Grade 10 College Vocabulary, Week 20

Definition: Wither, as with a loss of moisture; decrease in size, range, or extent.

From the reading: "The others which had not opened comb, but only prepared to do it, were a little better off, but still very brown and unkid, and shrivelling in doubt of health, and neither peart nor lusty." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

shrink, wither

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:perhaps from Swedish dialect skryvla, to wrinkle (origin uncertain): to wrinkle and shrink.

Definition: To depart suddenly or secretly.

From the reading: "Long before any search could be made for them, the authors of this tragic interruption had clattered down a turnpike stair and decamped by a postern door." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

abscond, bolt, flee

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French décamper; pref. dé- (Latin dis) + camp camp. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Lying down; in a position of comfort or rest.

From the reading: "It showed, by touches of the small silver pencil of starlight, the massive metal figure of a soldier recumbent, the strong hands sealed in an everlasting worship, the great head pillowed upon a gun." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

accumbent, decumbent, unerect

Antonyms:

erect

Root:Latin recumbens, -entis, present participle of recumbere. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Pressing; demanding much.

From the reading: "Why do you cross me in this exigent?" (Julius Caesar)

Synonyms:

urgent, pressing, demanding

Antonyms:

undemanding

Root:Latin exigens, -entis, present participle of exigere to drive out or forth, require, exact. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Not tractable; difficult to manage or mold.

From the reading: "Some of them are unmannered, rough, intractable, as well as ignorant; but others are docile, have a wish to learn, and evince a disposition that pleases me." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

unmalleable, uncontrollable, unmanageable

Antonyms:

tractable

Root:Latin intractabilis: compare French intraitable, formerly also intractable. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant; spiritual rather than physical.

From the reading: "The circumstances of their evidence would have been, in modern days, divided into two classes—those which were immaterial, and those which were actually and physically impossible." (Ivanhoe)

Synonyms:

incorporeal, spiritual, discorporate

Antonyms:

material, corporeal

Root:Pref. im- not + material: compare French immatériel. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Vigorous or incisive in expression or style.

From the reading: "The count Rabel and the count Guinemans Let fall the reins on their swift horses' backs, Spurring in haste; then on rush all the Franks, And go to strike, each with his trenchant lance." (The Song of Roland)

Synonyms:

incisive, cutting, penetrating

Antonyms:

vague, feeble

Root:Old French trenchant, French tranchant, p. pr. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy; so thin as to transmit light.

From the reading: "It was a little thing with a veil of gossamer on its head." (Jane Eyre)

Synonyms:

ethereal, delicate, diaphanous

Antonyms:

rugged, thick

Root:Middle English gos, goose + somer, summer ("goose summer," the mild autumn when fine cobwebs float): fine, filmy threads.

Definition: Resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid.

From the reading: "Sir Percy Blakeney’s house on the river has become a historic one: palatial in its dimensions, it stands in the midst of exquisitely laid-out gardens, with a picturesque terrace and frontage to the river." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

magnificent, grand, stately

Antonyms:

humble, modest

Root:Latin palatium palace. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Give extra weight to (a communication); draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to.

From the reading: "Transcriber’s Note: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: italics." (On the Morning of Christ's Nativity)

Synonyms:

underline, emphasize, emphasise

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:under + score, a cut line (Old Norse skor, a notch): to draw a line beneath for emphasis.

Definition: Twist and press out of shape.

From the reading: "His face desperately worked; his whole body was shaken by contorting spasms." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

deform, distort, wring

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin contortus, p.p. of contorquere to twist; con- + torquere to twist. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Acutely insightful and wise.

From the reading: "“The milk you shall have and the bread also, friend, together with the herring, but you must hold the scales between us.” “If he hold the herring he holds the scales, my sapient brother,” cried the fat man." (The White Company)

Synonyms:

perspicacious, sagacious, wise

Antonyms:

foolish

Root:Latin sapiens, -entis, p.pr. of sapere to taste to have sense, to know. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Deviating from a straight course; marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct.

From the reading: "We are much nearer your island than you think, for you took a very circuitous course, and Parabéry, who knows it, declares it is only a day’s voyage with a fair wind." (The Swiss Family Robinson)

Synonyms:

roundabout, indirect, devious

Antonyms:

direct

Root:Late Latin circuitosus. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Plump; round in shape; of speech, full and rich in sound.

From the reading: "CYRANO: You would worm all out of me!--the way The moon is made, and if men breathe and live In its rotund cucurbita?" (Cyrano de Bergerac)

Synonyms:

rounded, orotund, round

Antonyms:

angular, thin

Root:Latin rotundus. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Referring to coarse subjects in an amusing, irreverent way.

From the reading: "CHRISTIAN (taking her hands): Now tell me why-- Why, by these fearful paths so perilous-- Across these ranks of ribald soldiery, You have come?" (Cyrano de Bergerac)

Synonyms:

coarse, earthy, irreverent

Antonyms:

decorous, refined

Root:Old English ribald, ribaud, French ribaud, Old French ribald, ribault, Late Latin ribaldus, of German origin; compare OHG hripa prostitute. For the ending -ald compare English Herald. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on; to damage or spoil severely.

From the reading: "It was--Myles's heart thrilled and his blood boiled--to lie in wait for him, to overpower him by numbers, and to mutilate him by slitting his ears--a disgraceful punishment administered, as a rule, only for thieving and poaching." (Men of Iron)

Synonyms:

maim, mangle, disfigure

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin mutilatus, p.p. of mutilare to mutilate, from mutilus maimed; compare Greek Mutton. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Give encouragement to.

From the reading: "The scent of those old days emboldens me!" (Cyrano de Bergerac)

Synonyms:

encourage, hearten, inspire

Antonyms:

dishearten

Root:em-, to make + bold (Old English beald, brave): to make bold.

Definition: Not challenging; dull and lacking excitement; tediously repetitious or lacking in variety.

From the reading: "The true tale, of course, is something much more humdrum." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

commonplace, prosaic, unglamorous

Antonyms:

exciting, lively

Root:a rhyming form of hum, a monotonous sound: dull, monotonous.

Definition: To ask questions of someone closely, aggressively, or formally.

From the reading: "The second accusation he meets by interrogating Meletus, who is present and can be interrogated." (The Last Days of Socrates: Apology)

Synonyms:

question

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin interrogatus, past participle of interrogare to ask; inter between + rogare to ask. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To write or carve words or symbols on something, especially as a formal or lasting record.

From the reading: "Thirdly, they gave me, 'Ridd never be ridden,' and fearing to make any further objections, I let them inscribe it in bronze upon blue." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

engrave, carve, write

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin inscribere. (Webster, 1913)