VCBS 1-15

abrupt

1. broken off; lacking in continuity; steep 2. sudden; quick and unexpected

corrupt (adj.)

changed ("broken to pieces") from good to bad; vicious

corrupt (v.)

change ("break to pieces") from good to bad; debase; pervert; falsify

disrupt

break apart; cause disorder

erupt

burst or break out

incorruptible

inflexibly honest; incapable of being corrupted or bribed

interrupt

break into or between; hinder stop

rupture

1. break; breaking 2. hostility

bactericide

substance that kills bacteria

biocide

substance that destroys many different organisms

fratricide

act of killing (or killer of) one's brother

fungicide

substance that kills fungi or inhibits their growth

genocide

deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group

germicide

substance that kills germs

herbicide

substance that kills plants

homicide

killing of one human by another

infanticide

act of killing (or killer of) an infant

insecticide

substance that kills insects

matricide

act of killing (or killer of) one's mother

patricide

act of killing (or killer of) one's father

pesticide

substance that kills rats, insects, bacteria, etc.

regicide

act of killing (or killer of) a king

sororicide

act of killing (or killer of) one's sister

suicide

act of killing (or killer of) one's self

tyrannicide

act of killing ( or killer of) a tyrant

astringent (adj.)

1. drawing (the tissues) tightly together 2. stern; austere

astringent (n.)

substance that shrinks the tissues and checks flow of blood

boa constrictor

snake that "constricts" or crushes its prey in its coils

constrict

draw together; render narrower; shrink

restrict

keep within limits; confine

stricture

1. adverse criticism; censure 2. restriction

stringent

strict; rigid; severe

unrestricted

1. not confined within bounds; free 2. open to all

carnivore

flesh-eating animal

carnivorous

flesh-eating

devour

1. eat greedily or ravenously 2. seize upon and destroy

frugivorous

feeding on fruit

herbivore

plant-eating animal

herbivorous

dependent on plants as food

insectivorous

dependent on insects as food

omnivore

person or animal that eats everything

omnivorous

1\.eating everything, both plant and animal substances 2. avidly taking in everything, as an _____ reader

voracious

1. greedy in eating 2. insatiable, as a ___ appetite

convivial

fond of eating and drinking with friends; sociable; jovial; hospitable

revive

bring back to life; restore

survive

outlive; remain alive after

vivacious

lively in temper or conduct

vivacity

liveliness of spirit

vivid

1. having the vigor and spirit of life 2. sharp and clear; graphic

vivify

enliven; make vivid

vivisection

operation on a living animal for scientific investigation

contortionist

person who can twist his or her body into odd postures

distort

1. twist out of shape; contort 2. twist out of the true meaning; misrepresent; pervert; falsify

extort

wrest from a person by force

retort (v.)

reply quicly or sharply

retort (n.)

quick, witty, or cutting reply

torsion

act of twisting; stress due to twisting forces exerted on a body

tortuous

1. full of twist or curves; winding, as a ______ road 2. tricky; crooked; circuitous

torture (v.)

1. wrench; twist 2. inflect severe pain upon

torture (n.)

anguish of body or mind; agony

convict (v.)

prove guilty; show conclusively to be guilty

convict (n.)

person serving a prison sentence

conviction

1. state of having been judged guilty of an offense 2. strong belief

convince

persuade or show conclusively by arguement or proof

evict

1. expel by legal process, as to ____ a tenant 2. oust

evince

show clearly; disclose; reveal

invincible

incapable of being conquered

vanquish

overcome in battle; conquer; defeat

victor

winner; conqueror

fraction

one or more of the equal parts of a whole; fragment

fractious

apt to break out into passion; cross; irritable

fracture

1. break or crack 2. breaking of a bone

fragile

easily broken; frail; delicate

fragment

part broken off

infraction

act of breaking; breach; violation, as an \____ of a law

refract

bend from a straight path

refractory

resisting; intractable; hard to manage, as a \___ mule

omnibus (adj.)

covering many things at once, as an \_____ bill

omnibus (n.)

1. bus 2. book covering a variety of works by one author, as a Hemingway ____

omnifarious

of all varieties, forms, or kinds

omnific

all-creating

omnipotent

unlimited in power; almighty

omnipresent

present everywhere at the same time; ubiquitous

omniscient

knowing everything

deflect

turn aside

flex

bend, as to \___ a limb

flexible

pliable; not rigid; tractable

flexor

muscle that serves to bend a limb

genuflect

bend the knee; touch the right knee to the ground, as in worship

inflection

change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice

inflexibility

rigidity; firmness

reflect

1. throw back light rays, as from a mirror 2. think

reflex

involuntary response to a stimulus; for example, sneezing is a \____

detention

act of keeping back or detaining

impertinent

1. irrelevant; not pertinent; inappropriate 2. rude

pertinacious

adhering firmly to a purpose or opinion; very persistent

pertinent

having to do with the matter at hand; relevent

retentive

tenacious; able to retain or remember

retinue

group of followers or assistants attending a distinguished person

tenacity

firmness in holding fast; persistence