Vocabulary Unit 5, Part 1

Altruistic (adj): unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

Because he had spent his youth on the streets, dependent on the altruistic urges of others for his survival, the business owner was always ready with handouts for people in need.

Assent (v): to express agreement(n): agreement

The athlete assented to laser surgery to correct his poor vision because he decided that the benefits of not wearing glasses outweighed the risks of the surgery.

Benefactor (n): one who does good to others

The book Daddy-Long-Legs concerns a young orphaned girl with a secret benefactor

who sends her to college, something she would not have been able to afford without his

help.

Chivalrous (adj): marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

Refined social graces were part of the code that governed the chivalrous conduct of knights in the Middle Ages, and even today, people who

are polite are said to follow that code.

Clemency (n): mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

In contrast to her usual mild disposition, the gardener was in no mood for clemency when she found that the neighbors' dog had dug up

her prize-winning tulips.

Dearth (n): a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

The minister's sermons were so inspiring and the church so well attended that there was never a

dearth of money on the Sunday collection plate.

Diffident (adj): shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

The glamorous movie star employed a whole series of extremely competent but shy personal assistants, but none was so diffident as Bella, whose soft, quavery

voice could barely be understood.

Discrepancy (n): a difference; lack of agreement

There was only a small discrepancy between my checkbook balance and the balance on my bank

statement, so I decided not to redo all my calcuclations.

Embark (v) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest

How many people, Alex wondered, would be willing to embark on a real-life mission to Mars,

and how long would the voyage take?

Facile (adj): easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent, easily shown

but not sincerely felt.

A talented master of ceremonies has the ability to mix a patter of facile praise with tidbits of

information to move the audience smoothly from one

act to the next.

Indomitable (adj): unconquerable, cannot be defeated or beaten

The athlete's indomitable endurance made him impossible to beat at the Olympics.

She handled the difficult situation with indomitable grace.

Infallible (adj): free from error or mistake; absolutely dependable

He is so sure he is infallible that he never sees how often he makes mistakes.

Most people believe that no man is perfectly infallible.

Infallibility (n)

Plod (v): to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

He plodded home from the bus stop after a long and exhausting day.

She plodded through the reading, sure she would die because it was so boring.

Pungent (adj): causing a sharp sensation; having a strong smell or

taste.The pungent smell of onions filled the house.

Her perfume is so pungent I can't stop sneezing.

Pungency (n)

Remiss (adj): neglectful in the performance of one's duties; careless about doing something you are supposed to do.

He was so remiss in doing his homework that he is in danger of failing the class completely.

I would be remiss if I did not warn you that your shirt is inside-out.

Usually followed by IN: I am remiss IN my duties

Repose (v): to rest, lie down, relax(n): relaxation, peace of mind,

calmnessI like to repose on the couch at night and watch

TV.

I hate to disturb your repose, but your hair is on fire.

Temerity (n): rashness, boldness

I can't believe he had the temerity to just come up and say that to me!

It takes a lot of temerity to tell someone what you REALLY think of them.

Truculent (adj): bad-tempered and always ready to argue with someone

The truculent child makes everyone dislike him.

Truculent students are every teacher's worst nightmare.

Truculence (n)

Unfeigned (adj): real, sincere, without pretense

Her unfeigned diffidence was sweet.

Virulent (adj): full of hatred; a poison or disease that spreads very quickly and

is very dangerousThe US Constitution provides freedom of speech,

even if that speech is virulent and upsets people.

The flu is a virulent disease that can make everyone sick very quickly if they do not take precautions.

Virulence (n)