Unit 9 Vocabulary

apt

(adj.) suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn

syn: appropriate, fit, liable

ant: inappropriate, slow

awry

(adj., adv.) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped for course

syn: (adj.) crooked, askew, amiss

ant: (adj.) straight, symmetrical

bludgeon

(n.) a short club used as a weapon; (v.) to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point

syn: (n.) cudgel; (v.) clobber, clout

capitulate

(v.) to end resistance, give up, throw in the towel

syn: hold out, persist

chafe

(v.) to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against; (n.) a sore or injury caused by rubbing

defile

(v., trans.) to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; (v., intrans) to march in a single line or in columns; (n.) a narrow passage, gorge, canyon

dire

(adj.) dreadful, causing fear or suffering; warning of trouble to come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster

syn: disastrous, ominous, sinister, urgent

ant: favorable, auspicious, beneficial

disarming

(adj.) charming, tending to soften unfriendliness or suspicion

syn: endearing, winning

ant: alarming, troubling, disquieting

disgruntled

(adj., part) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed

syn: displeased, grumpy, surly

ant: pleased, satisfied, content

encroach

(v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass

syn: intrude, infringe

endow

(v.) to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality

syn: grant, bestow, present, bequeath

ant: take away, deprive

fend

(v.) to ward off, resist; to get along, manage

syn: stave off, cope

impunity

(n.) freedom from punishment

syn: exemption from penalty, immunity

mien

(n.) air, manner; appearance; expression

syn: look, bearing

penal

(adj.) having to do with punishment

syn: disciplinary

pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point

syn: germane, apropos

ant: unrelated, irrelevant, immaterial

predominant

(adj.) the greatest in strength or power; most common

syn: chief, major, paramount, prevalent

ant: secondary, minor, subsidiary, rare

prodigy

(n.) something wonderful or marvelous; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent

syn: marvel, wonder, genius

ant: dumbbell, dunce, dullard

recluse

(n.) a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world

syn: hermit

renown

(n.) fame, glory

syn: reputation, celebrity, prestige

ant: obscurity, infamy, notoriety