-us)
synonyms: penurious, miserly, simple
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the study of disease
n. a disease’s progression or manifestation
pathology
(pah-thol-uh-djee)
synonyms: disease science
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small amount
paucity
(paw-suh-tee)
synonyms: lack, scarcity
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