P. 90 Vocabulary Lesson 7

Austere (adj): severe or stern in manner; without luxury or adornment, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor Soldiers live in austere surroundings when they are at war. Financial austerity (n) means being very careful how you spend your money. Austerity (n): the state or condition of being austere. b/web/ F-9863L-001.jpg

Beneficent (adj): performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits; doing good Truly beneficent people make the world a little better with every act of kindness and generosity they commit. d7cblo1_400.jpg Homepage/Feeding-the-Hungry-and-Sheltering-the-Homeless.JPG

Cadaverous (adj): pale, gaunt; resembling a corpse The homeless young man was cadaverous and starving when he came into the shelter. He is so cadaverously thin you can see the bones of his face. Comes from the word ‘cadaver,’ meaning corpse. content/uploads//2012/07/petercushing.jpg

Concoct (v): to prepare by combining ingredients; to devise, invent, fabricate The chef has concocted a new dish that will make your mouth water! What crazy concoction have you thought up this time? Scientist-Mixing-A-Concoction jpg jpg

Crass (adj): coarse, unfeeling, stupid Provincial newcomers to the city often say crass things without realizing they are being rude. The administration’s crass indifference to our problems makes us believe we have no choice but to quit. content/uploads/mr-rude.jpg

Debase (v): to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, adulterate; to cause to deteriorate It is never good when a country decides to debase its own currency in order the effect the economy. Do not debase your own values just to make people like you. Debasement (n) Debasing (adj)

Desecrate (v): to commit sacrilege upon; treat irreverently; to contaminate It is a terrible thing in the US to desecrate the American flag. The desecration of the historical landmark made everyone in the community angry.

Disconcert (v): to confuse; to disturb the composure of Children often say things that disconcert their parents. It can be very disconcerting when someone asks you a question you are not prepared for.

Grandiose (adj): grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated His grandiose plans all fell apart when no one believed such a ridiculous man could pull them off. The grandiose design of the shopping mall made it look like somewhere much too expensive for me.

Inconsequential (adj): trifling, unimportant Sorting these papers may seem like an inconsequential job, but it is a huge help to me. It is inconsequential to me how you feel so long as you do what I say. g/leuoJ_682Ow/s1600/i-just-dont-care.jpg

Infraction (n): breaking of a rule or law You just have too many infractions to let you remain in our program. It is clear you have no respect for our rules. misdemeanor-infraction-800x800.jpg

Mitigate (v): to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity She tried to mitigate the effects of the blackout by lighting candles. You can mitigate the pain of a sprained ankle by resting it on a pillow and putting ice on it.

Pillage (v): to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder. (n): the act of looting; booty Pirates love nothing better than to pillage every ship and village they can find. After looting a village, the pirates carried their pillage back to the ship.

Prate (v): to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion He prated on forever about how much he hates the cold.

Punctilious (adj): very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette. A punctilious person can sometimes be a little annoying to be around. His punctilious nature was often useful in social situations.

Redoubtable (adj): inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent The president, no matter who he might be, is always a redoubtable figure.

Reprove (v): to find fault with, scold, or rebuke My father reproves me whenever I do anything wrong. Quiet reproof from my father is worse than any yelling. Reproof (n): a scolding

Restitution (n): the act of giving back to the owner that which was lost or stolen, or of paying for damage To make restitution The man was ordered to make restitution to the woman whose property he stole.

Stalwart (adj): strong and sturdy; brave; resolute (n) a brave strong person; a strong supporter The United States would not exist if the Founding Fathers had not been stalwart men.

Vulnerable (adj): open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected Babies are vulnerable to all kinds of disease until they are immunized. A child’s vulnerability means we must all work to protect them.