Define:
burgeon
(burr-djun)
v. to grow
The burgeoning mass of bees was heading straight for the picnic.
Root: burgeon (from Old French borjoner, meaning “to bud”)
Define:
exacting
(ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
The exacting professor wanted a 15-page paper due the next day in class.
Prefix: ex- (meaning “out”); Root: act (from Latin agere, meaning “to do”); Suffix: -ing (forming adjectives, indicating an action or result)
Define:
rebuke
(rih-byook)
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
The child was rebuked for stealing candy.
Prefix: re- (meaning “again” or “back”); Root: buke (from Old French buker, meaning “to strike”)
Define:
dulcet
(duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
The dulcet tone of the musical parody contrasted sharply with its offensive lyrics.
Root: dulc (from Latin dulcis, meaning “sweet”)
Define:
toady
(toh-dee)
n. a flatterer, a yes man
The president was surrounded by toadies rather than people with honest criticisms.
Root: toad (from Middle English tode, meaning “toad”); Suffix: -y (forming nouns, indicating a characteristic)
Define:
gall
(gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
He had the gall to request a raise after it was discovered that he was calling in sick in order to play golf.
Root: gall (from Old English gealla, meaning “bile”)
Define:
cloying
(kloi-ing)
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Unfortunately, cloying romantic comedies are sure box-office hits, and so Hollywood continues to churn them out.
Root: cloy (from Middle English cloyen, meaning “to hinder”); Suffix: -ing (forming adjectives, indicating an action or result)
Define:
sully
(suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Joe’s reputation as an ethical CEO was sullied by his selfish actions during his company’s merger.
Root: sul (from Old French souillier, meaning “to soil”); Suffix: -y (forming verbs, indicating an action)
Define:
defile
(dih-fahyl)
v. to dirty, spoil, or dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
The holy site was unwittingly defiled when the invaders, for whom it held no special meaning, used it as a stable.
Prefix: de- (meaning “down” or “away”); Root: file (from Old French fil, meaning “thread”)
Define:
pithy
(pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
Satya’s pithy keynote speech was more enlightening than the endless lectures that had preceded it.
Root: pith (from Old English piþa, meaning “essential part”); Suffix: -y (forming adjectives, indicating a characteristic)
Name the vocab term:
v. to grow
Hint: starts with “b”
burgeon
synonyms: blossom, grow, expand, flourish, thrive, multiply
Her business began to burgeon after she introduced a new product line.
Fill in the blank:
Her ________ standards made it difficult to meet her expectations.
Hint: Starts with “e” and means “demanding great effort or precision”.
exacting
exacting (ig-zak-ting)
adj. making severe demands or requirements
adj. requiring great care
Name the vocab term:
v. to reprimand, to scold sharply
Hint: starts with “r”
rebuke
synonyms: berate, blame, condemn, scold, reprimand, admonish
The teacher rebuked the student for not completing his homework on time.
Fill in the blank:
The ________ tones of the violin soothed everyone in the room.
Hint: Starts with “d” and means “sweet and soothing”.
dulcet
dulcet (duhl-sit)
adj. pleasant sounding or looking
Name the vocab term:
n. a flatterer, a yes man
Hint: starts with “t”
toady
synonyms: doter, brownnoser, sycophant, flatterer, fawning
He surrounded himself with toadies who never questioned his decisions.
Fill in the blank:
It took a lot of ________ for him to make such bold demands after his recent mistakes.
Hint: Starts with “g” and means “bold rudeness”.
gall
gall (gawl)
n. audacity, impudence
Name the vocab term:
adj. unpleasant due to excess; sickeningly sweet or sentimental
Hint: starts with “c”
cloying
synonyms: cheesy, overly sentimental, sappy, sickly, sweet, excessive
The movie’s cloying romance scenes made it difficult to take the story seriously.
Fill in the blank:
The scandal ________ his once pristine reputation.
Hint: Starts with “s” and means “damaged purity or integrity”.
sullied
sully (suhl-ee)
v. to stain or tarnish the purity of
Name the vocab term:
v. to dirty, spoil, dishonor
v. to violate the chastity of
Hint: starts with “d”
defile
synonyms: befoul, besmirch, corrupt, desecrate, degrade
The vandals defiled the historic monument with graffiti.
The ancient tale spoke of a king who sought to defile the queen, only to be punished by the gods.
Fill in the blank:
His ________ remarks during the meeting were both insightful and brief.
Hint: Starts with “p” and means “concise and forcefully expressive”.
pithy
pithy (pith-ee)
adj. concise and relevant
