Unit 4 Vocabulary List – Tier II Words
- altruistic(adj): unselfish interest in the welfare of others
- coerce(v): to cause someone to do something by force or threat
- ethnocentric(adj.): favoring one's own ethnic group
- assimilate(vt): to absorb into the culture of a population or group
- absolve(v.): to forgive; to excuse
- adaptation(n.): something that is changed or modified to suit new needs
- alleviate(vt.): to make easier to bear; to lessen
- ambivalent(adj.): having mixed feelings about someone or something
- attribute(n.): a quality or characteristic of a person, thing, or group
- assess(v.): to judge the worth or importance of
- assume (vt.): to suppose; take for granted
- audience(n.): the persons reached by a book, film, play, poem, etc.
- complexity(n.): the state of being complex or difficult
- consistent(adj.): compatible; agreeing with
- credible (adj.): worthy of belief
- constitute(vt.): to compose; to form
- demonstrate (v.): to explain; to show
- depict(vt.): to represent or characterize in words
- dedicate(v.): to assign or allocate to
- derive(vt.): to arrive at by reasoning or inference
- detract(v.): to draw away or divert
- differentiate(v.): to perceive the difference between; to make different
- dilemma(n.): any difficult situation or problem
- discrepancy(n.): an instance of difference or inconsistency
- distinct(adj.): known as not being the same; not identical
- distinguish(vt.): to mark off as different
- deduce(vt.): to arrive at a conclusion from something assumed
- context(n.): the set of circumstances that surround a particular event or situation
- embody(v.): to be a symbol or example of something (i.e. Odysseus embodies an epic hero)
- emphasis(n.): something that is given importance or special attention
- enhance (vt.): to raise to a higher degree; intensify
- excerpt(n.): a passage or quotation taken from a book, document, film, or the like
- explicit(adj.): fully and clearly developed or expressed
- facilitate(v.): to make easier or less difficult; to assist
- feasible(adj.): capable of being done or accomplished
- fluctuate(v.): to change continually; shift back and forth
- generate(vt.): to create; to produce
- gist(n.): the main or essential part of a matter or situation
- hierarchy(n.): any system of person or things ranked one above the other
- implausible(adj.): not appearing to be true or valid
- imply(vt.): to suggest without specifically stating
- impression(n.): a strong effect produced on the mind or feelings
- incorporate(vt.): to include as part of something
- infer(v.): to conclude by reasoning
- interpretation(n.): an explanation of the meaning of another’s artistic or creative work
- justify(vt.): to show to be just or right
- medium(n.): a means or agency for communicating information (i.e. newspaper, magazine, television)
- monologue(n.): a prolonged talk by one person
- perception(n.): awareness
- perspective(n.): the state of one’s ideas; the facts known to one
- pertinent(adj.): relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand
- precise(adj.): exact
- presume(v.): to assume or suppose
- redundant(adj.): unnecessary repetition in expressing an idea
- reveal(v.): to make known
- scrutiny(n.): a close and searching look at something or someone
- source authenticity(n.): of proven origin or ownership
- subsequent(adj.): occurring or coming later or after
- substitute(vt.): to replace
- tangible (adj.): real or actual
- undertake(v.): to attempt to; to agree to start
- underlie(vt.): to form the foundation of; to be at the root of
- valid(adj.): well-founded; effective (i.e. a valid reason)
- viable(adj.): practical; useable
- variation(n.): a different form of something; a degree of change
Key:
(n) = noun: person, place, thing, or idea
(adj) = adjective: describing word for nouns or pronouns
(v) = verb: expresses action
(vt) = transitive verb: a verb that needs a direct object to complete its meaning
(adv) = adverb: describing how a verb is done; or describing another adverb or adjective
Rev. Spring 2013