Unit 9 Vocabulary

Question 1

abate

Answer 1

(v) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less, nullify

Question 2

adulation

Answer 2

(n) praise or flattery that is excessive

Question 3

anathema

Answer 3

(n) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

Question 4

astute

Answer 4

(adj) shrewd, crafty; showing practical wisdom

Question 5

avarice

Answer 5

(n) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Question 6

culpable

Answer 6

(adj) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Question 7

dilatory

Answer 7

(adj) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Question 8

egregious

Answer 8

(adj) conspicuous, standing out from the masses (usually used in an unfavorable or negative sense)

Question 9

equivocate

Answer 9

(v) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

Question 10

evanescent

Answer 10

(adj) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Question 11

irresolute

Answer 11

(adj) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

Question 12

nebulous

Answer 12

(adj) cloud-like, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

Question 13

novice

Answer 13

(n) one who is a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

Question 14

penury

Answer 14

(n) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Question 15

pretentious

Answer 15

(adj) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one’s skill or abilities, ambitious

Question 16

recapitulate

Answer 16

(v) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Question 17

resuscitate

Answer 17

(v) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

Question 18

slovenly

Answer 18

(adj) untidy, dirty, careless

Question 19

supposition

Answer 19

(n) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Question 20

torpid

Answer 20

(adj) inactive, sluggish, dull