Grade 9 College Vocabulary, Week 6

Definition: To hit by accident when moving; to come into conflict.

From the reading: "Often the most powerful argument comes when two heads collide, as when something is expedient but dishonorable." (the lesson)

Synonyms:

crash, clash, strike

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin collidere, collisum; col- + laedere to strike. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To be a sign of; to mean.

From the reading: "It may be thou art right: Unnatural silence signifies no good." (Oedipus the King and Antigone)

KJV link: "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them." (Acts 21:26)

Synonyms:

mean, indicate, denote

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French signifier, Latin significare; signum a sign + - ficare (in comp.) to make. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Extremely bright; amazingly impressive.

From the reading: "Not sleep that lays all else beneath its spell, Nor moons that never tire: untouched by Time, Throned in the dazzling light That crowns Olympus’ height, Thou reignest King, omnipotent, sublime." (Oedipus the King and Antigone)

Synonyms:

brilliant, blinding, splendid

Antonyms:

dull, drab

Root:Middle English dasen, to stun (as in daze), with the frequentative -le: so bright it stuns the eyes.

Definition: Causing shock or dismay; very bad.

From the reading: "To see him once more in that appalling travesty somewhat revived the horror of his two companions." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

shocking, dreadful, horrifying

Antonyms:

admirable, delightful

Root:Old French apalir, to grow pale, from a-, to + palir (Latin pallere, to be pale): making one pale with horror.

Definition: To leave a place or position empty.

From the reading: "The Redemption cannot be for a political purpose—to pull down rulers and powers, and vacate their places merely that others may take and enjoy them." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

leave, quit, empty

Antonyms:

occupy

Root:Latin vacare, vacatum, to be empty. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Warm and friendly.

From the reading: "One of Dick's men carried a flask of some strong cordial, and with this Dick succeeded in reviving consciousness." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

affable, amiable, genial

Antonyms:

unfriendly, cold

Root:Late Latin cordialis, from Latin cor heart: compare French cordial. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To appoint to a position; to give a name to.

From the reading: "As it was possible to overtake the fleet before reaching the bay east of the island of Cythera, designated for assemblage, Arrius, somewhat impatient, spent much time on deck." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

appoint, name, assign

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin designatus, past participle of designare. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Able to be heard.

From the reading: "A sigh escaped, but it was scarce audible; and the questions which she asked the knight concerning his state of health were put in the tone of calm friendship." (Ivanhoe)

Synonyms:

hearable, perceptible, distinct

Antonyms:

inaudible

Root:Late Latin audibilis, from Latin audire, auditum, to hear: compare Greek auris, and English ear. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Water strongly saturated with salt; the sea.

From the reading: "We feed not a dead pig, I trow, but baste him well with brine and rue." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

salt water, the sea

Antonyms:

fresh water

Root:Old English (Anglo-Saxon) bryne a burning, salt liquor, brine, from brinnan, brynnan, to burn. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Loud and deep; flourishing and growing rapidly.

From the reading: "Landing of arms at Glenthorne, and Lynmouth, wagons escorted across the moor, sounds of metal and booming noises!" (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

loud, resonant; thriving

Antonyms:

faint; failing

Root:Middle English bombon, to buzz, imitating a deep sound: making a deep, resonant sound.

Definition: Tending to be different or develop in different directions.

From the reading: "The silver clearness of the moon upon the open snow increased, by contrast, the obscurity of the thickets; and the extreme dispersion of the vanquished led the pursuers into wildly divergent paths." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

differing, diverging, contrary

Antonyms:

convergent, similar

Root:Cf. French divergent. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To make something more attractive by adding ornaments; to award a medal to.

From the reading: ""Sir, they are decorating the outside of the carriage," Vorversk said." (The Lost Prince)

Synonyms:

adorn, ornament, honor

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin decoratus, past participle of decorare, from decus ornament; akin to decere to be becoming. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To be in charge of a meeting, court, or assembly.

From the reading: "For me, I preside over the grand work of agriculture." (The Swiss Family Robinson)

Synonyms:

chair, direct, govern

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: compare French présider. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a throne.

From the reading: "Randolph was delighted at this accession of strength." (In Freedom's Cause)

Synonyms:

succession, enthronement, attainment

Antonyms:

abdication

Root:Latin accessio, from accedere: compare French accession. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Causing horror or disgust.

From the reading: "An odd white light was on the rafters, such as I never had seen before; while all the length of the room was grisly, like the heart of a mouldy oat-rick." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

gruesome, ghastly, hideous

Antonyms:

pleasant

Root:OE, grisly, grislich, Old English (Anglo-Saxon) grislic, gryslic, from gro shudder; compare OD. grijselick horrible, OHG. grisenlch, and also Old English (Anglo-Saxon) gresan to frighten, and English gruesome. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To treat with disrespect or lower in dignity; to break down or deteriorate.

From the reading: "RAGUENEAU: Pray then, madam, to what use would you degrade prose?" (Cyrano de Bergerac)

Synonyms:

demean, debase, cheapen

Antonyms:

honor, elevate

Root:French dégrader, Late Latin degradare, from Latin de- + gradus step, degree. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.

From the reading: "Bind it first with balk and band, And wind it then too with good wand." (The Wakefield Second Shepherds' Play)

Synonyms:

resist, shy, refuse

Antonyms:

accept

Root:Old English (Anglo-Saxon) balca beam, ridge; akin to Icelandic balkr partition, bjalki beam, OS. balko, German balken; compare Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. Balcony, Balk, v. i., 3d Bulk. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Having or showing shrewdness and good judgment.

From the reading: "Noah's unwilling wife in the Chester Deluge, and Mak's canny wife in the Wakefield shepherd's play, where the sheep-stealing scenes reveal a born Yorkshire humorist, offer a pair of gossips not easy to match for rude comedy." (The Wakefield Second Shepherds' Play)

Synonyms:

shrewd, astute, wise

Antonyms:

foolish

Root:Scots, from can, to know how (Old English cunnan) + -y: shrewd and careful.

Definition: Assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing.

From the reading: "That he would be abetted by Black Jack was almost certain, but fear had fled the happy heart of Freckles." (Freckles)

Synonyms:

assist, aid, encourage

Antonyms:

hinder

Root:Old French abet, from abeter. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Relating to the body and its appetites rather than the spirit.

From the reading: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Romans 7:14)

Synonyms:

fleshly, bodily, worldly

Antonyms:

spiritual

Root:Latin carnalis, from caro, carnis, flesh; akin to Greek kravya; compare French charnel, Of. also carnel. Cf. Charnel. (Webster, 1913)