UNIT 11 Vocabulary Level E

allude DEF = (v.) to refer to casually or indirectly SYN = suggest, insinuate, hint at, intimate LITERARY DEVICE CONNECTION: An ALLUSION is a reference to another text or historical occurrence. People who might be too afraid to complain face-to-face can ALLUDE to their problems in a “suggestions box.”

clairvoyant DEF = (adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (n.) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer SYN = insightful, discerning, uncanny; visionary ANT = blind, unseeing, sense, myopic On the TV show Medium, Allison Dubois sees future murders in her dreams. She is CLAIRVOYANT.

conclusive DEF = (adj.) serving to settle an issue; final SYN = decisive, indisputable, convincing ANT = unsettled, indefinite, provisional WORD CONNECTION: A CONCLUSION paragraph is the CONCLUSIVE idea in an essay.

disreputable DEF = (adj.) not respectable, not esteemed SYN = disgraceful, discreditable, shady ANT = honest, aboveboard, respectable, creditable WORD CONNECTION: Think of “dis + REPUTATION = disreputable Lindsay Lohan’s bad behavior has led to some people thinking of her as a DISREPUTABLE person.

endemic DEF = (adj.) native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field SYN = indigenous, restricted to ANT = alien, foreign, extraneous Corn is ENDEMIC to Illinois. It grows here NATURALLY.

exemplary DEF = (adj.) worthy of imitation, commendable; serving as a model SYN = praiseworthy, meritorious, sterling, illustrative ANT = infamous, notorious, disreputable, scandalous WORD CONNECTION: Think of “good EXAMPLE” = EXEMPLARY

fathom DEF = (v.) to understand, get to the bottom of; to determine the depth of; (n.) a measure of depth in water SYN = grasp, comprehend, figure out Submarines travel FATHOMS below the surface of the water.

guile DEF = (n.) treacherous cunning, deceit SYN = trickery, duplicity, chicanery ANT = candor, artlessness, plain dealing, naivete Word Connection: Someone who uses GUILE is GUILTY of lying. A dishonest person uses GUILE.

integrity DEF = (n.) honesty, high moral standards; an unimpaired condition, completeness, soundness SYN = rectitude, probity ANT = dishonesty, corruption, turpitude “Honest Abe” was known to have HIGH MORAL STANDARDS. He had INTEGRITY.

itinerary DEF = (n.) a route of travel; a record of travel; a guide book SYN = schedule, program

guileendemicconclusive alludedisreputableitinerary 1. Science Fiction fans love to speculate about aliens, but to date there is no ________ evidence of life on other planets. 2. Con-artists use _______ to trick unsuspecting victims into giving up their money. 3. When we went scuba diving in Barbados, we saw many colorful fish _______ only to that region. It was a unique experience! 4. Instead of constantly ________ to the birthday present you want, why can’t you just be straightforward and tell me? 5. Justine’s parents began to worry when she began associating with a very ________ group of people.

integrityitineraryexemplary clairvoyantfathom 1. Although many of us will never reach the same pinnacle of goodness as Mother Teresa, we can all view her life as _____. 2. With psychics it is hard to tell if they are _______ or actors. 3. During our vacation to the Southwest this summer, it would be fun to add a trip to the Grand Canyon to our ______. 4. As patients, we must trust that our doctors are people of the highest ________ and will do their best to care for us. 5. Modern researchers use high-tech gadgetry to _______ the dark depths of the ocean.

misconstrue DEF = (v.) to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning SYN = misjudge, misinterpret WORD CONNECTION: Think = MIStake - MISconstrue “I can’t go out with you because I’m busy. Thanks anyway.” Alright! She must want me to ask her out again on a night when she is free! This guy is seriously MISCONSTRUING her meaning!

obnoxious DEF = (adj.) highly offensive; arousing strong dislike SYN = disagreeable, repugnant, hateful, odious ANT = agreeable, pleasing, engaging, personable OBNOXIOUS people are very hard to be around!!

placate DEF = (v.) to appease, soothe, pacify SYN = satisfy, mollify, allay, conciliate ANT = vex, irk, provoke, exasperate, annoy + = Pacifiers are used to PLACATE babies.

placid DEF = (adj.) calm, peaceful SYN = undisturbed, tranquil, serene, quiet ANT = stormy, agitated, turbulent, tempestuous WORD CONNECTION: After you’ve PLACATED something, it becomes PLACID. Think of the smooth, glassy, undisturbed surface of calm water. That is PLACID.

plagiarism DEF = (n.) passing off or using as one’s own the writing (or other materials) of another person SYN = piracy, theft ENGLISH CLASS CONNECTION: NONE of YOU will EVER COMMIT the act of PLAGIARISM!

potent DEF = (adj.) powerful, highly effective SYN = mighty, formidable, forceful ANT = weak, inept, powerless, ineffective WORD CONNECTION: Think = POtent - POwerful MIGHTY Mouse is a POTENT force against evil!!

pretext DEF = (n.) a false reason, a deceptive excuse SYN = pretense, cover story, rationale, evasion WORD CONNECTION: In a Sentence = As a PREtext for not going on a date with Sam, I’m PREtending I have to babysit.

protrude DEF = (v.) to stick out, thrust forth SYN = project, jut out, bulge This man’s nose PROTRUDES from his face.

stark DEF = (adj.) harsh, unrelieved, desolate; (adv.) utterly SYN = (adj.) sheer, grim, bleak, downright; (adv.) absolutely ANT = (adj.) bright, cheerful, embellished, ornate A War Zone is a STARK environment. The frozen tundra is a STARK environment. It’s always cold and unforgiving.

superficial DEF = (adj.) on or near the surface; concerned with or understanding only what is on or near the surface; shallow SYN = skin-deep, insubstantial, cursory, slapdash ANT = deep, profound, thorough, exhaustive This leaf is floating ON THE SURFACE of the water. It is SUPERFICIAL debris. Someone who cares too much about what they look like is a SUPERFICIAL person.

pretextstarkplagiarism superficialmisconstrueprotrude 1. The ____ contrast between the opulent wealth and the poverty in Chicago makes me want to help the poor. 2. The language in the student’s book review was so advanced that it was clearly an example of __________. 3. Don’t be fooled between any _____ resemblance between my twin sister and I. Actually, we are very different people. 4. Cindy produced a very “convenient” headache as a ______ for needing to leave the meeting early. 5. In a time of warfare, all nations must make sure that no military exercises are _______ by other countries as hostile acts of aggression.

protrudepotentplacate placidobnoxiousmisconstrue 1. The potential for high salaries right out of college is a _____ argument for studying computer science. 2. Even though I was a ball of nerves, I managed to control myself so that onstage I seemed completely _______. 3. In our neighborhood of small family homes, the new high- rise apartment building ______ into the skyline in an unsightly manner. 4. When you work in customer service, the first lesson you learn is how to __________ angry customers. 5. There are few things more ________ than someone who constantly chews with his mouth open. YUCK!