Vocabulary Lesson 6

Vocabulary Lesson 6Antiquated to Vivid

antiquatedObsolete; out-of-fashion; no longer usableThese days sending out mail by snail mail is antiquated; most people use e-mail.

arableFit for plowing; tillableThe world has lost nearly one-third of its arable land over the past 40 years, largely because farming and other human activities have dramatically accelerated soil erosion.

ascendancyDomination; growing power

His ascendancy to the presidency surprised many who thought a one-term senator would not be able to win.

atrophyTo waste away; to witherVerb: If you do not exercise your bones are likely to atrophy from lack of use.Noun: The atrophy of her knees caused her to walk with difficulty.

5clandestineSecret; furtiveHe had a clandestine plan in motion to surprise his wife for his birthday.

conciliateTo reconcile; pacify; to renew a friendship

I made my mom cookies as a conciliatory gesture after our argument.

cursorySuperficial; casual; hastily done

To save time when you are on the critical reading section of the SAT, first give a cursory glance to the questions before reading the passage.

derisionScoffing at; mockery; ridicule

The teen was distraught by the derision she was receiving from her former friends and decided to go to her counselor.

enmityAbsolute hatredIt is unhealthy to hold enmity toward someone; it is wiser to try to forgive and forget.

extricateTo free; to disentangleOur military commanders are finding it difficult to extricate our country from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

forbearancePatience; lenienceAmericans are not known for their forbearance; we are a nation who likes immediate results.

frivolousLacking in seriousness or importanceDo not be angry at your sister for such a frivolous reason as her eating the last of the cereal.

garrulousTalkative; ramblingYou need to be garrulous to be an effective sales spokesperson on an inf0mercial.

impetuousViolent, hasty, rash, impulsiveSometimes talk radio hosts and announcers get fired for being too impetuous and saying something controversial.

industriousSkillfully busy or occupiedWe were industrious during the holiday break and did all of our holiday shopping.

infamousHaving a reputation of the worst kind, vicious, notoriously badLindsay Lohan is an infamous celebrity, known now more for her drinking than her acting.

insolenceInsulting or contemptuous behaviorI will not put up with your insolence; go to your room!

levityExcessive frivolity; flippancyA little levity in the classroom is all right; but too much can be a classroom management nightmare.

oblivionState of being forgottenOld family cemeteries are beginning to fade into oblivion; it is much more common for people to be buried in large, public cemeteries.

paradoxicalSomething that appears contradictory or false but is actually trueFor thirteen years, in the late nineteenth century, Clarence King lived a paradoxical double life, one as a bachelor white man and one as a married black man.

perjuryFalse testimony under oathThe witness could not remember the details, but did not want to be accused of perjury.

rancorDeep-seated hatred; ill-will; enmityThe terrorists rancor for American culture is hard to understand.

sycophantA self-serving flatterer; a brown-noserI know you want an A, but dont be such a sycophant; you are making us look bad.

vacillatingChanging; fluctuatingI wish I wasnt so indecisive; I vacillate between choices all the timeeven at the grocery store.

vividBright, distinct, clearThe colors in the painting were so vivid I thought it was a photograph.