Vocab Workout - Set 7 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Define:
poignant
(poin-yunt)
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
Watching her daughter wake up was particularly poignant for her mother who had worried by her bedside the whole night.
Root: poign (from Latin pungere, meaning “to prick” or “to pierce”)
Define:
polar
(poe-lur)
adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
The two were so different their personalities could be considered polar opposites.
Root: pol (from Greek polos, meaning “axis” or “pivot”)
Define:
polemic
(puh-lem-ik)
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
As soon as the graduate student obtained her doctorate, she published a polemic refutation of her mentor’s work.
Root: polem (from Greek polemos, meaning “war” or “struggle”)
Define:
ponderous
(pon-dur-us)
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness
adj. requiring a lot of work
The ponderous task was completed in no time, thanks to the large number of volunteers we had.
Root: ponder (from Latin pondus, meaning “weight”); Suffix: -ous (forming adjectives, meaning “full of”)
Define:
portend
(pore-tend)
v. to foretell
The witch claimed that the stormy weather portended the ruler’s downfall.
Prefix: por- (variant of pro-, meaning “forward”); Root: tend (from Latin tendere, meaning “to stretch”)
Define:
posit
(poz-it)
v. to assume as fact
Some physicists posit that the universe will expand forever.
Root: posit (from Latin ponere, meaning “to place” or “to put”)
Define:
postulate
(poss-chuh-lehyt)
v. to assume a basic truth
Economic theory postulates limits on essential resources as the basis of human behavior.
Root: postul (from Latin postulare, meaning “to demand”); Suffix: -ate (forming verbs, meaning “to make” or “to act”)
Define:
bolster
(bole-stur)
v. to support
The candidate’s campaign was bolstered by endorsements by several former military leaders.
Root: bolster (from Old English bolster, meaning “a long, thick pillow”)
Define:
bombastic
(bom-bass-tick)
adj. inflated, arrogant
The bombastic way in which the author described his new novel repulsed me.
Root: bombast (from Middle French bombace, meaning “cotton padding”); Suffix: -ic (forming adjectives, meaning “pertaining to”)
Define:
brood
(brewd)
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
The hen protected her new brood from the farmer’s inspection.
Root: brood (from Old English brōd, meaning “offspring”)
Which vocabulary word means the following?
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
Hint: starts with “p”
poignant
synonyms: agonizing, bitter; sharp, keen, touching, moving, heartrending
The movie’s poignant ending left many in the audience in tears.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
Their political views were ________, making compromise difficult.
Hint: The word starts with ‘p’.
polar
polar (poe-lur)
adj. related to opposite extremes or sidessynonyms: opposite, contrary, counter
Which vocabulary word means the following?
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
Hint: starts with “p”
polemic
synonyms: refutation, dispute, debate, controversy, argument
The author’s polemic essay sparked a heated debate.
He engaged in a polemic with the journalist over the ethics of the new policy.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The ________ box required two people to move it.
Hint: The word starts with ‘p’.
ponderous
ponderous (pon-dur-us)
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness; or
adj. requiring a lot of work
Which vocabulary word means the following?
v. to foretell
Hint: starts with “p”
portend
synonyms: foreshadow, harbinger, signal, indicate, presage
Dark clouds portend an approaching storm.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The scientist ________ a theory based on the available evidence.
Hint: The word starts with ‘p’.
posited
posit (poz-it)
v. to assume as fact
Which vocabulary word means the following?
v. to assume a basic truth
Hint: starts with “p”
postulate
synonyms: assert, premise, suppose, hypothesize, posit, claim
The philosopher postulated that human beings are inherently good.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The new evidence helped ________ his argument in court.
Hint: The word starts with ‘b’.
bolster
bolster (bole-stur)
v. to support
Which vocabulary word means the following?
adj. inflated, arrogant
Hint: starts with “b”
bombastic
synonyms: grandiose, egotistical, pompous, verbose, pretentious
His bombastic speech was filled with grandiose claims that lacked substance.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The mother hen carefully watched over her ________ of chicks.
Hint: The word starts with ‘b’.
brood
brood (brewd)
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
