Vocabulary

Unit 4B

Inanimate

(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit

Hint: prefix “in” means not and the root “anim” means life as in : animate, animal, anime. So together inanimate is without life

Sentence

Keep in mind that your computer is an inanimate object. It seems silly to yell at it, but it can help relieve stress.

Incinerate

(v.) to burn to ashes

Hint: in cinders, like Cinderella living by the ashes

Sentence

Local laws do not permit us to incinerate our leaves because fires can rage out of control.

Intrepid

(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable

Hint: prefix “in” means not and the root “trepid” means fearful. Or you can remember the US battleship the Intrepid

Sentence

The intrepid soldier agreed to a mission that would take him behind enemy lines.

Larceny

(n.) theft

Hint: Lars took a penny

Sentence

Taking something that is not yours is an act of larceny.

Pliant

(adj.) bending readily; easily influenced

Hint: pliable means moveable, or pliers help you bend wire

Sentence

Al’s parents worried that he was too pliant and would be manipulated by kids who were a bad influence.

Pompous

(adj.) overly self important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious

Hint: the graduates walk down the aisle to “pomp and circumstance” a very stately piece of music

Sentence

The lecturer turned out to be a pompous individual who spent the entire evening looking down at our simple gathering.

Precipice

(n.) a very steep cliff, the brink or edge of disaster

Hint: Prepare to fall

Sentence

When you make the decision of what to do after high school, it can feel like you are on a precipice. Making the wrong choice can be frightening.

Rectify

(v.) to make right, correct

Hint: correct a mistake

Sentence

Saying you are sorry may not rectify your mistakes.

Reprieve

(n.) a temporary relief or delay, to grant a postponement

Hint: re(prieve) =re(lieve) briefly

Sentence

The bell often feels like a reprieve, but the four minutes between classes doesn’t last long.

Revile

(v.) to attack with words, call bad names

Hint: call rEVIL names

Sentence

The public was outraged when the candidate reviled his opponent in the press.