The first slide provides the vocabulary word. Use this to
begin thinking about the definition.
Introduction
Contents
The first click will reveal a context in which the word might
be used.
Infer the definition of the word by studying its context.
Introduction
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
The rebels captured after the unsuccessful coup faced inexorable
penalties.
inexorable
adj. unrelenting; unavoidablesyn: relentless; certain
ant: avoidable; preventableContents
UNIT Q1.3
Readers considered the critic’s ideas valuable, but regarded his presentation of
them as insipid.
insipid
adj. lacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulating
syn: flat; lifeless ant: challenging
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
Ferdinand projected a constantly irascible personality to keep people from
bothering him.
irascible
adj. easily angeredsyn: irritable; ill-tempered
ant: easygoingContents
UNIT Q1.3
Selma had seen too much unfairness and grief in the world and let her outlook
become jaundiced.
jaundiced
adj. prejudiced; hostilesyn: skeptical; cynical ant: believing; trusting
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
The mayor was known for his jaunty walk and big cigar.
jaunty
adj. having a buoyant, self-confident air; brisk and crisp
syn: confident; poisedContents
UNIT Q1.3
The crew jettisoned the smoldering cargo before it caught fire and brought
the entire plane down.
jettison
v. to cast overboard; to discardsyn: deploy; throw away
ant: retainContents
UNIT Q1.3
Jingoism is less prevalent among people whose children are old enough to go to
war.
jingoism
n. extreme, chauvinistic patriotism, often favoring an aggressive, warlike foreign
policyContents
UNIT Q1.3
While Sam and Janet enjoyed a social libation or two, Ariadne waited soberly in
the car as the designated driver.
libation
n. a drink, especially an alcoholic onesyn: intoxicant
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
Because its government had never formed an army, the island nation had to employ
mercenaries to defend citizens from pirates and raiders.
mercenary
n. a professional soldier hired by a foreign army
ant: volunteerContents
UNIT Q1.3
Forty years of crafting meticulous jewelry had taken a toll on Remi’s eyes.
meticulous
adj. extremely, sometimes excessively, careful about small details; precise
syn: fastidious ant: sloppy
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
The biographer had to make sense of a motley collection of his subject’s papers.
motley
adj. made up of dissimilar parts; being of many colorssyn: varied
ant: uniform; homogeneous; similarContents
UNIT Q1.3
Negligence caused Blair to step on his rake and whack himself in the head with
the handle.
negligence
n. careless neglect, often resulting in injury
syn: carelessness ant: care; attention
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
Art appreciation consists in recognizing and valuing a master painter’s nuances
of light and shadow.
nuance
n. a slight or subtle degree of differencesyn: gradation; shade
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
Officious people never seem to provide assistance when you really do need it.
officious
adj. excessively eager to deliver unasked-for or unwanted help
syn: meddlesome; interferingContents
UNIT Q1.3
Many regard Tolstoy’s War and Peace as his magnum opus, his great work.
opus
n. a creative work, especially a numbered composition (“opus 3” would be a
composer’s third composition; plural: opera)
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
The ostensible reason for Marie’s good will was charity, but she was really just
seeking public approval.
ostensible
adj. professed but not necessarily truesyn: supposed
ant: actualContents
UNIT Q1.3
The submarine crew ostracized the sailor they suspected of being a spy.
ostracize
v. to banish; to shut out from a group or society by common consent
syn: exile ant: accept
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
A meeting of calm, irascible opponents exploded into unproductive rancor.
rancor
n. extreme hatred or ill willsyn: animosity; enmity ant: amity; sympathy
Contents
UNIT Q1.3
The engineer threw the brake lever forward, and the engine’s steel wheels
emitted a strident howl as they froze and slid down the rails amid a shower of
sparks.
strident
adj. harsh sounding; gratingsyn: shrill
ant: soothingContents