Focus on the goal. Voc. UNIT 13 Ms. B. Wulchak By Ashley DeGolier

ABSTRUSE (adj.) – Extremely difficult to understand Synonyms: Esoteric, Arcane, Recondite, Occult Can you find the sum of algebraic fractions, or is that too abstruse? Antonyms: Simple, Straightforward

AFFRONT (N.) – An open or intentional insult, a slight; (V.) – To insult to one’s face, to face in defiance, confront Synonyms: (N.) an insult, (V.) to insult It takes patience to ignore someone who openly affronts you.

CANARD (N.) – A false rumor, fabricated story Synonyms: Hoax Every year we hear the canard that half of the Seniors won’t graduate.

CAPTIOUS (adj.) – Excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up Synonyms: Faultfinding, nit-picking, carping My 7th grade grammar teacher was so captious about correcting sentences that we had to stay in at lunch until we got them right. Antonyms: Uncritical

COGNIZANT (adj.) – Aware, knowledgeable, informed, having jurisdiction Synonyms: Conscious, acquainted To understand the class’s subject matter, it helps to be awake, aware, and cognizant during Instructional time. Antonyms: Unaware, unconscious, oblivious

CONTRITE (adj.) – Regretful for some misdeed or sin, Plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent Synonyms: Remorseful, rueful We could tell that the student was not in the least contrite for his actions even after serving a suspension.

CYNOSURE (n.) The center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct Synonyms: Focus When you fly into New York, you see that the Statue of Liberty is the cynosure of attention.

DECOROUS (adj.) – Well behaved, dignified, socially proper Synonyms: Seemly, becoming, tasteful Because Prom should be a decorous occasion, the administration maintains a dress code and requires i.d.

DEIGN (v.) – To think it appropriate or suitable to one’s dignity to do something Synonyms: condescend, stoop, lower one’s self Ben told us that Ryan Sheckler would not deign to sign an autograph.

DESICCATED (adj.) – Thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit of vitality; arid and uninteresting Synonyms: Dehydrated, shriveled, parched If you are anemic, would you rather get more iron by eating liver and onions or by taking a desiccated liver pill? VS. Antonyms: soggy, waterlogged, drenched

EFFICACY (N.) – The power to produce a desired result Synonyms: Effectiveness, potency, reliability Antonyms: Ineffectiveness She signed up for the pharmaceutical trial experiment to test the efficacy of the new drug.

ENGENDER (V.) – To bring into existence, give rise to, produce, to come into existence Synonyms: Generate, cause, create We tried to engender interest in joining Scouts by holding a Soapbox Derby. Antonyms: Stop, deter

ETHEREAL (adj.) – Light, airy, delicate, highly refined, heavenly Synonyms: celestial, gossamer Antonyms: Infernal, hellish, thick, heavy Children’s choirs are known for having angelic, ethereal voices.

FACADE (N.) – The front or face of a building; a surface appearance Synonyms: fake front, exterior, surface, mask, pretense Although she felt miserable, she dressed up, wore make up, and put on a façade to hide her true feelings.

GHOULISH (adj.) – Revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead Synonyms: Fiendish, barbarous, monstrous It is ghoulish to watch extraterrestrial creatures explode from the guts of walking corpses in the movie “Alien.”

INCONGRUOUS (adj.) – Mismatched, not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible Synonyms: discordant, jarring How incongruous it is to imagine a 6 ft. 7 in. basketball player wearing a wedding dress. Antonyms: Compatible, harmonious, consistent

MACHINATION (N.) – A crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end Synonyms: Plot, Scheme, maneuver The evil machinations that “Pinky and The Brain” came up with had one goal– to rule the world!

MESMERIZE (V.) – To hypnotize, entrance, to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch, captivate Paul McKenna mesmerizes volunteers from the audience by having them watch a crystal swing back and forth.

OPPROBRIUM (N.) – Disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach Synonyms: Infamy, dishonor, odium, shame Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter suffered shame and opprobrium for having a child with a man who was not her husband. Antonyms: Acclaim, honor, glory, renown

PUTATIVE (adj.) – Generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred Synonyms: Supposed, presumed, alleged, said to be Casey Anthony is the presumed and putative murderer of her daughter. Antonyms: known, corroborated, confirmed

PREEMPT (V.) – To substitute in that time or place Headline January 8th, 2010: Lost Fans Rejoice! State Of The Union Won’t Preempt Season Premiere

SIMPLISTIC (adj.) – Oversimplified If you don’t like your job, the quick and easy solution of quitting seems like a simplistic way to deal with the issue. Quitting might cause more problems —like being unemployed and having to move out of your apartment.