Unit 2

1. aegis

     (e' jis)

(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship

The arts and education programs of the United Nations are

                under the ___________________________               of UNESCO.

SYNONYM: auspices

 

2. apprise

    (a priz')

(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

       The spokesperson will ___________________________       us of the latest developments.

SYNONYMS: acquaint, notify

ANTONYMS: keep secret, withhold information

 

3. bibulous

    (bib' ya las)

(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

The retired sailor was a ___________________ old codger.

SYNONYMS: inebrious, alcoholic

ANTONYMS: teetotaling, abstemious, temperate

4. claque (klak)

(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

       The soprano's ___________________________       was in

attendance, as usual.

SYNONYMS: fan club, flatterers, hangers-on

5. deracinate

    (di ras' a nat)

(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

        One way to __________________________ prejudice from our society is to heighten public awareness.

SYNONYMS: extirpate. eradicate, expunge

ANTONYMS: implant, nurture, foster, instill

 

6. eleemosynary

    (el i mos' a ner e)

(adj.) charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity

        Some ___________________________        institutions use phone solicitations to obtain contributions.

SYNONYMS: philanthropic, beneficent

ANTONYMS: selfish, self-seeking, uncharitable

 

7. indigenous

     (in dij' a nas)

(adj.) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

Grizzly bears and mountain lions are two examples of Wildlife __________________________ to the Rockies .

SYNONYMS: endemic, domestic, homegrown

ANTONYMS: foreign, alien, exoteric, imported

 

8. lachrymose

     (Iak' ra mas)

(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

It was a ____________________

SYNONYMS: tearful, doleful, dolorous

ANTONYMS: dry-eyed, cheerful, merry, hilarious

 

9. lexicon

     (Iek' sa kan )

(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

       The __________________________    of computer technology is large and growing.

SYNONYMS: wordbook, glossary

 

10. melee

       (ma' la)

(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

Many fans were hurt in the ___________________   that followed the soccer match.

SYNONYMS: fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook

ANTONYMS: friendly chat, peace and quiet

 

11. microcosm

       (mi' kra kos am)

(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

The ocean liner is a _______________________ society in the novel Ship of Fools.

SYNONYMS: epitome, world in little

ANTONYMS: universe, macrocosm, cosmos, totality

 

12. minuscule

       (mini as kyul)

(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter

I ate only a __________________________ dessert.

SYNONYMS: (adj.) infinitesimal, insignificant

ANTONYMS: (adj.) huge, massive, monumental

 

13. obfuscate

       (obi fa skat)

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

The pedantic lecturer's long-winded explanation served only

       To _________________________         the meaning of the thesis.

SYNONYM: muddy the waters

ANTONYMS: clarify, elucidate, explicate

 

14. paternalism

       (pa tOr' na liz am)

(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

The President won over the worried populace with his attitude of kind _______________________________________

SYNONYMS: benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness

 

15. polarize

       (po' la rTz)

(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

The debate served to__________________________ public opinion on the issue.

SYNONYMS: split, divide, alienate, estrange

ANTONYMS: unite, unify, reconcile

 

16. purview

       (par' vyu)

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

The subject was outside the ________________________of the mayor's authority.

SYNONYMS: jurisdiction, orbit

 

17. sanguine

       (sa!)' gwin)

(ad}.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

        Scientists remain ___________________________        about the chances of finding a cure for the deadly disease.

SYNONYMS: flushed, rosy

ANTONYMS: bloodless, ashen, pessimistic, gloomy

 

18. solecism

       (sol' a siz am)

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

One common _______________________________   "irregardless. "

SYNONYMS: misusage, blunder, faux pas

ANTONYM: correct usage

 

19. vassal

       (vas' el)

(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (ad}.) subservient

       The duke's ___________________________     was forced to fight for the king, to whom the duke owed allegiance.

       As a __________________________   nation, India provided

       troops for British armies.

SYNONYMS: (n.) menial, minion; (adj.) servile

ANTONYM: (n.) overlord

 

20. verisimilitude

       (ver a si mil' a tlid)

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

       The play's ___________________________      won praise from critics.

SYNONYMS: realism, lifelikeness, authenticity