1. Vocabulary Unit 1
Level G

2. Acquisitive (adj)
Able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property
Comes from Latin meaning to accumulate
Preoccupied with possessing material things
Famous people are known for their acquisitive lifestyles; they purchase frivolous items just to have more.
Don’t mistake for inquisitive (good connotation)= which means inquiring or curious

3. Arrogate (v) To claim or take without right
The take over usually happens by force – think of ISIS taking over many cities
“Yet in this case, Congress arrogated that power to itself.” Washington Post Apr 20, 2016
Do you have a lunch table where all your friends sit? Imagine if a group of students took it over one day…They would arrogate your table

4. Banal (adj) Hackneyed, trite, commonplace Think of a cliché
Where might you see banal humor?
Have you ever watched a banal sporting event?
“Slyly turning natural verbal rhythms into eccentric choral numbers, Mr. Cork creates a serial-killer opera whose genius is to transform the banal into something exceptional.” New York Times Sep 8, 2016

5. Belabor (v)
To work on excessively; to thrash soundly (to beat up thoroughly)
When you say, "Don't belabor or agonize over the decision," it means, "Move on.”
You can belabor a point by using excessive detail, or you could belabor the obvious by stating over and over what everyone already knows.
Belaboring can be a physical attack as well. A person can belabor or beat the living daylights out of you with a club.
“At the risk of belaboring it, let me just tell some small parts again.” The Verge Aug 22, 2016

6. (adj)Tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way; (n) petty, nagging criticism
To carp is to complain and gripe repeatedly, especially about little things. Don’t carp about the rain if you live in the rain forest.
Carping (adj) (n)
Adj N
used as an adjective, to describe someone who is overly critical and impossible to please — like that carping food critic who ruined the debut of your new restaurant.
People who find fault with you at every turn, who appreciate nothing and complain, complain, complain, are carping!
“Between complaining players, argumentative coaches, heckling fans and carping media, refs fully earn their six-figure salaries, first-class travel and luxurious accommodations.”
Washington Times May 4, 2016
“Neither man was a supporter of Mr. Trump’s at the beginning of the campaign, but both said they have had it with the carping.”
Washington Times Aug 4, 2016

7. Coherent (adj)
Comprehensible, meaningful, clear & logical; holding or sticking together
Examples:
a lawyer’s coherent argument in court will help to win a case
“In the video , in which Peres encourages the public to buy locally made products, he appears weary but is otherwise alert and coherent.” Washington Post Sep 13, 2016
“Palestinians believe the settlements, scattered all over the West Bank, prevent a geographically coherent state.” Los Angeles Times Sep 9, 2016
“The saga certainly points to the emptiness of art in our time, its complete lack of coherent critical values.”
The Guardian Sep 5, 2016

8. Congeal (v) [cuhn-jeel]
To change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid
comes to us from the Old French word congeler, which means "to freeze.
Think of Jell-O! or my milk cups found under the couch – gross!
Example:
“And our plans will become congealed laws whose errors will only appear over time.” The New Yorker Sep 3, 2016
“Indeed, you can see the narrative congealing already.”
Salon Feb 17, 2016

9. Emulate (v)
To imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model
When someone is impressive because of their great skills, brains, strength, or accomplishments, other will emulate.
After Michael Jordan retired from the NBA, player after player tried to emulate Jordan's game and success. It's hard to be as good as someone like that, but having a hero to emulate can be helpful in many areas of life.
Example:
“Starbucks Corp. says it wants to emulate the quality of The Washington Post and The New York Times with its stories.” Seattle Times Sep 7, 2016

10. Encomium (n) [en-CO-mium]
A formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute
a fancy word for a formal speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something.
Encomium comes from the Greek word enkomion which is to honor someone or something at a party in a poetic speech.
A eulogy will typically be considered an encomium
Example
“Whether he fully deserved the encomiums showered on him is another matter.” Washington Post Jan 23, 2015

11. Eschew (v) [es-choo] To avoid, shun, keep away from
If you live the bohemian life in the city, like Salinger did, then most likely you eschew the suburbs.
to eschew something isn’t simply to avoid it, the way you would avoid walking in a puddle––it's stronger than that. You eschew things that you find morally or aesthetically wrong, or that you have chosen to find wrong.
Example:
“After graduation, he quit football, eschewed the investment banking route favored by his friends and headed for California to train to become an Olympic athlete.” The Guardian Sep 1, 2016

12. Germane (adj) [jer-meyn]
Relevant, appropriate, fitting
If you are giving a speech on dog training, stick to the germane, canine stuff. Topics that would not be germane? Catnip toys, hamster wheels, and the use of a saddle.
You might want to bring up all sorts of complaints during an argument with your best friend, but she says the two of you should only discuss issues that are germane to the current fight.
“She and other school advocates say teachers typically balk at getting political, thinking it’s not germane to teaching.” Washington Times Aug 15, 2016

13. Insatiable (adj) [in-sey-shuh-buhl]
So great or demanding as not to be satisfied
After being lost in the woods eating only berries for a few days, you'll find your hunger is insatiable once you finally get to the table.
Insatiable comes from the combination of the negative prefix, in- and the Latin verb satiare, for fill.
It can be used for spiritual as well as physical desires. Swift's traveling Gulliver talks about his "insatiable desire of seeing foreign countries.“
Perhaps you have an insatiable desire to learn all the words in the English language.
“China’s own economy was growing so fast its demand for aluminum was nearly insatiable.” Seattle Times Sep 13, 2016

14. Intransigent (adj) [in-tran-si-juhnt]
Refusing to compromise
An intransigent three-year-old will never back down from the position that he wants the lollipop NOW.
Trans has to do with movement — think transportation, or a package in transit, i.e. "on the way." The in- of intransigent means "not," so something or someone who is intransigent is not moving.
If one political party wants to raise funds to improve schools but the other is intransigent on the subject of higher taxes, the debate will get nowhere.
“The opponent in this case, my Republican colleagues, appear just as intransigent as our opponents in the days of segregation.” Seattle Times Jun 24, 2016

15. Invidious (adj) [in-vid-ee-uh s]
Offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment
The adjective invidious is used to describe an act, thought, opinion or critique that is full of ill will or prejudice.
It comes from a Latin word that means "hostile” or “envious”
“Anti-immigration sentiment has proved invidious for parties caught between the embrace of diversity and the protectionist instincts of many workers.” Economist Jul 30, 2015

16. Largesse (n) [lahr-jes]
Generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions
Think of “Large in giving”
In response to a massive methane leak in California: “Those who did not relocate immediately struggled to find available short-term rental properties, but others took advantage of the gas company’s largess.” New York Times Mar 31, 2016

17. Reconnaissance (n)
A survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination
The word comes from the French reconnaître, which means “recognize.”
Often it’s used as a military term, but you could also do reconnaissance on a new employee before you hire her, or a resort before you take a vacation.
Target tracking is done through a variety of means, including aerial reconnaissance by surveillance drones and communications intercepts. Washington Post Sep 17, 2016

18. Substantiate (v)
To establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to
We’d really like to believe in the Tooth Fairy; however, more evidence is needed to substantiate her existence (besides that quarter in your pocket).
Substantiate is related to the word substantial, which means "solid." So, to substantiate a claim is to make it solid or believable. If the evidence given in support of an argument is weak and unconvincing, that evidence can be described as insubstantial.
“Most cases have not been substantiated, but accounts of costumed characters trying to tempt children with candy or cash rattled residents and prompted increased patrols”. Reuters Sep 15, 2016

19. Taciturn (adj) [tas-i-turn]
Habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little
A taciturn person might be snobby, naturally quiet, or just shy.
Having its origin in the Latin tacitus, "silent," taciturn came to be used in mid-18th-century English in the sense "habitually silent." Taciturnity is often considered a negative trait, as it suggests someone uncommunicative and too quiet.
When Andy Murray won Wimbledon “The pent up emotions burst out of him which is unusual for this very taciturn man.” New York Times Jul 10, 2016

20. Temporize (v)
To stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision; to compromise
Your class might temporize so your teacher won't have time to give the pop quiz you all think she's going to give.
Tempor- means "time; "Temporize comes from the Middle French word temporiser, meaning "to pass one's time, wait one's time.“
“I think that your husband’s temporizing may be a better strategy than outright refusal.” Slate Oct 13, 2015

21. Tenable (adj) Capable of being held or defended
Tenable comes from the Latin root tenir which means "to hold," as in "hold together."
To be tenable is to be evidence-based and well-founded.
“If there is a strike, commuters would have few good choices, she said, and telecommuting is not tenable for most New Jersey residents.” New York Times Mar 2, 2016