unit 9 vocab Flashcards
awry
(adj. + adv.)
in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course
s: crooked, askew, amiss
a: straight, symmetrical
bludgeon
(noun)
a short club used as a weapon
s: cudgel
(verb)
to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point
s: clobber, clout
chafe
(verb)
to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against
(noun)
a sore or or injury caused by rubbing
dire
(adj)
dreadful, causing fear or suffering; warning of trouble to come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster
s: disastrous, ominous, sinister, urgent
a: favorable, auspicious, beneficial
encroach
(verb)
to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass
s: intrude, infringe
fend
(verb)
to ward, resist; to get along, manage
s: stave off, cope
mien
(noun)
air, manner; appearance; expression
s:
predominant
(adj)
the greatest in strength or power; most common
s: chief, major, paramount, prevalent
a: secondary, minor, subsidiary, rare
recluse
(noun)
a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world
s: hermit
specific
(adj)
special or particular; clearly presented or stated
apt
(adj)
suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn
s: appropriate, fit, liable
a: inappropriate, slow
capitulate
(verb)
to end resistance, give up, throw in the towel
a: hold out, persist
defile
(verb, transitive)
to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of
s: pollute, contaminate
a: cleanse, purify
(verb, intransitive)
to march in a single line or in columns
(noun)
a narrow passage; gorge, canyon
disarming
(adj)
charming, tending to soften unfriendliness or suspicion
s: endearing, winning
a: alarming, troubling, disquieting
disgruntled
(adj, participial)
in bad humor, discontented, annoyed
s: displeased, grumpy, surly
a: pleased, satisfied, content
