Vocabulary Unit 4

Vocabulary Unit 4

Affiliated (with): (adj) associated, connected

ESLI is affiliated with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on this campus.

Affiliate (v)Affiliation (n)

Ascertain (v): to find out, to determine the truth of

A good detective will always ascertain the truth in any situation.

Attainment (n): accomplishment,the act of achieving

Getting your bachelor's degree is a great attainment!

Attain (v)

Bequeath (v): to give or pass on as an inheritance

I wish I had a rich aunt to bequeath me all her money!

Bequest (n)

Cogent (adj): forceful, convincing, relevant, to the point

When making a speech, it is essential that your main point is cogent and clear.

Converge (v): to move toward one point; approach nearer together

“Two roads [converged]* in a wood and I; I took the one less travelled by.” Robert Frost.

* The actual quote is “diverged,” which is an antonym. I have changed it to show how “converge” is used.

Convergence (n)

Disperse (v): to scatter, spread far and wide

The flock of birds dispersed across the sky.

Esteem (v): to regard highly(n): a highly favorable opinion (v) She esteemed her teacher highly.

(n) Good self-esteem is the most important part of a person's happiness.

Expunge (v): to erase, obliterate, destroy

When she broke up with her boyfriend, she expunged all evidence of their relationship from her apartment.

Finite (adj): having limits; lasting for a limited time

A person's life is finite, for all men must die.

Invulnerable (adj): not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack

The castle on the high rock was invulnerable to the hostile army.

Invulnerability (n)

Malevolent (adj): spiteful, showing ill will

Just before he ran over the dog, the man's smile became malevolent and frightening.Malevolence (n)

Nonchalant (adj): cool and confident, unconcerned

After he accidentally scratched the paint on his father's car, Jack acted nonchalant, hoping his father would think someone else did it.

Nonchalance (n)

Omniscient (adj): knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding

Most Christians believe that God is omniscient, and knows their most secret thoughts.

Omniscience (n)

Panacea (n): a remedy for all ills; a cure-all; an answer to all problems

Unfortunately, there is no panacea to the world's problems.

No matter how hard they try, scientists have yet to find a panacea for disease.

Scrupulous (adj): exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards The man was so scrupulous of his yard

that he cut his grass with scissors. Her scrupulous study habits helped her

pass the class with a perfect grade.

Skulk (v): to move about stealthily; to sneak

My cat likes to skulk under furniture waiting for someone to walk by so she can scratch them.

Supercilious (adj): proud and contemptuous; showing scorn due to a feeling of superiority

His supercilious behavior made him very hard to like.

Uncanny (adj): strange, mysterious, beyond explanation

His uncanny ability to find money lying around was very lucrative for him.

Venial (adj): easily excused; pardonable

It is a venial offense when a very small child steals a piece of candy, especially when his parents make him return it and apologize.