Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Unit 8B

Preposterous

(adj.) ridiculous, senseless

Hint: “pre” means before, “post” means after, when you put them together it really is ridiculous

Sentence

It is preposterous to believe that the end of the world will occur in 2012 simply because the ancient Mayan calendar ends that year.

Pugnacious

(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting Hint: a pug looks like he’s been fignting

Sentence

Many of the attendants at the Anger Management Class begin with a pugnacious manner and leave with a calmer approach to life.

Rabid

(adj.) furious, violently intense, infected with rabies

Hint: Rabid = Really Bad Hint: an animal infected with rabies behaves violently

Sentence

When Mr. James was rear ended in a minor collision he became rabid; he was threatening and gesturing at the other driver.

Realm

(n.) a kingdom; a region or field of study

Sentence

In the realm of physics Albert Einstein’s contributions are invaluable.

Rejuvenate

(v.) to make young again; to make like new

Hint: prefix Re means again and the root word Juv means youth (as in juvenile)

Sentence

After two weeks at the spa Marge felt rejuvenated.

Remunerate

(v.) to reward, reimburse

Hint: think re”money”rate

Sentence

Workers may strike if they feel they are not being remunerated at a fair level of pay.

Sparse

(adj.) meager,few and far between, scattered

Sentence

During the Irish potato famine, many people starved because the crops produced were very sparse.

Sterling

(adj.) genuine, excellent; made of silver pure

Hint: “real sterling silver is excellent quality”

Sentence

Ellen has a sterling reputation as a babysitter and is often booked weeks in advance.

Venture

(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; to expose to danger;

(v.) to dare

Hint: a “venture” is more dangerous than an “adventure”

Sentence

A pyramid scheme is a very lucrative but illegal venture in which investors are paid off by later investors until people realize that the product they invested in does not exist.

Warp

(v.) to twist out of shape; (n.) an abnormality Hint: when you “wrap” something you

“warp” the paper

Sentence

(v.) The warping of the wood planks caused the tree house to bend to the left.

(n.) To enjoy the Three Stooges it may help to have a warp in your sense of humor.