UNIT 2 VOCABULARY

Ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or short coming

Synonyms; amend, better

Antonyms; worsen aggravate, exacerbate

I knew I had many spelling flaws in my paper, so I began to ameliorate it.

Aplomb(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

Synonyms; composure, self-possession, level headedness

Antonyms; confusion, embarrassment, abashment

The gymnast walked the beam with aplomb before doing a backflip off of the end.

Bombastic- (adj.) pompous or

overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.

Synonym; inflated, highfalutin, pretentious,

Antonyms; unadorned, plain, simple, austere

The speaker at the convention went on and on in a bombastic babble of what we should be doing as teachers.

Callow- (adj.) without experience;

immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without fear

Synonyms; green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced

Antonyms; mature, grown up, polished, sophisticated

Callow teenagers believe they can do whatever they want and they will never get into trouble.

Drivel- (n.) saliva or mucus flowing

from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva from the mouth; to utter a nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste time or fritter away foolishly.

Synonyms; (n.) balderdash, hogwash, tommyrot;

(v.) slaver

The drivel coming from the student’s mouth was a true testament to his attention toward the teacher.

Epitome

- (n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality.

Synonyms; abstract, digest, model, archetype.

Helping a teammate off of the field is the epitome of good sportsmanship.

Exhort

- (v.) to urge strongly, advises earnestly.

Synonyms; entreat implore, adjure

Antonyms; discourage, advise against, deprecate

Our teacher exhorts us to complete our homework so we can earn good grades!

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

The boss of a company is expected to be the ex officio in financially tough times.

infringe(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude, poach

Antonyms: stay in bounds, comply If you infringe on private

property then you can be arrested and taken to jail.

ingratiate(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others ( sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

Synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with

Antonyms: alienate, humiliate oneself, mortify oneself

It is a good idea to ingratiate yourself with the boss if you hope to get on his good side early!

interloper(n)where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

Many Native Americans felt that the colonists were interlopers who were destroying their livelihood.

intrinsic(adj.) belonging to someone of something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Synonyms: immanent, organic

Antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward

Coming from a long line of sailors, the boy had an intrinsic love for the ocean .

inveigh(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Synonyms: rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate

Antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol

If you inveigh against someone's personal values, you may very easily hurt their emotions.

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor

Antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

After completing the 5k race in under 16 minutes, everyone watching saw just how overwhelmed with lassitude he was.

millennium(n.) a period of one thousand years: a period of great joy

Synonyms: chiliad, golden age, prosperity, peace

Antonyms: doomsday, day of judgment

Over the last millennium human technology has evolved to unimaginable heights.

occult(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural, secret hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v) to hide, conceal; eclipse; matters involving the supernatural

Synonyms: supernatural, esoteric, abstruse, arcane

Antonyms: mundane, common, public, exoteric

The occult series of books known as Harry Potter are world famous for their magical tales.

permeate(v) to spread though, penetrate, soak through

The rain came down so hard that it permeated my windbreaker.

precipitate(v) to fall as moisture; to cause to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj) characterized from excessive haste;(n) moisture; the product of an action or process

Synonyms: provoke, produce, reckless, impetuous

Antonyms: wary, cautious, circumspect

stringent(adj) strict, severe, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative

Synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative

Antonyms: lenient, mild lax, permissive

U.S Navy Seals have to pass series of stringent test to become some of the most elite soldiers.

surmise(v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess;(n) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Synonyms: infer, gather, inference, presumption

I can’t prove it but, I surmise that he is lying to me about where he was yesterday.