Vocabulary Workshop Level D Unit 15

abase

(v.) to lower in esteem, degrade; to humble

Syn: lower, humiliate, prostrate, demean.

actuate

(v.) to move to action; to impel

Syn: incite, instigate.

avert

(v.) to turn aside, turn away; to prevent, avoid

Syn: stop, deflect, ward off

boorish

(adj.) rude, unrefined; clumsy

Syn: vulgar, crude, uncouth, ill-mannered, gauche.

brunt

(n.) the main impact, force, or burden

Syn: blow, shock.

combatant

(n.) a fighter; (adj.) engaged in fighting

Syn: soldier, disputant, warrior; hostile, battling.

dormant

(adj.) inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping

Syn: resting, still, quiescent.

dubious

(adj.) causing uncertainty or suspicion; in a doubtful or uncertain state of mind, hesitant

Syn: questionable, suspect, unsettled, undecided.

harangue

(v.) to deliver a loud, ranting speech; (n.) a loud speech

Syn: rant, lecture; diatribe.

harry

(v.) to make a destructive raid on; to torment, harass

Syn: hound, pillage, ravage.

impenitent

(adj.) not feeling remorse or sorrow for errors or offenses

Syn: remorseless, unrepentant, incorrigible.

knave

(n.) a tricky, unprincipled, or deceitful fellow

Syn: rascal, rogue, miscreant.

legion

(n.) a large military force; any large group or number; (adj.) many, numerous

Syn: multitude, host, throng, division, regiment.

liberality

(n.) generosity, generous act; breadth of mind or outlook

Syn: magnanimity, broad-mindedness.

plaintiff

(n.) one who begins a lawsuit

Syn: complainant

probe

(v.) to examine, investigate thoroughly; (n.) an investigation; a device used to explore or examine

Syn: explore, inquiry, detector.

protract

(v.) to draw out or lengthen in space or time

Syn: elongate, spin out.

quarry

(v.) to cut or take from (or as if from) a quarry; (n.) a place from which stone is taken; something that is hunted or pursued

Syn: prey, game, victim, excavation, mine.

spurn

(v.) to refuse with scorn, disdain

Syn: turn down, decline, snub, repudiate.

subterfuge

(n.) an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something

Syn: dodge, blind, deception, artifice.