Vocab Unit 6

Front 1

Accede
(v)

Back 1

-to yield to

Management was not willing to accede labor's initial demands.

Front 2

brandish
(v)

Back 2

-to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

I brandished my umbrella repeatedly in a vain effort to hail a cab.

Front 3

comprise
(v)

Back 3

-to include or contain

Classical symphonies usually comprise of four movements of varying musical form, tempo, and character.

Front 4

deft
(adj)

Back 4

-skillful, nimble

The deft fingers of a Spanish seamstresses produced some of the finest lace ever seen.

Front 5

destitute
(adj)

Back 5

-deprived of the necessities of life

Some people fled their homes so suddenly that they arrived at the refugee cam absolutely destitute.

Front 6

explicit
(adj)

Back 6

-definite, clearly stated

The more explicit your direction are, the easier it will be for all of us to find our way to the campsite.

Front 7

extirpate
(v)

Back 7

-to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

We must do everything we can to extirpate racism from American society.

Front 8

inopportune
(adj)

Back 8

-coming at a bad time; not appropriate

Why do my relatives always seem to turn up at the most inopportune time imaginable?

Front 9

ironic
(adj)

Back 9

-suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens

The short stories of O. Henry are famous for their ironic endings.

Front 10

musty
(adj)

Back 10

-stale, moldy; out of date

Houses that have been closed up for a very long time often have an unpleasantly musty smell about them.

Front 11

officious
(adj)

Back 11

-meddling

The manager of the store warned the entire sales force not to be too officious when helping customers.

Front 12

ominous
(adj)

Back 12

-unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

The ominous sound of distant thunder warned us of the storm's approach.

Front 13

pinnacle
(n)

Back 13

-a high peak or point

Some pop musicians reach the pinnacle of their careers comparatively early life.

Front 14

premeditated
(adj)

Back 14

-considered beforehand, deliberately planned

Some crimes are spontaneous acts of passion; others are quite premeditated.

Front 15

rampant
(adj)

Back 15

growing without check, running wild

All kinds of odd rumors run rampant during a political campaign.

Front 16

Solace
(n) (v)

Back 16

(n) comfort, relief; (v) to comfort, console

Many world leaders seek solace from the cares of state in the pages of great literature.

Front 17

stately
(adj)

Back 17

dignified, majestic

The stately procession slowly wound its way from the palace to the cathedral.

Front 18

supple
(adj)

Back 18

bending easily

Have you ever read Robert Frost's famous poem about swinging on the supple branches of a birch tree?

Front 19

suppress
(v)

Back 19

to stop by force, put down

Totalitarian governments usually take strong measures to suppress free speech.

Front 20

Venal
(adj)

Back 20

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

The presence of even one venal official may jeopardize the integrity of an entire organization.