1. Unit 2 Vocabulary
Accelerated English 10

2. ameliorate
A hot meal can ameliorate the discomforts of even the coldest day.
“ a meal you ate”

3. ameliorate (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
synonyms: amend, better
antonyms: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

4. ameliorate

5. aplomb
Considering the family’s tense mood, you handled the situation with aplomb.

6. aplomb (n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence, perpendicularity
synonyms: composure, self-possession
antonyms: confusion, embarrassment,
abashment

7. aplomb

8. bombastic
He delivered a bombastic speech that didn’t address our problems.

9. bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal lack of ideas
synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious
antonyms: unadorned, simple, plain, austere

10. bombastic

11. callow
They entered the army as callow recruits.

12. callow (adj.) Without experience; immature
synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced
antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

13. callow

14. drivel
Knowing that his time was nearly up, we kept silence and let him drivel on.

15. drivel
(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; aimless talking or thinking; nonsense; (v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense; to waste away foolishly
synonyms: (n.) balderdash, tommyrot
v. slaver

16. drivel

17. epitome
Admitting when you have been fairly defeated is the epitome of sportsmanship.

18. epitome (n.) a summary, condensed account
synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype

19. epitome

20. exhort
With dramatic gestures, our fans vigorously exhort the team to play harder.

21. exhort (v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure
antonyms: discourage, advise against, deprecate

22. exhort

23. ex officio
The President is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

24. ex officio
(adj., adv) by virtue of holding a certain office

25. Ex officio

26. infringe
If you continue to infringe on my responsibilities, will you also take the blame for any mistakes?

27. infringe (v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude
antonyms: stay in bounds, comply

28. infringe

29. ingratiate
It’s not a good idea to ingratiate oneself by paying cloying compliments.

30. ingratiate
(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor by others
synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with
antonyms: humiliate oneself

31. ingratiate

32. interloper
The crowd was so eager to see the band perform that they resented the opening singer as an interloper.

33. interloper (n.) one who moves in where he is not wanted
synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky
“cantaloper”

34. interloper

35. intrinsic
It had been my father’s favorite book when he was my age, but for me it held little intrinsic interest.

36. intrinsic
(v.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent
synonyms: immanent, organic
antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward

37. intrinsic

38. inveigh
You should not inveigh against the plan with quite so much vigor until you have read it.

39. inveigh
(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
synonyms: harangue, remonstrate
antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol

40. inveigh

41. lassitude
On some days I am overcome by lassitude at the thought of so many years of schooling.

42. lassitude (n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor languor
antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

43. lassitude

44. millennium
In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new millennium.

45. millennium (n.) A period of one thousand years; a period of great joy
synonyms: chiliad, golden age,
antonyms: doomsday

46. millennium

47. occult
One need not rely on occult knowledge to grasp why things disappear in a house where two cats live.

48. occult
(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural (v.) to hide, conceal (n.) matters involving the supernatural
synonym: esoteric, abstruse, arcane
antonym: mundane, common, public, exoteric

49. occult

50. permeate
The rain permeated all of my clothing.

51. permeate
(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

52. permeate

53. precipitate
Scholars often disagree over which event or events precipitate an historic moment.
I admit that my outburst was precipitate.

54. precipitate
(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause about suddenly; to hurl down from great height (adj.) characterized by excessive haste (n.) moisture
synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce; (adj.) reckless , impetuous
antonyms: wary, circumspect

55. precipitate

56. stringent
Some argue that more stringent laws against speeding will make our streets safer.

57. stringent (adj.) strict, severe; sharp or bitter to the taste
synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent
antonyms: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

58. stringent

59. surmise
I cannot be sure, but I surmise that she wouldn’t accept my apology.

60. surmise
(v.) to think or believe without supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof
synonyms: (v.) infer, gather; (n.) inference, presumption

61. surmise