Vocabulary – Unit 1

Adulterate (v.) – to corrupt or make worse by the addition of something of a lesser value The townspeople adulterated the water supply when oil was accidentally spilled down the drain.

Ambidextrous (adj.) – able to use both hands equally well; very skillful The pitcher is ambidextrous. He can throw the ball with his right hand as well as his left hand.

Augment (v.) – to make larger; increase The family augmented their house size by building two extra bedrooms at the back.

Bereft (adj,; part.) – deprived of; made unhappy through a loss Cinderella cried for hours and was bereft because she was not allowed to go to the ball.

Deploy (v.) – to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up Carter deployed his battleships in very strategic locations so that his friend Tucker would have a harder time winning the game.

Dour (adj.) – stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored Scrooge McDuck is a very dour man and not very popular with anyone except his nephews.

Fortitude (n.) – courage in facing difficulties The students had an immense amount of fortitude as they stuck out the busy school week and finally made it to the weekend.

Gape (v.) – to stare with open mouth; to open mouth wide; to open wide Clearly tired, the hippo gaped its mouth for a yawn, exciting the people on safari who were able to get a cool photo souveneir.

Gibe (v.) – to utter taunting words; (n.) – an expression of scorn The Frenchman gibed at the Englishman below and would not let him in the castle.

Guise (n.) – an external appearance, cover, mask The dog had had enough and needed a change. He decided to show up at his birthday under the guise of a birthday cake. Everybody loved his new look.

Insidious (adj.) – intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous Homer found himself in an insidious situation when the sharks began to circle him in the water.

Intimation (n.) – a hint, indirect suggestion The teacher gave a subtle intimation that maybe the students needed to study a little harder.

Opulent (adj.) – wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose The socialite spent a little too much money when she bought such an opulent car.

Pliable (adj.) – easily bent, flexible; easily influenced Play-doh was one of Evie’s favorite toys as a kid because it was so pliable that she could make it into anything.

Reiterate (v.) – to say again, repeat Dexter had asked Neal to reiterate how much the chocolate bars so often that Neal was beginning to think Dexter was not listening to him at all.

Stolid (adj.) – not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive Kristen Stewart is such a stolid person that most people think she only has one expression.

Tentative (adj.) – experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant The kitten took a tentative step from the bookcase to the window sill so as not to fall to the floor.

Unkempt (adj.) – not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude Many people say that Robert Pattinson is famous for his unkempt appearance because of the crazy hairdos he has when he shows up to movie premieres.

Verbatim (adj., adv.) – word for word; exactly as written or spoken It was very obvious that Steve was cheating when he copied Melanie’s paper verbatim.

Warily (adv.) – cautiously, with great care The princess warily kissed the frog, thinking that there was no way the story of him being a prince in disguise could be true.