Monday June 3, 2013Vocabulary unit 15!

• A. In every family there are some relationships that tend to be abrasive.

• B. I used an abrasive scrubbing pad to clean my dishes.

AbrasiveAdj- rude and annoyingNoun- a substance used to polish

Synonym-rough/a rough substanceIn the Keefe Tech carpentry shop, you may

learn to use abrasives for finishing woodwork.

• You may find it difficult to acclimate to a new school if you arrive in the middle of the school year.

Acclimate Verb-to adapt to a new

environment or situationSynonym-to accustom

Rescue animals take some time to acclimate to their adopted homes.

With chagrin, Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to his wife that he fathered a child out of wedlock.

chagrin• Noun- irritation or humiliation

caused by disappointment or frustration

Synonym-disappointment; humiliation

Much to the chagrin of his parents, he decided to get a tatoo.

• After 9/11, people in the U.S. realized they should not be complacent, but must be careful to protect their liberties.

complacent• Adj- self-satisfied; too pleased with

oneselfSynonym-overly content

After earning good grades term 1, students should not become complacent.

• Eye witnesses to an accident do not usually concur with each other about all the details of the accident.

concur• Verb- to express agreement; to

approveSynonym- to agree

The students said they needed more time to complete their project and their teacher concurred.

The man was sued by his friend for defamation of character, and he had to go to court.

defamation• Noun- the act of writing or saying

things about people that ruin their reputation

• Synonym-slanderThere have been many cases of

defamation on Facebook.

• The students at Keefe Tech always listen carefully when their math teachers explicate problems.

explicate• Verb- to make plain or clear; to

explain• Synonym-to elucidateMr. Fulham carefully explicated the

causes of the American Revolution

Unfortunately, there have been some fracases at Keefe Tech this year. What can we do to avoid these?

fracas• Noun- a noisy quarrel or fight

• Synonym-altercation• Do you think the fracases on some

talk shows are spontaneous or staged?

• Gargoyles, the grotesque beasts carved on many Gothic churches, are actually drainage spouts.

grotesqueadj-unnatural; bizarre

Synonym-ugly; deformedThe artists who painted these created

grotesque figures.

• Pandemonium erupted when the manager told the crowd that the rock concert was cancelled.

pandemonium• Noun- a wild uproar

Synonym-chaosWhen Godzilla attacked the city,

pandemonium broke out.

The baseball fans’ raucous shouts and boos from the stands had no effect on the umpire’s decision.

raucous (adj) disagreeably harsh sounding

Synonym-boisterousThe salesman’s raucous voice was

heard throughout the whole store.

It’s important to be receptive to new ideas and opinions.

receptive• Adj- willing to listen to new ideas and

opinionsSynonym-open-minded

Sometimes my friends aren’t too receptive to my suggestions.

Throughout history, martyrs have willingly given up their lives rather than renounce their faith. Joan of Arc is one of these martyrs.

renounceVerb- to publically give up or resign

something Synonym- to repudiate

Many leaders around the world call on us to renounce the use of armed force.

Some veterans try to repress traumatic memories from their time at war.

repress Verb– to hold back; to put down or

check by forceSynonym-to suddue; to constrainIn recent years, citizens in the Arab world have been fighting against the

repression of their governments.

When asked to reveal the secret, he remained reticent.

reticentAdj- unwilling to talk about what you

know or how you feelSynonym-tightlipped;

closemouthedShe was very reticent about her reasons for

leaving.

Which food do you consider more savory: Brazilian or Chinese?

savory• adj- tasty; appetizing

Synonym-delectableThe aroma of a roasting turkey is

savory.

By 2:00 p.m. many students at Keefe are somnolent.

somnolent• adj- sleepy; drowsy

Synonym-groggy• After a Thanksgiving feast, many

people feel somnolent.

The kids expressed their vehement dislike of country and western music.

vehement• vehement – (adj) intense; forceful

Synonym- fierce, vigorous• His vehement complaints about the poor

food at the restaurant got him nowhere!!

Some politicians may be voluble, but who knows what they are really saying!

volubleAdj- loquacious; able to talk quickly

and easilySynonym-garrulous

In general, this year’s freshmen at Keefe are voluble students.

• Are you a zealous supporter of the Keefe Tech Broncos? If not, you should be!!!

zealous• Adj- eager; earnest; devoted

Synonym- ardent; gung hoDo you know anyone who is zealous

about riding dirt bikes?