Lesson 5 Vocabulary English II Standard

1. altruistic- unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others. Most people support altruistic programs to help the less fortunate of this world. 2. assent- to express agreement; agreement Romeo and Juliet knew they would never gain their feuding families’ assent to marry.

3. benefactor- one who does good to others. Without the help of many benefactors, most charities would be unable to carry out their work. 4. chivalrous- marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly In today’s busy world, where people are often heedless of others, a chivalrous act is admired by all.

5. clemency- mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness Many judges are willing to show clemency to first offenders who express regret for their wrongdoing. 6. dearth- a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine An employer may complain of a dearth of qualified applicants for available jobs.

7. diffident- shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved Many a diffident suitor has lost his beloved to a bold rival. 8. discrepancy- a difference; a lack of agreement Discrepancies in the testimony of witnesses to a crime can have a decisive impact on the outcome of a trial.

9. embark- to go aboard; to make a start; to invest Columbus spent years raising money before he was able to embark on his perilous ocean voyage in search of a passage to the East. 10. facile- easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt. Writing is a facile process for some authors but a laborious task for others.

11. indomitable- unconquerable, refusing to yield All who hear of the remarkable deeds of Harriet Tubman admire her indomitable courage in the face of grave danger. 12. infallible- free from error; absolutely dependable Some critics seem convinced that their expert knowledge makes them infallible judges of the quality of an artist’s work.

13. plod- to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly After the blizzard, we had to plod through deep snowdrifts to reach the nearest stores. 14. pungent- causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting The kitchen of the French restaurant was filled with the pungent aroma of onion soup.

Define the following words 1. remiss 2. repose 3. temerity 4. truculent 5. unfeigned 6. virulent