Vocabulary Level F Units 1-3 Review

abominate To have an intense dislike or hatred for Verb S: loathe, abhor, despise, detest A: relish, savor, cherish, esteem

acculturation The modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend Noun S: adaptation

adventitious Resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital Adjective S: extrinsic, incidental, gratuitous A: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital

approbation The expression of favorable approval; praise; official approval Noun S: commendation, sanction A: disapproval, condemnation, censure

ascribe To assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute Verb S: impute, credit, attribute

assuage To make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench Verb S: mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay A: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

callow Without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers Adjective S: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced A: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

circuitous roundabout, not direct Adjective S: indirect, meandering, winding A: straight, direct, as the crow flies

coalition A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose Noun S: alliance, league, federation, combine A: splinter group

commiserate To sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress Verb S: feel sorry for, empathize A: to feel no sympathy for

decadence Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence Noun S: degeneration, corruption A: rise, growth, development, maturation

drivel (N.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (V.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense; to waste away foolishly Noun and Verb S: (N.) balderdash, hogwash, tommyrot; (V.) slaver

elicit To draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person) Verb S: Call forth, evoke, extract, educe A: repress, quash, squelch, stifle

enjoin To direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit Verb S: bid, charge, command, adjure A: allow, permit

exhort To urge strongly, advise earnestly Verb S: entreat, implore, adjure A: discourage, advise against, depreciate

expiate To make amends, make up for; to avert Verb S: redeem, make amends, atone, make reparation

expostulate To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning Verb S: protest, remonstrate, complain

ferment or ferment (Verb)—to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action; (Noun)—a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence Verb or Noun S: (N.) commotion, turmoil, unrest A: (N.) peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity

hackneyed Used so often as to lack freshness or originality Adjective S: banal, trite, commonplace, corny A: new, fresh, novel, original

inadvertent Resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental Adjective S: accidental, unconsidered A: deliberate, intentional, premeditated

infringe To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized boundaries Verb S: encroach, impinge, intrude, poach A: stay in bounds

innuendo A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense) Noun S: insinuation, intimation A: direct statement

intercede To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement Verb S: intervene, mediate

interloper One who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder Noun S: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

inveigh To make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval Verb S: rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate A: acclaim, glorify, extol

jaded Wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) Adjective S: sated, surfeited, cloyed A: unspoiled, uncloyed

lassitude Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy Noun S: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor A: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

lurid Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational, pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint Adjective S: gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly A: pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

meritorious Worthy, deserving recognition and praise Adjective S: praiseworthy, laudable, commendable A: blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

millennium A period of one thousand years; a period of great joy Noun S: chiliad, golden age, prosperity, peace A: doomsday, day of judgment

nominal Existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously Adjective S: titular, token, trifling, inconsequential A: real, actual, exorbitant, excessive

noncommittal Not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no Adjective S: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest A: positive, definite, committed

occult (Adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (V.) to hide, conceal, eclipse; (N.) matters involving the supernatural Adjective, Verb, and Noun S: (Adj.) supernatural, esoteric, abstruse, arcane A: (Adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric

peculate to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s own use Verb S: embezzle, defraud, misappropriate

permeate  to spread through, penetrate, soak through Verb

petulant Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset Adjective S: irritable, testy, waspish A: even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

precipitate (V.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (Adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (N.) moisture; the product of an action or process Verb, Adjective, and Noun S: (V.) provoke, produce; (Adj.) reckless, impetuous A: (Adj.) wary, cautious, circumspect

prerogative A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence Noun S: prerequisite, perk

proclivity A natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) Noun S: natural bent, penchant, propensity A: inability, incapacity

provincial Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified Someone who possesses these qualities Adjective OR Noun S: narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naïve A: cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

sangfroid Composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances Noun S: poise, self-assurance, equanimity A: excitability, flappability, hysteria

seditious  resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government Adjective S: mutinous, rebellious, subversive A: supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant

simulate To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of Verb S: feign, pretend, affect

stringent Strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste Adjective S: Stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative A: Lenient, mild, lax, permissive

surmise (V.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (N.) likely idea that lacks definite proof Verb and Noun S: (V.) infer, gather; (N.) inference, presumption

tenuous Thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported Adjective S: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy A: strong, solid, substantial, valid

umbrage Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion Noun S: irritation, pique, annoyance A: pleasure, delight, satisfaction

vitriolic Bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) Adjective S: withering, acerbic, mordant A: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary

wheedle To use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end Verb S: cajole, inveigle, a soft-soap, sweet talk A: coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm

Please turn to page 45.