Unit 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

approbation

Answer 1

( n ) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval.

synonyms: commendation, sanction
antonyms: disapproval, condemnation, censure

Question 2

assuage

Answer 2

( v ) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench.

synonyms: mitigate, alleviate, slake, alley
antonyms: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

Question 3

coalition

Answer 3

( n ) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

synonyms: alliance, league, federation, combine
antonyms: splinter group

Question 4

decadence

Answer 4

( n ) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self indulgence.

synonyms: degeneration, corruption
antonyms: rise, growth, development, maturation

Question 5

elicit

Answer 5

( v ) to draw forth, bring out from some sources ( such as another person )

synonyms: cell forth, evoke, extract, educe
antonyms: repress, quash, squelch, stifle

Question 6

expostulate

Answer 6

( v ) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
synonyms: protest, remonstrate, complain

Question 7

hackneyed

Answer 7

( adj ) used so often as to lack freshness of originality

synonyms: banal, trite, commonplace, corny
antonyms: new, fresh, novel, original

Question 8

hiatus

Answer 8

( n ) a gap, opening, break ( in the sense of having an element missing )

synonyms: pause, lacuna
antonyms: continuity, continuation

Question 9

innuendo

Answer 9

( n ) a hint, indirect suggestion or reference ( often in a derogatory sense )

synonyms: insinuation, intimation
antonyms: direct statement

Question 10

intercede

Answer 10

( v ) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
synonyms: intervene, mediate

Question 11

jaded

Answer 11

( adj ) wearied, worn-out, dulled ( in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence )

synonyms: sated, surfeited, cloyed
antonyms: unspoiled, uncloyed

Question 12

lurid

Answer 12

( adj ) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint

synonyms: gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly
antonyms: pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

Question 13

meritorious

Answer 13

( adj ) worthy, deserving recognition and praise

synonyms: praiseworthy, laudable, commendable
antonyms: blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

Question 14

petulant

Answer 14

( adj ) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

synonyms: irritable, waspish
antonyms: even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

Question 15

prerogative

Answer 15

( n ) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
synonyms: perquisite, perk

Question 16

provincial

Answer 16

( adj ) pertaining to an outlying area, local, narrow in mind or outlook, limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the country side
( n ) a person with a narrow point of view; person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony
synonyms: ( adj ) narrow minded, parochial, insular, naive
antonyms: ( adj ) cosmopolitan, catholic, broad minded

Question 17

simulate

Answer 17

( v ) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of
synonyms: feign, pretend, affect

Question 18

transcend

Answer 18

( v ) to rise above or beyond, exceed

synonyms: surpass, outstrip

Question 19

umbrage

Answer 19

( n ) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion

synonyms: irritation, pique, annoyance
antonyms: pleasure, delight, satisfaction

Question 20

unctuous

Answer 20

( adj ) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily, pliable

synonyms: mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy
antonyms: gruff, blunt