Midterm Review

 

Vocabulary

1. assert v. [əˋsɝt]

  Definitions: 1. to state firmly that something is true

                     2. to claim that you have the right to do something or behave in a particular way

  Synonyms: declare, state, affirm, pronounce

  Example: She asserted her innocence.

 

2. crimson n. [ˋkrɪmzn]

  Definition: a dark purple-red color

  Example: That woman wore a crimson coat.

 

3. appendicitis n. [ə͵pɛndəˋsaɪtɪs]

  Definition: an illness in which your appendix becomes infected and has to be removed in a medical operation

  Example: He got an appendicitis so he needed to perform an operation.

 

4. retina n. [ˋrɛtɪnə]

  Definition: the part at the back of your eye that sends light signals to the brain, where they are changed into images

   Example: Diseases of retina can cause vision lost over time.

 

5. fling v. [flɪŋ]

  Definitions: 1. to throw something carelessly or with a lot of force

                   2. to move your body or part of your body quickly, and with a lot of force

                    3. to quickly open a door, window, or curtain

                    4. to say something to someone that is intended to hurt them

  Examples: 1. She flung the book onto the bed.

                  2. He flung himself into the election campaign.

                  3. He flung to door open.

                  4. She flung him a scornful look.

 

6. linen n. [ˋlɪnən]

  Definition: light cloth made from a plant called Flax

  Example: We change bed linen every week.

 

7. peremptory adj. [pəˋrɛmptərɪ]

  Definition: speaking or behaving rather rudely, as if you expect other people to obey you immediately

  Example: There was a peremptory note in his voice.

 

8. nibble v. [ˋnɪb!]

Definition: to bite the surface of something gently several times

Example: She sat down to nibble candy.

 

9. egotism n. [ˋigə͵tɪzəm]

  Definition: a feeling that you are more important than other people and need not care about them

  Example: Everyone didn’t like him because of his egotism.

 

10. silhouette n. [͵sɪlʊˋɛt]

   Definitions: 1. he dark shape or shadow of something, especially something that you cannot see clearly

                         2. an image or drawing showing onlt the shape of something

   Example: There was a line of bald tree silhouetted against the horizon.

 

11. waver v. [ˋwevɚ]

    Definitions: 1. if a person wavers, they are not certain about what to say or do

                      2. if a light or image wavers, it is not steady and it shakes or changes a lot

   Examples: 1. She wavered between staying single and accepting his proposal.

                      2. The flame of the candle wavered.

 

12. intimation n. [͵ɪntəˋmeʃən]

   Definition: a suggestion or sign that something is likely to happen

   Example: A frown is often an intimation of disapproval.

 

13. seaward adj. [ˋsiwɚd]

   Definition: the seaward side of something is nearest the ocean

   Example: We left the harbor and sailed seaward.

 

14. hasty adj. [ˋhestɪ]

   Definition: done I a hurry because you do not have much time

   Example: We had a hasty meal and then left.

 

15. desolate adj. [ˋdɛs!ɪt]

   Definition: a desolate place is completely empty with no people or pleasant features in it

   Example: We saw few houses in the desolate valley.

 

16. wheat n. [hwit]

   Definition: a tall plant that produces grain for making bread and other foods

   Example: This machine crushes wheat grain to make flour.

 

17. grotesque adj. [groˋtɛsk]

   Definition: extremely ugly and strange

   Example: He was a master of the grotesque in painting.

 

18. chimney n. [ˋtʃɪmnɪ]

   Definition: a tube or passage that takes smoke from a fire up through a building and not through the roof

   Example: The smoke from chimney is spreading out in the sky.

 

19. transcendent adj. [trænˋsɛndənt]

   Definition: not limited or influenced by negative attitudes, thoughts, or feelings

   Example: But in the Zoroastrian faith, Ahura Mazda is abstract and transcendent.

 

20. impenetrable adj. [ɪmˋpɛnətrəb!]

 Definitions: 1. impossible to get into or get through

                   2. impossible to understand

 Examples: 1. Some wild pheasants love impenetrable jungles.

                  2. The motive for the crime was impenetrable.

 

21. powdery adj. [ˋpaʊdərɪ]

   Definition: like powder

   Example: A couple of inches of powdery snow had fallen.

 

22. obscure adj. [əbˋskjʊr]

   Definitions: 1. not known about or not well known

                         2. not clear expressed or not easy to understand

   Examples: 1. He came from an obscure mountain village.

                         2. The meaning of the passage is obscure.

 

23. spasm n. [ˋspæzm]

   Definition: a sudden movement in which one of your muscles becomes tight and painful

   Example: If breathing is not restored, the patient may go into spasm.

 

24. bleak adj. [blik]

   Definition: without any reasons to feel happy or hopeful

   Example: The future looked bleaked.

 

25. condescension n. [͵kɑndɪˋsɛnʃən] 

   Definition: the behavior of someone that shows they think they are more important or more intelligent than other people

   Example: She detected a note of condescension in the friendliest advances.