Early American Lit Midterm - Unit 1-2 Vocab

Adulterate

(verb) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

adulterates

Hospitals take strict precautions to assure that nothing ___ the blood supply

Ambidextrous

(adjective) able to use both hands equally well, very skillful, deceitful, hypocritical

ambidextrous

Occasionally a teacher will come across a child who displays ___ abilities when taught to write

Augment

(verb) to make larger, increase

augment

Many couples have to ___ their income in order to pay the mortgage on a new home

Bereft

(adjective) deprived of, made unhappy through a loss

bereft

Individuals who live to be very old may eventually find themselves completely ___ of friends and family

Dour

(adjective) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

dour

Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel *Hard Times* is an example of a character with a __**___**__ and sullen disposition

Fortitude

(noun) courage in facing difficulties

fortitude

The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable ___ during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses

Gape

(verb) to stare with open mouth, to open the mouth wide, to open wide

gape

First-time visitors to Niagara Falls can be expected to ___ at the spectacular sights nature has provided for them

Guise

(noun) an external appearance, cover, or mask

guise

The thieves gained entry to the home by presenting themselves in the ___ of police officers

Intimation

(noun) a hint, indirect suggestion

Intimation

They were too proud to give any ___ of their financial difficulties

Opulent

(adjective) wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose

opulent

The tour guide showed us the ___ living quarters of the royal family

Pliable

(adjective) easily bent, flexible, easily influenced

pliable

Spools of ___ copper wire are standard equipment for many kinds of maintenance workers, including electricians

Tentative

(adjective) experimental in nature, uncertain, hesitant

tentative

Negotiators have come up with a ___ agreement that will keep both sides at the bargaining table past the strike deadline

Unkempt

(adjective) not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude

unkempt

According to my parents, the latest fashions make my friends and I look ___

Verbatim

(adjective/adverb) word for word, exactly as written or spoken

verbatim

Newspapers often publish the ___ text of an important political speech

Warily

(adjective) cautiously, with great care

warily

The hikers made their way ___ up the steep and rocky trail

Amicable

(adjective) peaceable, friendly

amicable

Sometimes mediation by a neutral individual can lead to an __**___**__ settlement of a dispute

Averse

(adjective) having a deep-seated distaste, opposed, unwilling

averse

You are not likely to become a marathon runner if you are __**___**__ to strenuous exercise

Belligerent

(adjective) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive

belligerent

I did not expect such a __**___**__ answer to my request for directions

Benevolent

(adjective) kindly, charitable

benevolent

The newcomers had nothing but ___ feelings toward all their neighbors

Cursory

(adjective) hastily, not thorough

cursory

The mayor gave a final ___ glance at the text of her speech before mounting the podium

Duplicity

(noun) treachery, deceitfulness

duplicity

We found it difficult to believe that our good friend could be capable of such ___

Extol

(verb) to praise extravagantly

extol

Many inspiring stories and plays have been written that ___ the heroic deeds of Joan of Arc

Feasible

(adjective) possible, able to be done

feasible

Our city needs to develop a ___ plan of action for dealing with storms and other emergencies

Grimace

(noun) a wry face, facial distortion

(verb) to make a wry face

grimace

The ___ of the refugee in the photograph reveals the pain of homelessness

grimace

Most people ___ at the meer sound of a dentist’s drill

Impervious

(adjective) not affected or hurt by, admitting of no passage or entrance

impervious

It is best to store flour in a container with a plastic cover that is ___ to moisture

Jeopardy

(noun) danger

jeopardy

Experienced mountaineers know that a single mistake can put an entire expedition in serious ___

Meticulous

(adjective) extremely careful, particular about details

meticulous

If you have a full-time job outside the home, you may find it exceedingly difficult to be a ___ housekeeper

Nostalgia

(noun) a longing for something past, homesickness

nostalgia

Looking at old scrapbooks and reading old letters can bring on a vague sense of ___ for days gone by and friends no longer near

Scrutinize

(verb) to examine closely

scrutinize

Lawyers are paid to __**___**__ legal papers and explain the fine print to their clients

Tepid

(adjective) lukewarm, unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

tepid

A cup of __**___**__ tea will not warm you up on a chilly morning