Wordly Wise 5 Flashcards
Acrimony
Ac-ri-mo-ny
N.
Sharpness of temper
The political debates were marred by unremitting acrimony of the candidates.
Affinity
Af-fin-it-y
N.
Attraction for someone or something where one feels kinship
Rob and Luis developed an affinity for one another as soon as they met and have remained close friends.
Ambivalent
Am-big-a-lent
Adj.
Indecisive
He was ambivalent about his future; he couldn’t decide whether to go to collage or the coast guard.
Cessation
Ces-sa-tion
N.
A stoping either temporary or final
There was a cessation of mail during the severe snowstorm.
Emaciated
E-ma-ci-a-ted
Adj.
very thin or wasted away
Sufferers from the eating disorder anorexia often starve themselves to the point of becoming emaciated.
Enclave
En-clave
N.
A distinct region closed within another region
Chicago’s Chinatown is an enclave of Chinese American residents.
Engender
En-gen-der
V.
To produce
Honesty engenders trust in others.
Exacerbate
Ex-a-cer-bate
V.
To make bitter
Running in the race on Saturday exacerbated Marina’s knee injury.
Illicit
Il-li-cit
Adj.
unlawful
During the days of prohibition, bootlegging was on of Al Capone’s many illicit activities.
Indigenous
In-di-gen-ous
Adj.
Native
The turkey is indigenous to North America.
Inexorable
In-ex-or-a-ble
Adj.
Not to be persuaded
The inexorable move towards the rainforest’s destruction is a serious concern for environmentalist.
Infatuated
In-fat-u-a-ted
Adj.
filled with foolish desire
My parents are infatuated with the idea of sailing around the world, so they attend every boat show.
Insatiable
In-sa-tia-ble
Adj.
Greedy
His infatuation with her lasted only a couple of weeks before he developed a crush on another girl.
Poignant
Poig-nant
Adj.
Painfully moving
The poignant ending of the movie brought tears to my eyes.
Proselytize
Pros-el-y-tize
V. To convert someone to a faith.
Shes’s an adamant socialist; she’s always trying to proselytize people she meets.
