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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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adage |
(n.) a proverb, wise saying Syn: aphorism One way to begin an informal speech or an oral report is to quote an old adage. |
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bonanza |
(n.) a rich mass of ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable or rewarding; a source of wealth or prosperity; a very large amount; sudden profit or gain Syn: windfall The thrilling adventure movie set in Alaska proved to be a box-office. |
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churlish |
(adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude Syn: ill-tempered The store manager instructed all the sales clerks to avoid churlish replies to customers' questions. |
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citadel |
(n.) a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or commanding place |
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collaborate |
Syn: team up Several students plan to collaborate on a geology project for the annual science fair. |
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decree |
(n.) an order having the force of law (v.) such an order; to command firmly or forcefully Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world would be taxed. Why does nature always seem to decree nasty weather for our annual family picnic? |
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discordant |
Syn:grating, shrill, different, divergent, conflicting Their little spat struck a discordant note in our otherwise happy family get-together. |
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evolve |
(v.) to develop gradually; to rise to a higher level Authors hope that their notes, descriptions, and character sketches will evolve into a book. |
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excerpt |
(n.) a passage taken form a book, article, etc.; (v.) to take such passage; to quote My essay includes a long excerpt form a speech by Sojourner Truth. If you excerpt some material from a reference book, be sure to enclose it in quotation marks. |
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grope |
(v.) to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly and uncertainly When the power failed, we had to grope in the dark to find a working flashlight.. |
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hover |
(v.) to float or hang suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly over or around A large group of vultures hover in the air above the wounded animal. |
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jostle |
Syn: push I tried not to jostle other riders as I exited the crowded bus. |
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laggard |
Syn: (n.) slowpoke, straggler; (adj.) sluggish |
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plaudits |
(n., pl.) applause; enthusiastic praise or approval |
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preclude |
(v.) to make impossible, prevent, shut out Three wrong answers will preclude any contestant from entering the quiz show's final round. |
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revert |
(v.) to return, go back Control of a property usually reverts to the legal owner when a lease is up. |
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rubble |
(n.) broken stone or bricks; ruins |
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servile |
Syn: slavish, groveling Most serious performers prefer constructive criticism to servile flattery. |
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vigil |
(n.) a watch, especially at night; any period of watchful attention Thousands attended the solemn vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. |
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wrangle |
(v.) to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument; to herd; (n.) a noisy quarrel My brother and sister always wrangle over whose turn it is to take out the trash. The customer got into a nasty wrangle with the shopkeeper. |
