Unit 9 vocabulary

accelerate

(v.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly

ant -slow down

syn- fast

He accelerated once the cars started moving.

bystander

(n.) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part

syn -onlooker

ant -active

We had bystanders view our classrooms.

canvass

(v.) to go through an area in order to produce votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss

syn- survey

The adults went door to door canvasing

casual

(adj.) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal

ant -formal

syn -offhand

I just dressed casual for school today

downtrodden

(adj.) treated unfairly and cruelly, oppressed

ant -uplifted

Syn- mistreated

They downtrodden the dogs in the pound.

entice

(v.) to attract, tempt

syn- lure

ant -sickness

we enticed the kids to brush their teeth.

erode

(v.) to wear away gradually, eat away

syn -corrode

ant- nurture

The rocks in the river eroded over time.

flounder

(v.) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way

syn -wallow

He floundered around the halls dropping his books.

graphic

(adj.) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts

syn- color full

ant -dull

te painting was such a beautiful and graphic sight.

gruesome

(adj.) horrible, revolting, ghastly

syn- gory

ant -pleasant

The scene was a gruesome sight for young children.

melancholy

(adj.) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (n.) sadness, gloominess

syn -adj depressed n decoin

ant -adj merry n py

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ordeal

(n.) a difficult or painful experience, a trail

syn -hardship

ant -pleasure

parch

(v.) to make dry and thirsty; to shrivel with heat

syn -dry up

ant -soak

persist

(v.) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last, remain

syn- keep at

ant - give up

puny

(adj.) of less than normal strength or size; of no importance

ant -roburst

syn -small

quibble

(v.) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections; (n.)a petty objection

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ratify

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, and confirm

syn -sanction

ant -cancel

regal

(adj.) royal, kinglike; fit for a king

ant -humble

syn -august

stifle

(v.) to smother, prevent from breathing; hold back, or choke off

syn -snuff

ant- encourage

vital

(adj.) having a life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

syn -fundment

ant- unnecessary