Grade 10 College Vocabulary, Week 18

Definition: Noisy quarrel; a noisy fight.

From the reading: "Fray, i, 38, to frighten; ii, 14, an affray." (The Faerie Queene, Book I)

Synonyms:

altercation, fracas, disturbance

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Old English afrai, affrai, Old French esfrei, French effroi, from Old French esfreer. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.

From the reading: "The allusion is to the wounding of Myrrha by her father and her metamorphosis into this tree. 79." (The Faerie Queene, Book I)

Synonyms:

transformation, transfiguration, change

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Greek metamorphosis, from meta-, change + morphe, form: a change of form.

Definition: Formal release from guilt or punishment; the declaration of forgiveness of sins.

From the reading: "Note the teachings in xxiii (prayer), xxiv (absolution), and xxv (mortification of the flesh). 11." (The Faerie Queene, Book I)

Synonyms:

remission, remittal

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French absolution, Latin absolutio, from absolvere to absolve. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The action of raising something to a higher position or rank; height above sea level.

From the reading: "Rove, Int. 3, shoot (an arrow with an elevation, not point blank)." (The Faerie Queene, Book I)

Synonyms:

lift, raising, acme

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin elevatio: compare French élévation. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition; a strange or varied group of people.

Context (original sentence): The duke kept a menagerie of lions and bears at his castle.

Synonyms:

zoo, collection, assortment

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French ménagerie, from ménage, household.

Definition: An understanding of something that is not correct.

From the reading: "An old method of forming the possessive, based on a misapprehension of the original Anglo-Saxon suffix -es, which was shortened in middle English to -is, and finally to s. 45." (The Faerie Queene, Book I)

Synonyms:

mistake, misunderstanding

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:mis-, wrongly + Latin apprehendere, to grasp (ad-, to + prehendere, to seize): a wrong grasp of something.

Definition: Devoted to the enjoyment of fine food and drink.

From the reading: "This he unpacked with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany." (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, selected)

Synonyms:

gourmet, pleasure-seeking

Antonyms:

ascetic

Root:Latin Epicureus, Greek épicurien. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Having or showing valor.

From the reading: "That was their leader, Sir Williams Glasdale, a most valorous knight." (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc)

Synonyms:

valiant, brave, courageous

Antonyms:

cowardly

Root:Cf. French valeureux, Late Latin valorosus. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Characterized by intense emotion; extremely hot.

From the reading: "It was now the sweetest hour of the twenty-four:—“Day its fervid fires had wasted,” and dew fell cool on panting plain and scorched summit." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

ardent, fervent, fiery

Antonyms:

passionless, cold

Root:Latin fervidus, from fervere. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Unambiguously explicit and direct.

Context (original sentence): The bishop issued a categorical denial of the rumor.

Synonyms:

unqualified, absolute, emphatic

Antonyms:

qualified, ambiguous

Root:Greek kategorikos, accusatory.

Definition: Of the common people; lacking refinement.

From the reading: "I smiled as I unfolded it, and devised how I would tease you about your aristocratic tastes, and your efforts to masque your plebeian bride in the attributes of a peeress." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

common, lowborn, ordinary

Antonyms:

noble, patrician

Root:Latin plebeius, from plebs, plebis, the common people: compare French plébéien. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity.

From the reading: "Also, when we played at cards Miss Havisham would look on, with a miserly relish of Estella’s moods, whatever they were." (Great Expectations)

Synonyms:

stingy, tightfisted, parsimonious

Antonyms:

generous

Root:From Miser. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function; act in an official capacity in a ceremony or religious ritual, such as a wedding.

From the reading: "We had to walk two miles to Brocklebridge Church, where our patron officiated." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

function

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Late Latin officiare. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Easily managed (controlled or taught or molded); readily reacting to suggestions and influences.

From the reading: "But he was no more tractable than he had been before." (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc)

Synonyms:

docile, manageable, compliant

Antonyms:

intractable, unruly

Root:Latin tractabilis, fr, tractare to draw violently, to handle, treat. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Produced or growing in extreme abundance.

From the reading: "Jellyband, who was profuse in his bows and welcomes, a party of four—two ladies and two gentlemen—entered the coffee-room." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

exuberant, lush, luxuriant

Antonyms:

scarce

Root:Latin profusus, past participle of profundere to pour forth or out; pro forward, forth + fundere to pour: compare French profus. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Fraught with danger.

From the reading: "FIRST POET: 'Twas a parlous fearsome giant that was the author of such exploits!" (Cyrano de Bergerac)

Synonyms:

perilous, precarious, touch-and-go

Antonyms:

safe

Root:For perlous, a contr. from perilous. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To assign to an inferior rank or position.

From the reading: "Lord Mackworth, for his own good reasons, relegated him to the position of Lord George's especial attendant." (Men of Iron)

Synonyms:

demote, downgrade, consign

Antonyms:

promote

Root:Latin relegatus, past participle of relegare; pref. re- re- + legare to send with a commission or charge. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Not pleasant or acceptable to the taste or mind.

From the reading: "In one corner of the room there was a huge hearth, over which hung a stock-pot, with a not altogether unpalatable odour of hot soup emanating therefrom." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

distasteful, unsavory, unpleasant

Antonyms:

palatable

Root:un-, not + Latin palatum, the roof of the mouth + -able: not pleasing to the taste.

Definition: To destroy or damage slowly by chemical action; to weaken or destroy gradually.

From the reading: "Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time; as aromatic wine it seemed, on swallowing, warm and racy: its after-flavour, metallic and corroding, gave me a sensation as if I had been poisoned." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

eat, rust

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin corrodere, -rosum; cor + rodere to gnaw: compare French corroder. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Showing contempt; scornful.

From the reading: "The gentleman heard him, and seemed about to fly into a rage again, but thought better of it, and confined himself to a contemptuous look." (Crime and Punishment)

Synonyms:

scornful, disdainful, derisive

Antonyms:

respectful, admiring

Root:Latin contemptus, scorn.