Vocab Workout - Set 8 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Define:
burgeon
(burr-djun)
v. to grow
The burgeoning mass of bees was heading straight for the picnic.
Root: burgeon (from Old French borjoner, meaning “to bud”)
Define:
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
The exacting professor wanted a 15-page paper due the next day in class.
Prefix: ex- (meaning “out”); Root: act (from Latin agere, meaning “to do”); Suffix: -ing (forming adjectives, indicating an action or result)
Define:
rebuke
(rih-byook)
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
The child was rebuked for stealing candy.
Prefix: re- (meaning “again” or “back”); Root: buke (from Old French buker, meaning “to strike”)
Define:
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
The dulcet tone of the musical parody contrasted sharply with its offensive lyrics.
Root: dulc (from Latin dulcis, meaning “sweet”)
Define:
toady
(toh-dee)
n. a flatterer, a yes man
The president was surrounded by toadies rather than people with honest criticisms.
Root: toad (from Middle English tode, meaning “toad”); Suffix: -y (forming nouns, indicating a characteristic)
Define:
gall
(gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
He had the gall to request a raise after it was discovered that he was calling in sick in order to play golf.
Root: gall (from Old English gealla, meaning “bile”)
Define:
cloying
(kloi-ing)
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Unfortunately, cloying romantic comedies are sure box-office hits, and so Hollywood continues to churn them out.
Root: cloy (from Middle English cloyen, meaning “to hinder”); Suffix: -ing (forming adjectives, indicating an action or result)
Define:
sully
(suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Joe’s reputation as an ethical CEO was sullied by his selfish actions during his company’s merger.
Root: sul (from Old French souillier, meaning “to soil”); Suffix: -y (forming verbs, indicating an action)
Define:
defile
(dih-fahyl)
v. to dirty, spoil, or dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
The holy site was unwittingly defiled when the invaders, for whom it held no special meaning, used it as a stable.
Prefix: de- (meaning “down” or “away”); Root: file (from Old French fil, meaning “thread”)
Define:
pithy
(pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
Satya’s pithy keynote speech was more enlightening than the endless lectures that had preceded it.
Root: pith (from Old English piþa, meaning “essential part”); Suffix: -y (forming adjectives, indicating a characteristic)
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to grow
Hint: starts with “b”
burgeon
synonyms: blossom, grow, expand, flourish, thrive, multiply
Her business began to burgeon after she introduced a new product line.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
Her ________ standards made it difficult to meet her expectations.
Hint: The word starts with ‘e’.
exacting
exacting (ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
Which vocabulary word means the following?
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
Hint: starts with “r”
rebuke
synonyms: berate, blame, condemn, scold, reprimand, admonish
The teacher rebuked the student for not completing his homework on time.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The ________ tones of the violin soothed everyone in the room.
Hint: The word starts with ‘d’.
dulcet
dulcet (duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
Which vocabulary word means the following?
n. a flatterer, a yes man
Hint: starts with “t”
toady
synonyms: doter, brownnoser, sycophant, flatterer, fawning
He surrounded himself with toadies who never questioned his decisions.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
It took a lot of ________ for him to make such bold demands after his recent mistakes.
Hint: The word starts with ‘g’.
gall
gall (gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
Which vocabulary word means the following?
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Hint: starts with “c”
cloying
synonyms: cheesy, overly sentimental, sappy, sickly, sweet, excessive
The movie’s cloying romance scenes made it difficult to take the story seriously.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
The scandal ________ his once pristine reputation.
Hint: The word starts with ‘s’.
sullied
sully (suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Which vocabulary word means the following?
v. to dirty, spoil, dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
Hint: starts with “d”
defile
synonyms: befoul, besmirch, corrupt, desecrate, degrade
The vandals defiled the historic monument with graffiti.
The ancient tale spoke of a king who sought to defile the queen, only to be punished by the gods.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word.
His ________ remarks during the meeting were both insightful and brief.
Hint: The word starts with ‘p’.
pithy
pithy (pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
