Lesson 06 (with audio)

Question 1

elixir

(ĭ lĭkʹ sǝr)

Answer 1

(noun) a supposed remedy for all ailments

The elixir that Mrs. Higgins used for colds was a secret that had been handed down in her family from generation to generation.

syn: medicine; panacea

Question 2

elucidate

(i lōōʹ sĭ dāt)

Answer 2

(verb) to make clear

To elucidate and bolster his argument, he drew a large chart on the board.

• syn: explain, clarify*
• ant: obscure*

Question 3

emanate

(ĕmʹ ǝ nāt)

Answer 3

(verb) to come forth; to send forth

She tried to control her anger, but harsh words began to emanate from her lips.

syn: rise, emerge

Question 4

emendation

(ēʹ men dāʹ shǝn)

Answer 4

(noun) a correction

The last edition of the book contains many emendations.

Question 5

empathy

(ĕmʹ pǝ thē)

Answer 5

(noun) an understanding of another’s feelings

As Laurie’s face became redder by the minute, I felt a certain empathy for her.

Question 6

empirical

(ĕm pîrʹ ĭ kǝl)

Answer 6

(adj.) based on practical experience rather than theory

He was the first to present empirical data to support the argument that smoking is harmful.

• syn: observable*
• ant: theoretical*

Question 7

endemic

(ĕn dĕmʹ ĭk)

Answer 7

(adj.) confined to a particular country or area

Once it had been endemic to Africa, but now it is becoming a world-wide epidemic.

Question 8

enervate

(ĕnʹ ǝr vāt)

Answer 8

(verb) to weaken

Because the hot, humid weather enervated the boys, they were content to sit in the shade.

• syn: devitalize, exhaust*
• ant: energize, strengthen*

Question 9

ennui

(än wēʹ)

Answer 9

(noun) boredom; a weariness resulting from a lack of interest

Because the speaker sensed a feeling of ennui settling over the audience, he told a joke.

ant: excitement, interest

Question 10

ephemeral

(ĭ fĕmʹ ǝr ǝl)

Answer 10

(adj.) lasting only a brief time; short-lived

The celebrity who doesn’t realize that fame is ephemeral is in for a rude awakening when people no longer know or care who the person is.

• syn: transient, fleeting*
• ant: permanent*

Question 11

epitome

(ĭ pĭtʹ ǝ mē)

Answer 11

(noun) a typical example; a condensed account

As he saw to the comfort of his guests, he was the epitome of Southern hospitality.

syn: representative; summary

Question 12

ergo

(ürʹ gō)

Answer 12

(conj.) therefore

I am broke; ergo, I can’t pay the rent this week.

syn: consequently; hence

Question 13

erotic

(ĭ rŏtʹ ĭk)

Answer 13

(adj.) pertaining to sexual love

The statues in the museum were thought to be too erotic to allow young children to view them.

Question 14

eschew

(ĕs chōōʹ)

Answer 14

(verb) to keep away from; to avoid; to shun

Embrace virtue and eschew sin was the theme of the minister’s sermon.

ant: to embrace, welcome

Question 15

facetious

(fǝ sēʹ shǝs)

Answer 15

(adj.) comical; jocular; flippant

Her facetious comments were beginning to get tiresome.

• syn: joking, witty, jocose*
• ant: solemn, serious*