BRITISH LITERATURE

VOCABULARY LESSON 1REVIEW

intercede

To plead on behalf of someone else

To serve as a go-between in a disagreement

“I interceded in the argument so that there would be a resolution.”

Synonyms

InterveneMediateplead

Antonyms

Stay out ofRemain on the sidelines

hackneyed

used so often it lacks freshness or originality

“ ‘I am fit to be tied’ is such a hackneyed expression.”

Synonyms

TriteBanalCornycommonplace

Antonyms

FreshNewNoveloriginal

approbation

the expression of approval

favorable opinion

praise

official approval

“The Oscar winner received the approbation of his peers.”

Synonym

PraiseCommendationapproval

Antonym

DisapprovalCondemnationCensure

innuendo

a hint or indirect suggestion

a reference (often derogatory)

“The sales clerk expressed her disapproval of my outfit by innuendo instead of being straightforward.”

Synonym

InsinuationHintintimation

Antonym

A direct statement

Coalition

a merger, combination, or union for some specific purpose

“We formed a coalition of students to present our concerns to the school board.”

Synonyms

AllianceFederationLeague

Antonym

A splinter groupDisorganized group

Elicit

to draw forth

bring out from some source

“Mr. Smith is such a good speaker that he can elicit a response from any audience.”

Synonym

To call forthEvokeExtract

Antonym

RepressStifleSquelch

hiatus

a gap, opening, or break in the sense of having some element missing

“During the summer, TV actors and actresses go on hiatus until the next season of shows begin.”

Synonym

PauseBreakGap

Antonym

continuation

Assuage

To make easier, put an end to

“The teacher tried to assuage their fears of the exam by giving them an outline to study.”

Synonym

AlleviateAppeaseMitigateCalm

Antonym

AggravateIntensifyExacerbate

Decadence

decline or decay

excessive self-indulgence

“The manner in which the rich and famous live is often

considered decadent.”

Synonym

DeclineDecayDegeneration - degenerate

Antonym

GrowthDevelopmentmaturation

expostulate

to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

“I tried expostulating with my committee to show them that

their idea was not going to work.”

Synonym

ProtestComplainRemonstrate

Antonym

AgreeAffirm

simulate

imitate

“Our economics teacher had us simulate the reality of running

a business by having us start a pretend one.”

Synonym

PretendAffectImitateFeign

jaded

worn-outdulled by excessive indulgence

“After reading several books about the problems of wealthy movie stars, I

became jaded about the desire to be like them.”

Synonym

SatiatedSatedSpoiled

Antonym

Unspoiledundiminished

umbrage

shade cast by trees

offense or resentment

“I take umbrage with your crude remarks about my friend.”

Synonym

IrritationAnnoyanceShade

Antonym

PleasureDelightSatisfaction

prerogative

special right

a special quality showing excellence

“It is my prerogative to go first because I was here on time!”

Synonym

Special privilegeSpecial right

lurid

causing shock or horror

pale or sallow in color

“The book I am reading emphasizes the lurid details of the

scandal.”

Synonym

GoryGruesomeghastly

Antonym

PleasantAttractiveAppealingWholesome

transcend

to rise above

“Seeing the Grand Canyon transcended my

expectations.”

Synonym

SurpassExceed

Antonym

ComprehendedUnderstoodEmbraced by

provincial

narrow in outlook

countrified

“The students in that little rural school have provincial attitudes toward political issues.”

Synonym

Narrow-mindedLocalInsular

Antonym

Broad-mindedCosmopolitan

petulant

annoyed or easily irritated

“Whenever you give whiners what they

want, you reward them for their petulance.”

Synonym

IrritableTestyPeevish

Antonym

Even-temperedSereneAmiable

unctuous

fatty, oily

trying too hard to give the impression of sincerity

“The waiter annoyed us all night; his unctuous behavior did not earn him a big tip.”

Synonym

ServileFawningMealy-mouthed

Antonym

GruffBlunt

meritorious

worthy and deserving of recognition

“The WW II veteran received numerous medals for

meritorious service to his country.”

Synonym

Praiseworthycommendable

Antonym

BlameworthyDiscreditable

REVIEW QUIZ

Number your paper from one to twenty. Answer the following

questions.

1. Assuage meansA. IntensifyB. FeelC. EraseD. Include

2. The antonym of provincialA. DangerousB. LocalC. StrangeD. cosmopolitan

3. The teacher asked the students to eliminate the ______________expressions in their essays.

unctuous hackneyedcoalition intercedeprerogative hiatus

4. The scenes in the horror movie were so _____that we couldn’t sleep that night.A. PetulantB. HackneyedC. LuridD. jaded

5. “an indirect suggestion”A. Umbrage

B. Prerogative

C. coalition

D. innuendo

6. The football quarterback _________ all expectations in his first professional debut.

A. IntercededB. TranscendedC. ElicitedD. assuaged

7. Hiatus meansA. DebtB. FactC. GloomD. Gap

8. Expostulate is aA. NounB. VerbC. adjectiveD. adverb

9. The teacher gave the students an assignment to ___________ the Great Depression.A. SimulateB. AssuageC. ApprobationD. unctuous

10. The school board has the _______ to initiate policies that affect students.A. UmbrageB. InnuendoC. PrerogativeD. approbation

11. The Merit Scholar winner received the ______of the student body for his success.A. ApprobationB. MeritoriousC. PetulanceD. decadence

12. After watching the trial of crooked judges, I was _____ about the judicial system.A. transcendedB. JadedC. LuridD. unctuous

13. The definition of unctuous isA. Servile, too earnestB. Gruff, bluntC. UnspoiledD. blameworthy

14. Provincial isA. A nounB. a verbC. An adjectiveD. An adverb

15. A ____________ of US and Iraqi forces secured an unstable province in northern Iraq.A. PrerogativeB. CoalitionC. ProvincialD. Umbrage

16. I took ________ at his numerous insults about how I was dressed.A. UnctuousB. HiatusC. UmbrageD. innuendo

17. Her ________ attitude about everything we did to try and help her was extremely annoying.A. PetulantB. HackneyedC. LuridD. jaded

18. Intercede isA. NounB. verbC. AdjectiveD. adverb

19. The antonym of elicit isA. Draw forthB. Drive awayC. ApplaudD. disapprove

20. The _______ of the rich is overwhelming.A. InnuendoB. ExpostulateC. DecadenceD. meritorious

THE ANSWERS

1. C2. D3. Hackneyed4. C5. D6. B7. D

8. B9. A10. B11. A12. B13. A14. C

15. B16. C17. A18. B19. B20. C