June 3 - Common Words III (part b)

Question 1

vehement

Answer 1

• marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions

While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.

Question 2

heretic

Answer 2

• a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)

Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.

Question 3

travesty

Answer 3

• an absurd presentation of something; a mockery

What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form.

Question 4

treacherous

Answer 4

• tending to betray

Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murderer.

• dangerously unstable and unpredictable

The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.

Question 5

circumvent

Answer 5

• cleverly find a way out of one’s duties or obligations

One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores.

Question 6

disaffected

Answer 6

• discontented as toward authority

After watching his superior take rations from the soldiers, he quickly became disaffected and rebelled.

Question 7

abstain

Answer 7

• choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)

Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar–even chocolate.

Question 8

vilify

Answer 8

• spread negative information about

Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.

Question 9

fallacious

Answer 9

• of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning

The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious, based on one false report.

Question 10

contrive

Answer 10

• to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery

Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.

Question 11

derivative

Answer 11

• not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product (e.g. music, writing, poetry etc.).

Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.

Question 12

panache

Answer 12

• distinctive and showy elegance

Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat and cane.

Question 13

ascetic

Answer 13

• practicing self-denial

His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.

• one who practices great self-denial

Historically, ascetics like Gandhi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.

Question 14

itinerant

Answer 14

• traveling from place to place to work

Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients’ homes.

Question 15

ameliorate

Answer 15

• make something bad better

“Three Cups of Tea” tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.

Question 16

ephemeral

Answer 16

• lasting a very short time

The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.

Question 17

supplant

Answer 17

• take the place or move into the position of

For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don’t even have a traditional phone anymore.

Question 18

guileless

Answer 18

• free of deceit

At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.

Question 19

tenacious

Answer 19

• stubbornly unyielding

Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.

Question 20

subsume

Answer 20

• contain or include

The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.

• consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle

Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.

Question 21

juxtapose

Answer 21

• place side by side for contrast

The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.

Question 22

denote

Answer 22

• be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning

Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes “stop” to all motorists in America.

Question 23

jingoism

Answer 23

• fanatical patriotism

North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality.

Question 24

forlorn

Answer 24

• marked by or showing hopelessness

After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.

Question 25

quotidian

Answer 25

• found in the ordinary course of events

Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle’s arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.