UNIT 11

brevity

(n) shortness (syn) conciseness, terseness, pithiness (ant) verbosity, long-windedness, prolixity

comport

(v) to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement (syn) deport oneself, agree, concur

concise

(adj) expressing much in a few words (syn) brief, succinct, terse, pithy, to the point (ant) wordy, verbose, long-winded, prolix

demure

(adj) sober or serious in manner, modest (syn) shy, diffident, sedate, seemly, decorous (ant) bold, forward, assertive, immodest

depreciate

(n) a lessening in value; a belittling (syn) cheapening, lowering, devaluation (ant) increase, appreciation, enhancement

deteriorate

(v) to lower in quality or value; to wear away (syn) worsen, decline, degenerate, debase (ant) improve, fix up, enhance

divulge

(v) to tell, reveal; to make public (syn) disclose, impart, spill the beans, "leak" (ant) hide, conceal, cover up, secrete, keep under wraps

enlightened

(adj) free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding (syn) knowing, informed, aware, cultivated (ant) ignorant, unaware, untaught, benighted

forestall

(v) to prevent by acting first (syn) hinder, thwart, preclude, ward off (ant) welcome, accept, allow, submit, abide by

garble

(v) to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible (syn) jumble, scramble, confuse, misrepresent (ant) clarify, elucidate, articulate

proponent

(n) one who puts forward a proposal, one who supports a cause or belief (syn) supporter, advocate, exponent (ant) opponent, critic, foe, adversary

quaver

(v) to shake, tremble, to trill (syn) quiver, vibrate, shiver, quake, palpitate

recoil

(v) to spring back, shrink; (n) the act of springing back (syn) (v) flinch; (n) kickback (ant) (v) advance, proceed, gain ground

recoup

(v) to make up for, regain (syn) recover, retrieve (ant) lose, default, forfeit, kiss goodbye

reek

(n) an unpleasant smell; (v) to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression (syn) (n) stench (v) stink, smell (ant) (n) perfume, fragrance, bouquet

relentless

(adj) unyielding, harsh, without pity (syn) stern, merciless, persistent, unremitting (ant) merciful, accommodating, indulgent

rivulet

(n) a small stream (syn) brook, creek, rill

squander

(v) to spend foolishly, waste (syn) misspend, dissipate (ant) save, economize, hoard, squirrel away

staccato

(adj) detached or disconnected in sound or style (syn) abrupt, disjointed (ant) continuous, flowing, unbroken

statute

(n) a law (syn) rule, ordinance, enactment