Lesson 13 Flashcards
Importune
Syn: ask urgently; beg; implore
Although Eddie was not sanguine about his chances, he continued to importune his boss for a winter vacation.
Haven
Syn: palce of safety; shelter
In inclement weather our barn is a haven for many animals.
Subjugate
Syn: conquer; overcome
The dictator used duplicity in order to subjugate his rivals.
Surreptitious
Syn: stealthy; secret
With a Surreptitious movement, the meticulous bookkeeper emptied the ash tray.
Incontrovertible
Syn: undeniable; incertain
The expert’s incontrovertible testimony corroborated the police report.
To take the ball by the horns (idiom)
To face a problem directly
- After several days of delay, the minister decided to take the balls by the horns, and so he sent for the vandals.
Eventuate (v.)
Syn: to result finally; lead to
- A thorough investigation eventuated in a comprehensive report.
Subterranean (adj.)
Syn: underground
- After two years of confinement in a subterranean dungeon, the prisoner was thin and wan.
Emit (vt.)
Syn: to give off; eject
- The mayor issued a diatribe against companies whose smockstacks emit poisonous fumes.
Ultimate (adj.) (n.)
Syn: final; eventual; last
- Gaining better housing for all was the ultimate goal of the zealous reformer.
Viable (adj.)
Syn: practicable; workable; applicable
- When the schism in the company was healed, a viable arrangement was worked out.
The lion’s share (idiom.)
The major portion
- Because the salesman was essential to the business, he demanded the lion’s share of the profits.
Premise (n.) (vt.)
Syn: grounds for a conclusion; assumption
- Acting on the premise that there were no burglars around, the police became quite lax.
Incredulous (adj.)
Syn: skeptical; disbelieving; doubtful
- After I had perused the yankee lineup, I was incredulous about their chances of winning.
Jeopardize (vt.)
Syn: endanger; risk; expose
- The trapeze artist was squeamish about having to jeopardize his life.
Permeate (vt.) (vi.)
Syn: to spread through; to flow through
- A terrible odor that was impossible to expunge permeated the skunk handler’s clothing.
Propitious (adj.)
Syn: favorable; beneficial; convenient; appropriate
- At a propitious moment the flamboyant movie star made her grand entrance.
Out of the frying pan into the five (idiom.)
To go from a difficult situation to a worse one
- I thought I had escaped, but actually I went out of the frying pan into the five.
Curtail (vt.)
Syn: to cut short; to reduce
- Publication of the lurid magazine was curtailed by the district attorney.
Cryptic (adj.)
Syn: puzzling; confusing
- Although his remarks appeared cryptic at first, we began to see how really pertinent they were.
Repress (vt.)
Syn: to put down; to control; to restrain
- I had to repress my desire to interject my criticism during the debate.
Surmise (n.) (vt.)
Syn: guess; assume; think
- Edna had surmised that she would be charged a nominal sum and so she was outraged when she got the bill.
Inchoate (adj.)
Syn: in an early stage; beginning; initial
- The young couple was disappointed to see the inchoate state of their new house.
To keep the pot boiling (idiom.)
To see that interest doesn’t die down
- Dickens kept the pot boiling by ending each chapter on a note of uncertainty and suspense.
