Vocab 1

1) Avid – Eager; enthusiastic Marcia is an avid skier, who spends

each weekend on the slopes.

2) Brusque – Abrupt in manner; gruff

The lawyer’s brusque questioning scared the witness.

3) Concise – Short and to the point

“Sit down” is a concise way to tell someone to have a seat.

4) Demean – To cause a lowering of self esteem

When you call someone names, it demeans them.

5) Despicable – Deserving blame or scorn

Driving away after hitting a child is a despicable thing to do.

6) Emulate – To try to imitate

Many young men try to emulate professional athletes.

7) Evoke – To bring to mind, often by suggestion

80s music evokes high school memories for me.

8) Excruciating– Very painful

The injury on my arm was excruciating!

9) Inaugurate – To install in office with a formal ceremony

Presidents of the United States are inaugurated in January following the November election.

10) Pervade – To spread throughout

The smell pervaded the room quickly.

11) Proprietor – An owner of a store or other business

The proprietor of the shop planned a big back to school sale.

12) Pseudonym – A fictional (made up) name for an author

Mark Twain is a pseudonym for Samuel Clemens.

13) Rebuff – To reject bluntly

The girl rebuffed the gentlemen’s request for a date.

14) Resilient – Capable of recovering quickly

The girl was resilient after her house fire.

15) Turbulent – Wild; unruly

The waters were turbulent after the storm.