English 1H Vocabulary

Units 13-15

1. ad infinitum(adv.) endlesslySYN: forever,

unceasingly, incessantly, ceaselessly

ANT: succinctly, concisely, tersely, briefly

2. apportion(v.) to divide and give

out in sharesSYN: distribute, allot,

parcel out, allocate

3. bona fide(adj.) genuine; sincereSYN: authentic,

indisputable, legitimate, certified

ANT: false, fake, bogus, spurious, counterfeit

4. buoyant(adj.) able to float easily;

able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful

SYN: blithe, jaunty, lighthearted, animated

ANT: downcast, depressed, gloomy, morose

5. clique(n.) a small, exclusive

group of peopleSYN: inner circle, coterie

6. concede(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submitSYN: acknowledge, grant, allow, assentANT: contest, dispute, gainsay, challenge

7. congenial(adj.) getting on well

with others; agreeable, pleasant

SYN: friendly, sociable, amiable, compatible

ANT: disagreeable, surly, cold, standoffish

8. lofty(adj.) very high; nobleSYN: elevated, towering,

exalted, grandANT: base, petty, low,

sordid, despicable

9. migration(n.) a movement from one country or region to

anotherSYN: population shift, mass movement

10. perceive(v.) to be aware of

through the senses, observe; to grasp mentally

SYN: notice, discern, understated

ANT: miss, overlook, be blind to

11. perverse(adj.) inclined to go

against what is expected; stubborn; turned away from what is good and proper

SYN: obstinate, contrary, mulish, wayward

ANT: tractable, docile, amenable, yielding

12. prelude(n.) an introduction;

that which comes before or leads off

SYN: preface, overture, prologue, “curtain-raiser”

ANT: epilogue, postlude, aftermath

13. rancid(adj.) stale, spoiledSYN: foul, rank, fetid,

sour, rotten, putridANT: wholesome, fresh

14. rustic(adj.) country-like;

simple, plain; awkward(n.) one who lives in the

countrySYN: (adj.) rough,

unsophisticated, countrified

ANT: (adj.) citified, urban, sophisticated, suave

15. sever(v.) to separate,

divide into parts

SYN: cut off, amputate, break off, dissolve

ANT: join, unite, weld together

16. sordid(adj.) wretchedly

poor; run-down; mean or selfish

SYN: filthy, squalid, base, vile, seedy, sleazy

ANT: pure, noble, opulent, lavish

17. untenable(adj.) not capable of

being held or defended; impossible to maintain

SYN: indefensible, insupportable, groundless

ANT: irrefutable, impregnable, incontestable

18. versatile(adj.) able to do

many things, well; capable of many uses

SYN: adaptable, handy, all-around, many-sided

ANT: limited, specialized, restricted

19. vindicate(v.) to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing;

to defend successfully against opposition; to justify

SYN: acquit, absolve, exonerate, advocateANT: implicate, incriminate, condemn, convict

20. wane(v.) to lose size,

strength, or power

SYN: diminish, decline, subside, dwindle

ANT: grow, wax, amplify, balloon, increase

1. annex(v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate(n.) an attachment or additionSYN: (v.) join, acquire, appropriate, procure

2. cleave(v.) to cut or split open; to

cling toSYN: sever, halve, sunder,

adhere, clasp

3. cordial(adj.) in a friendly

manner, hearty; cheery

(n.) a liqueur SYN: (adj.) hospitable,

affable, warm, convivial

ANT: (adj.) gruff, unfriendly, unsociable

4. cornerstone(n.) the starting

point of a building; a fundamental principle or element

SYN: foundation, base, underpinning, support

5. debacle(n.) an

overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure

SYN: disaster, fiasco, calamity

ANT: success, triumph, victory, coup

6. devitalize(v.) to make weak or

lifelessSYN: enfeeble, sap,

enervateANT: enliven, stimulate,

energize, excite

7. embroil(v.) to involve in a

conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion

SYN: entangle, ensnarlANT: disentangle,

separate, disconnect

8. exonerate(v.) to clear from a charge or accusationSYN: absolve, acquit, vindicate, exculpateANT: implicate, incriminate, inculpate

9. glib(adj.) ready and fluent in

speech; thoughtless, insincere

SYN: superficial, pat, oily, unctuous, facile

ANT: halting, tongue-tied, speechless, awkward she [Kim K.] didn’t make a dime of the wedding

Whatever [political system]

they have in Korea,

that’s bad.

10. haphazard(adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking orderSYN: random, accidental, slapdashANT: deliberate, purposeful, orderly, meticulous

11. improvise(v.) to compose or

perform without preparation; to construct from available materials

SYN: ad-lib, play it by ear, wing it, extemporize

ANT: plan, rehearse, practice, prepare

12. incite(v.) to rouse, stir up,

urge onSYN: spur, kindle,

provoke, instigate, prompt

ANT: check, curb, impede, restrain, smother

13. influx(n.) a coming in, inflowSYN: inpouring, inrush, invasionANT: outpouring, exodus, departure

14. pallor(n.) an extreme or

unnatural palenessSYN: wanes, lividness,

bloodlessnessANT: flush, blush,

rosiness, bloom

15. pedigree(n.) a list of ancestors,

family tree; the history or origins of something

SYN: lineage, ancestry, genealogy

16. precipitous(adj.) very steepSYN: sheer, abrupt,

sharpANT: gradual, shallow,

graded, incremental

17. profuse(adj.) very abundant; given or flowing freelySYN: extravagant, lavish, bounteous, plenteousANT: sparse, scanty, meager, insufficient

18. reconcile(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign

(oneself)SYN: unite, conciliate, mend fencesANT: antagonize, alienate, drive a wedge

between

19. shackle(v.) to put into chains(n., usually pl.) a chain,

fetterSYN: (v.) manacle,

enslave; (n.) handcuffs, bonds, irons

ANT: (v.) free, unfetter, emancipate, liberate

20. threadbare(adj.) shabby, old and wornSYN: frayed, seedy, ragged, shopworn, triteANT: luxurious, plush, costly, sumptuous

1. abase(v.) to lower in esteem,

degrade; to humbleSYN: lower, humiliate,

prostrate, demeanANT: elevate, ennoble,

exalt

2. actuate(v.) to move to

action; to impelSYN: trigger, incite,

instigate

3. avert(v.) to turn aside, turn

away; to prevent, avoid

SYN: stop, deflect, ward off, preclude

ANT: invite, induce, provoke, cause

4. boorish(adj.) rude, unrefined;

clumsySYN: vulgar, crude,

uncouth, ill-mannered, gauche

ANT: suave, urbane, polished, courtly, well-bred

5. brunt(n.) the main impact,

force, or burdenSYN: blow, shockANT: aftershock,

aftermath, repercussion

6. combatant(n.) a fighter(adj.) engaged in

fightingSYN: (n.) soldier,

disputant, warrior; (Adj.) hostile, battling

ANT: (n.) civilian; (adj.) peaceful, neutral

7. dormant(adj.) inactive; in a state of suspension; sleepingSYN: resting, still, quiescentANT: awake, active, lively, productive

8. dubious(adj.) causing uncertainty

or suspicion; in a doubtful or uncertain state of mind, hesitant

SYN: questionable, suspect, unsettled, undecided

ANT: certain, positive, indubitable, reliable

9. harangue(v.) to deliver a loud,

ranting speech(n.) a loud speechSYN: (v.) rant,

lecture; (n.) tirade, diatribe

ANT: (n.) whisper, murmur, undertone

10. harry(v.) to make a destructive raid on; to torment,

harassSYN: badger, pester, hound, pillage, ravage

11. impertinent(adj.) not feeling

remorse or sorrow for errors or offenses

SYN: remorseless, unrepentant, incorrigible

ANT: ashamed, remorseful, contrite, apologetic

Let them eat cake!

12. knave(n.) a tricky,

unprincipled, or deceitful fellow

SYN: rascal, rogue, scoundrel, miscreant

13. legion(n.) a large military force; any large group or

number (adj.) many, numerousSYN: (n.) multitude, host, throng, division, regimentANT: (n.) squad, platoon; (adj.) few, sparse

14. liberality(n.) generously,

generous act; breadth of mind or outlook

SYN: largesse, magnanimity, broad-mindedness

ANT: stinginess, miserliness, narrow-mindedness

15. plaintiff(n.) one who begins a

lawsuitSYN: complainant,

accuserANT: defendant,

accused

16. probe(v.) to examine, investigate

thoroughly(n.) an investigation; a

device used to explore or examine

SYN: (v.) explore, scrutinize; (n.) inquiry, detector

ANT: (v.) conceal, hide; (n.) cover-up, whitewash

17. protract(v.) to draw out or lengthen in space or timeSYN: prolong, extend, elongate, spin outANT: contract, compress, concentrate

18. quarry(v.) to cut or take from (or as if from) a quarry(n.) a place from which stone is taken; something

that is hunted or pursuedSYN: (n.) prey, game, victim, excavation, pit, mineANT: (n.) hunter, predator, pursuer

19. spurn(v.) to refuse with

scorn, disdainSYN: turn down,

reject, decline, snub, repudiate

ANT: accept, welcome, greet

20. subterfuge(n.) an excuse or trick

for escaping or hiding something

SYN: dodge, blind, ruse, deception, artifice