English 2 – Vocab Week 5

E2 VQ5 Begin sentences with (6) adverbs & (6) adjectives calumny (n) – an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies decorous (adj) – socially proper, appropriate efficacious (adj) – effective fatuous (adj) – silly; foolish gourmand (n) – someone fond of eating and drinking harrowing (adj) – greatly distressing; vexing immutable (adj) – not changeable largess (n) – the generous giving of lavish gifts legerdemain (n) – deception; slight-of-hand manifold (adj) – diverse, varied noisome (adj) – unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell obsolete (adj) – no longer used; out of date

calumny (n) calumny (n) – an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies EX. Uttering calumny, the Press caused the President to lose his party’s support. SYN: slander, defamation ANT: acclaim Related: calumnious (adj)

decorous decorous (adj) – socially proper, appropriate EX. Always decorous, Emily was admired for her gentle manners, even in the company of rude people. SYN: civilized ANT: unseemly Related: decorum (n)

efficacious efficacious (adj) – effective EX. Women spend billions of dollars each year on cosmetics with questionably efficacious results. SYN: valuable ANT: ineffective Related: efficacy, effect (n)

fatuous fatuous (adj) – silly; foolish EX. The seemingly fatuous cartoon illustrated a sobering warning: Read before you act! SYN: supercilious ANT: sober Related: fatuousness (n)

gourmand gourmand (n) – someone fond of eating and drinking EX. The gourmand entered his favorite restaurant with a blissfully anticipatory smile. SYN: “foodie” ANT: critic Related: gourmet (adj)

harrowing harrowing (adj) – greatly distressing; vexing EX. When the driver suddenly turned in front of my car, I faced a harrowing decision to swerve or take my chance with the brakes. SYN: vexing ANT: calming Related: harrow (tv)

immutable immutable (adj) – not changeable EX. Many believe the Constitution is immutable; however, the amendments say otherwise. SYN: unchanging ANT: mutable Related: mutate (t/v), mutant (n)

largess largess (n) – the generous giving of lavish gifts EX. Displaying largess, the patron gave the boy scout $10 for an ice cream cone, and told him to keep the change. SYN: generosity ANT: miserliness Related: large (adj)

legerdemain legerdemain (n) – deception; slight-of-hand EX. The politician’s legerdemain of stuffing the ballot box came back to him when he was arrested for campaign fraud. SYN: deception ANT: honesty, integrity Related: (none)

manifold manifold (adj) – diverse, varied EX. This picture illustrates the manifold sea creatures that make their home in the coral reef. SYN: diverse ANT: homogenous Related: manifold (n)

noisome noisome (adj) – unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell EX. We dreaded the noisome task of cleaning the horse stalls. SYN: malodorous ANT: appealing Related: (none)

obsolete obsolete (adj) – no longer used; out of date EX. Typewriters and word processors were necessary items in the 1980s, but they were gradually made obsolete by computers and printers. SYN: démodé ANT: contemporary, current Related: obsoleteness (n)