Lesson Fifteen

English II

orifice

Definition• (n) mouth; opening

Example• The cavity in his tooth

felt like a giant orifice, but it actually was quite small.

hallow

Definition• (v) to make holy• Syn: bless; consecrate• Ant: desecrate

Example• We cannot hallow this

field, for the men who died here made it holy.

perdition

Definition• (n) damnation; ruin;

hell

Example• The sermon was about

the sins which lead to perdition.

chaff

Definition• (n) worthless matter• Syn: rubbish

Example• “Give me just the

facts,” the professor said. “Separate the wheat from the chaff.”

aesthetic

Definition• (adj) pertaining to

beauty• Syn: artistic• Ant: displeasing;

unattractive

Example• The house was cheap,

but it lacked any aesthetic qualities.

empirical

Definition• (adj) based on

practical experience rather than theory

• Syn: observable• Ant: thoeretical

Example• Her theory sounded

logical, but the empirical data did not support it.

germane

Definition• (adj) relevant; fitting• Syn: appropriate;

pertinent; suitable• Ant: irrelevant

Example• Make sure that all of

your answers are germane to the questions.

hermetic

Definition• (adj) tightly sealed• Syn: airtight

Example• That medicine should

be packed in hermetic containers.

meretricious

Definition• (adj) attractive in a

cheap, flashy way• Syn: gaudy; showy;

tawdry• Ant: restrained;

tasteful

Example• She was naturally

beautiful, so no one knew why she wore such meretricious looking clothing.

querulous

Definition• (adj) complaining;

grumbling• Syn: fretful; peevish• Ant: complacent;

satisfied

Example• The querulous child

on the plane annoyed the other passengers.

flaccid

Definition• (adj) flabby• Syn: weak; feeble• Ant: solid; taut

Example• The retired athlete’s

muscles became flaccid after years without exercise.

hospice

Definition• (n) a shelter for

travelers, orphans, or the ill or destitute

Example• The new hospice for

cancer patients opened in July.

egregious

Definition• (adj) remarkably bad;

outrageous• Syn: flagrant; gross• Ant: moderate

Example• His remark was so

egregious that it shocked everyone at the party.

ratiocinate

Definition• (v) to reason; to think

Example• Because alcohol had

dulled his mind, he was no longer able to ratiocinate clearly.

foment

Definition• (v) to stir up; to incite• Syn: instigate; arouse• Ant: quell; curb

Example• At the convention,

people were hired to foment disruptions during the senator’s speech.