abate (v) to become weaker; to decrease (uh-beyt) Clue: abate = lessen, get weaker The speaker waited until the applause had abated before continuing. Ex: crowd’s enthusiasm abated; pain abated; storm’s intensity abated

acknowledge (v) to admit the existence of; to express recognition or thanks for (ak-nol-ij) Clue: acknowledge = recognize Did the police officer acknowledge your right to remain silent? Ex: acknowledge the authority; acknowledge the winner; acknowledge the students

agent (n) a person who acts or does business for another; something that brings about a result. (ey-juhnt) Clue: agent The author’s agent found a company to publish his latest mystery story. Ex: a powerful agent for change; an real estate agent

authority (n) the right to give orders, make decisions, or take action; an expert source of information (uh-thawr-i-tee) Clue: authority = the professionals or boss Only the Congress of the United States has the authority to declare war. Ex: the researcher who is the authority; the authority who gives orders

devastate (v) to ruin or destroy completely (dev-uh-steyt) Clue: devastate the estate Farmers in the Midwest fear that the lack of rain will devastate the wheat crop. Ex: devastate the neighborhood; devastate the land; devastate the plans

epidemic (n) the rapid spread of disease to many people at one time (ep-i-dem-ik) Clue: epidemic = Yellow Fever The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia killed nearly 5000 people, 10 percent of the city’s population. Ex: wide spread epidemic; flu epidemic; AIDS epidemic

estimate (v) to figure out roughly; (n) a number that is not exact (v. es-tuh-meyt; n. es-tuh-mit) Clue: estimate = a careful guess We estimate that it will take us an hour to drive to the airport. Ex: the mechanic’s estimate; estimate the damage

evict (v) to force out of property by taking legal action (ih-vikt) Clue: evict = Get out! The landlord threatened to evict the tenants for not paying the rent. Ex: evict the renters; evict homeless

impartial (adj) not favoring one side more than another; fair (im-pahr-shuh) Clue: impartial = be fair A judge should be impartial in the courtroom. Ex: impartial referee; impartial reporter; impartial umpire

industrious (adj)hardworking; not lazy (in-duhs-tree-uhs) Clue: industrious = busy bee The more industrious workers in the clothing factory were rewarded with pay raises at the end of the year. Ex: industrious students; industrious athletes; industrious teachers

infuriate (v) to make very angry (in-fyoor-ee-yet) Clue: infuriate = furious Cruelty to animals infuriates me. Ex: infuriate the crowd; infuriate the judge; infuriate the parents

irrelevant (adj) having nothing to do with the subject (ih-rel-uh-vuhnt) Clue: irrelevant = doesn’t matter The candidate’s personal wealth is irrelevant to our discussion about his qualifications for the job. Ex: irrelevant information; irrelevant topic

precise (adj) exact; accurate (pri-sahys) Clue: precise = accuracy Do you know the precise time that your plane arrives? Ex: precise amount; precise measurements

sham (n) something false or fake (v) to pretend (sham) Clue: sham = fake Although he tried to appear sorry, his sham apology did not fool his wife. Ex: get-rich-quick sham; great deal was a sham

trek (n) a long, slow, and difficult journey; v. to travel slowly and with difficulty (trek) Clue: trek = trudge The hikers were exhausted after their trek over the mountain. Ex: trek across the swamp; trek across the ocean