Vocabulary 15A

(ADJ. ) CAUSING IRRITATION, HARSH; GRINDING OR WEARING DOWN; (N (ADJ.) CAUSING IRRITATION, HARSH; GRINDING OR WEARING DOWN; (N.) A SUBSTANCE USED TO SMOOTH OR POLISH. S: (ADJ.) CHAFING, GRATING, RASPING, EORSIVE A: (ADJ.) SMOOTH, POLISHED, SATINY, OILY, UNCTUOUS WITHIN EVERY FAMILY THERE ARE SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT TEND TO BE ABRASIVE. PUMICE, A NATURAL ABRASIVE, IS A HIGHLY POROUR TYPE OF GLASS THAT IS PRODUCED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. ABRASIVE

ACCLIMATE (V.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation S: accustom, learn the ropes You may find it difficult to acclimate to a new school if you arrive in the middle of the year. ACCLIMATE

(N.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling S: (n.) vexation, mortification; (v.) abash. Mortify A: (n.) jubilation, exultation, triumph; 9v.) exult, delight Much to my chagrin, I placed a mere fourth in the 100-meter freestyle. The lukewarm reception accorded his first and only opera, Fidelio, deeply chagrined the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. CHAGRIN

COMPLACENT (adj.) self-satisfied; overly content S: smug, pleased with oneself A: discontented, chagrined Complacent individuals are, by definition, overly pleased with their lot in life. COMPLACENT

CONCUR (v.) to express agreement, approve S: agree, assent, ratify, sanction A: disagree, differ, part company It is indeed rare for eyewitness accounts of an accident to concur in every detail. CONCUR

DEFAMATION (n.) slander or libel S: vilification, calumny, mudslinging A: salute, tribute, testimonial, praise Celebrities sometimes find that they have no choice but to sue tabloids for defamation. DEFAMATION

EXPLICATE (v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret S: clarify, elucidate, untangle, spell out A: confuse, bewilder, obscure, obfuscate The students listened attentively as the math teacher explicated the geometry theorem. EXPLICATE

FRACAS (n,) a noisy quarrel or brawl S: row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha A: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony Do you think that the fracases on some talk shows are spontaneous or staged? FRACAS

GROTESQUE (adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre S: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed A: appealing, attractive, comely Gargoyles, the grotesque beasts carved on many Gothic churches, are actually drainage spouts. GROTESQUE

PANDEMONIUM (n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion S: chaos, tumult, bedlam, three-ring circus A: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose The whirl of activity on the floor of a stock exchange often looks and sounds like utter pandemonium. PANDEMONIUM