1. Improving Vocabulary Skills Third Edition (Chapter 5)
PowerPoint Flashcards

2. Word: allusion Definition: an indirect reference Part of Speech: noun
Derivatives: allusions
Link: Cowardly Lion
Sentence: When someone is described as a Cowardly Lion they could be referring to The Wizard of Oz or just making an allusion to someone being scared of their own shadow.

3. Word: altruistic Definition: unselfishly concerned for the welfare of
others; unselfish
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivatives: altruistic,
altruism, altruistically
Link: big hearted
Sentence: Mary was considered altruistic, or big hearted, because she gave up her Thanksgiving every year to help feed the homeless.

4. Word: appease Definition: to calm, especially
by giving in to the demands of
Part of Speech: verb
Derivatives: appeases,
appeased, appeasing,
appeasable
Sentence: Sometimes we
have to appease people by
making peace and making
compromises.
Link: make peace

5. Word: arbitrary Definition: determined by personal judgment, not rule
or reason; based on impulse
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: arbitrarily
Link: my way or
the highway
Sentence: I bought her a mug that said, “My way or the Highway” because she always made arbitrary decisions without listening to my ideas.

6. Word: assail Definition: to attack physically or verbally
Part of Speech: verb
Link: attacked by
a whale
Derivatives: assails, assailed,
assailing, assailer
Sentence: Little did we know when we went out for a sail, that we would be assailed by a whale.

7. Word: banal Definition: lacking originality; overused; commonplace
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: banality
Link: not
original
Sentence: When people dress twins in the same outfit, this is banal, because it is not original.

8. Word: euphemism Definition: a mild or vague term used as a substitute
for one considered
offensive or unpleasant
Link: pre-owned
vehicle
Part of Speech: noun
Derivative: euphemisms
Sentence: A euphemism for a used car is a “pre-owned vehicle.”

9. Word: mercenary Definition: motivated only by financial gain; greedy
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: mercenaries
Link: greedy
exploited the needy
Sentence: The mercenaries were so greedy that they exploited the needy.

10. Word: syndrome Definition: a group of symptoms
typical of a particular disease or
condition
Part of Speech: noun
Derivative: syndromes
Link: Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Sentence: Diarrhea, bloating, and excessive gas are symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

11. Word: taint Definition: to stain the honor of someone or something
Part of Speech: verb
Derivatives: taints, tainted,
tainting
Link: black paint
Sentence: Putting black paint on the map of the United States tends to taint its reputation.