World Lit. Vocabulary Level E Unit 14

alacrity (n) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action(n) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action Synonyms: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celeritySynonyms: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity Antonyms: reluctance,Antonyms: reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy unwillingness, hesitancy

alleviate (v) to relieve, make more bearable(v) to relieve, make more bearable Synonyms: lessen, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuageSynonyms: lessen, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage

antithesis (n) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast(n) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast Synonyms: contrary, antipodeSynonyms: contrary, antipode

appall (v) to fill with dismay or horror(v) to fill with dismay or horror Synonyms: shock, stun, stupefy, horrifySynonyms: shock, stun, stupefy, horrify Antonyms: please, cheer, gladden,Antonyms: please, cheer, gladden, elate, exhilarate elate, exhilarate

bellicose (adj) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome(adj) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome Synonyms: aggressive, combative, belligerentSynonyms: aggressive, combative, belligerent Antonyms: amicable, peaceable,Antonyms: amicable, peaceable, conciliatory, pacific conciliatory, pacific Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad

disparage (v) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue(v) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue Synonyms: degrade, decry, run down, underrateSynonyms: degrade, decry, run down, underrate Antonyms: praise, extol, laud,Antonyms: praise, extol, laud, plug plug

dissonant (adj) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds(adj) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds Synonyms: grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilableSynonyms: grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilable Antonyms: harmonious,Antonyms: harmonious, agreeing, euphonious agreeing, euphonious

droll (adj) amusingly odd(adj) amusingly odd Synonyms: comical, humorous, whimsical, zanySynonyms: comical, humorous, whimsical, zany Antonyms: humorless, solemn,Antonyms: humorless, solemn, dour dour

edict (n) an order issued by someone in authority(n) an order issued by someone in authority Synonyms: command, decree, proclamationSynonyms: command, decree, proclamation

elucidate (v) to clarify, explain(v) to clarify, explain Synonyms: interpret, expound, explicateSynonyms: interpret, expound, explicate Antonyms: obscure, becloud,Antonyms: obscure, becloud, muddy, obfuscate muddy, obfuscate

laud (v) to praise(v) to praise Synonyms: hail, extol, glorify, exaltSynonyms: hail, extol, glorify, exalt Antonyms: criticize, censure,Antonyms: criticize, censure, belittle, disparage belittle, disparage

loll (v) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop(v) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop Synonyms: loaf, loiter, sag, dangleSynonyms: loaf, loiter, sag, dangle

loquacious (adj) talkative, wordy; fond of talking(adj) talkative, wordy; fond of talking Synonyms: gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long- windedSynonyms: gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long- winded Antonyms: silent, reticent,Antonyms: silent, reticent, closemouthed, terse, taciturn closemouthed, terse, taciturn

magnanimous (adj) generous in forgiving, above small meanness(adj) generous in forgiving, above small meanness Synonyms: unselfish, charitable, noble, bigheartedSynonyms: unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted Antonyms: petty, selfish,Antonyms: petty, selfish, unforgiving, spiteful unforgiving, spiteful

mandatory (adj) required, obligatory(adj) required, obligatory Synonyms: compulsory, requisite, imperativeSynonyms: compulsory, requisite, imperative Antonyms: optional, voluntary,Antonyms: optional, voluntary, discretionary discretionary

nondescript (adj) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified(adj) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified Synonyms: plain, unremarkable,Synonyms: plain, unremarkable, unimpressive unimpressive Antonyms: distinctive, remarkable,Antonyms: distinctive, remarkable, vivid, prepossessing vivid, prepossessing

phlegmatic (adj) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional(adj) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional Synonyms: lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassiveSynonyms: lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassive Antonyms: emotional, sensitive,Antonyms: emotional, sensitive, thin-skinned, excitable thin-skinned, excitable

rescind (v) to repeal, cancel(v) to repeal, cancel Synonyms: withdraw, revoke, retract, annul, abrogateSynonyms: withdraw, revoke, retract, annul, abrogate Antonyms: affirm, endorse,Antonyms: affirm, endorse, uphold, ratify uphold, ratify

vivacious (adj) lively, sprightly, full of energy(adj) lively, sprightly, full of energy Synonyms: spirited, animated, ebullientSynonyms: spirited, animated, ebullient Antonyms: dull, spiritless,Antonyms: dull, spiritless, listless, indolent, languid listless, indolent, languid

whet (v) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager(v) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager Synonyms: hone, excite, stimulateSynonyms: hone, excite, stimulate Antonyms: dull, blunt, stifle,Antonyms: dull, blunt, stifle, dampen dampen