1. LESSON 9

2. Toil Hard work; to work hard; move with difficulty
The feeble old man toiled up the hill.
After years of toil, scientists disclosed that they had made progress in controlling the dreaded disease.
Despite all his toil, Fred never succeeded in reaching his goal.
Noun, Verb
Hard work; to work hard; move with difficulty

3. Blunder
The exhausted boy blundered through the woods.
Bert’s awkward apology could not make up for his serious blunder.
The general’s blunder forced his army to a rapid retreat.
Noun, Verb
Stupid mistake; to make a stupid mistake; stumble; say clumsily

4. Daze
The severity of the blow dazed the fighter and led to his defeat.
When he ventured out of the house at night, the child was dazed by the noise and the lights.
Dazed by the flashlight, Maria blundered down the steps.
Noun, Verb
Confuse

5. Mourn Grieve; feel or show sorrow for
Sandra did not cease to mourn her lost friend.
The entire city mourned for the people lost in the calamity.
We need not mourn over trifles.
Verb
Grieve; feel or show sorrow for

6. Subside Sink to a lower level; grow less
After the excessive rains stopped, the flood waters subsided.
The waves subsided when the winds ceased to blow.
Danny’s anger subsided when the culprit apologized.
Verb
Sink to a lower level; grow less

7. Maim
Auto accidents maim many persons each year.
Though he went through an awesome experience in the crash, Fred was not seriously maimed.
Car manufacturers insist that seatbelts can prevent the maiming of passengers in the event of a crash.
Verb
Cripple; disable; cause to lose an arm, leg, or other part of the body

8. Comprehend Understand
If you can use a word correctly, there is a good chance that you comprehend it.
You need not be a pauper to comprehend fully what hunger is.
My parents say that they cannot comprehend today’s music.
Verb
Understand

9. Commend Praise; hand over for safekeeping
Everyone commended the mayor’s thrifty suggestion.
Florence commended the baby to her aunt’s care.
The truth is that we all like to be commended for good work.
Verb
Praise; hand over for safekeeping

10. Final Coming last; deciding
The final week of the term is rapidly approaching.
Jose was commended for his improvement in the final test.
The final censor of our actions is our own conscience.
Adjective
Coming last; deciding

11. Exempt Make free from; free from
Our school exempts bright pupils from final exams.
School property is exempt from most taxes.
Juvenile offenders are not exempt from punishment.
Adjective, Verb
Make free from; free from

12. Vain Having too much pride in one’s ability, looks, etc.; of no use
Josephine is quite vain about her beauty.
To be perfectly frank, I do not see what she has to be vain about.
Brian made numerous vain attempts to reach the doctor by telephone.
Adjective
Having too much pride in one’s ability, looks, etc.; of no use

13. Repetition Act of doing or saying again
The repetition of new words in this book will help you to learn them.
Any repetition of such unruly behavior will be punished.
After a repetition of his costly mistake, Jerry was fired from his job.
Noun
Act of doing or saying again