Week 7

Part 1

Sordid• Adj. wretchedly poor; run-down, mean or

selfish. • Nineteenth century reformers made people

aware of just how sordid conditions were in city slums.

• Filthy, squalid, base, vile.

Untenable• Adj. not capable of being held or defended;

impossible to maintain. • Minutes into the debate she had a sinking

feeling that her position was completely untenable.

• Indefensible, insupportable, groundless.

Versatile• Adj. able to do many things well; capable of

many uses. • By moving from comedy to drama to musicals,

he has shown himself to be a truly versatile actor.

• Adaptable, handy, all-around

Vindicate• V. to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing;

to defend successfully against opposition; to justify.

• Though the accused was vindicated in the end, his career was all by ruined by the allegations.

• Acquit, absolve, exonerate, advocate

Wane• V. to lose size, strength, or power. • As the moon waned, the nights grew darker,

we could hardly see our way along the forest trails.

• Diminish, decline, subside, dwindle.

Annex• V. to add to, attach, incorporate. N. an

attachment or addition. • The two nations protested when their militant

neighbor annexed the disputed territory. • Join, acquire, appropriate, procure.

Cleave• V. to cut or split open; to cling to. • It is possible to cleave a ripe coconut neatly in

two with just one swing of a machete. • Sever, halve, sunder, adhere, clasp.

Cordial• Adj. in a friendly manner, hearty, cheery. N. a

liqueur. • Our aunt’s cordial welcome made us all feel

right at home in her huge, drafty, Victorian house.

• Hospitable, affable, polite