Lesson 2

Definitions

1. antithesis an TI thuh sis a direct opposite, a contrast

Synonyms >> Antonym >> duplicate; same
Good is the antithesis of evil.
Derivatives >> antithetic, antithetical, antithetically
2. ascend uh SEND to move upward, to rise from a lower station
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to descend; to go down
The climbers ascended the mountain.
Derivatives >> ascendancy, ascendance, ascendant, ascension, ascending, ascended
3. austere aw STEER strict, stern; unadorned, ascetic
Synonyms >> severe Antonym >> indulgent
Pioneers usually led an austere existence.
Derivatives >> austereness, austerely, austerity
4. autonomous aw TON uh muhs independent, self-contained
Synonyms >> Antonym >> dependent
One who is autonomous needs no help from others.
Derivatives >> autonomic, autonomously, autonomy, autonomist
5. banal BANE ul, buh NAL common, ordinary, lacking freshness, hackneyed
Synonyms >> inane, insipid, jejune, vapid Antonym >> fresh, unique, extraordinary
Because of his use of overused trite remarks, his speeches are banal.
Derivatives >> banality, banally
6. benign buh NINE not causing harm, of gentle disposition, beneficial
Synonyms >> Antonym >> malignant, harmful
The minister was loved because of his benign attitude toward all types of people.
Derivatives >> benignly, benignant, benignancy, benignantly, benignity
7. capricious kuh PRISH us changing suddenly, fickle
Synonyms >> inconstant, mercurial, unstable Antonym >> stable
Her capricious moods are difficult to anticipate.
Derivatives >> caprice, capriciously, capriciousness
8. dawdle DOD ul to waste time, to spend time idly, to move in a lackadaisical manner
Synonyms >> dally, loiter, procrastinate Antonym >> to rush
Since we have a deadline, do not dawdle over your work.
Derivatives >> dawdled, dawdling
9. defamation def uh MAY shun act of harming or ruining another's reputation
Synonyms >> Antonym >> adulation
The defamation of another's character is a horrible thing.
Derivatives >> defamatory, defame, defamed, defamer, defamingly
10. esoteric es uh TER ik understood only by a small group or a select few
Synonyms >> Antonym >> obvious
The English teachers were having an esoteric discussion about the correct usage of some obscure word.
Derivatives >> esoterical, esoterically, esotericism, esotericist, esoterism, esotery
11. exacerbate ig ZAS ur bate to aggravate, to irritate, to vex
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to ameliorate; to soothe
You will only exacerbate the situation if you try to call her.
Derivatives >> exacerbatingly, exacerbation

Copyright © 2005 by Advanced Placement Strategies

12. extol ik STOLE to praise, to glorify
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to defame
The teacher would always extol students who tried to do their best.
Derivatives >> extolled, extolling, extollingly, extollment, extoller
13. fastidious fa STID ee us reflecting a meticulous or demanding attitude, critical to an extreme
Synonyms >> finicky Antonym >> not meticulous
He considered her fastidious because she was offended by insignificant mistakes or errors.
Derivatives >> fastidiously, fastidiousness, fastidium
14. furtive FUR tiv secret in an underhanded way, stealthy
Synonyms >> clandestine, covert, stealthy, surreptitious, underhanded Antonym >> bold
During the test, he made some furtive glances at other classmates' papers.
Derivatives >> furtively, furtiveness
15. gregarious greh GAR ee us sociable and outgoing
Synonyms >> Antonym >> shy; reserved
He became much more gregarious after he developed an interest in girls.
Derivatives >> gregariously, gregariousness
16. hypocrite HIP uh krit one who is insincere or deceitful
Synonyms >> Antonym >> sincere person
Saying one thing and then doing the other is the mark of a hypocrite.
Derivatives >> hypocrites, hypocritical, hypocritically, hypocrital, hypocrisy
17. innate eh NATE existing from birth, inborn
Synonyms >> Antonym >> learned
He has innate athletic talents that cannot be taught.
Derivatives >> innated, innately, innateness, innatism, innative
18. lethargic luh THAR jik sluggish, languid
Synonyms >> stuporous, torpid Antonym >> energetic
Having had too much to drink, he was very lethargic the morning after the party.
Derivatives >> lethargically, lethargize, lethargy
19. melancholy MEL un kol ee depression of spirits
Synonyms >> Antonym >> happiness
After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy.
Derivatives >> melancholia, melancholic, melancholiac, melancholically, melancholily, melancholiness, melancholious
20. opaque oh PAKE not allowing the passage of light, not transparent; hard to understand
Synonyms >> dark Antonym >> transparent
I am going to place something opaque in the window so that no one will be able to see into this room.
Derivatives >> opaquely, opaqueness, opaquer
21. prolific pro LIF ik abundantly fruitful, marked by great productivity
Synonyms >> fecund, fertile Antonym >> barren; unfruitful
Since he has written a great number of books in a short period, Stephen King is known as a prolific writer.
Derivatives >> proliferation, proliferate, proliferative, proliferous, proliferously
22. reprove reh PROOV to scold or to rebuke for a misdeed usually with kindly intent
Synonyms >> admonish, castigate, chastise, chide, rebuke, reproach Antonym >> to approve; to applaud
A teacher sometimes needs to reprove a student for talking during class.
Derivatives >> reprovable, reprovingly, reproving, reproved, reproves, reproof
23. symmetry SIM eh tree balanced proportions
Synonyms >> Antonym >> lack of balance
The symmetry of the gardens of Versailles creates a beautiful and balanced atmosphere.
Derivatives >> symmetrical, symmetric, symmetrically, symmetricalness, symmetrization, symmetrize
24. tranquil TRANG kwul peaceful, calm
Synonyms >> placid, serene Antonym >> agitated
Weather in Texas can quickly change from tranquil to turbulent.
Derivatives >> tranquilization, tranquilize, tranquility, tranquilness, tranquilizer
25. venerate VEN uh rate to honor, to revere
Synonyms >> adore, worship Antonym >>
Although I did not always agree with President Kennedy, I venerate his memory.
Derivatives >> veneration, venerational, venerator, venerable, venerability

Copyright © 2005 by Advanced Placement Strategies

 Lesson 2
Matching Test

Directions: Choose the definition that best matches the meaning of the vocabulary word. Place the
answer of your choice in the space provided.

Exercise A
____________ 1. antithesis a. direct opposite; contrast
____________ 2. ascend b. changeable; erratic; fickle
____________ 3. austere c. to go up; to rise
____________ 4. autonomous d. ruining of another’s reputation
____________ 5. banal e. stern; unyielding; ascetic
____________ 6. benign f. to praise; to glorify
____________ 7. capricious g. insipid; dull; trite; ordinary
____________ 8. dawdle h. to embitter; to aggravate
____________ 9. defamation i. to waste time; to spend time idly
____________ 10. esoteric j. independent; self-contained
____________ 11. exacerbate k. beneficial; kind; gentle
____________ 12. extol l. understood only by a select few

Exercise B
____________ 1. fastidious a. slow; tired; sluggish; listless
____________ 2. furtive b. not transparent; dull; dark
____________ 3. gregarious c. peaceful; calm
____________ 4. hypocrite d. existing from birth; inborn
____________ 5. innate e. one who is insincere
____________ 6. lethargic f. liking to gather in groups; social
____________ 7. melancholy g. surreptitious; secret; sneaky
____________ 8. opaque h. particular; hard to please
____________ 9. prolific i. to honor; to revere
____________ 10. reprove j. balanced proportions
____________ 11. symmetry k. depression of spirits
____________ 12. tranquil l. to scold or to rebuke
____________ 13. venerate m. fruitful; producing many young

Copyright © 2005 by Advanced Placement Strategies

 Lesson 2
Sentence Completion

antithesis ascend austere autonomous

banal benign capricious dawdle

defamation esoteric exacerbate extolled

1. The woman is suing the magazine for of character because she thinks
that their comments have ruined her reputation.

2. After her superb performance, the critics her wonderful work; among
the many things they praised was her sensitivity.

3. The woman was happy to learn that the tumor was and would not
cause her harm.

4. The life of a monk does not provide for luxury items.

5. It was difficult to get the girl to settle down and stay on one topic; her
subjects of conversation changed as rapidly as her moods.

6. The skillful mountain climbers were not afraid to the towering cliff
which hovered above them.

7. The essay was marred by comments that had already been made by
thousands of uncreative students.

8. Only those who go through initiation ceremonies of the cult understand the meaning of their
_______________________vows.

9. You will only the situation if you call her again; she has been
aggravated enough.

10. The boss of the company does not allow his employees to ; he expects
them to work quickly and efficiently.

11. It was extremely unusual to see identical twins so vastly different; one seemed to be the very
_______________________ of the other in every regard except appearance.

12. The citizens of the small village longed to be __________________________, fully independent
and self-contained.

Copyright © 2005 by Advanced Placement Strategies

 Lesson 2

fastidious furtive gregarious hypocrite innate

lethargic melancholy opaque prolific reprove

symmetry tranquil venerate

13. My younger sister has always been insincere; therefore, I feel justified in calling her a
__________________________________.

14. We feared that our peaceful, _____________________ valley would soon be ravaged by war.

15. Despite the overpowering sound of the bell, there was an _______________________ and natural
tranquility about the church.

16. The woman sang a _______________________ song at the funeral.

17. There was a curious kind of _______________________ in the painting; each side seemed to be
the mirror image of the other.

18. The woman’s _______________________ housekeeping caused her family much discomfort; if
they left anything out of place she became unreasonable.

19. The _______________________ child could hardly keep his eyes open during the class; he was
obviously lacking in energy.

20. The student was not able to hide his _______________________ glances at another child’s paper;
consequently, he received a zero on the test.

21. The boys tried to peek through the __________________ window, but they could see nothing.

22. The man was hailed as one of the most _______________________ writers of his time; he
produced six complete novels in one year.

23. The _______________________ boy was always the life of the party; he enjoyed being around
large groups of people and would visit with everyone, even people he did not know.

24. His laziness led to a reduction in productivity, and eventually his boss had to
_______________________ him for being so lazy.

25. Because I _______________________ the memory of my father, I would never say bad things
about him; I still honor him, even after his death.

Copyright © 2005 by Advanced Placement Strategies