Unit 11

brevity

shortness

comport

to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement

concise

expressing much in a few words

demure

sober or serious in manner, modest

depreciation

a lessening in value; a belittling

deteriorate

to lower in quality or value; to wear away

divulge

to tell, reveal; to make public

enlightened

free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

forestall

to prevent by acting first

garble

to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible

proponent

one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief

quaver

to shake, tremble; to trill

recoil

to spring back, shrink; (n.) the act of springing back

recoup

to make up for, regain

reek

an unpleasant smell; (v.) to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression

relentless

unyielding, harsh, without pity

rivulet

a small stream

squander

to spend foolishly, waste

staccato

detached or disconnected in sound or style

statute

a law