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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Bulwark
(BULL wurk) noun |
a defensive wall, something serving as a principle defense
link-BULL WORK link sentence-"Bulls work building a bulwark." example-Quebec City is the only city in North America with a bulwark built entirely around it. |
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Augment
(awg MENT) verb |
to make or become greater
link-CEMENT link sentence- "How not to augment a driveway with cement." example-The king attempted to augment his army by going into villages and drafting men into service. |
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Incongruous
( in KAHN grew us) adjective |
not fitting
link-IN CONGRESS link sentence- "The new Alaskan senator's presence in congress was incongruous." example-Ed appeared incongruous wearing his tuxedo on an old-fashioned hayride. |
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Gossamer
(GOSS uh mer) noun and adjective |
cobwebs; delicate
link-CUSTOMER link sentence- "The spider's gossamer captured many unhappy customers." example-The bride wore a white silk wedding dress. A gossamer of fine Italian lace gently touched her face. |
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Succinct/Terse
(sek SINGKT) adjective |
brief and to the point
link- SINK link sentence- "Virginia was succinct when Ernie forgot to fix the sink." example- When Joe was called upon, he succinctly paraphrased what the teacher had just explained. |
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Tantalize
(TAN tal ize) verb |
to tease but not to give
link-SANTA'S LIES link sentence- "Santa's lies tantalize." example- The tantalizing aroma of the bread made us all very happy. |
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Languid
(LANG qwid) adjective |
lacking energy
link- SQUID link sentence- "A languid squid." example- After his bout with the flu, Joe was languid and unable to workout for over a week. |
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Benighted
(be NI tid) adjective |
intellectual darkness
link- KNIGHT link sentence- "A benighted knight." example- Many benighted people became enlightened during the Renaissance. |
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Exalt
(ig ZAWLT) verb |
to raise high
link-SALT link sentence- "Everyone exalted the salt as king of the condiments." example-The fireman was exalted by the press for saving the child from a burning building. |
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Dire
(DYE ur) adjective |
disastrous
link-FIRE link sentence- "A dire fire." example- The hurricane struck the Florida Keys with dire results; all the buildings were flattened. |
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Kindle
(KIN dl) verb |
to ignite or inspire
link- CANDLE link sentence- "Patrick found a unique way to kindle candles." example- Because Christine once had feelings for him, Joe thought sending flowers might again kindle her affections. |
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Myriad
(MIR ee ud) noun |
an extremely large number
link- MIRROR ADD link sentence- "Many mirrors add a myriad of reflections." example- George was a hypochondriac, weighted down by myriad concerns about his health. |
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Rhetoric
(RET or ik) noun |
the art of argument
link- RENT-A-WRECK link sentence- "A salesman's rent-a-wreck rhetoric." example- A person's use of rhetoric can indicate much about that person's character. |
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Latent
(LAYT nt) adjective |
laying hidden; potential
link- LAY TENT link sentence- "Never lay your tent on a latent volcano." example- trent had a latent talent as a singer which he didn't discover until he was in his 50's. |
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Jaunt
(jawnt) noun |
a short pleasure trip
link- HAUNT link sentence- "A jaunt haunt." example- After not taking a family vacation for two years, a jaunt to the beach was a pleasurable respite. |
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Vertigo
(vur tuh GO) noun |
dizziness
link- WHERE TO GO link sentence- "When test pilot Bob developed a bad case of vertigo, he didn;t know where to go." example- Charles was acrophobic and even suffered from vertigo when standing on a stool, replacing the lights in the kitchen. |
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Impede
(im PEED) verb |
to obstruct or interfere with; to delay
link- SPEED link sentence- "The job of the highway patrolmen as to impede speeding motorists." example- 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. |
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Countenance
(KOWNT uh nanz) noun |
a person's face, especially the expression
link- COUNT THE NUTS link sentence- "By their facial countenance alone it was easy to count the nuts." example- The submarine commander's countenance belied his true feelings of anxiety and fear. |
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Scrutinize
(SKROOT uh nyze) verb |
to look very carefully; to examine
link- SCREW EYES link sentence- "U.S. Customs officials have screw eyes when they scrutinize baggage." example- Newspaper proof readers scrutinize an entire newspaper each day. |
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Specter
(SPEk ter) noun |
a ghost or phantom
link- SPECTACLES link sentence- "A specter with spectacles." example- The specter of Christmas Future is the most terrifying to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens' A Christmas Carole. |
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Wax
(waks) verb (other forms waxen, waxing, etc.) |
1. to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.
2. (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. 3. to grow or become example-He waxed angry at the insinuation. |
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Wane
(wain) verb |
to decrease gradually
link- RAIN link sentence- "Snowmen wane in the rain." example- A waning interest by theater-goers prompted the theater to shut down. |
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Copious
(KOH-pee-uhs) adjective |
1. large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful
2. having or yeilding an abundant supply 3. exhibiting abundance or fullness, as of thoughts or words link- COPS link sentence- "Copious cops devour donuts, waiting for some excitement." example- A you read Cold Mountain, you must make copious annotations. |
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Perspicacious
adjective |
having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear sighted
link- PERSPIRATION link sentence- "Annotating the novel, Perry's perspiration increased while concentrating on perspicacious reading." example- If one examines political cartoons perspicaciously, the artists message is quite clear. |
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Marauder
(muh RAWD er) noun |
raider, intruder
link- MA RAIDER link sentence- "The fiercest marauders are me raiders." example- During the Civil War, marauding bands of Confederate guerrillas raided Union supply lines in the Midwest. |
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Cower
(KOW er) verb |
cringe from fear; to shrink away
link- COW link sentence- "Bessie, the cowering cow, never could stand the sight of her own milk." example- When Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok entered the Last Chance Saloon, the villans cowered in fear. |
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Aloof
(uh LOOF) adjective |
distant, reserved in manner; uninvolved
link- ROOF link sentence- "Snowball, the cat, was so aloof when guests came she hid on the roof." example- At the wedding reception, the bride's relatives were very aloof, hardly speaking to the groom's guests and family. |
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Forbearance
(for BAYR ans) noun |
patience
link- FOUR PARENTS link sentence- "Four parents exhibiting forbearance." example- Teachers must forbear(verb) when they deal with unruly students. |
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Lament
(la MINT) verb |
to express sorrow or regret
link- CEMENT link sentence- "We lament that Joe got buried in cement." example- The song, "Cowboys Lament," is a ballad about the lonely life of those who drive cattle for a living. |
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Cacophony
(kuh KAHF uh nee) noun |
harsh words
link- COUGH link sentence- "A cacophony of coughing." example- A cacophony isn't noise alone, it is disturbing noise such as when people shout all at once. |
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Quietude
(kwi i TUDE) noun |
calm; tranquil; peaceful
link- QUIET DUDE link sentence- "Dad was a quiet dude who sought quietude." example- Gene and Chris chose their property for the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the area. |
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Connoisseur
(kahn uh SUR) noun |
an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste
link- KING OF SEWER link sentence- "The king of the sewer is a connoisseur of garbage." example- My uncle is a connoisseur of fine wines. |
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Evoke
(EE voke) verb |
to summon forth, call to mind, awaken, produce, suggest
link- Coke link sentence- Sometimes a song, a picture, even a coke, can evoke the most poignant of youthful memories. example- A clap of thunder and a flash of lightning over the old castle evoked dark spirits for the villagers who remember the night of the headless ghosts. |
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Cupidity
(kyoo PID ih tee) noun |
excess greed, especially for money
link- CUPID link sentence- Cupid with cupidity. example- The thief's cupidity was exceeded only by his ignorance. |
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Ubiquitous
(yoo BIK woh tus) adjective |
the quality of being everywhere (or seeming to) at the same time
link- BIG AS US link sentence- When you're as big as us you feel ubiquitous.\ example- Computers were once rare, but today are more ubiquitous than typewriters. |
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Adroit/Deft
(ah DROIT) adjective |
skillful
link- DETROIT link sentence- "The auto workers of Detroit are adroit at manufacturing automobiles." example- Many fourth graders are more adroit on the computer than their parents. |
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Fetter
(FET ur) verb |
to restrain
link- FETTER link sentence- "A fettered feather." example- The prisoners were fettered by shackles around their ankles. |
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Doldrums
(DOHL drums) noun |
a period or condition of depression or inactivity
link- DOLL DRUMS link sentence- "Al covered with dust, the doll drums were in the doldrums." example- ever since Jackie's dog died, the little fellow has not touched his toys, moping around day after day in the doldrums. |
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Throng
(throng) noun or verb (thronging) |
a large group of people gathered closely together
link- SONG link sentence- The throng broke into song. example- When the Pope visited the United States, an admiring throng gathered at every major city. |
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Emulate
(IM u late) verb |
to attempt to equal or surpass; especially through imitation
link- IMITATE link sentence- "Jimmy emulates his dad by imitating him." example- Most people emulate those they most admire. |
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Incite
(en SIGHT) verb |
to arouse to action
link- FIGHT link sentence- "The pitcher's bean ball incited the batter to fight." example- Waving a stick at Jerry's dog only incites him and increases the chance he will bite you. |
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Austere
(aw STEER) adjective |
stern, as in manner; without excess, unadorned, severely simple and plain
link- STEER link sentence- "An austere steer is no fun at a party" example- The austerity of life in the village was understandable. Many were jobless and evidence of poverty was everywhere. |
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Palpable
(PAL puh bul) adjective |
capable of being touched or felt
link- PAL THE BULL link sentence- "Our pal, the bull, is palpable." example- The answer is as palpable as the nose on your face. |
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Gregarious
(gruh GAIR ee us) adjective |
working and enjoying the company of others; sociable
link- GREG HILARIOUS link sentence- "Gregarious Greg was hilarious." example- Paige was so gregarious she hated to be alone. |
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Pious
(PI us) adjective |
Devout or virtuous; holy
link- PIE link sentence- "A pious pis." example- Elizabeth piously said her prayers every night before bed. |
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Philanthropy
(fi LAN thruh pee) noun |
love of mankind, especially through charitable gifts and deeds
link- PHIL ANTHROPY link sentence- "Phil Anthropy was a philanthropist." example- In the movie, "Good Sam", Gary Cooper's character was philanthropic, giving to anyone in need and keeping little for his own family. |
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Ethereal
(i THER ee ul) adjective |
very light; airy; delicate; heavenly
link- CEREAL link sentence- "Ethereal cereal." example- An ethereal mist covered the hill in the morning. |
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Espouse
(eh SPOWZ) verb |
to support in a very committed way
link- SPOUSE link sentence- "Harold's spouse espoused a large family." example- I espouse the idea that we eat dessert before dinner. |
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Misanthropy
(MIS an thruh pee) noun |
hatred of mankind
link- MISS ANTHROPY link sentence- "Miss anthropy was a misanthropic person." example- A more misanthropic person you never did see. He hates everyone. |
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Culpable
(kuhl puh buhl) adjective |
Worthy of blame
Origin: from culpa "crime, fault, blame." late 13 century. coupable, from O. Fr. Related forms: culpability, culpableness, culpably, non culpability, unculpable Link: Culprit Link Sentence: The culprit is culpable for the crime. Ex: Orleanna--in the Poisonwood Bible--must deal with her feelings of guilt, facing how she is partly culpable for what befalls her family. |
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Intrepid
(in TREP id) adjective |
fearless; bold
link- TRIP ED link sentence- "Everyone considered David intrepid after he tripped ed, the bully, in the cafeteria." example- The bullfighter was intrepid as he stood in the arena before the fierce bull. |
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Catharsis
(kuh THAR sis) noun |
an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal
link- CATS AND HORSES link sentence- "Cat and horse catharsis." example- After Jeremy returned to the French World War II battlefield he had known fifty years before, he said he found the experience cathartic. |
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Portend
(por TEND) verb |
to warn of as an omen; forecast
link- POOR END link sentence- "His teacher portended that Billy would come to a poor end." example- In ancient times a comet in the sky was considered a portentous event. |
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Abate
(ah BAIT) verb |
to reduce
link- BAIT link sentence- "Abated bait." example- Marta's defeat in the tennis tournament did not abate her zeal for the game. |
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Fraught
(fraught) adjective |
*teeming with; *laden
link- CAUGHT link sentence- 'eric caught a boatload in a lake fraught with fish." example- The freighter was fraught with cargo. |
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Surreptitious
(sur ep TISH us) adjective |
done or acting in a secret, sly manner
link- SUSPICIOUS link sentence- "To escape from the circus, an elephant has to be surreptitious without being suspicious." example- Ray was surreptitious in his approach to the campground so he was able to take everyone by surprise. |
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Bolster
(BOHL ster) verb |
to support, as in a group; to give a boost
link- HOLSTER link sentence- "Members bolstered each other by wearing their holsters." example- the coach saw it was time to bolster his team, so he gave them a pep talk |
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Erudite
(ER yoo dyte) adjective |
deeply learned, scholarly
link- AIRTIGHT link sentence- "Knowing that his case was airtight, the defense attorney became confident and erudite." example- The extent of Dr. Smith's library is an indication of his ERUDITION.) |
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Bevy
(bev EE) noun |
a group of animals; an assemblage
link- HEAVY link sentence- "A bevy of heavies." example- Bud's hunting dogs scared out a bevy of quail. |
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Enmity
(EN mi tee) noun |
hostility; deep-seated hatred
link- IN MY TEA link sentence- "Sir Howard, I have great enmity for your dog's tongue in my tea." example- The enmity between the teams was apparent to the spectators. |
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Arduous
(AHR joo us) adjective |
hard, difficult, tiresome
link- HARD ON US link sentence- "The arduous snow-covered is hard on us." example- The assignment given to the recruits was arduous, twenty miles with fill packs in the hot sun. |