VOCABULARY UNIT 1

• Meaning: a traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation; proverb.

• Synonyms: saw, byword, apothegm , maxim , motto , precept , aphorism , axiom , dictum

• Example: At this point, the old “just add water” adage rang true.

ADAGE [NOUN]

Meaning: a rich mass of ore, as found in mining.a source of great and sudden wealth or luck; a

spectacular windfall: The play proved to be a bonanza for its lucky backers.

• Synonyms: cash cow treasure trove gold mineExample: The bonanza came at a cost to forests and

wildlife, though.

BONANZA [NOUN]

Meaning: like a churl; boorish; rude: churlish behavior.

• Synonyms: unmannerly unneighborly unpolished unsociable

Antonyms: gentle happy niceExample: "He is as valiant as the lion, churlish as the

bear, slow as the elephant."

CHURLISH [ADJ]

Meaning: a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.

Synonyms: fort, tower ,bastionExample: Indeed, since the citadel collapsed into a

natural underground cistern.

CITADEL [N]

Meaning: to work withSynonyms: team upAntonyms: work aloneExample: Students will collaborate to research the

history and implications of trade.

COLLABORATE [V]

Meaning: odder having the force of lawSynonyms: edict, proclaimExample: Two political parties scrambled into

existence after the decree .

DECREE [N]

Meaning: disagreeable in soundSynonyms: shrill, different, gratingAntonyms: in agreementExample: But these two discordant personalities did

make their peace.

DISCORDANT [ADJ]

Meaning: to rise to a higher levelSynonyms: unfold, emergeAntonyms: wither, shrivel up, atrophyExample: The letter urges regulators to help each firm

develop a plan that would evolve .

EVOLVE

Meaning: passage taken from a bookSynonyms: portion, section, extractExample: No part of this excerpt can be used without

permission from the publisher.

EXCERPT [N]

Meaning: To feel about with the hands; feel one's way: I had to grope around in the darkness before I found the light switch.

Synonyms: fumble for, cast about forExample: They may still grope each other--but they'll

do it intelligently.

GROPE [V]

Meaning: to float or hang suspended overSynonyms: linger, waver, seesawAntonyms: soarExample: There is still an occasional clear sharp

morning when you hover with.

HOVER [V]

Meaning: brush against , to complete forSynonyms: pushExample: Turbo's lag may jostle your latte, and its

ever-present whine is grating.

JOSTLE [V]

Meaning: slow to move, actSynonyms: sluggish, slowpokeAntonyms: speedy, prompt, early birdExample: It once more finds itself surrounded by

doubt and dismissed as a laggard.

LAGGARD [N]

Meaning: applause, approvalSynonyms: cheers , acclaimAntonyms: boos, disapproval, ridiculeExample: Neither figure will win it any plaudits from

enviros, but there you have it.

PLAUDITS [N]

Meaning: prevent, shut outSynonyms: hinder, check, stopAntonyms: help, promote, facilitateExample: This does not preclude single acts of

altruism across species.

PRECLUDE [ADJ]

Meaning: relapse, regressSynonyms: relapse, regressAntonyms: progress, advanceExample: But when things become psychologically too

bewildering or frustrating for him, he may revert to spontaneous play.

REVERT [V]

Meaning: broken stone, bricks, ruinsSynonyms: wreckage, debrisExample: After the quake she helped lug the

conservatory's grand pianos from the rubble.

RUBBLE [N]

Meaning: independenceSynonyms: slavish, fawningAntonyms: masterlyExample: He was acceptable te its leaders, as its

earnest and servile tool.

SERVILE [ADJ]

Meaning: a watch, especially at nightExample: Part of his morning vigil includes inspecting

projects he helped with.

VIGIL [N]

Meaning: to quarrel or argue Synonyms: squabble, bickerAntonyms: agree, concurExample: In any country powerful lobbies bargain and

wrangle .

WRANGLE