Grade 9 College Vocabulary, Week 10

Definition: To raise levels of activity or interest; to encourage.

From the reading: "The purity of his speech, his cultivated manners, his reticence, served to stimulate their curiosity the more." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

excite, rouse, spur

Antonyms:

stifle, dampen

Root:Latin stimulatus, p.p. of stimulare to prick or goad on, to incite, from stimulus a goad. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Relating to cattle; dull, slow, and stolid like an ox.

From the reading: "The Abbot, from his point of vantage, looked down on the two long lines of faces, placid and sun-browned for the most part, with the large bovine eyes and unlined features which told of their easy, unchanging existence." (The White Company)

Synonyms:

cowlike, dull, stolid

Antonyms:

lively

Root:Late Latin bovinus, fromLatin bos, bovis, ox, cow: compare French bovine. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.

From the reading: "But when he began to speak we saw that no one could match Odysseus--his words came like snow-flakes in winter and his voice was very resonant."' 'And Priam said, "Who is that huge warrior?" (The Children's Homer)

Synonyms:

resounding, ringing, vibrant

Antonyms:

faint, muted

Root:Latin resonans, present participle of resonare to resound: compare French résonnant. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To give something to make up for loss, suffering, or injury; to make amends.

From the reading: "I then told them that God, to compensate for the weakness of man, had bestowed on him reason, invention, and skill in workmanship." (The Swiss Family Robinson)

Synonyms:

recompense, repay, make amends

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin compensare, to weigh one thing against another, from com-, together + pensare, to weigh: to make up for.

Definition: Mixed with foreign matter; morally or spiritually defiled.

From the reading: "He assures them that their last sample is impure and quite useless for his present purpose." (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)

Synonyms:

tainted, adulterated, defiled

Antonyms:

pure, clean

Root:Latin impurus; pref. im- not + purus pure: compare French impur. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Charming, confident, and elegant, especially in a smooth way.

From the reading: "It is true, that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, optimum elige, suave et facile illud faciet consuetudo." (Essays)

Synonyms:

debonair, polished, urbane

Antonyms:

awkward, crude

Root:Latin suavis sweet, pleasant: compare French suave. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To make an action or process easier.

From the reading: "If you could send her into the cellar on some errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate matters immensely.” “I will do it.” “Excellent!" (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, selected)

Synonyms:

ease, assist, expedite

Antonyms:

hinder, impede

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

Definition: To reduce in extent or quantity; to restrict.

From the reading: "I may have to curtail our time together to-day. . . ." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

restrict, curb, shorten

Antonyms:

extend, expand

Root:. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To lure or entice into a trap.

From the reading: "Simon was decoyed away by Flora Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was responsible for her disappearance." (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, selected)

Synonyms:

lure, entice, bait

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Pref. de- + coy; orig., to quiet, soothe, caress, entice. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To deprive or dispossess someone of power, rights, or possessions; to strip of clothing or covering.

From the reading: "Fritz, somewhat comforted, begged me to allow him to bathe, to divest himself of the colouring, which was now become odious to him, as being that of these ruthless barbarians." (The Swiss Family Robinson)

Synonyms:

strip, deprive, dispossess

Antonyms:

invest, endow

Root:Medieval Latin divestire, from dis-, away + vestire, to clothe: to strip of clothing, of rights, or of holdings.

Definition: Very cold in temperature; stiff or formal in manner, lacking warmth.

From the reading: "So faint was that frigid starlight that nothing could have been traced about them except that while they both wore black, one man was enormously big, and the other (perhaps by contrast) almost startlingly small." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

icy, freezing; cold, aloof

Antonyms:

warm, hot

Root:Latin frigidus, from frigere to be cold; prob. akin to Greek Frill. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Feeling or showing extreme anger.

From the reading: "The Samaritans clung to their tabernacle on Gerizim, and, while maintaining its superior sanctity, laughed at the irate doctors in Jerusalem." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

furious, enraged, angry

Antonyms:

calm, pleased

Root:Latin iratus, from irasci to be angry. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To bring to an end.

From the reading: "Few augured the possibility that the encounter could terminate well for the Disinherited Knight, yet his courage and gallantry secured the general good wishes of the spectators." (Ivanhoe)

Synonyms:

end, finish, conclude

Antonyms:

begin, start

Root:Latin terminatus, p.p. of terminare. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To make a quick nervous movement in reaction to fear or pain.

From the reading: "Craven stepped forward with his axe; a thistle-top touched him, and he flinched." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

wince, recoil, shrink

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Prob. from Old English flecchen to waver, give way, French fléchir, from Latin flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by English blench. Cf. Flex. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Extremely unpleasant or offensive.

From the reading: "As for the having of them obnoxious to ruin; if they be of fearful natures, it may do well; but if they be stout and daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous." (Essays)

Synonyms:

objectionable, offensive, odious

Antonyms:

pleasant, agreeable

Root:Latin obnoxius; ob (see Ob-) + noxius hurtful. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: An official ban on trade or other activity with a particular country.

From the reading: "Edward further ordered him to lay an embargo upon all vessels in the ports of Scotland, and required the attendance of many of the Scottish barons in his expedition to France." (In Freedom's Cause)

Synonyms:

ban, prohibition, blockade

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Spanish, from embargar to arrest, restrain; pref. em- (Latin in) + Spanish barra bar, akin to French barre bar. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Not engaging in or involving any physical or mental activity; idle.

From the reading: "It was called the Land of Obscurity, or Night, because everything in it was dark and inactive." (The Swiss Family Robinson)

Synonyms:

idle, inert, dormant

Antonyms:

active, busy

Root:Pref. in- not + active: compare French inactif. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Petty; worth little; of small importance.

Context (original sentence): The board argued over picayune details while the roof leaked.

Synonyms:

petty, trivial, paltry

Antonyms:

important, significant

Root:Louisiana French picaillon, a small coin.

Definition: Having the weaknesses or diseases of old age, especially loss of memory.

From the reading: "With a sort of senile and passionate suspicion he groped his way to the dark back parts of the mansion, and eventually found a servants’ entrance that opened on to the garden." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

doddering, infirm, decrepit

Antonyms:

youthful, vigorous

Root:Latin senilis, from senex, gen. senis, old, an old man: compare French sénile. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Done with speed and efficiency.

From the reading: "I will therefore put you upon an expeditious and decisive plan of obtaining this very necessary information." (The Works of Edgar Allan Poe)

Synonyms:

speedy, swift, efficient

Antonyms:

slow, dilatory

Root:Latin expedire, to free the feet.