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31 Cards in this Set
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Bulwark (BULL wurk) noun
Link: Bull Work "BULLS WORK building a BULWARK" Quebec City is the only city in North America with BULWARK built entirely around it. |
a defensive wall, something serving as a principle defense
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Gossamer (GOSS uh mer)
Link: Customer "The spider's GOSSAMER captured many unhappy CUSTOMERS." The bride wore a white silk wedding dress. |
delicate floating cobwebs; a sheer gauzy fabric; something delicate, light, flimsy
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Succinct (sek SINGKT)
Link: SINK "Virginia was SUCCINCT when Ernie forgot to fix the SINK." When Joe was called up, he SUCCINCTLY paraphrased what the teacher had just explained. |
brief and to the point; concise and terse
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Tantalize (TAN tal ize) verb
Link: SANTA'S LIES "Santa's lies tantalize." The TANTALIZING aroma of the bread made us all very hungry. |
to excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach
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Languid (LANG gwid) adj.
Link: SQUID "A LANGUID SQUID." After his bout with the flu, Joe was LANGUID and unable to workout for over a week. |
lacking energy; weak; showing little interest in anything
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Benighted (be NI tid) adj.
Link: Knight "A BENIGHTED KNIGHT" Many Benighted people became enlightened during the Renaissance |
being in a state of intellectual darkness; ignorant; unenlightened
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Exalt (ig ZAWLT) verb
Link: Salt "Everyone EXALTED the SALT as the king of the condiments." The fireman was EXALTED by the press for saving the child from a burning building |
to raise high; glorify
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Dire (DYE ur) adj.
Link: FIRE "A DIRE FIRE" The hurricane struck the Florida Keys with DIRE results; all the buildings were flattered |
disastrous; desperate
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Kindle (KIN dl) verb
Link: CANDLE "Patrick found a unique way to KINDLE CANDLES" Because Christine once had feelings for him, Joe thought sending flowers might again KINDLE her affections |
to cause to burn or ignite; to arouse or inspire
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Myriad (MIR ee ud) noun
Link: MIRROR ADD "Many MIRRORS ADD a MYRIAD of reflections." George was a hypochondriac, weighted down by MYRIAD concerns about his health. |
an extremely large number
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Rhetoric (RET or ik) noun
Link: RENT-A-WRECK "A salesman's RENT-A-WRECK RHETORIC." A person's use of RHETORIC can indicate much about that person's characters |
the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively; over-elaborate language
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Latent (LAYT nt) adj.
Link: LAY TENT "Never LAY your TENT on a LATENT volcano." Trent had a LATENT talent as a singer which he didn't discover until he was in his 50's |
laying hidden or undeveloped; potential
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Trenchant (TREN chunt) adj.
Link: TRENCH ANT "A TRENCHANT mount is characteristic of the famous Madagascar TRENCH ANT." Julia had a TRENCHANT tongue and was always putting her friends down behind her backs. |
cutting, incisive, having a sharp point; caustic, sarcastic
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Jaunt (jawnt) noun
Link: HAUNT "A JAUNT HAUNT." After not taking a family vacation for two years, a JAUNT to the beach was a pleasant respite. |
a short pleasure trip
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Vertigo (vur tuh GO) noun
Link: WHERE TO GO "When test pilot bob developed a bad case of VERTIGO, he didn't know WHERE TO GO" Charles was acrophobic and even suffered from VERTIGO while standing on a stool, replacing the lights in the kitchen |
the sensation of dizziness
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Impede (in PEED) verb
Link: SPEED "The job of highway patrolmen is to IMPEDE SPEEDING motorists." He was only my uncle, but he always told me no matter what, not to let anyone IMPEDE my ambition to go to medical school. |
to obstruct or interfere with; to delay
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Countenance (KOWNT uh nanz) noun
Link: COUNT THE NUTS "By their facial COUNTENANCE alone it was easy to COUNT THE NUTS" The submarine commander's COUNTENANCE belied his true feelings of anxiety and fear. |
a person's face, especially the expression
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Scrutinize (SKROOT uh nyze)
Link: SCREW EYES "U.S. Customs officials have SCREW EYES when they SCRUTINIZE baggage." Newspaper proof readers SCRUTINIZE an entire newspaper each day. |
to look very carefully, to examine
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Specter (SPEK ter)
Link: SPECTACLES "A SPECTER a SPECTACLES." The SPECTER of Christmas Future is the most terrifying to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens' A Christmas Carole |
a ghost or phantom
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Wax (waks) verb
"3. He waxed angry at the insinuation" |
1. to increase in extent, quanity, intensity, power, etc.
2. to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. (the moon) 3. to grow or become |
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Wane (wain) verb
Link: RAIN "Snowmen WANE in the RAIN" With a WANING of air in his air tank, the diver knew he had to return to the surface |
to decrease gradually
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Copious (Koh pee uhs) adj.
Link: COPS "COPIOUS COPS devour donuts, waiting for some excitement" As you read Cold Mountain, you must make copious annotations |
large in quanity or number; abundant; plentiful: copious amounts of food
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Perspicacious adj.
Link: Perspiration "Annotating the novel, Perry's perspiration increased while concentrating on perspicacious reading" If one examines political cartoons perspicaciously, the artist's message is quite clear |
having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear sighted
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Marauder noun
Link: MA RAIDER "The fiercest MARAUDERS are MA RAIDERS." During the Civil War, MARAUDING bands of Confederate guerrillas raided Union supply lines in the Midwest |
raider, intruder
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Cower verb
Link: COW "Bessie, the COWERING COW, never could stand the sight of her own milk." When Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok entered the Last Chance Saloon, the villains COWERED in fear. |
cringe from fear; to shrink away
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Aloof adj.
Link: ROOF "Snowball, the cat, was so ALOOF when guests came she hid on the ROOF." At the wedding reception, the bride's relatives were very ALOOF, hardly speaking to the groom's guests and family. |
distant, reserved in manner, uninvolved
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Forbearance Noun
Link: FOUR PARENTS "FOUR PARENTS exhibiting FORBEARANCE" Teachers must FORBEAR hen they deal with unruly students. |
Patience
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Lament verb
Link: CEMENT "We LAMENT that Joe got buried in CEMENT." The song, "Cowboy's LAMENT," is a ballad about the lonely life of those who drive cattle for a living. |
to express sorrow or regret; to mourn
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Cacophony noun
Link: COUGH "A CACOPHONY of COUGHING" A CACOPHONY isn't noise alone, it is disturbing noise such as when people shout all at once. |
harsh sounds
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Quiettude noun
Link: QUIET DUDE "Dad was a QUIET DUDE who sought QUIETUDE" Gene and Chris chose their property for the air of QUIETUDE and peace that pervaded the area. |
calm; tranquil; peaceful
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CONNOISSEUR noun
Link: KING OF SEWER "The KING OF the SEWER is a CONNOISSEUR of garbage." My uncle is a CONNOISSEUR of fine wines. |
an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste
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