Unit 1 Vocabulary

adage

(n.) a proverb, wise saying

syn: maxim, aphorism

bonanza

(n.) a rich mass of ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable, or rewarding; a source of wealth or prosperity; a very large amount; sudden profit or gain

syn: windfall

churlish

(adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude

syn: surly, ill-tempered

ant: courteous, civil, well-mannered

citadel

(n.) a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or commanding place

syn: fort, stronghold, bulwark, bastion

collaborate

(v.) to work with, work together

syn: team up, join forces

ant: work alone

decree

(n.) an order having the force of law; (v.) to issue such an order; to command firmly or forcefully

syn: (n.) proclamation, edict

ant: (v.) proclaim

discordant

(adj.) disagreeable in sound, jarring; lacking in harmony, conflicting

syn: grating, shrill, different, divergent, conflicting

ant: harmonious, in agreement

evolve

(v.) to develop gradually; to rise to a higher level

syn: unfold, emerge

ant: wither, atrophy

excerpt

(n.) a passage taken from a book, article, etc.; (v.) to take such a passage; to quote

syn: (n.) portion, section, extract

grope

(v.) to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly and uncertainly

syn: fumble for, cast about for

hover

(v.) to float or hang suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly over or around

syn: linger, waver, seesaw

ant: soar

jostle

(v.) to make or force one's way by pushing or elbowing; to bump, shove, brush against; to compete for

syn: push

laggard

(n.) a person who moves slowly or falls behind; (adj.) falling behind; slow to move, act, or respond

syn: (n.) slowpoke, straggler; (adj.) sluggish

ant: (n.) early bird; (adj.) swift, speedy, prompt

plaudits

(n. pl.) applause; enthusiastic praise or approval

syn: cheers, acclaim

ant: boos, disapproval, ridicule

preclude

(v.) to make impossible, prevent, shut out

syn: hinder, check, stop

ant: help, promote, facilitate

revert

(v.) to return, go back

syn: relapse, regress

ant: progress, advance

rubble

(n.) broken stone or bricks; ruins

syn: wreckage

servile

(adj.) of or relating to a slave; behaving like or suitable for a slave or a servant, menial; lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive

syn: slavish, groveling

ant: masterly, overbearing

vigil

(n.) a watch, especially at night; any period of watchful attention

wrangle

(v.) to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument; to herd; (n.) a noisy quarrel

syn: (v.) squabble, bicker

ant: (v.) agree, concur