abduct (v) to carry away by force; to kidnap

abduction (n) the act or instance ofabducting

Clue: abduct = kidnap

Bandits stopped the jeep and abducted the driver.

Ex: abduct the child; abduct the woman

abode (n) the place where one lives; home

Clue: abode = home

My summer abode was a small cabin that I shared with two other camp counselors.

Ex: a winter abode; a summer abode

abyss (n) a deep opening in the earth; or anything too deep to measure

Clue: a bottomless pit

The Hubble space telescope was built to probe the abyss of space.

arbitrate (v) to settle a disagreement between two parties by having a third party make a decision after hearing both sidesarbitration (n) the act of arbitrating

Clue: arbitrate = judge and decide

The United Nations will arbitrate the border dispute by having a third party make a decision after hearing both sides.

attribute (n) a quality or feature associated with a person or thing

CLUE: attribute =characteristic of

(n) Wisdom is often considered an attribute of old age.

ATTRIBUTEattribute (v) to think of as coming from or belonging to a particular person or thing

CLUE: attribute = linked to

(v)The painting was wrongly attributed to Mary Cassatt, a famous artist. ATTRIBUTE

capricious (adj) likely to change quickly for no obvious reason

[kuh-prish-uhs, -pree-shuhs]

Clue: capricious = fickle, flighty

Robert Frost wrote an amusing poem about the capricious New England weather.

Ex: capricious boss; capricious questions and comments

compromise (v) 1. to settle a disagreement by having each side give up something

2. to expose to the possibility of criticism or shame.

(n) a settlement reached by each side giving up something[kom-pruh-mahyz]

Clue: compromise = give + take

We compromised by splitting the difference between the $2,000 asking price for the car and the $1,500 offer I made on it.

Ex: compromise between; compromise for an agreement

devout (adj) 1. very religious 2. sincere

[dih-vout]

Clue: devout = fervent + sincere

Devout Muslims try to make at least one visit to the holy city of Mecca.

Ex: devout Christians; devout believers, devout spouses

distraught (adj) deeply disturbed; very troubled

[dih-strawt]

Clue: distraught = upset

The children were distraught when their pet rabbit died.

Ex: distraught survivors; distraught victims; distraught passengers

incline (v) 1. to slope or lean 2. to be likely to; to have a fondness for 3. to bend or bow (the head)

(n) a sloping surface[v. in-klahyn; n. in-klahyn, in-klahyn]

Clue: incline = likely or lean toward

I am inclined to talk too much.

Ex: road inclines; incline to make a decision

intervene (v) to enter in order to help or settle somethingintervention (n) to act of instance of intervening[in-ter-veen]

Clue: intervene = go between

The playground supervisor intervened when the children couldn’t agree about whose turn it was.

Ex: intervene the quarrel; intervene the fight

necessity (n) 1. anything that cannot be done without or that is greatly needed 2. the condition of being needed [nuh-ses-i-tee]

Clue: necessity = need it

Insect repellent is a necessity when camping.

Ex: the necessity of rules; the necessity of an education

orbit (n) the path taken by an object around a heavenly body such as star, planet, or moon

(v) to put into or be in orbit[awr-bit]

Clue: orbit = go around

The moon’s orbit around the earth takes just over 27 days.

Ex: orbit in space; orbit the sun

enlighten (v) to inform or instruct; to give knowledge or truth to

(adj) free from ignorance or prejudice[en-lahyt-n]

Clue: enlighten = finally see the light

Since we didn’t know the store’s policy for returning merchandise, we asked customer service to enlighten us.

Ex: enlightened approach; enlightened students

sacred (adj) 1. holy; having to do with religion 2. worthy of being given the greatest honor or respect[sey-krid]

Clue: sacred = reverent + holy

The Waling Wall in Jerusalem is sacred to the Jewish people.

Ex: sacred writings; sacred bible; sacred worship