vocabulary Plus Realism and Naturalism

Dilapidated adj.

DEF: old, broken down, barely useful, worn out

SYN: decrepitEither you fix up that dilapidated old

car, or ___________________.

Conjecture n. DEF: the formulation or expression of a theory or an opinion SYN: suppositionWhether you believe that the existence of ghosts is all conjecture, or ______, you have to admit that ___________

Garrulous adj. DEF: excessively talkative especially on trivial mattersSYN: loquaciousNeither her advanced age nor her large personality can explain her obnoxiously garrulous behavior at the ___________________yesterday.

Interminable adj. DEF: endless, perpetual, going on and onSYN: never – endingThis interminable drive is causing me to become irritated, to get a nagging headache, and to __________.

Earnest adj.

DEF: showing deep sincerity and seriousness, or zealousness

SYN: sincere

Although his intentions were in earnest, his _____________ were not.

Finesse n.

DEF: refinement, delicacy, grace, ease

SYN: dexterity

The finesse with which she handled the emergency was not only ________ but also _________.

Cavort v.

DEF to jump or dance around excitedy

SYN caper

You kids quit cavorting around this dynamite factory or I’ll __________________________!

Ornery adj.DEF bad tempered or combative, permantly cranky

SYN cantankerous

My sister is so ornery when she wakes up in the morning that -----------------------------------------------.

lattice n.DEF framework of crossed strips – metal, or pie doughSYN filligreeThe basket was woven from pure Mongolian bamboo, and the latticework was painted _____________________.

Dialect n.DEF a socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard variety

SYN patois

Zora Neale Hurston wrote her novels in a distinct dialect of African Americans in the early 20th century.

Motif n.DEF a recurring subject, theme, idea, symbol, etc. , especially in an artistic or musical work.

SYN archtype

I’m sure that the recurring motif of the high french horn in his symphony symbolizes __________________.

Irony n.

DEF the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning

SYN: sarcasm

The usual ironic cliché is that it either ______________ right after you get your car washed or you _______ after you win the lottery.

Diction n.

DEF the way a speaker chooses the words they use

SYN locution

Mark Twain’s diction is not only accurate but also very amusing.