Unit 9 Vocabulary: English 12

bemused (adj.): confused; lost in thought

bane (n.): cause of misery

laud (v.): to give praise to; glorify

reprehensible (adj.): deserving rebuke or punishment; blameworthy

adherent (adj.): to be a devoted follower or supporter

accost (v.): to approach and speak to in an aggressive, hostile, or sexually suggestive manner

foster (v.): to promote the growth and development of

efface (v.): to rub or wipe out

exculpate (v.): to clear of guilt or blame

extol (v.): to praise highly; exalt

exhort (v.): to urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal

veracity (n.): adherence to the truth

perfidy (n.): deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust

visionary (n.): one who is given to impractical or idealistic ideas

concise (adj.): expressing much in few words; clear and succinct

brevity (n.): shortness of time or duration

circumvent (v.): to avoid or get around by artful maneuvering

squalor (n.): filthy and wretched condition or quality

latent (adj.): present or potential but not evident or active

latter (adj.): later, near the end

SYNONYMS: Choose the word from this unit that is the same or close to the same in meaning as given word.

1. puzzled bemused

2. applaud laud

3. burden (n) bane

4. cultivate foster

5. betrayal perfidy

6. decay (n) squalor

7. confront accost

8. blot out efface

9. acquit exculpate

10. advise exhort

ANTONYMS: Choose the word from this unit that closest to the opposite in meaning to the given word.

1. respectable reprehensible

2. preceding latter

3. blame extol

4. verbose concise

5. obvious latent

6. opposed (adj.) adherent

7. longevity brevity

8. do directly circumvent

9. dishonesty veracity

10. realist visionary

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE: Fill in the blank with the correct vocabulary word.

1. We were able to circumvent the problem by using a different program.

2. The critics have laud(ed) the best selling author’s newest novel.

3. The jury did not doubt the veracity of the witness.

4. Warm conditions foster the spread of mosquitoes.

5. Between ham and beef, the latteris cheaper these days.

6. The mishap on stage momentarily bemused the actor.

7. The family next door to me lives in squalor, and often leaves bags of dog poop on the porch.

8. Endlessreplays of an errorcanbethebaneof any telecast.

9. It is important to keep your college essays concise and to the point.

10. He was an adherent supporter of the basketball team.

11. He decided to forgive his wife’s perfidy, considering it a momentary lapse in judgment.

12. He has a latent talent for acting that he hasn’t had a chance to express yet.

13. Your behavior towards the other team was truly reprehensible, so you’re suspended for the next three games.

14. The best quality a graduation speech can have is brevity because everyone is just looking to get their hands on a diploma and leave town.

15. Students who read their independent novel will be highly extol(ed) by Mrs. Hepler.

16. He was accost(ed) by three armed men on the subway.

17. Some people consider Steve Jobs to be a visionary in his field.

18. It may be in your best interest to effacethe spaghetti sauce off of your shirt before a stain sets in.

19. Many doctors exhort people to get more sleep.

20. Cameras can exculpate people just as easily as they can incriminate them.

DERIVATIVES:

  1. Bemused: bemusedly (Adv.)
  2. Reprehensible: reprehensibility (N.), reprehensibly (Adv.)
  3. Efface: effaceable (Adj.), effacer (N.)
  4. Exculpate: exculpation (N.)
  5. Extol: extoller (N.), extolment (N.)
  6. Exhort: exhorter (N.)
  7. Concise: concisely (Adv.), conciseness (N.)
  8. Circumvent: circumvention (N.)
  9. Latent: latently (Adv.)

PREFIXES/SUFFIXES: Find the meaning of each.

micro- small

mono- one/single

neo- new/recent

ob- against

para- false

pan- all/energy

COMMON USAGE PROBLEMS: Use each correctly in a sentence.

leave/let

Leave – to depart/ go away, something you do yourself.

Let – to allow/ permit, something you do to something/ someone else

regardless or irregardless

Regardless is correct – meaning “without concern”

free reign or free rein

Free Rein is correct – meaning “freedom to do as one pleases”