Level FVocabulary Unit #1

approbation

(noun) official recognition or approval

• approval•praise

His coach’s approbation meant a great deal to

him.

assuage(verb) 1. to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease2. to appease; satisfy; allay; relieve3. to soothe, calm, or mollify

•Relieve•Calm•Lessen

I hoped my apology would assuage his anger.

The aspirin helped to assuage her headache.

coalition(noun) a combination or union for some specific purpose

•combine

The environmental groups formed a coalition to save the baby penguins.

decadence

(noun) 1. decline or decay

2. excessive self-indulgence

•Degenerate•Corruption•Deprivatity

The once strong country fell into a time of decadence.

elicit(V) to call forth or draw out

•Extract•Evoke

•She's been trying to elicit the support of the other members.•My question elicited no response.

expostulate

(verb) to attempt to change someone’s mind using reasoning

•protest•Argue•object

Her mother expostulated with her about wearing too much make-up.

hackneyed(adj) lacking freshness or originality

•Stale

No one laughs at that hackneyed joke anymore

hiatus(noun) a gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break

• Break•vacation

After a two year hiatus from training, the runner realized she was really out of shape,

innuendo(noun) an indirect suggestion about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging nature

•hint

His reputation had been damaged by innuendo.

intercede(v.) 1. To plead on another's behalf.2. To act as mediator in a dispute

• In the middle• Plead• negotiate

1. When the boss accused her of lying, several other employees intercede on her behalf.

2. She attempted to intercede when the two friends began fighting

jaded

(adj) wearied, worn-out, dulled

•Fatigued•Fed-up•Bored

Some teachers become jaded when they see kids giving up over and over.

Doris felt jaded towards love after she caught he boyfriend cheating on her.

lurid(adj) causing shock or revulsion

Extreme lack of restraint

gruesome

Graphic

shocking

The child was not allowed to play lurid video games.

X - rated

meritorious

(adj) deserving praise, reward, esteem,

•praiseworthy

The firefighter received an award from the mayor for meritorious service.

petulant

(adj) rude in speech or behavior

•Grouchy•Huffy•irritable

No one wanted to be around the petulant child because she was so sassy and grouchy.

prerogative

(noun) an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege

•privilege

The seniors think they have they prerogative to cut in line in front of freshman.

provincialPertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward

•Niave

His provincial attitude and behavior made him

awkward around the soriety crowd.

simulate(verb) to create a likeness, or model of (a situation, system, or the like):

•Fake•imitate

To help babies get to sleep, some parents use a sound device that simulates a heartbeat.

transcend(verb) to rise above or go beyond the limits of; to triumph over the negative

•Exceed•Out do•overcome

The Special Olympics athlete knew that she could transcend her physical limitations.

umbrage

(noun) a feeling of resentment or annoyance

•Displeasure•offense

Professor Umbrage felt umbrage when Harry Potter questioned her authority.

unctuous(adj) 1. having an oily or soapy feel

2. excessively smooth, suave, or smug.

I generally do not buy anything from an unctuous salesman.