Level E Unit 13

Vocabulary Words

1. Antipathy• (n.) strong dislike; hostile feelingSensible people normally view any form of bigotry with the most profound ANTIPATHY.Synonyms: hostility enmity, aversion, bad bloodAntonyms: attraction, appeal, allure, sympathy

2. Applicable• (adj.) capable of being applied; relevant,

suitable.The protection against being tried for the same crime twice is not APPLICABLE in some cases.

Synonyms: appropriate, fit, apt, appositeAntonyms: inappropriate, unsuitable, irrelevant

3. Asset• (an.) something of value; a resource; an

advantageBy law, an annual report must include a detailed breakdown of a company’s ASSETS and liabilities.

Synonyms: property, possession, holding, endowment

Antonyms: drawback, handicap, liability

4. Beset• (v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in, • (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as

with jewels)Every federal administration must grapple with the economic woes that BESET the nation.The crown worn by England’s monarchs are BESET with fabulous precious stones.Synonyms: assail, harass, badger, pester, torment

5. Compassion• (n.) sympathy for another’s suffering; pityWithout the COMPASSION and generosity of donors and volunteers, many charities would shut their doors.

Synonym: concern, commiseration, empathyAntonyms: indifference, callousness,

heartlessness

6. Decorum• (n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderlinessLegislative assemblies preserve DECORUM by operating under the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Synonyms: Seemliness, good form, proprietyAntonyms: impropriety, bad form, bad taste

7. Duress• (n.) compulsion by threat; forcible

confinementPolitical prisoners are sometimes subjected to a mild form of DURESS called house arrest.

Synonyms: intimidation, coercionAntonyms: persuasion, coaxing, sweet talk,

cajolery

8. Exuberant• (adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained;

excessive, abundantUnable to control their EXUBERANT spirits, the fans of the popular singer cheered their idol loudly.Synonyms: lively, ebullient, irrepressible, lavish

Antonyms: depressed, despondent, sulky, restrained

9. Facsimile• (n.) an exact copyA FACSIMILE of the U.S. Constitution is displayed in many classrooms.

Synonyms: replica, duplicate, reproduction, clone

Antonyms: variation, modification, permutation

10. Imbibe• (v.) to drink; to take in, absorbAn inquisitive person can IMBIBE knowledge from many sources.

Synonyms: swallow, gulp, quaff, assimilate, digest

Antonyms: eject, emit, expel, discharge

11. Implacable• (adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyieldingThe peoples of the Arctic have shown that nature need not be an IMPACABLE foe.Synonyms: relentless, inexorable, unappeasable

Antonyms: lenient, indulgent, permissive, flexible

12. Infinitesimal• (adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable;

minuteTo a fussy housekeeper, even an INFINITESIMAL amount of dust on a table is unacceptable.

Synonyms: tiny, miniscule, microscopic, unnoticeable

Antonyms: vast, immense, huge, infinite

13. Innocuous• (adj.) harmless, inoffensive, insignificantConversation at a dinner party may sometimes be confined to pleasant and INNOCUOUS generalities.Synonyms: feeble, impotent, unobjectionable,

insipidAntonyms: harmful, dangerous, pernicious,

toxic, virulent

14. Militate• (v.) to have effect or force on or against

someone or something; fight againstHealth concerns MILITATE strongly against the habitual use of tobacco.

Synonyms: counter, oppose, work against

15. Patent• (n.) an exclusive right over an invention; copyright• (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights• (adj.) plain, open to view, copyrightedWhen the PATENT on a drug expires, any manufacturer may produce it.By the time of his death in 1931, Thomas Edison had PATENTED many inventions.During cross-examination a skilled lawyer may catch a key hostile witness in a PATENT falsehood.

Synonyms: exclusive license, evidentAntonyms: concealed, hidden, secret, clandestine

16. Prowess• (n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or

abilityThe Greek hero Achilles won fame for his PROWESS in the Trojan War.

Synonyms: valor, courage, heroism, mastery, proficiency

Antonyms: cowardice, incompetence, ineptitude

17. Sedate• (adj.) quiet, settled, sober• (v.) to administer a tranquilizerAt concerts of classical music, audiences generally behave in a SEDATE manner.A doctor may decide to SEDATE a patient who has suffered emotional shock or physical injury.Synonyms: unruffled, composed, cool and collectedAntonyms: loud, brash, flashy, flamboyant, garish,

flighty

18. Stentorian• (adj.) extremely loudSome public speakers favor a STENTORIAN delivery and emphatic gestures to drive home their message to their listeners.

Synonyms: thundering, booming, deafening, earsplitting

Antonyms: hushed, inaudible, whispered, mute

19. Stipulate• (v.) to arrange specifically; to requires as a

condition of agreementA financial institution my STIPULATE that all its employees be fingerprinted.

Synonyms: specify, contract, provide for

20. Ultimatum• (n.) a final proposal or statement of conditionsAs a strike deadline draws near, both labor and management can be expected to issue ULTIMATUMS.

Synonyms: final terms