Monday April 23, 2012Vocabulary unit 14!

When Mrs. Rector and Ms. O’Neil asked their classes if they wanted to go outside for independent reading, they responded with alacrity.

alacrity-(n)• cheerful readiness to do something• Synonym- eager actionAt the start of the U.S. Civil War thousands ofyoung men responded to the call to arms withalacrity.

• If you have a headache, taking Aleve or Tylenol, may alleviate your pain.

alleviate-(v) to relieve or make more bearable

• Synonym- to make something less badFood drives are organized to help alleviate hunger in many communities.

• Luciano Pavarotti’s opera singing was the antithesis of Eminem’s rap singing.

antithesis-(n)the exact opposite of something

• Synonym- a sharp contrast• In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is the

antithesis of the Wicked Witch of the West.

• The world was appalled by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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appall-(v) to fill with dismay or horror

• Synonym- to shock someone greatlyThe state of Indiana was appalled at the

damage caused by the recent tornadoes.

• I wouldn’t want to cross paths with a very bellicose dog.

bellicose-(adj) eager to fight

• Synonym- having a warlike temperamentIn 1941 after the Japanese attacked the U.S. at

Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, our nation’s attitude turned bellicose.

In the novel Sunrise Over Fallujah,Sergeant Harris makes disparaging comments about women.

disparage-(v) to criticize in a way that shows you don’t think something is important

Synonym-to undervalue

It is a mistake to disparage the importance of good manners!!

A trumpet and a harp playing together in two different musical keys would sound dissonant.

dissonant-(adj) harsh and not harmonious in sound

• Synonym-disagreeing in soundWhen they argued, their dissonant voices

irritated everyone.

• On the TV show “The Big Bang Theory” Sheldon is supposed to be a nerd who is quite droll.

droll-(adj) unusual and slightly funny

• Synonym- funny in an unusual wayThe American Author Mark Twain was famousfor droll remarks like:

For every problem there is always a solutionthat is simple, obvious and wrong.

Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie downuntil it goes away.

Osama bin Laden issued edicts thatdeclared war against the U.S. government.

edict-(n) an order made issued someone in authority

Synonym- an official order• President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation

is an example of an edict.

After a car accident, it is difficult to elucidate to an officer what happened.• .

elucidate-(v) to explain very clearly something that is difficult to understand.

• Synonym-to clarify• When you read Shakespeare’s Romeo and

Juliet, the modern English version on the right side of the page helped to elucidate the old English on the left.

The student athletes at Keefe Tech were lauded for their participation in the sports program.

laud-(v) to praise

• Synonym- to admire• The students in the Keefe Tech Health Careers

shop were lauded for their recent successful blood drive ; a record 71 people donated!

There are certain times of the day when you just want to do nothing but loll about and listen to music or chill.

loll-(v) to sit or lie in a lazy or relaxed way

• Synonym- to lounge or to loaf• A great way to spend time in the summer is

lolling around in a hammock and reading a book!

It is sometimes said that women are more loquacious than men, but all the men I know seem to do their full share of talking.

loquacious-(adj) talkative

• Synonym-wordy; garrulous• The loquacious little girl didn’t want to hang

up the phone.

My friend made the magnanimous offer to lend me the money I needed to buy a new car.

magnanimous- (adj)kind and generous toward other people, especially in forgiving

Synonym-bigheartedWith a magnanimous heart, he forgave thosewho had hurt him, setting himself free!!

At Keefe Tech it is mandatory to take final exams at the end of the school year.

mandatory-(adj)required

• Synonym- obligatory• In Massachusetts it is mandatory for new

drivers under 18 to take a driver’s education course before getting a license.

Big Box Stores like Walmart and Cosco all look the same; they have no distinct character or distinguishing features; they are nondescript.

nondescript-(adj)ordinary, plain

• Synonym-not having noticeable or interesting qualities

• Do you prefer a shoe that is colorful and flamboyant or one that is more nondescript?

The sloth seems to be quite a phlegmatic animal; he’s slow and doesn’t show too much character or emotion.

phlegmatic-(ad)slow moving; not too emotional

• Synonym-calm and not easily excited or worried

Having a phlegmatic personality means you are basically easygoing. Does this describe you?

Keefe Tech students would be happy if the school rescinded the rule that does not allow use of electronic devices during lunch!

rescind-(v) to officially end a law, agreement or decision

• Synonym-to cancelThe young lady was surprised when her job offer at Cisco was possibly rescinded because she tweetedabout her future employer.

Keefe Tech freshmen are definitely a vivacious group of students; you are lively and full of energy!

vivacious-(adj)lively; full of energy

• Synonym-spirited and fun to be with• Many musical performers are vivacious!!

The chef whetted the dull blade on his steel sharpener.

The smell of the food from culinary whetted my appetite.

whet-(v)to sharpen; to excite

• Synonym- to make eager• The Hunger Games movie has whetted many

people’s curiosity about the entire book trilogy as well.