Vocab Chapter Two

Question 0

Antithesis

Answer 0

An exact opposite; an opposite extreme. 
-noun
Synonym: same
Antonym: converse
"Love is the antithesis of hate."

Question 1

Impotent

Answer 1

Powerless; lacking strength
-adjective
Synonyms: ineffective; helpless
Antonyms: potent; powerful
"Without the gun, he felt impotent."

Question 2

Maelstrom

Answer 2

Whirlpool; turbulence; agitated state of mind
-noun
Synonym: none. Antonym: none
“His emotions were like a maelstrom, and he couldn’t decide what course to follow.”

Question 3

Emendation

Answer 3

A correction
-noun
Synonym: improvement; amendment
Antonym: none
" the last edition of the book contains many emendations."

Question 4

Chagrin

Answer 4

Embarassment; a complete loss of courage
-noun
Synonym: none. Antonym: none
“Joanne had never felt such chagrin as the time when she fell into the mud puddle in front of her fiancé’s family.”

Question 5

Bauble

Answer 5

A showy but useless thing
-noun
Synonym: trinket. Antonym: none
“John had to find some kind of bauble to give Mary for Christmas.”

Question 6

Diaphanous

Answer 6

Very sheer and light
-adjective
Synonym: transparent; gossamer
Antonym: opaque
"The diaphanous gown was beautiful, but gloria wasn't sure she had the nerve to wear it."

Question 7

Labyrinth

Answer 7

A complicated network of winding passages; a maze
-noun
Synonym: none. Antonym: none
“The nice were made to run through a labyrinth in order to reach their food.”

Question 8

Gloat

Answer 8

To look at or think about with great satisfaction
-verb
Synonym: revel; crow. Antonym: none
“The teach team gloated over their last victory.”

Question 9

Impediment

Answer 9

A barrier; obstruction
-noun
Synonym: obstacle; hindrance
Antonym: aid
"The supervisor wouldn't be an impediment to her advancement."

Question 10

Bestial

Answer 10

Savage; brutal
-adjective 
Synonym: brutish; vile; cruel
Antonym: humane; kind
"He took a bestial delight in tormenting the captive slaves."

Question 11

Effete

Answer 11

Worn out; barren
-adjective
Synonym: exhausted; spent and sterile Antonym: vital; vigorous
“Although worn down by age and a life of hard work, the man was far from effete.”

Question 12

Shard

Answer 12

A fragment
-noun
Synonym: none. Antonym: none
“The doctor pulled a shard of glass from the girls arm.”

Question 13

Bland

Answer 13

Mild, tasteless, dull
-adjective
Synonym: smooth; agreeable
Antonym: exciting; thrilling
"His bland manner had a calming effect on the children."

Question 14

Nihilism

Answer 14

A total rejection of established laws
-noun
Synonym: none. Antonym: none
“Nihilism rejects established laws and order, but offers nothing in their place.”