Vocabulary Lesson 2

An astute shopper compares prices carefully before making a purchase.

Adj. wise in a clever or practical way

An authority on old maps declared that the sixteenth-century chart of the Florida Keys is authentic.

Adj. genuine; true

Noun - authenticity: Lawyers questioned the authenticity of the signature. Verb -authenticate: Only an art expert can authenticate the painting as one of Rubens.

Smoked salmon is a delicacy.

Noun – a choice item of food

Discussing her mistake will embarrass her unless you handle the matter with delicacy.

Noun – Great consideration for the feelings of others.

His habit of making derogatory comments about his co-workers make him unpopular.

Adj. expressing a low opinion; intended to hurt the reputation of a person or thing.

The wolf was about to devour Little Red Riding Hood when the woodcutter arrived.

Verb – to eat up hungrily

The boy devoured the new graphic novel.

Verb – to take in eagerly with the eyes or ears.

The monster in the closet is a figment of the child’s imagination.

Noun – something that is made up in the mind but has no connection to reality.

Unicorns are mythical creatures.

Adj. Imaginary; not real.

Parrots have brightly colored plumage.

Noun – a birds feathers

Crocodiles are predatory animals.

Adj. living by killing and eating other animals

I was unable to see you earlier this afternoon because I had a prior appointment.

Adj. – coming earlier in time.

The court ruled that the Native Americans had a prior claim to the land.

Adj. – coming before in order or importance

Predatory bands of pirates once sailed the seas seeking victims.

Adj. – living by robbing or stealing from others

People with metal detectors scavenge the beach looking for coins.

Verb – to search through or pick over; looking for something usable.

After the fire, scavengers looked through the debris, hoping to find something of value.

Noun – someone who scavenges

The hogs are fattened up before they are slaughtered.

Verb – to kill in order to obtain meat.

For centuries, whales were slaughtered for their oil and other valuable products.

Verb – to kill people or animals in a large number or in a cruel way.

Those who drink and drive contribute to the slaughter on the nation’s highways.

Noun- the act of killing on a large scale or in a cruel way.

We enjoyed the solitude of a walk on the deserted beach.

Noun – the condition of being alone or at some distance from people. (NOT lonely)

Walruses, graceful in the water, are ungainly creatures on land.

Adj. – moving in a clumsy or awkward way

Starving people are more vulnerable to disease than those who are well fed.

Adj. – easily injured physically or emotionally; open to attack.