UNIT Two Grade Seven

1. available ( adj) ready for use; at hand syn: obtainable, on hand ant: unobtainable, not to be had Ex. Calculators are available for the majority of the PSSA test.

2. cater( v) to satisfy the needs of, try to make things easy and pleasant; to supply food and service syn: pamper, indulge, gratify, provide ant: frustrate, deny, refuse Ex. To cater to the student on crutches, the student left class a few minutes early to avoid the crowded halls.

3. customary ( adj) usual, expected, routine syn: regular, normal, traditional ant: strange, odd, unusual, untraditional Ex. It is customary that males will remove their hats during the playing of the “National Anthem.”

4. dissuade (v) to persuade not to do something syn: discourage, talk out of ant: persuade, talk into Ex. You should dissuade your friends from doing things that would be harmful.

5. entrepreneur (n) a person who starts up and takes on the risk of a business syn: business person, impresario Ex. Bill Gates was the entrepreneur who began Microsoft.

6. firebrand (n) a piece of burning wood; a troublemaker; an extremely energetic or emotional person. syn: hothead, agitator, rabble- rouser ant: peacemaker, pacifier, conciliator Ex. The Boston Tea Party was an act brought on by firebrands.

7. hazard (n) risk, peril (v) to expose to danger or harm; to gamble syn: (n) danger (v) venture Ex. I could not hazard a guess of what was inside the wrapped box.

8. homicide (n) the killing of one person by another syn: manslaughter, murder Ex. The news each day often tells of a new homicide.

9. indifference (n) lack of interest or concern syn: apathy, unconcern ant: interest, concern, enthusiasm Ex. Unfortunately some students feel an indifference toward reading. They do not understand how important reading will be in all aspects of their lives.

10. indignant (adj) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy, or mean syn: offended, resentful, outraged, exasperated ant: pleased, delighted, overjoyed, elated Ex. Animal lovers become very indignant when they hear of a case of animal abuse.

11. indispensable (adj)absolutely necessary, not to be neglected syn: essential, crucial, vital ant: unnecessary, nonessential Ex. Sunshine is indispensable to most plants.

12. lubricate (v) to apply oil or grease; to make smooth, slippery, or easier to use syn: oil, grease Ex. Oil must be added to the frying pan to lubricate it so the food will not stick to its surface.

13. mutual (adj) shared, felt, or shown equally by two or more syn: two-sided, joint, shared, reciprocal ant: one-sided, unilateral Ex. The two people came to a mutual agreement.

14. pelt (v) to throw a stream of things; to strike successively, to hurry syn: bombard, shower, pepper Ex. The rain pelted against the car’s windshield.

15. plague (n) an easily spread disease causing a large number of deaths; a widespread evil (v) to annoy or bother syn: (n) epidemic, pestilence (v) pester, vex ant: (n) boon, blessing Ex. The heat plagued the carpenters and made it nearly impossible for them to complete their job.

16. poised (adj- part.) balanced, suspended; calm, controlled; ready for action syn: collected, self-confident, ready ant: nervous, tense Ex. Despite having to speak in front of a large crowd for the first time, she was quite poised.

17. regime (n) a government in power; a form or system of rule or management; a period of rule syn: administration, rule Ex. There will be a new regime after the presidential election has been decided.

18. retard (v) to make slow, delay, hold back syn: slow down, restrain, impede ant: hasten, speed up Ex. The large amount of snow falling in just a few hours will retard traffic.

19. transparent (adj) allowing light to pass through; easily recognized or understood; easily seen through or detected syn: clear, translucent, obvious ant: frosted, sooty, smoky, unclear, indistinct Ex. The plastic wrap is transparent.

20. unscathed (adj) wholly unharmed, not injured syn: unhurt, sound, intact, unimpaired ant: injured, damaged, harmed, hurt Ex. Most people emerged from the minor earthquake unscathed.