Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Level D, Unit 8

assurance

(n)a pledge, freedom from doubt, self-confidence

Syn. promise, sureness, poise, self-possession

Antonyms: uncertainty, doubt, insecurity

asylum

(n)an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc., a place of safety.

syn: sanatorium, sanctuary, refuge

console

(v) to comfort (n) the keyboard of an organ,

a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device.

syn: (v) soothe, solace, alleviate

ant: (v) distress, aggravate, bother, vex, torment

dilate

(v) to make or become larger or wider, to expand

upon.

syn: enlarge, expand, swell, prolong

ant: contract, compress, constrict.

dross

(n) refuse, waste products

syn: rubbish, trash, detritus, dregs, scum

dwindle

(v) to lessen, diminish

syn: decrease, shrink, fade, peter out

ant: increase, enlarge, swell, proliferate

flippant

(adj) lacking in seriousness, disrespectful, saucy

syn: frivolous, impudent, impertinent, insolent

ant: serious, respectful, deferential, obsequious

immunity

(n) resistance to disease, freedom from some change or obligation.

syn: exemption, impunity

ant: vulnerability, susceptibility, exposure

institute

(v) to establish, set up, (n) an organization for

the promotion of learning.

syn: (v) found, bring about, (n) academy

ant: (v) terminate, discontinue, demolish, raze.

liability

(n) a debt, something disadvantageous

syn: handicap, difficulty, impediment, drawback

ant: advantage, asset

preposterous

(adj) ridiculous, senseless

syn: nonsensical, absurd, incredible

ant: sensible, reasonable, realistic, plausible

pugnacious

(adj) quarrelsome, fond of fighting

syn: argumentative, combative, belligerent

ant: peace-loving, friendly, amicable, congenial

rabid

(adj) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme, mad, infected with rabies.

syn: fanatical, zealous, raving, infuriated, berserk,

ant: moderate, restrained, blase, indifferent

realm

n. a kingdom; a region or field of study

syn: domain, duchy, bailiwick, jurisdiction

rejuvenate

(v) to make young again; to make like new

syn: revitalize, renew

ant: wear out, exhaust, enervate, debilitate

remunerate

(v) to reward, pay, reimburse

syn: compensate, satisfy, profit, benefit

sparse

(adj) meager, scant; scattered

syn: thin, scanty, few and far between

ant: plentiful, abundant, profuse, teeming

sterling

(adj) genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness

syn: first-rate, outstanding, worthy, pure.

ant: mediocre, shoddy, second-rate, sham

venture

(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; (v.) to expose to danger; to dare

syn: (n) gamble, (v) try, chance, undertake

ant: (v) withdraw, retire, shrink from, shy away

warp

(v) to twist out of shape (n) an abnormality

syn: (v) bend, distort, misshape, (n) irregularity

ant: (v) straighten, unbend, rectify