Chapter 2 Group 1 Vocab

Vocabulary for the College-Bound Student

Ameliorate (v.)

become better; make better; improve; enhance

Amelioration (n.)

improvement

Conserve (v.)

keep from waste, loss, or decay; save

Conservation (n.)

preservation from loss, injury, or waste

Conservationist (n.)

one who advocates the conservation of natural resources

Detriment (n.)

injury, damage, or something that causes it; disadvantage

Detrimental (adj.)

harmful; damaging

Exotic (adj.)

1. introduced from another country; foreign

2. strikingly unusual; strange

Folly (n.)

lack of good sense; foolish action or undertaking

Formerly (adj.)

in an earlier period; previously

Former (adj.)

preceding; previous

Harmony (n.)

peaceable or friendly relations; accord; agreement; tranquility; concord

Harmonious (adj.)

friendly; amicable

Ignore (v.)

refuse to take notice of; disregard

Ignoramus (n.)

ignorant, stupid person; dunce; dolt; dullard; nincompoop

Impediment (n.)

something that hinders or obstructs; hinderance; obstacle

Impede (v.)

interfere with or slow the progress of; hinder; obstruct

Indolent (adj.)

disposed to avoid exertion; lazy; idle; lethargic

Indolence (n.)

idleness; laziness

Intact (adj.)

untouched by anything that damages or diminishes; left complete or entire; uninjured

Invalid (adj.)

not binding in law; having no force or effect; void; nugatory

Invalidate (v.)

abolish; annul

Invalid (n.)

sickly or disabled person

Noncarcinogenic (adj.)

not producing, or tending to produce cancer

Parsimonious (adj.)

unduly sparing in the spending of money; stingy; miserly; tightfisted

Parsimony (n.)

stinginess; parsimoniousness

Raze (v.)

destroy utterly by tearing down; demolish; level

Reticent (adj.)

inclined to be silent or secretive; uncommunicative; reserved

Reticence (n.)

restraint in communicating

Retire (v.)

1. withdraw from active duty or business

2. go to bed

Retort (v.)

answer; reply sharply or angrily

Retort (n.)

quick, witty, or sharp reply; answer

Subvert (v.)

overturn or overthrow from the foundation; undermine

Subversion (n.)

sabotage; undermining

Tractable (adj.)

easily led, taught, or controlled; yielding; docile; amenable

Tractability (n.)

obedience