Grade 8 College Vocabulary, Week 35

Definition: To escape from, especially by cleverness; to fail to be grasped by the mind.

From the reading: "So that all they really established was the fact that Black Jack had eluded their vigilance and crossed the trail some time in the night." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

evade, escape, dodge

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin eludere, elusum; e + ludere to play: compare French éluder. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Perceptible by touch; clear and definite; real.

From the reading: "Several times he thought of sending for McLean, but for his life he could not make up his mind to do it with nothing more tangible than one footprint to justify him." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

touchable, concrete, real

Antonyms:

intangible, abstract

Root:Latin tangibilis, from tangere to touch: compare French tangible. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Unwilling to give or spend; meager.

From the reading: "I'm thinking that with what he has laid up for me, and the bigness of things that the Angel did for me, it seems like a stingy little sum to him." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

miserly, parsimonious, tight-fisted

Antonyms:

generous

Root:Probably from sting, and meaning originally, stinging; hence, biting, nipping (of the wind), churlish, avaricious; or compare English skinch. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Existing in a person or animal from birth; deeply rooted.

From the reading: "Her spirit of friendliness was inborn and inbred." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

inborn, innate, ingrained

Antonyms:

acquired

Root:in + bred (Old English bredan, to nourish): bred within; deeply rooted by nature.

Definition: Having a sharply strong taste or smell; sharply critical.

From the reading: "Every word he uttered was pungent with bitterness to McLean." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

sharp, acrid, biting

Antonyms:

bland, mild

Root:Latin pungens, -entis, present participle of pungere, punctum, to prick. Cf. Compunction, Expunge, Poignant, Point, n., Puncheon, Punctilio, Punt, v. t. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To undergo fermentation; to stir up trouble or excitement.

From the reading: "In this hot sun it ferments in a few hours." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

stir up, agitate; seethe

Antonyms:

calm

Root:Latin fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, from fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: compare French ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To transform into something more beautiful or spiritual, as Christ was transfigured on the mount.

From the reading: "When he turned his face toward them it was transfigured with delight." (Freckles)

KJV link: "And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." (Matthew 17:2)

Synonyms:

transform, glorify, transmute

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin transfigurare, from trans-, across + figura, shape: to change in form, as Christ on the mount.

Definition: Incapable of being passed.

From the reading: "They clung to it, on and on, into the depths of the swamp, leading their followers through what had been considered impassable and impenetrable ways, and finally, around near the west entrance and into the swale." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

impenetrable, blocked, untraversable

Antonyms:

passable

Root:Cf. Unpassable. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Too great or extreme to be expressed in words.

From the reading: "Freckles settled back, a smile of ineffable tenderness on his face." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

indescribable, inexpressible, unspeakable

Antonyms:

expressible

Root:Latin ineffabilis: compare French ineffable. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Loud and harsh; presenting a point of view forcefully.

From the reading: "“How soon do you s'pose it will be finished?” came Freckles' strident whisper." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

harsh, shrill, raucous

Antonyms:

soft, quiet

Root:Latin stridens, -entis, p.pr. of stridere to make a grating or creaking noise. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To settle oneself or something firmly in a safe or comfortable place.

From the reading: "When she was ensconced on the wagonload of tenting, she sat on a roll of canvas as a queen on her throne." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

settle, install, establish

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:en-, in + sconce, a small fort (Dutch schans, a fortification): to settle securely, as in a shelter.

Definition: To become less intense, violent, or severe; to sink to a lower level.

From the reading: "The Angel subsided on the canvas and explained to McLean about the maple." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

abate, lessen, die down

Antonyms:

intensify, rise

Root:Latin subsidere; sub under, below + sidere to sit down, to settle; akin to sedere to sit, English sit. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts.

From the reading: "Her chin began a spasmodic quivering and the tears sprang into her eyes." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

fitful, intermittent, irregular

Antonyms:

steady, continual

Root:Greek spasmotique. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To twist the face in an expression of pain, disgust, or disapproval.

From the reading: "“If it's all the same to you, I'll be taking mine out in music lessons--begging your pardon--voice culture,” said Freckles with a grimace." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

scowl, frown, wince

Antonyms:

smile

Root:French, prob. of Teutonic origin; compare Old English (Anglo-Saxon) gr mask, specter, Ical. gr mask, hood, perh. akin to English grin. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Put a monarch on the throne; provide with power and authority.

From the reading: "When Freckles returned from the tree to join in the work around the camp, he caught glimpses of her enthroned on a soapbox, cleaning beans." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

crown, install, exalt

Antonyms:

dethrone, depose

Root:Pref. en- + throne: compare Old French enthroner. Cf. Inthronize. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: An authoritative warning or order; a court order requiring someone to do or stop doing something.

From the reading: "He did look at the Angel's face intently, and suddenly found it so good that it was difficult to follow the next injunction." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

command, order, directive

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin injunctio, from injungere, injunctum, to join into, to enjoin. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The relationship between brothers; a feeling of kinship and fellowship among people.

From the reading: "She was a living exponent of universal brotherhood." (Freckles)

KJV link: "Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel." (Zechariah 11:14)

Synonyms:

fraternity, fellowship, kinship

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Brother + -hood. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To give glory and praise to, especially to God; to make something seem more splendid than it is.

From the reading: "As he rode he sang, while he sang he worshiped, but the god he tried to glorify was a dim and faraway mystery." (Freckles)

KJV link: "Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel." (Psalm 22:23)

Synonyms:

praise, extol, exalt

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French glorifier, Latin glorificare; gloria glory + - ficare (in comp.) to make. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To quarrel noisily over a trivial matter.

From the reading: "Antinous, the most insolent of the wooers, saw the squabble, and he laughed to see the pair defying each other." (The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy)

Synonyms:

bicker, quarrel, wrangle

Antonyms:

agree

Root:probably imitative.

Definition: A positive declaration intended to give confidence; confidence or certainty.

From the reading: "“Yes, dear heart,” she said with fullest assurance." (Freckles)

KJV link: "And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:" (Deuteronomy 28:66)

Synonyms:

confidence, certainty, pledge

Antonyms:

doubt

Root:Old English assuraunce, French assurance, from assurer. (Webster, 1913)