Vocab Learned

Question 1

Define:

burnish
(bur-nish)

Answer 1

v. to polish or make shine
n. a shiny appearance

The store owner’s son’s only job was to burnish the statues in the window every day.

Question 2

Define:

buttress
(but-riss)

Answer 2

n. a supporting structure
v. to support or encourage

The parents decided to buttress the after-school programs that were in danger of ending by making donations.

Question 3

Define:

equivocate
(i-kwiv-uh-keyt)

Answer 3

v. to make vague, unclear statements

The mayor equivocated when confronted about his use of public funds.

Question 4

Define:

paragon
(par-uh-gon)

Answer 4

n. a model of excellence

The man was a paragon of virtue who had never stolen so much as a loaf of bread in his life.

Question 5

Define:

cacophony
(kuh-kof-uh-nee)

Answer 5

n. unpleasant, discordant sounds

The orchestra’s first attempt to play together was a cacophony of jarring notes.

Question 6

Define:

mawkish
(maw-kish)

Answer 6

adj. very sentimental

The group of graduating seniors was a mawkish sight, crying and taking hundreds of pictures.

Question 7

Define:

cajole
(kuh-djohl)

Answer 7

v. to make someone do something with flattery or promises

Mother cajoled her into driving the other children to school, promising to make her favorite dinner.

Question 8

Define:

dogmatic
(dawg-matt-ik)

Answer 8

adj. rigidly fixed in opinion or expression in an arrogant manner

The dogmatic theorist refused to listen to any other possibilities.

Question 9

Define:

calibrate
(kal-ih-brehyt)

Answer 9

v. to check or balance the scale of a measuring device with a standard scale

The new thermometer needed to be calibrated before it could be used.

Question 10

Define:

perdition
(per-dish-uhn)

Answer 10

n. a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation
n. hell

Poor moral choices led Johnny down the road to perdition.