Lesson ThirteenEnglish II

nirvanaDefinition• (n) A condition of great

peace or happiness

Example• After work, Irene sought

nirvana through meditation.

salutaryDefinition• (adj) healthful;

wholesome• Syn: beneficial• Ant: pernicious

Example• The country air had a

salutary influence on the child’s chronic cough.

despicableDefinition• (adj) contemptible; hateful• Syn: vile; base• Ant: laudable; worthy

Example• Only a despicable cad

would behave so horribly.

harlequinDefinition• (n) a clown

Example• The king summoned the

harlequin to entertain the dinner guests.

empathyDefinition• (n) an understanding of

another’s feelings• Syn: appreciation;

compassion

Example• The same thing

happened to me once, so I felt empathy for the person whose car broke down on the interstate.

brevityDefinition• (n) briefness; short

duration• Syn: terseness;

conciseness• Ant: lengthiness

Example• The brevity of the

candidate’s speech surprised everyone.

savantDefinition• (n) a person of extensive

learning; an eminent scholar

Example• Einstein was a savant

who will always be remembered for E=MC².

obsequiousDefinition• (adj) excessively

submissive or overly attentive

• Syn: servile; fawning• Ant: domineering;

haughty

Example• The waiter’s obsequious

behavior annoyed the patrons at the expensive restaurant.

redundantDefinition• (adj) repetitious; using

more words than needed• Syn: wordy; excessive;

unnecessary• Ant: essential

Example• Saying that a person is a

rich millionaire is redundant.

offalDefinition• (n) garbage; waste parts

Example• No one wanted the task

of carrying the offal from the butcher shop to the trash container.

hoi polloiDefinition• (n) the common people;

the masses

Example• The hoi polloi loved to

watch the Christians fight the lions.

sentientDefinition• (adj) conscious; capable

of feeling or perceiving• Syn: alert; alive;

cognizant

Example• No one knew if the girl in

the coma was sentient, but they continued to hold and talk to her.

impingeDefinition• (v) to encroach; to

trespass• Syn: infringe; intrude

Example• Do not impinge on your

neighbors by walking in uninvited.

cataractDefinition• (n) a large waterfall

Example• Because of the cataract

in that part of the river, you can’t put a canoe in the water.

animosityDefinition• (n) hatred• Syn: ill-will; hostility• Ant: friendliness;

congeniality

Example• There was more

animosity between the opposing teams’ fans than between the teams themselves.