1.maladroit (adj.) [͵mæləˋdrɔɪt]

not adroit skillful awkward clumsy.

Ex : The new supervisor was maladroit in dealing with the employees.

 

2.malady (n.) [ˋmælədɪ]

a bad condition ; a disease.

Ex : Science has reduced the number of incurable maladies.

 

3.conspicuous (n.) [kənˋspɪkjʊəs]

easy to notice(look at) ; obvious.

Ex : Her late arrival made her conspious.

 

4.introspection (n.) [͵ɪntrəˋspɛkʃən]

a looking within one's own mind.

Ex : Introspection was valuable in helping her solve some of her problems.

 

5.perspicacious (adj.) [͵pɝspɪˋkeʃəs]

having the ability to look through something and understand it ; perceptive.

Ex : In dealing with individual employee problems, he was exceptionally perspicacious.

 

6.retrospect (n.) [ˋrɛtrə͵spɛkt]

a looking backward.

Ex : In retrospect, his life did not seem so unhappy.

 

7.speculate (v.) [ˋspɛkjə͵let]

to reflect on or ponder.

Ex : The candicate speculated on his chances of winning.

 

8.insuperable (adj.) [ɪnˋsjupərəbl]

not capable of being overcome.

Ex : His height was an insuperable barrier to his becoming a jockey.

 

9.soprano (n.) [səˋpræno]

one having a voice range above other voices.

Ex : Her soprano solo won top honors.

 

10.supercilious (adj.) [͵supɚˋsɪlɪəs]

eyebrows raised in a haughty, conceited way.

Ex : She cast a supercilious glance at the person who had dared to disagree with her.

 

11.precedent (n.) [ˋprɛsədənt]

an act that goes before and may serve as an example for later acts.

Ex : By giving his prize to charity, he set a precedent that later winners followed.

 

12.precipitate (v.) [prɪˋsɪpə͵tet]

lit. to dash headfirst ; to hasten

Ex : The scandal precipitated his ruin.

 

13.presage (v.) [ˋprɛsɪdʒ]

to perceive beforehand ; to predict.

Ex : Lack of cooperation among the employees presages trouble in the industry.

 

14.acrophobia (n.) [͵ækrəˋfobɪə]

an excessive or illogical fear of high places.

Ex : Because of her acrophobia, she refused to approach the rim of the canyon.

 

15.claustrophobia (n.) [͵klɔstrəˋfobɪə]

an excessive or illogical fear of enclosed places.

Ex : His claustrophobia made him prefer an office that opened onto a balcony.

 

16.embryology (n.) [͵ɛmbrɪˋɑlədʒɪ]

the study of the formayion and development of embryos.

Ex : The science of embryology has determined the exact times when various parts of an embryo develop.

 

17.etymology (n.) [͵ɛtəˋmɑlədʒɪ]

the study of the origin(true meaning) and development of words.

Ex : From his study of etymology, he learned many interesting word histories.

 

18.epilogue (n.) [ˋɛpə͵lɔg]

a speech directed to the audience at the conclusion of a play.

Ex : Shakespeare's plays often end with an epilogue spoken by one of the characters.

 

19.monologue (n.) [ˋmɑn!͵ɔg]

a speech by one person ; a soliloquy.

Ex : The monologue beginning " Is this a dagger which I see before me? " helps reveal Macbeth's character.

20.prologue (n.) [ˋpro͵lɔg]

a speech before a play ; any introductory event.

Ex : The fancy appetizers were the prologue to an excellent dinner.

 

21.epigram (n.) [ˋɛpə͵græm]

any short, witty saying.

Ex : She liked to quote the epigram " Sucess is getting what you want ; happiness is wanting what you get. "

 

22.eulogize (v.) [ˋjulə͵dʒaɪz]

lit. to give a good speech ; to give a speech in praise of.

Ex : The man who had started the project was eulogized by all the speakers.

 

23.euphemism (n.) [ˋjufəmɪzəm]

the substitution of a mild(good) word in place of a distasteful or unpleasant one.

Ex : She spoke in euphemisms, talking of " passing on " rather than dying.

 

24.disconcert (v.) [͵dɪskənˋsɝt]

to upset ; to frustrate.

Ex : The speaker was disconcerted by the noise in the balcony.

 

25.ambiguous (adj.) [æmˋbɪgjʊəs]

uncertain ; having two possible meanings.

Ex : From her ambiguous answer, I couldn't tell whether she was complimenting or insulting me.