Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Vocab Building

Vituperate (v) /vaɪˈtupəˌreɪt/ to use or address with harsh or abusive language; censure; berate; vilify 

  • The upset father vituperated the prodigal son for wasting time and money on frivolous parties.  
  • This is just one of those words that I need to memorize.
  • Only slobs vituperate women from their moving car.
  • If something is vituperating, then it is also using harsh or abusive language.

Deadpan /ˈdɛdˌpæn/ (adj) marked by or accomplished with diligent pretense of seriousness; stolid (v) to behave in deadpan manner 

  • The clinical professor was known by residents for his deadpan reactions to horrifying displays of human trauma.  

Colossal (adj) /kəˈlɒsəl/ extraordinarily great in size

  • At its apex, the Holy Roman Empire was colossal, stretching as far as modern day Turkey and England.  

Capitulate (v) /kəˈpɪtʃəˌleɪt/ to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms; to give up resistance  yield; acquiesce; accede  

  • The frightened father capitulated to the terms of the kidnappers, agreeing to pay the ransom in exchange for his daughter.  

Burnished (v) /ˈbɜrnɪʃto polish a surface; to make bright 

  • The antique dealer had burnished the silver utensils prior to placing them on display in his store.   

Apogee (n) /ˈæpəˌdʒi/ the highest or most distant point 

  • Standing on the apogee of the island, the young man imagined himself as king on his throne.  

Furtive (adj)  /ˈfɜrtɪv/ taken, done, used, by stealth; sly; shifty; surreptitious; circumspect 

  • After a successful night, the casino card counter used his furtive earnings to purchase a ring for his girlfriend.  
  • Another word I will just need to remember.  
  • The child snuck into the kitchen for a furtive cookie.  
  • She furtively hid her journal knowing that the contents would put her in jeopardy of an excoriation by her boyfriend.  

Diffident (adj) /ˈdɪfɪdənt/  lacking confidence in one's ability or manner or worth; timorous 

  • The scientist was known among his peers as diffident; they furtively stole his ideas, as he devalued his own worth.  

Perigee (n) /ˈpɛrɪˌdʒi/ the point at which a heavenly body is nearest to the Earth.

  • To prepare for the approach of their gods, astrologists consult astronomers to determine the perigee of their favored celestial bodies

Anecdote (n) /ˈænɪkˌdoʊt/ short account of an incident or event; related episode

  • The old war veteran enjoyed sharing anecdotes about his foreign espionage.

Pointed (adj)  /ˈpɔɪntɪd/ having a point; having direct effect or significance

  • The incredulous scientist disputed the pointedness of the latest research, believing the field to have lost relevancy decades ago.  

Interminable (adj) /ɪnˈtɜrbəl/ incapable of being terminated; incessant; monotonously annoying without stop

  • The interminable rash plagued the woman; she had seen four doctors in the past four months to no avail.  

Aver (v) /əˈvɜr/ to assert or affirm with confidence 

  • The car salesman averred his opinion of his competitor: they were dishonest, and their product was lousy.  

Blithe (adj) /blaɪθ/ happy, joyous and free; bouyant; jocund; mirthful; jovial; carefree; not morose

  • Addicts know that the serenity prayer precipitates a blithe attitude; therefore, they make it a center piece of their recovery.   








No comments:

Post a Comment