1. Vocabulary Set 2
English 3

2. Root: Ten/Tin/Tain
From the Latin verb tenere and the related word tenax, basically means “hold” or “hold on to.”

3. Abstinence
Definition: Holding oneself back voluntarily from indulging an appetite or craving.
Sentence: Burned out too many wild nights, she moved to the country and took up a life of abstinence.

4. Tenacious Definition: Stubborn or persistent in clinging to a thing.
Sentence: He was known as a tenacious reporter who would stay with a story for months, sometimes risking his health and even his life.

5. Tenable Definition: Capable of being held or defended; reasonable.
Sentence: She was depressed for weeks after her professor said that her theory wasn’t tenable.

6. Sustenance
Definition: (1) Something that gives support or strength. (2) Food, nourishment.
Sentence: Napoleon’s invading army, forced to turn back from Moscow by the terrible Russian winter, ended up eating its horses when all other sustenance ran out.

7. Root: Vinc/Vict
Comes from the Latin verb vincere, which means “to conquer” or “to overcome.”

8. Evince Definition: To be outward evidence of; show or reveal.
Sentence: As a witness she evinced honesty and dignity, and the jury was favorably impressed.

9. Invincible Definition: Incapable of being conquered or overcome.
Sentence: The supposedly invincible Spanish Armada was defeated by a fleet of small English ships in 1588.

10. Provincial
Definition: (1) Having to do with a province. (2) Lacking polish, culture, and broad experience.
Sentence: They were both by now sick of Chicago and would gladly have exchanged the fast life for more provincial pleasures.

11. Victimize Definition: To make a victim of; trick, deceive, or injure.
Sentence: Like most tourists there, we were victimized by the local merchants and guides.

12. Root: Vers/Vert
From the Latin verb vertere, means “to turn” or “to turn around.”

13. Divert
Definition: (1) To turn from one purpose or course to another. (2) To give pleasure to by distracting from burdens or distress.
Sentence: The farmers successfully diverted some of the river water to irrigate their crops during the drought.

14. Perverse
Definition: (1) Corrupt; improper; incorrect. (2) Stubbornly or obstinately wrong.
Sentence: The unsuspected murderer had apparently felt a perverse desire to chat with the police.

15. Avert
Definition: (1) To turn away or aside (especially one’s eyes). (2) To avoid or ward off; prevent.
Sentence: General Camacho’s announcement of lower food prices averted an immediate worker’s revolt.

16. Versatile
Definition: (1) Turning easily from one skill to another. (2) Having many uses.
Sentence: The versatile Gene Kelly acted, sang, and directed—and dazzled America with his dancing.