VOCABULARY LESSON 1

English 2R:

Do Now: In the vocab section of your binder, write out the following sentences. Identify and correct the errors:

I could see he was ambidextrous, he easily switched his pencil between his right and left hand, he wrote clearly with both hands.

Looking both ways and tentative glances before you cross the street.

Do Now: In the vocab section of your binder, write out the following sentences. Identify and correct the errors:

I could see he was ambidextrous, he easily switched his pencil between his right and left hand, he wrote clearly with both hands.

RUN-ON SENTENCE

Looking both ways and tentative glances before you cross the street.

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

How to learn new words :

TIPS: The first definition is the one used

most often. Consider both literal and figurative

meanings. Learn the part of speech—it can help

you use the words correctly. Try to practice pronouncing the words

correctly so you can use them in conversation.

Adulterate

Def: (v) To corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value.

Ex: Our cupcakes were adulterated by the salt we put in instead of sugar, thanks to my dad’s practical joke.

Syn: contaminate, pollute, sully Ant: purify, purge, expurgate

Ambidextrous

Def (adj) Able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical

Ex: The ambidextrous guitarist could plan any kind of guitar—even the left-handed styles.

Syn: versatile, facile Ant: clumsy, all thumbs, maladroit

Augment

Def: (v) to make larger, increase

Ex (literal):Many celebrities get ear augmentation surgery to improve their appearance.

Ex (figurative): Most of us would like to augment our income.

Syn: enlarge, supplement, amplify

Ant: decrease, deminish

Bereft Def: (v) deprived of; made

unhappy through a loss Syn: bereaved Ant: replete, well-provided Ex: When we eat too much

garlic, we may find ourselves bereft of companions due to our stinky breath.

Deploy Def: (v) to position or

arrange; to utilize; to form up

Syn: station, organize Ex: The general

deployed two hundred troops on the battlefield.

Ex: I deployed my calculator to solve the equation.

Dour

Def: (adj) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

Syn: harsh, bleak, forbidding, saturnine

Ant: cheery, inviting, genial

Ex: The officer’s dour expression indicated we would receive more than a warning.

Fortitude Def: (n) courage in facing

difficulties Syn: resolve, steadfastness,

mettle Ant: fearfulness, timidity,

faintheartedness Ex: Facing your weaknesses

and trying to change is not for the fainthearted; in fact, it requires as much fortitude as climbing a mountain.

Gape

Def: (v) to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide

Syn: gawk, ogle Ex: We gaped at the

outlandish performance.

Ex: There was a wide gaping hole in the roof after the storm.

Gibe Def: (v) to utter taunting

words; (n) an expression of scorn

Syn: ridicule, mock, deride, jeer

Ant: compliment, praise Ex: Knowing he was a liar, the

audience shouted gibes at the politician.

Ex: When they gibed at him, he ignored it and continued his speech.

Guise

Def: (n) an external appearance, cover, mask

Syn: costume, semblance, pretense

Ex: His toughness was just a protective guise—we all knew he was a big softie!

Insidious Def: (adj) intended to

deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

Syn: cunning, underhanded, perfidious

Ant: frank, ingenuous, aboveboard

Ex: The internet is filled with links that are insidious plots to infect computers with spyware.

Intimation

Def: (n) a hint, direct suggestion

Syn: clue, indication, inkling

Ex: Even though his haircut looked terrible, I gave no intimation that it was less than perfect.

Opulent

Def: (adj) wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose

Syn: rich, lavish, plentiful, abundant Ant: poverty-stricken, wretched, destitute Ex: His opulent ten-bedroom home was

often filled with rich and famous people.

Pliable

Def: (adj) easily bent, flexible, easily influenced Syn: supple, adaptable, resilient Ant: rigid, inflexible, recalcitrant Ex: (literal) Because rubber is pliable, it is used

to make products like hair-bands and erasers. Ex: (figurative) If you offer dad something

sweet, you will find that he is much more pliable.

Reiterate

Def: (v) to say again, repeat Syn: restate, rehash, recapitulate

(recap) Reiterating the rules was not enough

for the parents to get their kids to follow them.

Stolid Def: (adj) not easily moved

mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive

Syn: impassive, phlegmatic Ant: emotional,

oversensitive, high-strung Ex: He was able to retain a

stolid appearance, despite the physical pain he was in.

Tentative Def: (adj) experimental in

nature; uncertain, hesitant Syn: provisional, inconclusive Ant: definite, conclusive,

confirmed Ex: While the tentative budget

was supposed to start in a month, the town had to approve it first.

Ex: Although he felt tentative, he kept his agreement to go skydiving with his grandpa.

Unkempt Def: (adj) not combed, untidy, not

properly maintained; unpolished, rude

Syn: sloppy, disorderly, disordered, rough

Ant: well-groomed, tidy, neat, natty Ex: After years of being disorganized,

he decided to do a thorough cleaning and re-organization of his unkempt room.

Ex: While he thought his long, scraggly beard looked cool, his girlfriend thought it made him appear unkempt.

Verbatim

Def: (adj/adv) word for word, exactly as written or spoken

Syn: exact, precisely Ant: paraphrased Ex: She mistakenly

assumed that if she changed words from Sparknotes, instead of copying it verbatim, she could safely steal the ideas.

Warily

Def: (adv) cautiously, with great care Syn: carefully, prudently, gingerly Ant: recklessly, cautiously, heedlessly Ex: The zoo keeper knew he had to retrieve

the little boy’s hat from the tiger cage, so he warily and slowly edged closer into the sleeping animal’s enclosure then quickly snatched it.