Here are some helpful online vocabulary reference tools:
http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Week 11
| Verbs | Meaning | Usage |
| SARTORIAL | Pertaining to a tailor or clothes | A picture of sartorial perfection. |
| SATELLITE | (1) An attentive or flattering follower (2) A country influenced or controlled by another (3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet |
- A prince surrounded by many satellites. Synonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites. - The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial satellites. |
| SCINTILLA | A trace; a particle | Not a scintilla of convincing evidence Synonyms: iota; vestige |
| SCOURGE | (verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip | A disease that scourged the country Synonyms: excoriate, flay (noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction - The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages |
| SCRUTINIZE | To examine carefully | Scrutinized the contents of the letter |
| SHIBBOLETH | A party slogan | A shibboleth designed to attract votes |
| SIMPER | (verb): To smile in a silly or affected way . (noun): An affected or silly smile |
Simpered as he greeted each guest Stood nervously, a simper on his face Synonym: (verb and noun) smirk |
| SINECURE | Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor | His job was a sinecure |
| SINISTER | Threatening or showing evil; dishonest | The sinisterlook of a gangster |
| SLEAZY | Flimsy and cheap | Sleazycloth which is used only in cheap garments. Synonym:unsubstantial |
| SLOVENLY | Untidy | Severely criticized the student's slovenly appearance. Synonyms: slipshod, slatternly, frowzy |
| SOPORIFIC | Tending to induce sleep | A poorly written novel, soporific in effect |
| SORDID | Mean and base; filthy | Sordid motives breed selfish actions. Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble |
| SOVEREIGN | Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other government | Possessing sovereign powers;a sovereign state. Synonyms: autonomous, imperial, majestic, paramount |
| SPORADIC |
Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered |
Sporadic cases of illness |
| SPURN | To refuse or reject with contempt | An offer that was spurned instantly. Synonyms: repel, snub |
| STOIC | Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practicing remarkable self-control over emotions | Maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials. Synonyms: stolid, impassive |
| STRINGENT | Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations | Stringent requirements. Synonyms: exacting, rigid Antonym: lax |
| STUPENDOUS | Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional degree | The circus is a stupendous spectacle. Synonyms: astounding, prodigious, monstrous, marvelous, colossal, awful |
| SUCCULENT | Juicy | A succulent steak. Antonyms; desiccated, vapid |
| SULTRY | Close, hot, and moist | Sultry tropical weather |
| SUPINE | (1) Lying flat on the back (2) Inert, inactive, averse to taking action - |
- Resting in a supine position. Antonym: erect - A supine, ineffective administrator. Synonyms: listless, torpid |
| TANGIBLE | Real; actual | Tangible gains which may be seen. and counted. Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial |
| TANTAMOUNT | Equivalent | An act that is tantamount to treason |
| TAUNT | (verb). To reproach with contempt (noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark |
Taunted him with the charge of failure to act promptly. Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride Hurled taunts at his foes |
| TEEMING | In abundance, fertile, highly productive | The teeming tropics, rank with vegetation. Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding |
| TEMERITY | Unwise or reckless boldness (adj.) temerarious, foolhardy, venturesome |
Leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity. Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness; Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness |
| TEMPORIZE | To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time | Temporized while his friends hurried to his aid. Synonym: equivocate |
| TENET | A principle of belief held as true | A tenet of religion which be maintained loyally. Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma |
| TENUOUS | Slender; not substantial; of slight importance | Clung desperately to his tenuous hope |
| TRANQUIL | Calm; peaceful | A tranquil summer night. Synonyms: placid, serene Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent |
| TRANSGRESS |
To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral bound or limit |
Transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law |
| TREMULOUS | Trembling | Tremulous with fright. Synonym: quivering |
| TRIVIAL | Of little importance | A trivial offense. Synonym: paltry Antonyms: gross, momentous |
| TRUCULENT | (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely | A dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides |
| TURGID | (1) Swollen, inflated (2) Using big or high-sounding words |
- Turgid rivers overflowing their banks. Synonyms: bloated, distended - A turgid prose style Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, prolix |
| UBIQUITOUS | Existing everywhere | The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint. Synonyms: omnipresent, universal |
| UNTENABLE | Incapable of being defended or held | Withdrew the argument as untenable |
| UTILITARIAN |
(adj.): Materially or practically useful |
Beautiful, but not utilitarian |
| VANQUISH | To subdue or conquer | An army vanquished with heavy losses |
| VAUNT | To boast | Proudly vaunted his strength. Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim |
| VENEER | A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority | Pierced beneath his thin veneer of elegance. Synonym: gloss |
| VENERABLE | Deserving respect or reverence because of age | A venerable leader |
| VERNAL | Pertaining to spring | An array of vernal flowers. Antonym: hibernal (wintry) |
| VERSATILE | Able to do many things skillfully | Versatile in all the arts |
| VICARIOUS | Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another | Took vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory |
| VICISSITUDE | A change from one condition to another, often unexpected | Suffered many vicissitudes of fortune |
| VIRAGO | A scolding or ill-tempered woman | My neighbor's wife is a virago. Synonyms: shrew, termagant, vixen |
| VITUPERATE | (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find fault with in abusive language | An angry man, vituperating the world. Synonyms: berate, revile |
| WAIVE | To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without | Waived his rights to the property. Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake |
| WHIM | (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy | Frequently acted on the whim of the moment. Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet |
| WRITHE | To twist about (usually with pain) | Writhedin agony on the floor. Synonyms: contort, squirm |
| ZEALOUS | (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness | A zealous student, first in his class. Antonym: perfunctory |
| ZENITH | The highest point | The zenith of his career. Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination, summit Antonym: nadir |