Vocab Unit 2

Question 1

Animadversion

Answer 1

N. A comment indicating sting criticism or disapproval
Syn. Rebuke, reproof
Ant. Praise, compliment

Question 2

Avid

Answer 2

Adj. desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
Syn. Keen, enthusiastic
Ant. Reluctant, indifferent, unenthusiastic

Question 3

Brackish

Answer 3

Adj. having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink
Syn. Briny, saline
Ant. Fresh, clear, sweet

Question 4

Celerity

Answer 4

N. Swiftness, rapidity of motion or action
Syn. Promptness, alacrity, speed
Ant. Slowness, sluggishness, dilatoriness

Question 5

Devious

Answer 5

Adj. staying it wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty underhanded way
Syn. Roundabout, indirect, tricky, sly, artful
Ant. Direct, straightforward, open, aboveboard

Question 6

Accost

Answer 6

V. To approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way
Syn. Buttonhole, approach, confront
Ant. Evade, avoid, shun

Question 7

Gambit

Answer 7

N. In chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type
Syn. Ploy, stratagem, ruse, maneuver

Question 8

Halcyon

Answer 8

N. A legendary bird identified with the kingfisher adj. of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent
Syn. Adj. tranquil, serene, placid, palmy
Ant. Adj. turbulent, chaotic, tumultuous

Question 9

Histrionic

Answer 9

Adj. pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic
Syn. Affected, stagy
Ant. Low-key, muted, untheatrical, subdued

Question 10

Incendiary

Answer 10

Adj.Deliberately setting it causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion
n. One who deliberately sets fires, arsonists; one who causes strife
Syn. Adj. Inflammatory, provocative n. Firebrand
Ant. Adj. soothing, quieting n. Peacemaker

Question 11

Maelstrom

Answer 11

N. A whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction
Syn. Vortex, chaos, turbulence, tumult

Question 12

Myopic

Answer 12

Adj. near sighted, lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment
Syn. Shortsighted
Ant. Farsighted

Question 13

Overt

Answer 13

Adj. open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized
Syn. Clear, obvious, manifest, patent
Ant. Secret, clandestine, covert, concealed

Question 14

Pejorative

Answer 14

Adj. tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling
Ant. Complimentary, ameliorative

Question 15

Propriety

Answer 15

N. The state of being proper; appropriateness
Pl. standards of what is proper or socially acceptable
Syn. Fitness, correctness, decorum
Ant. Unseemliness, inappropriateness

Question 16

Sacrilege

Answer 16

N. Improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
Syn. Desecration, profanation, defilement

Question 17

Suppliant

Answer 17

Adj. ask humblest and earnestly

N. One who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

Question 18

Summarily

Answer 18

Adj. without delay or formality; briefly concisely

Sun. Promptly, peremptory, abruptly

Question 19

Talisman

Answer 19

N. An object that serves as a charm, or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

Question 20

Undulate

Answer 20

N. To move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance of form
Sym. Ripple, fluctuate, rise and fall