1. Vocabulary Unit 6B

2. Officious
(adj.) meddling, excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority.
S: meddlesome, prying, impertinent, obtrusive
A: reserved, diffident, timid, aloof
The manger of the store warned the entire sales force not to be too officious when helping customers.

3. Ominous (adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen
S: unpropitious, inauspicious, portentous
A: propitious, auspicious, promising
The ominous sound of distant thunder warned us of the storm’s approach.

4. Pinnacle (n.) a high peak or point S: apex, acme, summit, apogee
A: nadir, perigee, low point
Some pop musicians reach the pinnacle of their careers comparatively early in life.

5. Premeditated (adj.) considered beforehand, deliberately planned.
S: preplanned, rehearsed, calculated, prearranged
A: unplanned, spontaneous, impromptu
Some crimes are spontaneous acts of passion; others are quite premeditated.

6. Rampant (adj). Growing without check, running wild
S: widespread, unrestrained, extravagant, prevalent
A: controlled, restrained
All kinds of odd rumors run rampant during a political campaign.

7. Solace (n.) comfort, relief (v.) to comfort, console
S: (v.) soothe, reassure, cheer up
A: (v.) vex, aggravate, upset
Many world leaders seek solace from the cares of state in the pages of great literature.
I could find no way to solace my deeply troubled conscience.

8. Stately (adj.) dignified, majestic S: grand, magnificent, imposing
A: lowly, humble, servile, abject
The stately procession slowly wound its way from the palace to the cathedral.

9. Supple
(adj.) bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile
S: flexible, limber, pliable, pliant
A: stiff, rigid, unbending, hidebound
Have you ever read Robert Frost’s famous poem about swinging on the supple branches of a birch tree?

10. Suppress (v.) to stop by force, to put down
S: subdue, crush, stifle, squelch, quash, silence
A: provoke, spur, arouse, incite, instigate
Totalitarian governments usually take strong measures to suppress free speech.

11. Venal (adj.) open to or marked by bribery or corruption
S: dishonest, bribable, corruptible, mercenary
A: honest, incorruptible, scrupulous
The presence of even one venal official may jeopardize the integrity of an entire organization.