Webster essential vocabulary_8 ppsx

distillation (DIS til AY shin) n. 1. a process by which a liquid is vaporized, and the vapor is cooled to form a purer or more highly concentrated substance; 2. a purifying or refining by distillation • Alcoholic spirits are removed from fermented mash by means of distillation. • Distillation is used to separate gasoline from crude oil. [Syn. concentration, purification] diversity (di VERS i tee) n. the quality or state of being different or varied • The diversity of its people is thought to be one of the great strengths of the United States. • An interesting menu in a restaurant should offer the customers a diversity of choices. [Syn. variety] divest (di VEST) vt. 1. to strip of clothing or rank; 2. to get rid of unwanted things • For failing to follow orders, the sergeant was divested of his stripes. • Given the recent performance of the stock market, now seems like a pretty good time to divest your portfolio of poor performers. [-ed, -ing] [Syn. strip] divulge (di VULJ) vt. to make known, disclose, reveal • You must promise never to divulge the location of the hidden treasure, or else! • Unless you pay to see my hand, I do not have to divulge which cards I was holding when I won that hand. [-d, divulging] [Syn. reveal] dogmatic (dawg MAT ik) adj. 1. of or like dogma; 2. accepted without proof; 3. stating an opinion with arrogance • In the early part of the twentieth century, the story about a young George Washington chopping down a cherry tree was dogmatic. • The scientific community encourages its members to question everything and to avoid being dogmatic. • Dr. Jackson tends to be dogmatic when he hands out his diagnoses to the medical students. [-ally adv.] [Syn. dictatorial] dolt (DOHLT) n. stupid, slow-witted person; blockhead • The way that man slipped into the bus seat before the pregnant woman could take it marks him as a dolt. • Who but a dolt goes out of the house wearing his or her shoes on the wrong feet? [-ish adj., -ishly adv., -ishness n.] D: GRE Words 273 26_571656 ch21.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 273 dormant (DAWR mint) adj. 1. asleep; 2. as if asleep; resting; 3. inactive; inoperative • The night watchman was dormant on the job. • While the cat may appear dormant, it is aware of everything going on around it. •A dormant volcano might not have erupted in the last 100 years, yet it is still alive. • Most of the volcanoes in the Cascades are considered to be dormant. [-ly adv., dormancy n.] [Syn. latent] dross (DRAWSS) n. 1. a scum that forms on the surface of molten metal; 2. waste material; worthless stuff; rubbish • In a steel mill or foundry, dross ends up on the rubbish heap. • Good garage-sale shoppers learn to separate treasure from dross. dubious (DOO bee is) adj. 1. causing doubt; vague; ambiguous; 2. of doubtful value; questionable; shady; 3. skeptical; hesitating • Valerie was rather dubious about whether she was coming to the basketball game. • That premium-brand watch being offered by the street salesperson for $30 is of dubious quality. dynamo (DY ni MOH) n. 1. a forceful, energetic person; 2. an electrical generator • The chairman of the company was a human dynamo, constantly on the go. • In hydroelectric plants, falling water turns the dynamo that generates the electricity. • That weight lifter is strong as a dynamo. dysfunctional (dis FUNK shi nuhl) adj. 1. unable to perform normally or properly; 2. showing impaired or abnormal psychosocial functioning • A person with dysfunctional kidneys has to make use of a dialysis machine. • Serial killers are among the most dysfunctional personalities in the world. 274 Essential Vocabulary 26_571656 ch21.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 274 QUICK REVIEW #99 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing. D: GRE Words 275 1. distillation 2. diversity 3. divest 4. divulge 5. dogmatic 6. dolt 7. dormant 8. dross 9. dubious 10. dynamo 11. dysfunctional a. rubbish b. purification c. generator d. variety e. abnormal f. latent g. doubtful h. reveal i. blockhead j. strip k. dictatorial 26_571656 ch21.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 275 E – F edify (ED i FY) vt. to instruct so as to enlighten or improve morally, intellectually, or spiritually • It might edify you to know that by the time Mozart was 13, he had been appointed honorary concertmaster at the Court of Salzburg. • Watching how a building is constructed can be a very edifying experience (no pun intended). • Edify means to build, but that usage is pretty much obsolete by now. [edified, -ing, edification n.] egalitarian (ee GAL i TER ee in) adj. advocating that people should all have equal social, economic, and political rights —n. one who so advocates • The so-called ERA, or Equal Rights Amendment, for women was supported by egalitarian groups. • Egalitarians supported the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. elegy (EL i gee) n. 1. a song or poem of praise for the dead; 2. any mournful song or poem • Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” is an elegy that laments the loss of ordinary people. • Shelly’s “Adonais” is an elegy mourning the death of John Keats. elemental (EL im EN til) adj. 1. of or like natural forces; typical of the physical universe; 2. basic and powerful rather than subtle or refined; 3. of any of the four traditional elements (earth, air, fire, and water) traditionally thought to comprise all things • It is elemental that satellites orbit their planets. • The force of an erupting volcano is elemental in its power. • Hunger is an elemental drive; the urge to be entertained is not. [-ly adv.] [Syn. basic] elucidate (il OO si DAYT) vt. to clear up (especially something abstract); to explain • Please elucidate on the subject of why you did not come home last night until after midnight. • Mrs. Jones would appreciate your elucidating on Einstein’s theory of relativ- ity so that it is clear to her whether you understand it. [-ed, -ing] [Syn. explain] emaciate (im AY shee AYT) vt. to cause to grow excessively thin; to cause to waste away • Starvation emaciates the body. • People suffering from anorexia emaciate. [-d, emaciating, emaciation n.] [Syn. thin, waste away] 276 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 276 emancipate (im AN si PAYT) vt. 1. to set free from bondage, slavery, serfdom, and the like; 2. to free from control or restraint • Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 did not emancipate the slaves living in the Union, only those in the Confederacy, where he had no power. • At age 18 in most states, a child can be emancipated from his or her parents’ control. [-d, emancipating, emancipation n.] [Syn. free] embezzle (em BEZ il) vt. to steal by fraud; to take money from someone on false pretense and then spend it on oneself • Several corporate executives spent the late 1990s embezzling their stockhold- ers’ money. • Con men are skilled in the art of embezzling. [-d, embezzling, -ment, -r n.] [Syn. steal] emit (ee MIT) vt. to send out; send forth; give off; utter; discharge • A transmitter’s antenna emits some kind of waves. • A speaker stands before an audience and emits words. • Old Faithful emits hot water at regular intervals. [-ted, -ting] [Syn. discharge] emollient (im AHL yint) adj. softening; soothing —n. a substance that has a softening effect when applied to the skin • Many medicinal preparations have an emollient effect. • Proper skin care requires replacing skin moisture every day by using emollients. encomium (in KOHM ee uhm) n. a formal expression of praise; a hymn or eulogy • “America the Beautiful” is an encomium to the natural beauty of the country. • “Adonais” is Shelly’s encomium to the poet John Keats. [Syn. tribute] enigmatic (EN ig MAT ik) adj. like a seemingly inexplicable matter (enigma); perplexing; baffling • Lightning must have been very enigmatic to everyone living prior to the eighteenth century. • Traveling faster than the speed of light is the stuff of science fiction but is enigmatic to today’s science. [-ally adv.] [Syn. obscure] enunciate (in UHN see AYT) vt. 1. to state in a systematic way; 2. to pronounce words clearly; 3. to announce • Einstein first enunciated his theory of relativity in 1905. • It is important to enunciate clearly to make your position understood by others. • Bob and Carol enunciated their engagement to each other. [-d, enuciating] [Syn. utter] E – F: GRE Words 277 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 277 enzyme (EN zym) n. any one of many proteins developed by plants and ani- mals that act as catalysts in certain chemical reactions • Chlorophyll acts as an enzyme in green plants’ process of photosynthesis. • Pepsin and retsyn are two enzymes that aid in human digestion. epicure (EP ik yur) n. a person who has an appreciation of fine food and drink, and enjoys consuming same • French cuisine has a great appeal to the epicure. • Snails, while a common delicacy in France, are the exclusive domain of the epicure in this country. • Chinese, French, and Italian cuisines are no longer for the enjoyment of American epicures only. [Syn. gourmet, gastronome] QUICK REVIEW #100 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing. 278 Essential Vocabulary 1. edify 2. egalitarian 3. elegy 4. elemental 5. elucidate 6. emaciate 7. emancipate 8. embezzle 9. emit 10. emollient 11. encomium 12. enigmatic 13. enunciate 14. enzyme 15. epicure a. tribute b. gourmet c. moisturizer d. utter e. obscure f. catalyst g. waste away h. discharge i. basic j. free k. steal l. explain m. lament n. equal rights advocate o. enlighten epithet (EP i THET) n. 1. an often derogatory word or phrase used to character- ize someone; 2. a descriptive name or title (for example, Alexander the Great) • Egghead is an epithet for an intellectual person. • In King Ethelred the Unready’s name, “the Unready” is an epithet. 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 278 equable (EK wib il) adj. not varying very much; even tempered; serene; not readily upset • Tropical climates are equable rather than seasonal. • It was strange to see George fly off the handle because he is usually quite equable. [equably adv., equability n.] [Syn. steady] equivalence (ik WIV il ens) n. equality of value, meaning, force, grade, weight, and so on • The equivalence of 2.54 centimeters and 1 inch is a well-known relationship. • A generic drug has the chemical equivalence of its brand-name cousin at a lower price. equivocal (ik WIV ik il) adj. 1. capable of being interpreted in more than one way; purposely vague; obscure; 2. uncertain; doubtful; 3. suspicious; questionable conduct • Almost every character in Lewis Carroll’s books is equivocal, except for Alice. • The origin of the hamburger is equivocal, but everyone attributes the origin of the ice-cream cone to the St. Louis World’s Fair. • The shopkeeper called the police when he considered the behavior of the person hanging around outside his shop to be equivocal. [-ly adv.] [Syn. obscure] equivocate (ik WIV ik AYT) vi. mislead; hedge; deceive; be deliberately vague or ambiguous • Part of a defense attorney’s job is to equivocate, so as to leave the jury with a reasonable doubt. • When the police are interviewing a suspect and he or she equivocates, they can be pretty sure they’ve found the right person. [-d, equivocating] [Syn. lie] erode (ir OHD) vt. 1. to wear away; eat into; disintegrate; 2. to cause to wear away; 3. to form by gradually wearing away • Anything that is continually rubbed against erodes. • Rain has eroded the rocks of Bryce Canyon, Utah, to make all the beautiful, statuesque formations. • The Grand Canyon is the result of rock being eroded over millions of years by the Colorado River. [-d, eroding] [Syn. wear (away)] erudition (ER yoo DISH in) n. learning acquired through scholarship (by read- ing and study) • Everything we know about ancient Greek civilization is the result of archaeology and erudition. • Erudition in some form continues throughout life for any intellectually curious person. [Syn. information] E – F: GRE Words 279 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 279 esoterica (ES oh TER ik uh) n. 1. things meant to be understood only by an elite few; 2. confidential things • The Native American medicine man was responsible for passing down the esoterica of his calling to the next generation. • Every religion has certain persons to whom are entrusted the esoterica of the group. eulogy (YOO li jee) n. a speech or writing in praise of a person who has recently died, or a project that has been killed • It is customary for a eulogy to be given by one or more persons at a funeral service. • Traditionally, any ill traits of the deceased are not mentioned during a eulogy. [Syn. tribute] euphemism (YOO fi MIZ im) n. 1. a word or phrase that is less expressive sub- stituted for a more expressive one to lessen its impact (the remains rather than the corpse); 2. the use of such a word • The “dearly departed” is a euphemism for the “dead person.” • Many people speak in euphemisms, requiring the listeners to interpret what they are hearing. [euphemistic adj., euphemistically adv.] evolve (ee VOLV) vt., vi. 1. to develop by gradual change; unfold; 2. to change by evolution • A winning baseball team evolves as all the right players are assembled and become comfortable playing together. • Modern man is thought to have evolved from earlier species, such as Cro-Magnon man. [-d, evolving] [Syn. unfold] excoriate (iks KAW ree ayt) vt. 1. to harshly denounce; 2. to rub off the skin of; to abrade; to flay • Mr. Brown excoriated his class for having misbehaved on the class trip. • Jack excoriated his right elbow when he slid into second base. [-d, excoriating, excoriation n.] 280 Essential Vocabulary 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 280 QUICK REVIEW #101 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing. E – F: GRE Words 281 1. epithet 2. equable 3. equivalence 4. equivocal 5. equivocate 6. erode 7. erudition 8. esoterica 9. eulogy 10. euphemism 11. evolve 12. excoriate a. unfold b. information c. tribute d. denounce e. abstruse things f. expression g. “the Bald” h. lie i. equality j. wear k. obscure l. steady exculpate (EKS kil PAYT) vt. to prove blameless; to declare guiltless • The fact that Inez was shown to have been out of town caused the judge to exculpate her in the case of the missing bananas. • Mark was exculpated of the charges against him. [-d, exculpating, exculpation n.] [Syn. to clear (of blame)] exigent (EKS i jint) adj. 1. needing immediate looking into; urgent; critical; 2. needing more than reasonable attention; demanding • It is exigent that Diane return the poorly fitting blouse before the time allowed expires. • As Melissa found out, raising three small children at the same time is an exigent task. [-ly adv., exigency n.] [Syn. urgent] extant (EKS tint) adj. still existing; not lost or destroyed; not extinct • Some are hopeful that finding Nessie, the so-called Loch Ness monster, will prove sea monsters extant. • The Cascade Mountains of Washington contain many extant volcanoes that are, for the most part, dormant. [-ly adv.] 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 281 extraneous (eks TRAY nee is) adj. 1. not pertinent or relevant; 2. coming from the outside; 3. not properly or truly belonging • When discussing whether something is or is not the right thing to do, the amount you’re willing to pay to have it done is extraneous. • The phases of the moon are extraneous to the seasons on earth. • When playing Chopin’s piano sonatas, the presence of a flute player is extraneous. [-ly adv.] [Syn. extrinsic] extricable (EKS tri ki bil) adj. able to get out from; able to separate from; capa- ble of being disentangled • An egg yolk is easily extricable from a shelled egg—especially after the egg has been hard-boiled. • The painter’s having failed to deliver on his part of the contract made Harvey extricable from it. • A single rubber band is usually quite extricable from a ball of rubber bands. [extricably adv.] [Syn. escapable] extrovert (EKS tra VOERT) n. an outgoing person; one who directs her atten- tion away from herself and toward others • Francesco is quite an extrovert for a six-year-old and spends much of his time thinking up ways to get those around him to laugh. • Extroverts are generally a good deal more animated than introverts—their opposites. [extroversion n.] [Syn. outgoing] facetious (fis EE shis) adj. joking or trying to be funny (especially at an inap- propriate time) • Being facetious is practically a full-time job for a punster. • Vicki told Bill, “Don’t think I’m being facetious when I tell you you’re my best friend, but I am.” [-ly adv.] [Syn. witty] facilitate (fa SIL i TAYT) vt. to make possible, or to make it easier to do something • The hardened tips on shoelaces greatly facilitate lacing shoes and boots. • Ramps being installed on most street corners facilitate getting on and off sidewalks for the handicapped. [-d, facilitating] [Syn. ease] faction (FAK shin) n. inside a larger organization, a group of people smaller than the whole working toward or aiming at one specific goal; partisan • When the school PTA met, one faction favored holding a Christmas party, while another was dead set against it. • Because it is a part of a larger whole, one can properly say that a faction is a fraction of a group. feckless (FEK lis) adj. 1. weak; ineffective; 2. careless; irresponsible • Mary was feckless about bringing her umbrella to work, and she paid for it when the skies opened up. 282 Essential Vocabulary 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 282 [...]... extraneous d clear 5 extricable e criminal 6 extrovert f irrelevant 7 facetious g outgoing person 8 facilitate h urgent 9 faction i witty 10 feckless j faithfulness 11 felon k ease 12 fidelity l existing 284 Essential Vocabulary finesse (fin ES) n 1 the ability to handle delicate situations with skill; 2 cunning; artfulness; craftiness —vt 1 to bypass or evade an issue; 2 to manage or deal with using finesse... grow vigorously; succeed; thrive; prosper —vt to wave a sword, hand, or hat in the air as a mark of; brandish —n a musical fanfare • Democracy, which had flourished for the citizens of ancient Athens, essentially disappeared until the end of the eighteeth century • The actor bowed and flourished his hat in acknowledgement of the audience’s applause • Each time the president speaks at a formal event,... Korea • It has been often debated whether the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago were fomented by the demonstrators or by the Chicago Police Department [-ed, -ing] [Syn incite] 286 Essential Vocabulary QUICK REVIEW #103 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing 1 finesse a thrive 2 fission b incite 3 fissure c artfulness 4 fixate... a fusion of the political parties to occur so that the nation acts as one • It is the aim of scientists to use nuclear energy formed by fusion (the principle of the H-bomb) for peaceful purposes 288 Essential Vocabulary QUICK REVIEW #104 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing 1 foreclosure a union 2 foreignness b decoration 3 forestall c impressive... lecturer was saying about calculating the area under a curve, but he did get the gist of it • Take two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule, and you have the gist of water [Syn essence] 289 290 Essential Vocabulary gladiator (GLA dee AYT oer) n 1 any person involved in a public conflict or fight; 2 a swordsman of ancient Rome who fought for the entertainment of the public (not necessarily voluntarily)... distress • It harrowed Connie that her rival had gotten the position she had wanted • Studying for the SAT test was a harrowing experience for Fred because so much depended on his doing well [-ed, -ing] 292 Essential Vocabulary haughty (HAW tee) adj having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain for others • Two of King Lear’s daughters were very haughty, and it was not until it was too late that he... unattentive; heedless; 2 accidental; unintentional • Cathy’s crashing her car into the wall was inadvertent • Sam is often troubled by an inadvertent urge to scratch his nose [-ly adv.] [Syn unintentional] 296 Essential Vocabulary incessant (in SES int) adj never ceasing; seemingly never ending • The blaring of boom boxes at certain beaches is incessant • Rebecca’s mom seems to have an incessant need to remind... position to strike when the time was right • New coffee-brewing machines use gravity, causing the water to infiltrate the grounds and fall into the carafe below [-d, infiltrating, infiltration n.] 298 Essential Vocabulary infirm (in FOERM) adj 1 not strong physically; weak; 2 not strong in one’s position; vacillating; shaky • Certain physically fit senior citizens resent the fact that the elderly and... guarantee • Many states require that automobiles be insured in case one damages someone else’s property • By taking the 8:00 A.M train, Clara insures that she will be at work on time [-d, insuring] 300 Essential Vocabulary intercede (in teor SEED) vt 1 to interfere to help work out an agreement; to mediate; 2 to step in to prevent something from happening • Bob’s mom interceded to work out an agreement... plan, a bank usually has a lien on it until it is payed off • If a house has a mortgage, you can be certain the bank is holding a lien • An auto mechanic can get a lien in lieu of unpaid repair bills 304 Essential Vocabulary limn (LIM) vt 1 to paint or draw; 2 to describe (paint a picture) in words • The expression “I’m limning a picture” is not one you hear every day • A good radio sportscaster limns . Words 287 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 287 QUICK REVIEW #104 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing. 288 Essential Vocabulary 1 Words 285 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 285 QUICK REVIEW #103 Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most nearly the same thing. 286 Essential Vocabulary 1 umbrella to work, and she paid for it when the skies opened up. 282 Essential Vocabulary 27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 282 • Allowing a five-year-old to walk alone near a busy street