XYZ Flashcards
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners
When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there.
yen
longing; urge
She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while.
yeoman
man owing small estate; middle-class farmer
It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation’s policies.
yield
*
amount produced; crop; income on investment
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy.
**
give in; surrender
The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe.
yoke
join together, unite
I don’t wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
yokel
country bumpkin
At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
yore
time past
He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
zany
crazy; comic
I can watch the Marx brothers’ zany antics for hours.
zeal
eager enthusiasm
Wang’s zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
zealot
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious.
zenith
point directly overhead in the sky; summit
When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind
When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.
