Sadlier Level D Unit 14

annex

(v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate; (n.) an attachment or addition (The two nations protested when their militant neighbor _____ the disputed territory.) (All back issues of magazines are kept next door on the second floor of the new library _____.)

cleave

(v.) to cut or split open; to cling to (It is possible to ______ a ripe coconut neatly in two with just one swing of a machete.)

cordial

(adj.) in a friendly manner, hearty; cheery; (n.) a liqueur (Our aunt's _______ welcome made us all feel right at home in her huge, drafty, Victorian house.) (Grasshopper pie is made not with grasshoppers but with creme de menthe, a _______.)

cornerstone

(n.) the starting point of a building; a fundamental principle or element (The ___________ of the American judicial system is the presumption of innocence.)

debacle

(n.) an overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure (After the _______ of their crushing loss in the World Series, the team vowed to return next year.)

devitalize

(v.) to make weak or lifeless (The long, dark winter, with its cold rain and gloomy skies, __________ her usually buoyant spirit.)

embroil

(v.) to involve in a conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion (The last thing I want is to _______ myself in a dispute between two of my best friends.)

exonerate

(v.) to clear from a charge or accusation (The prisoner was set free after ten years, thanks to new evidence that _________ him of all charges.)

glib

(adj.) ready and fluent in speech; thoughtless, insincere (The salesman had such ____ answers to every objection that I grew extremely skeptical of his claims.)

haphazard

(adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking order (The _________ arrangement of facts in his presentation left his listeners completely confused.)

improvise

(v.) to compose or perform without preparation; to construct from available materials (After the earthquake, stunned villagers were forced to _________ shelters from the debris.)

incite

(v.) to rouse, stir up, urge on (Company agents were hired to ______ a riot at the steelworkers' protest demonstrations.)

influx

(n.) a coming in, inflow (An ______ of arctic air has brought unseasonably cold weather to half the country.)

pallor

(n.) an extreme or unnatural paleness ("A ghost!" the girl gasped, her ______ making her look much like a ghost herself as she ran away.)

pedigree

(n.) a list of ancestors, family tree; the history or origins of something (Despite his impressive ________ the colt chowed little enthusiasm for racing.)

precipitous

(adj.) very steep (The novice hikers were very nervous as they carefully negotiated the ___________ mountain trail.)

profuse

(adj.) very abundant; given or flowing freely (How can I stay upset with someone when they are so sincere and _______ with their apologies?)

reconcile

(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign (oneself) (After so many years of feuding, it will be difficult for the brothers to _________ and begin anew.)

shackle

(v.) to put into chains; (N., usually pl.) a chain, fetter (The guards attempted to _______ the prisoner before allowing him to board the waiting airplane.) (His wicked plot discovered, the prince was bound in _______, and taken to the dank dungeon.)

threadbare

(adj.) shabby, old and worn (My brother has carefully collected a closetful of faded, __________ jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers.)