confidence in context

Confidence-In-Context Coaching

Lesson 1 Workbook

Confidence-In-Context

A. Words about CareersThe five words in this section might all be used when discussing jobs or careers:

curriculum vitae, tenure, hiatus, elucidate, sinecure.

Your career words explainedThe first word we’ll define is actually a Latin phrase: “curriculum vitae,” meaning literally

“the course of life.” Like a resume, your curriculum vitae, or “CV,” gives the details of your

work and professional history, but also includes your academic background, personal

achievements, and any awards and recognitions you have received. The terms

“curriculum vitae” and “resume” are often used interchangeably, but you might be more

likely to hear “curriculum vitae” in an academic setting, such as a college or university.

Example: “To help you get the best job, be sure to list your professional certifications on

your curriculum vitae.”

“Tenure” is another word that is often associated with the world of education. This noun

has the same roots as the French “tenir,” or “to hold,” and means “holding or possession

of a job, status, or position.” Tenure can refer to a specific period of time – for example,

“He accomplished a great deal during his tenure as chairman.” In academics, tenure is

used to denote an indefinite period of time: a teacher who “gets tenure” has their position

guaranteed from then on.

Example: “The organization’s membership list doubled in size during her tenure as

president.”

Our third word is the noun “hiatus.” A hiatus is a pause or break in something that is

otherwise ongoing. For example, a newspaper editor might write a column each week for

publication, but when the editor is away on holiday, the column goes on hiatus – that is,

there is a gap in the regularly-scheduled publishing. You could say that both the editor and

the column are on vacation. “Hiatus” is both singular and plural, though it’s also correct to

say “hiatuses.” However, since the term is most frequently used when talking about one

instance in time, you generally won’t be faced with the problem of which form to use.

Example: “The offices are closed while the department is on hiatus.”

2


Was that last word confusing? If so, perhaps I should elucidate. The fourth word in our list

is “elucidate,” which means “to make clear” or “to shed light on.” A synonym of elucidate

is “explain.” If you’re a teacher, this is something you’ll be doing quite often.

Example: “His clear explanation helped elucidate the details of the complicated

instructions.”

The final word in this section is the noun “sinecure.” This might be your ultimate goal

when using a curriculum vitae to find work – a sinecure is a job where you don’t have any

duties or responsibilities, but you still get paid.

Example: “Rather than being a sinecure, this job has me doing something every minute of

the day!”

B. Peaceful WordsHere’s a set of words that will give you a peaceful, easy feeling: equanimity, affable,

mitigate, congenial, serendipity.

Your peaceful words explained“Equanimity” means “calmness, especially during stressful situations.” It’s a characteristic

of someone who maintains his or her composure. It’s often used to refer to a person’s way

of speaking as well as their attitude – for example, “Although his tone was very

aggressive, she answered him with equanimity.” Equanimity also refers to stability or

steadiness, in a mental or emotional sense.

Example: “His exercises in meditation and prayer helped him view the chaos in his life

with perfect equanimity.”

An affable person is someone who is sociable and easy to talk to, and also someone who

finds it easy to talk to other people. “Affable” means “friendly,” but in a quiet, calm way.

Affable people are not necessarily the life of the party or the centers of attention. Instead,

they’re the ones who listen as much as they talk. Everybody feels comfortable talking to

them, because they’re comfortable talking to anyone. Other adjectives that describe this

3


type of person are “amiable” and “cordial” – that is to say, polite and willing to go along

with others, in a spirit of friendship.

Example: “Alex is invited to every outing – she’s so amiable, she can get along with

anyone.

If there’s conflict between two people in a group, one thing an amiable person can do is

help decrease, or mitigate the tension. “Mitigate” means to reduce or decrease the effect

of something negative. Sometimes that negative thing is more tangible, like a migraine:

medication can mitigate the pain of a headache. Sometimes it’s a negative emotion or

feeling. Have you ever given someone flowers when they’ve had bad news, because you

want to mitigate their sadness?

Example: “Construction workers are often required to wear earplugs to mitigate the noise

of the machinery they operate.”

There won’t be much tension to mitigate when you’re with someone congenial.

“Congenial” means “having the same likes and dislikes.” You and your best friend are

likely congenial kindred spirits. If you’re in a group of people who enjoy the same thing –

for example, an activity like skiing, or singing in a choir – then you’re in congenial

company. You can also be in a congenial situation: one where you’re completely in your

comfort zone, surrounded by affable people, even if you’re not a part of any particular

group.

Example: “Being a music lover, I found myself in congenial company at the opening of the

Sydney Opera House’s new season.”

Do you love opera? Imagine that one day you have to walk home by a different route,

because they’re doing construction on the main street to mitigate the traffic congestion.

You walk by a small restaurant you’ve never seen before, and go in for a look. Inside, you

find delicious food, and singing waiters who serenade you with beautiful arias from your

favorite operas. If you hadn’t been forced into this different path, you’d never have found

this restaurant. That’s “serendipity” – the accidental discovery of something good or

beneficial. In fact, serendipity is sometimes called a “happy accident.”

Example: “She met her future husband through serendipity, when they were seated

together at a friend’s wedding party.”

4


C. Words for Difficult or Dangerous SituationsLook out! These five words might be used when you’re dealing with difficult or dangerous

situations: pandemic, virulent, detrimental, sequester, stringent.

Your words for difficult or dangerous situations explained“Pandemic” means “widespread” – that is, covering a large geographic area and affecting

many people. You’ll usually hear this in relation to an illness. In fact, an epidemic is

promoted to “pandemic” status when it spreads beyond the usual range of infection. For

example, the so-called ‘bird flu’ is considered an epidemic if it affects many people in one

country, but if it spreads across the globe, it will become pandemic.

Example: “With all of the air travel being done these days between continents, medical

researchers are afraid that some diseases may become pandemic if people return home

after being infected.”

An illness like this, which can spread quickly and easily between populations, is often said

to be virulent, especially if it results in many deaths. “Virulent” means “highly infectious

and deadly.” The Ebola virus, which kills over half of the people who catch it, is a virulent

disease. Let’s hope that particular illness doesn’t become pandemic.

Example: “The pandemic of 1918 was caused by a particularly virulent strain of influenza,

resulting in the deaths of over 20 million people worldwide.”

The effects of such an illness are detrimental to a population. “Detrimental” means

“causing harm or damage.” Synonyms of “detrimental” are “destructive,” “harmful,” and

“unfortunate.”

Example: “Because most of the victims of the 1918 pandemic influenza were adults

between 20 and 45 years old, many countries lost a large percentage of their workforce

within a short period of time, which proved detrimental to their economies, already

damaged by World War I.”

One way of fighting a pandemic illness is to “sequester” the people who are infected, to

make it harder for the disease to spread. The verb “sequester” means “to isolate and

5


make separate from outside contact.” When you sequester someone, you are putting them

in seclusion, or isolation.

Example: “The doctors suspected that the child had been infected with measles, so they

sequestered him in an isolated area, rather than putting him in the common ward with the

other patients.

Some “stringent” measures might be needed if you have to sequester an entire

population due to the possibility of a pandemic illness. “Stringent” means “keeping strictly

to specific rules or standards.” The underlying sense of the word is that these rules are

difficult to follow, but that there would be negative consequences if you didn’t follow them.

“Stringent” can also mean severe, rigorous, or rigid.

Example: “The hospital established a stringent policy that all visitors had to follow when

visiting patients, including a complete change of clothes and hourly hand-washing.”

D. Words for Amusing, Funny and Quirky Characteristics

You might find this section rather entertaining. You’ll be learning words that are often used

when speaking of things that can be amusing or funny, but in a slightly strange way:

foible, droll, hyperbole, parody, potter.

Your words for amusing, funny and quirky characteristics explainedThe first word is “foible.” A foible is an unusual habit or mannerism, particularly one that

creates vulnerability. The word comes from the French word faible meaning “feeble” and

implies a weakness, specifically in a person’s character. It’s a small weakness, but it can

cause them harm. Think of a suit of armour that protects a knight. Let’s say this knight

polishes his armour every day, but puts extra effort into making the right knee shiny,

because he thinks that will bring him luck. Unfortunately, all that polishing makes the knee

area weaker, and the next spear goes right through it. This little chink in the armour is a

metaphorical foible – the real foible is the knight’s habit of over-polishing that spot.

6


Example: “He insisted on always sitting at the head of the table when he played poker.

This foible prevented him from competing in the big tournaments, where seating is

assigned randomly.”

You might find this previous example of a foible somewhat droll. “Droll” means “wry” or

“whimsical” or “odd, in a humorous way.” It’s a quieter, subtle humour. The Three Stooges

and Benny Hill are generally not described as “droll.”

Example: “We all enjoyed her droll presentation on Shakespeare; it was full of witty

comments comparing his play’s characters to mode3rn movie stars.”

In fact, I laughed so hard at her presentation that my teeth fell out! Well, no, that was

hyperbole. “Hyperbole” means an exaggeration or overstatement, used in order to

emphasize a point. It’s often done in order to create a humorous effect. Many comedians

rely on hyperbole for their acts, saying things like “I was so thin as a child my parents

didn’t bother giving me a key to the front door. I just went in through the mail slot.”

Advertisers make their living off hyperbole. Not every product can be the best, but they all

claim to be.

Example: “The studio’s statement that millions of people went to the movie premiere on

Friday is sheer hyperbole – ticket sales show that only a few thousand people attended.”

Some movies are parodies, like “This Is Spinal Tap,” a mock documentary about a heavy

metal band and its concert tours. A “parody” is an imitation of a person, place, or thing,

done in order to poke fun at them. The Australian television show “CNNNN” made fun of

24-hour cable news networks, and “The Colbert Report” does the same for news

programs in the USA. Sometimes this is done just to be humorous, but other times a

parody can be sharper, mocking someone’s mannerisms in a way intended to be hurtful.

Example: “Jane’s parody of her French professor’s lectures had everyone laughing, but

when the teacher walked into the classroom, she was not amused.”

A typical parody of an absent-minded professor includes wandering around aimlessly,

doing things randomly, without very many results. The word “potter” means to mess about

doing nothing in particular. In parodies, this is a common foible of an older person, or one

who’s not altogether mentally sound.

7


Example: “After he won the lottery, Bruce quit his job and spent every day just pottering

around in the garden.”

E. Words for Describing Truth and LiesSometimes it’s hard to tell truth from fiction. All of the words in this section deal with truth

and lies: fabrication, verbatim, erroneous, chimera, specious.

Your words for describing truth and lies explainedThe first word we’ll be looking at is “fabrication.” You might be familiar with this word in

the sense of “making something” – often machine parts or tools – and the meaning we’re

talking about is similar. A “fabrication” is something that’s made up – that is, a lie. A

fabrication is a story, a fiction, a falsehood.

Example: “Steven was four hours late, but his explanation that his late arrival was due to

an escaped circus elephant was obviously a fabrication.”

Now, let’s say Steven really was caught in traffic for four hours, during which time he

heard on the radio that the problem was due to an escaped elephant. The radio

announcer was having a bit of fun with his audience – but Steven didn’t know this. He’ll

still give the same reason for arriving four hours late, but now his reason isn’t a fabrication,

it’s just erroneous. “Erroneous” means “based on false information,” in error, mistaken.

Example: “When the zoo reported a missing elephant, the city closed all of the schools, in

the erroneous belief that the lions had also gotten loose.”

On the other hand, Steven might have been driving slowly home, imagining himself riding

on the back of an elephant at the head of a circus parade. He was lost in his daydream,

caught in a fantasy, a chimera. A “chimera” is a creation of the imagination, a foolish

fancy, or an imaginary thing.

Example: “Early European travellers to Africa brought back descriptions of giraffes and

elephants that were dismissed as chimeras by people who didn’t believe such things could

exist.”

8


Something that seems believable and reasonable at first glance, but is easily proven false

when examined closely, is said to be “specious”. This term is often used to describe

argument, or reasoning. A good example of specious reasoning is the following:

- God is love.

- Love is blind.

- I am blind.

- Therefore I am God.

On the surface, this seems perfectly logical, where A leads to B leads to C back to A, but

when you look at the statements, they lead to a completely illogical conclusion. Another

word for a specious argument is a “fallacy.”

Example: “The lawyer tried to prove that the woman was guilty by quoting her previous

statements about the incident, but as she hadn’t said anything incriminating, this was a

specious argument.”

Quoting something that someone previously said can sometimes help you separate truth

and fiction, but only if you’re quoting them verbatim. “Verbatim” means word for word,

exactly as it was said.

Example: “The court reporter read back the lawyer’s words verbatim, and the judge

realized that his arguments were based on false evidence.”

F. Difficult Words that Appear EasyThe most difficult words to learn are sometimes the ones that look the simplest. But it’s

easy to confuse words that seem familiar, when their meanings aren’t what you expect. In

this section, we’ll look at three familiar words - champion, brook, and pedestrian – and

discover their Ultimate Vocabulary definitions. We’ll also learn two words that might

describe the confusion surrounding these words: quandary and abstruse.

9


Your familiar but perhaps difficult words explainedLet’s start with the word “champion.” It’s a word you hear frequently in sports, when

you’re talking about a winner, someone who’s made it to the top. The meaning we’re going

to learn is actually very similar. As a verb, “to champion” means to promote, to “talk up,” or

to advertise positively. You can champion a person or a cause, trying to get people to

support them. Advertisers champion their product, trying to convince you to use it. In other

words, you’re trying to get something or someone to the top, to make it or them a winner.

Example: “After the terrible earthquake that nearly destroyed the city, local officials and

celebrities championed the movement to replace the wooden buildings with reinforced

concrete.”

The next word in this section is “brook.” We’re not talking about the noun referring to a

small stream, but rather a verb that means to tolerate or put up with, specifically with

something negative.

Example: “I have been teaching school for over thirty years, and I will brook no

interference in my classroom from parents who disagree with the grades I give the

students.”

The third word that we’ll look at for its hidden meaning is “pedestrian.” When you’re

walking down the street, you’re a pedestrian – that’s a noun. But unless you’re doing a

very silly walk, you’re also being pedestrian – an adjective. The adjective “pedestrian”

means “unremarkable” or “ordinary.”

Example: “The lives of the people around him seemed so pedestrian that the would-be

author couldn’t use them for inspiration when writing his first novel.”

Before you knew these words had meanings other than the ones everyone knows, you

might have been in a quandary when you saw them being used in ways you didn’t expect.

Our fourth word in this section is “quandary,” meaning uncertainty, or difficulty in knowing

what to do.

Example: “Two of his friends asked him for a recommendation to the same job, and he’s

in a quandary because he can’t sponsor one of them without alienating the other.”

10


And now that you’re comfortable with these old words and their new meanings, you won’t

find their usage in these contexts so abstruse. Something that is difficult to understand,

perhaps even so much that you feel you can’t begin to try, is “abstruse.”

Example: “I picked up a book on recent discoveries in physics, but it was so abstruse that

even my university classes in higher mathematics were no help in understanding the text.”

Tests for Reinforcing What you have Learnt

A. Words about careers Now that you’ve heard and read these five words in use, can you think of conversations

you’ve had recently where you might have been able to use them? Here are some sample

sentences with one of these target words missing. See if you can fill in the correct word in

each sentence.

Test Sentences:1. She tried to tell me how to do it, but her directions were too vague, and I had to ask

her to _________________________.

2. During the two-day ____________________ in broadcasting caused by the loss of power after the storm, the television station’s news reporters filed their stories over the telephone.

3. A professional _________________________ should always include the locations where you worked, and details about what you did there.

4. Because the office is only open to the public one day a week, the receptionist’s job is mostly a _______________________.

5. What do you want to accomplish during your ___________________ as president?

11


Answers:

1. She tried to tell me how to do it, but her directions were too vague, and I had to ask

her to elucidate.

The directions were vague, meaning that it was not clear what to do. Elucidate means “to make clear.”

2. During the two-day hiatus in broadcasting caused by the loss of power after the

storm, the television station’s news reporters filed their stories over the telephone.

The station was not able to broadcast without power, so there was a break in

programming. A hiatus is a break or gap in something that is otherwise ongoing.

3. A professional curriculum vitae should always include the locations where you

worked, and details about what you did there.

Where you worked, what you did, and who you worked with – these things all

describe part of your life. When you put them together, you’ve created a

curriculum vitae, the “course of your life.”

4. Because the office is only open to the public one day a week, the receptionist’s job

is mostly a sinecure.

A receptionist who rarely has anyone coming to the office has nothing to do. A job

where you get paid for doing nothing is a sinecure.

5. What do you want to accomplish during your tenure as president?

A president is chosen or elected for a specific period of time. The time spent in a

job, status, position, or elected office is called tenure.

Unless your current job is a sinecure, you might be thinking of changing jobs. If so, it’s a

good time to review your curriculum vitae. Be sure to elucidate the reasons for any

hiatus in your career, and note the beginning and ending dates of your tenure in each

position.

And when you’re done, check off five more words on your Ultimate Vocabulary list:

12


elucidate curriculum vitae tenure hiatus sinecure

B. Peaceful Words

What do you talk about when you’re with your friends? Perhaps you can use some of

these new words you’re learning to describe your feelings of calm and contentment in

being in such congenial company. Here are some sample sentences, each with one of our

key words missing. Fill in the correct word in each sentence.

Test Sentences:

1. This new vaccination is not a complete cure for malaria, but it definitely ______________ the side effects of the disease.

2. Everything was going wrong during the dress rehearsal – the spotlights didn’t work, the curtain fell down, and the actors couldn’t remember their lines – but even so, the producer managed to direct the performance with __________________.

3. Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928 was a matter of _______________, when he noticed that a bacteria culture had been accidentally contaminated by bacteria-killing mould from another laboratory nearby.

4. Bob is such an _______________ person. He finds something to talk about with everyone he meets.

5. I find this group of people to be very ________________ - we all enjoy listening to jazz, and then talking about the performances afterwards.

Answers:

1. This new vaccination is not a complete cure for malaria, but it definitely mitigates the side effects of the disease.

13


The vaccination decreases the side effects of the sickness. Mitigate means “to

lessen or decrease,” specifically when referring to something negative, such as

illness.

2. Everything was going wrong during the dress rehearsal – the spotlights didn’t work, the curtain fell down, and the actors couldn’t remember their lines – but even so, the producer managed to direct the performance with equanimity.

In the middle of a stressful, chaotic situation, the producer kept her composure, and

was able to speak calmly while directing the actors. Equanimity means “calmness

under stress” or “steadiness of mind.”

3. Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928 was a matter of serendipity, when he noticed that a bacteria culture had been accidentally contaminated by bacteria-killing mould from another laboratory nearby.

If the mould hadn’t been blown by the breeze into Fleming’s laboratory – and if he

hadn’t noticed how it killed the bacteria in the petri dish – he might never have

discovered penicillin. This is serendipity, when something happens by accident

that results in the discovery of a good thing.

4. Bob is such an amiable person. He finds something to talk about with everyone he meets.

Bob enjoys interacting with people, and is easy to talk to. Someone who is amiable is sociable and friendly, and has the ability to put other people at ease in

conversation.

5. I find this group of people to be very congenial - we all enjoy listening to jazz, and then talking about the performances afterwards.

Not everyone likes the same type of music. People who like or dislike the same

things are congenial.

Sometimes it’s just serendipity when you end up in a group of strangers and find that,

after all, they’re congenial company, affable people, and now new friends. Having good

friends does a great deal to mitigate the stresses that can happen in daily life, and can

help you deal with your problems with greater equanimity.

14


And now, calmly check off five more words on your Ultimate Vocabulary list:

serendipity congenial mitigate affable equanimity

C. Words for Difficult or Dangerous SituationsInfection can spread quickly, but so can information, especially in this world of instant

internet communication. When you’re reading the news from around the globe, keep an

eye out for these words in stories about new diseases and cures. But right now, listen to

these sentences, and fill in the missing word in each with one of the five Ultimate

Vocabulary words from this lesson.

Test Sentences1. The port authorities put ________________ guidelines in place to prevent people

from smuggling animals out of the country.

2. While she was recovering from her bout of pneumonia, Alice was _______________ in a private room at the hospital.

3. Be careful with your prescription medication: taking too much or too little might have a _____________ effect on your health.

4. When the European explorers came to the New World, they often brought smallpox and other illnesses with them which proved _______________ to native populations lacking any resistance to those diseases.

5. Experts fear that unless more study is done on the causes and control of the West Nile virus, we may be facing a _______________ illness in the near future.

Answers:

1. The port authorities put stringent guidelines in place to prevent people from smuggling animals out of the country.

15


The guidelines set by the port authorities are very specific rules, and people who

break those rules will be punished. “Stringent” means severe, rigorous, and strict.

2. While she was recovering from her bout of pneumonia, Alice was sequestered in a private room at the hospital.

Someone in a private room is isolated from others. “Sequestered” means

secluded, withdrawn, separated from outside contact.

3. Be careful with your prescription medication: taking too much or too little might have a detrimental effect on your health.

If you take too much aspirin at one time, it may damage your hearing and cause a

ringing in your ears. Something that is damaging, that causes harm, is

“detrimental.”

4. When the European explorers came to the New World, they often brought smallpox and other illnesses with them which proved virulent to native populations lacking any resistance to those diseases.

Smallpox spread rapidly among the native populations, who had never

encountered this disease, and had no immunity to it. “Virulent” means highly

infectious, and usually deadly.

5. Experts fear that unless more study is done on the causes and control of the West Nile virus, we may be facing a pandemic illness in the near future.

When several children in a school have chicken pox or a similar contagious illness,

the school will often shut down for a while to prevent a wider spread of infection. An

illness that spreads beyond a region, and even a country, is called a “pandemic”

illness.

Even though modern medicine has effective drugs and treatments for many illnesses,

there are some virulent diseases in the world for which no-one has discovered treatment.

These diseases are very detrimental to the regions where they’re found, but rather than

sequestering those populations and ignoring the problem, we should make it a stringent requirement of any pharmaceutical research program to devote time and money to finding

cures. It’s in our best interest to eliminate these diseases, and prevent a possible future

pandemic illness that will affect all of us, no matter where we live.

16


I hope you have a “healthy” respect for the power of words by now. You’ve learned a set

of five useful words from your Ultimate Vocabulary list:

stringent pandemic detrimental sequester virulent

D. Words for Amusing, Funny and Quirky Characteristics

It’s important to know how to say things, as well as what to say. Learning these Ultimate

Vocabulary words will give you the confidence to use them in their correct context. To

practice, listen to these five sentences and fill in one of this section’s target words in the

appropriate place.

Test Sentences:1. One of that actor’s ___________________ is his ritual of eating half a banana

exactly one-half hour before each performance.

2. I found his choice of music to be very _____________; not many people would request the songs of Dead Can Dance to be played at a funeral.

3. Children frequently use ___________________, saying things like “My dog is a million times smarter than your brother.”

4. The schoolchildren performed a wonderful ________________ of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “The Mikado,” setting it in a sushi restaurant in New York City.

5. The librarian spent so much time ________________ around the rare books section, she was rarely available to help the students with their research.

Answers:

1. One of that actor’s foibles is his ritual of eating half a banana exactly one-half hour before each performance.

17


A “foible” is a personal quirk or unusual habit, and often one which creates a

weakness in the person who has it. What would the actor do if there were no

bananas available that day?

2. I found his choice of music to be very droll; not many people would request the songs of Dead Can Dance to be played at a funeral.

Unless you really like their music, it might be seen as an odd but humorous choice

of bands for a funeral. “Droll” means oddly humorous or whimsical, and perhaps

something that not everyone would even recognize as humour. For example, if

there’s no mention of the band’s name, only those people who know their music

would get the joke.

3. Children frequently use hyperbole, saying things like “My dog is a million times smarter than your brother.”

If you use exaggeration or overstatement to make a point, you are using

“hyperbole”. It’s often used deliberately for a humorous effect, saying something

that’s obviously impossible, but funny in context. Dogs are only a hundred times

smarter than people, by the way.

4. The schoolchildren performed a wonderful parody of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “The Mikado,” setting it in a sushi restaurant in New York City.

The schoolchildren used the basic premise of the operetta, but changed the

location and the words to make a version that pokes fun at the original. A “parody”

is an imitation that mocks the original, usually gently. However, if you parody a

specific person’s foibles, you may end up hurting them.

5. The librarian spent so much time pottering around the rare books section; she was rarely available to help the students with their research.

The librarian is wandering between the shelves, forgetting what time it is, and not

even aware that there are people who might be looking for her. She’s not doing

anything in particular, just picking up a book here and there. She’s pottering around

the rare books section. To “potter” means to wander aimlessly, not accomplishing

much, and doing what little you do in a random fashion.

18


Humour, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. But with your growing vocabulary of

powerful words, you’ll be able to use them to create exactly the effect you want. They’re

so powerful; they can change the orbit of the moon! No, sorry, that was:

hyperbole potter foible droll parody

E. Words for Describing Truth and Lies

Believe me when I say that knowing the correct words to use and when to use them is a

powerful tool. Let’s see if you can get to the true meaning of the five vocabulary words in

this section by filling in the blanks in these example sentences.

Test Sentences:

1. The boys told their mother that a passing car had splashed mud all over their sister’s dress, but she knew it was a __________________ when she saw how dirty their hands were.

2. Some people buy a lottery ticket every day; the __________________ of instant and unlimited wealth is always in their mind.

3. It’s a _____________________ argument to say that if a child is three feet tall when she’s three, she’ll be ten feet tall when she’s ten.

4. Your conclusion that cows are a leading cause of global warming is based on _____________ information.

5. Even if you could recite the works of Shakespeare ___________________, I wouldn’t cast you as the leading role in this play.

Answers:

19


1. The boys told their mother that a passing car had splashed mud all over their sister’s dress, but she knew it was a fabrication when she saw how dirty their hands were.

Children don’t lie very well sometimes, and it’s obvious when they’re making things

up. A “fabrication” is a made-up story or a lie.

2. Some people buy a lottery ticket every day; the chimera of instant and unlimited wealth is always in their mind.

The odds of winning a lottery are so high, it’s more of a fantasy than a reality, and

most people will spend their winnings in their minds before they even buy a ticket.

A “chimera” is a fantasy or an imaginary creation.

3. It’s a specious argument to say that if a child is three feet tall when she’s three, she’ll be ten feet tall when she’s ten.

Trying to make a logical argument out of illogical statements can lead you to create

a specious line of reasoning. “Specious” means “based on false premises.”

4. Your conclusion that cows are a leading cause of global warming is based on erroneous information.

Specious arguments are often based on erroneous information. “Erroneous”

means inaccurate or mistaken; something that is assumed to be true, but is in fact

false.

5. Even if you could recite the works of Shakespeare verbatim, I wouldn’t cast you as the leading role in this play.

An actor who knew all of Shakespeare’s plays verbatim would normally be a

valuable addition to a theatre. “Verbatim” means exactly as written, word for word.

Once you know the true meaning of these words, they won’t play you false. Review the

Ultimate Vocabulary word lists daily and your dream of using these powerful words in

everyday situations will turn from a chimera into a reality. Remember these words and

definitions verbatim:

fabrication chimera specious erroneous

20


verbatim

F. Difficult Words that Appear EasyEven if you’re no longer in school, it’s a good idea to keep your brain stimulated by

learning new things. You’ve learned five new words in this section – now see if you can fit

them into their proper places in the following sentences.

Test Sentences:1. That actress brought down the energy level of the entire cast with her

________________ interpretation of the character.

2. The class in linguistics might seem _________________ at first, but once you learn all of the terminology; it will be easier to understand.

3. The head of the purchasing department would ____________________ no dispute about where the money should be spent.

4. Sometimes the people who are most effective at ________________ the cure for a disease are the ones who have suffered from it.

5. I’ve fallen in love with someone from another country, which presents a _______________, because I don’t want to live so far away from my family.

Answers:

1. That actress brought down the energy level of the entire cast with her pedestrian interpretation of the character.

A dull, uninspiring performance by one person can affect everyone else on stage.

“Pedestrian” means dull, unexceptional, uninteresting.

2. The class in linguistics might seem abstruse at first, but once you learn all of the terminology, it will be easier to understand.

When you’re first learning about something, it might seem so complicated that it’s

impossible to comprehend. The word “abstruse” means difficult to understand.

3. The head of the purchasing department would brook no dispute about where the money should be spent.

21


This purchasing department makes all of its budget decisions six months in

advance, and hates to change the spreadsheets. They don’t want to hear about

other people’s opinions on money matters, and won’t listen to any objections. “To

brook” means “to tolerate,” but in a negative sense; use this verb when you’re

talking about something you WON’T tolerate.

4. Sometimes the people who are most effective at championing the cure for a disease are the ones who have suffered from it.

It’s often easier to raise funds for a cause when you can relate a personal

experience that explains your reason for being involved. If you’re trying to raise

support for a movement or a person, you are “championing” their cause.

5. I’ve fallen in love with someone from another country, which presents a quandary, because I don’t want to live so far away from my family.

Wanting to be with your family, but also wanting to live with your love on the other

side of the world – that’s a dilemma. And that’s the meaning of “quandary”: a

difficult decision, a state of perplexity and uncertainty.

Now that the meanings of these five words are no longer abstruse, you’ll be able to

champion their use by more people. No more pedestrian conversations – you’ll brook no

resistance to adding these powerful words to your vocabulary. And you won’t be in a

quandary about when and how to use these words, because you’ve added them to your

Ultimate Vocabulary checklist:

champion abstruse pedestrian quandary brook

22


Lesson 2 Workbook


A. Words For Undesirable Personal And Business Practices

The words in this section are ones you might not like hearing applied to yourself – but it’s

useful to know how to apply them. The five not very nice words we’ll look at next are

sycophant, fatuous, neophyte, infamous, and negligible.

Your words for undesirable personal and business practices explainedWe’ve all known someone who was always flattering the boss, being a perfect “yes-man”

– in general just a complete suck-up that no-one wanted to eat lunch with. But how often

did we see that irritating person somehow end up with the plum job or the award at the

company banquet? There’s a not very nice name for that person: sycophant. A

“sycophant” is someone who hangs around powerful people, using flattery to advance

themselves. They’re often rewarded with favors or promotions. You’ll see them around

politicians, movie stars, even football heroes. They’re hangers-on, lackeys, brown-nosers.

Example: “A good leader relies on people who question her decisions, not on sycophants

who praise every word she says.”

One danger of being surrounded by sycophants is thinking that you’re truly as talented,

beautiful, and praiseworthy as they say you are. Some people, however, have no problem

believing false flattery. They’re completely unaware of the fact that they’re making fools of

themselves. They’re “fatuous.” They see themselves as absolute perfection, completely

oblivious to their flaws. Not only that, fatuous people tend to act as their own sycophants,

bragging and talking themselves up, while putting other people down.

Example: “Unaware that half of the dinner guests were professional winemakers, Uncle

George had a fatuous smile on his face as he criticized the choice of champagne served

with dessert.”

Sometimes people make mistakes or act foolishly because they are so new to a situation

they haven’t had a chance to learn the correct information. A person like this is a

“neophyte” – literally “newly planted,” from the Greek root “neo” meaning “new.” While this

word merely means “beginner” or “novice,” it’s often used in a derogatory fashion, implying

that because the person is new, they’re also lower in social status than the speaker.

2


Example: “That secretary is such a neophyte she can’t even operate the fax machine.”

If someone has a habit of talking down to others and insulting them, they’ll probably get a

reputation for being not a very nice person. They’ll be infamous. “Infamous” is an

adjective meaning “having a bad reputation” or “notorious.” Don’t get it confused with the

adjective “famous,” though they’re very similar: if you’re famous, you’re well-known in a

good way, but if you’re infamous, you’re well known for the bad things you do. Some

famous people are also infamous for certain things – think of movie stars who have trouble

staying out of jail. If two people have a reputation for acting badly in the same way, one

may be “more infamous” than the other.

Example: “Although Howard is extremely wealthy, he’s infamous for never paying his staff

on time.”

There might be several reasons why Howard doesn’t pay his staff on time. Perhaps he

has the fatuous belief that they don’t care about the money, because they’re so glad to be

working for him. Maybe he’s a neophyte millionaire, and he hasn’t really figured out his

payroll system yet. But he might just think that the amounts are too negligible to deal with

right away. “Negligible” means “so small it doesn’t matter.” Something that’s negligible is

easy to ignore because it has little impact on the situation. That’s a matter of perception, of

course – to the people on Howard’s payroll, those salaries are quite important indeed.

Example: “The monthly total of all staff salaries is a huge sum, but compared to the rest of

the budget, the figure is negligible.”

B. Words For Higher PowersAre you worried that you won’t be able to remember these Ultimate Vocabulary words?

Relax – the words in this section are a gift from above: five words that are heaven-sent to

bless your vocabulary and inspire you to use them. They’re all words that relate to “higher

powers” – or seem to. In this section, we’ll study the words catholic, trinity, aegis,

harbinger, and proselytize.

3


Your words for higher powers explainedThe first word, “catholic,” is potentially the most confusing. We’re not referring to the

Catholic religion, or any religion for that matter. “Catholic” is an adjective meaning “broad

in scope” and “comprehensive.”

Example: “Her reading list is quite catholic; she has books on everything from astrology to

zoo-keeping, and the complete ‘Harry Potter’ series.”

Another word you might be familiar with in a religious sense is “trinity.” The Christian

belief in the “Holy Trinity” of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is well-known even to non-

Christians. But as a general term, it merely refers to three things or people that are

considered as a unit, inseparable. In the southern United States, Cajun cooks have their

own “holy trinity” of onions, celery, and bell pepper that forms the basis of almost any dish.

Example: “Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the trinity of countries known as ‘the Axis’

during World War II.”

Powerful countries sometimes provide protection for smaller countries, guarding their

borders against enemies. The smaller countries are under the aegis of the larger ones.

“Aegis” means “protection” or “shield.” The word originally referred to the armored

breastplate worn by the goddess Athena, the Greek goddess of knowledge and military

power.

Example: “The star football player saw the other students teasing the new boy, so he took

him under his aegis and kept the bullies away.”

If the leaders of a country notice that their neighbors are increasing the size of their armies

and stockpiling large supplies of food and weapons, they might see this as a harbinger of

war. “Harbinger” means “a sign of things to come.” Some synonyms for harbinger are

“portent” and “omen.” It’s not always negative, though – the things to come can be good

as well as bad.

Example: “Thought nearly covered by the two inches of snow that had fallen overnight,

the early blossoms of the crocuses were a harbinger of spring.”

Isn’t it wonderful, learning these fantastic new words? You might be so enthusiastic about

the program that you want everybody to learn the Ultimate Vocabulary way. Go ahead and

4


proselytize – we won’t mind. “Proselytize” means to preach or talk about something, with

the goal of converting other people to your way of thinking. Missionaries proselytize to

convert people to their religion. Members of a political party sometimes proselytize to get

more people to agree with their platforms and vote for them.

Example: “People who give up cigarettes are often the ones who proselytize most about

the dangers of second-hand smoke.”

C. Words About WordsBy now we’re sure you’ve realized the power of words. In this section we’ll learn some

words about words: polyglot, laconic, loquacious, saw, rhetoric.

Your words about words explainedThis Ultimate Vocabulary course is focused on teaching you how to use powerful words in

English in everyday conversation. Perhaps you’re perfecting your English as a second

language, or even third. If you’re fluent in more than one language, you’re a “polyglot”. A

polyglot is someone who can read, speak, and write in several languages.

Example: “The translators who work for the diplomats have to be polyglots, because they

deal with ambassadors from many countries.”

Just because a person can speak in many languages doesn’t mean they talk all the time.

Translators, of course, have to speak constantly as they interpret conversations between

people. But off the job, they might be quite laconic. “Laconic” means “brief” or “to the

point,” referring to someone’s speaking style. A laconic person uses just enough words to

say what they mean, and no more.

Example: “He has a reputation for being laconic at work, but I think it’s because he’s so

busy he just doesn’t have time to chat.”

The opposite of laconic is “loquacious.” A loquacious person is one who talks all the time.

Synonyms for loquacious are “chatty,” “talkative,” and “garrulous.”

Example: “I tried to study at my desk, but my roommate is so loquacious I couldn’t

concentrate, and I went to the library instead.”

5


It’s usually not a good idea to be talking all of the time. You know what they say: “a closed

mouth catches no flies.” That’s an old Italian proverb, or saw, on the wisdom of keeping

quiet. A “saw” is a saying, usually one that’s been around for a long time. And even if the

saw is no longer much used in modern life, it still describes something that’s true. Another

saw, or saying, that you might know is “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” We’re

certainly teaching you some new words, though!

Example: “My grandmother always used her teabag twice, quoting that old saw ‘waste

not, want not.’”

Using words in just the right way can be a powerful tool for influencing other people.

Creative and effective use of words is called “rhetoric.” While this can refer to writing, it’s

more often used to describe a way of speaking, or a speech. Make sure that when you’re

speaking you’re not getting too creative; “rhetoric” also refers to a speech that’s so full of

flowery language and unnecessary or misleading detail that it’s hard to find the meaning in

it.

Example: “Many politicians rely on paid writers to create the rhetoric they use when

giving speeches at campaign events.”

D. Words About Things That Are Difficult To DefineThe words in this section are easy to define, but they’re all used when talking about things

that are hard to define. The five words we’ll be looking at next are diffident, nebulous,

implicit, putative, and hypothesis.

Your words about things that are difficult to define explained“Diffident” means “timid” or “bashful.” It’s used to describe someone who lacks self-

confidence or who is excessively modest. Shy people tend to be diffident, afraid to offer an

opinion, even then they’ve got the right answer.

Example: “Jane is so diffident, it’s hard to believe she runs her own company; when she’s

in a group, she never takes the lead.”

Something that’s hard to see clearly is “nebulous.” You might be familiar with the

astronomical term “nebula,” which refers to a fuzzy cloud of gas and stars; a nebula is

6


nebulous, because it’s hazy, vague, not clearly defined. An idea can be nebulous as well

as an image or object.

Example: “The goal of the proposed project was too nebulous, and the planning

committee rejected it until the organizers could provide more details.”

The third word we’re looking at also describes something that is not explicitly defined. But

unlike “nebulous,” something “implicit” is very clearly seen or understood, just not

obviously or openly. “Implicit” means “understood and agreed on, but not stated openly.”

Example: “The people she hired knew there was an implicit understanding that they’d join

in the company’s volunteer projects from time to time.”

Another word for something that is understood without being directly stated is “putative.”

However, while “implicit” means the underlying substance is unstated but agreed on,

“putative” refers to something that might not really be agreed on, but that no-one wants to

bother to dispute. For example, if someone in a group takes charge and starts making all

of the decisions, the other members of the group might allow that person to become the

putative leader. They might disagree privately, and even not go along with some of the

decisions, but they don’t do anything to take that person out of a leadership role.

Example: “Michael was the only person who researched the mountain trails and access

routes, so he became the putative leader of the Sunday hiking club.”

The final word in this section is “hypothesis.” A hypothesis is something that is assumed

to be true, for the sake of argument. In a hypothesis, the known facts are sometimes

ignored in order to provide material for further discussion. You might say that a hypothesis

is a “what if ...?” statement.

Example: “Her hypothesis that global warming could be slowed significantly by

eliminating all air travel is interesting, but not practical in this age of global commerce.”

E. Words That Show Their OriginsMany words in English can be traced back to their roots in Ancient Greek or Latin. Here

are five words and phrases that clearly show their origins: ad hoc, chronology, de facto,

erudite, neologism.

7


Your words that show their origins explainedYou’ll frequently find Latin words and phrases being used in situations where law is

involved – not surprising, as many of the world’s modern legal systems are based on

principles and laws codified by the Romans. Two of the Latin phrases that are well-known

are “de facto” and “de jure.” “De jure” means “by law” – that is, what should be done – and

“de facto” means “In fact” or “in reality” – what actually is done. For example, it might be

the rule on a road to only use the express lane if you’re traveling over the minimum speed

limit, but if everyone’s driving above the speed limit, all lanes become de facto express

lanes. “De jure” is usually only used in the courtroom, so only “de facto” is part of your

Ultimate Vocabulary list right now – unless you’re a lawyer, of course.

Example: “Although Keith was the elected chairperson, he was never at the meetings,

and Thomas became the de facto head of the committee.”

The other Latin phrase we’ll look at is “ad hoc,” meaning “for this.” “Ad hoc” refers to

something that has been created for a specific purpose or goal, often existing only until

that goal has been achieved.

Example: “The school board needed more information on enrollment, so it called for an

ad hoc panel to gather statistics about the current student body.”

Both “ad hoc” and “de facto” are phrases that have been in use for thousands of years.

Other words are newer: think of “spam” and “wi-fi” and “telecommute.” Changes in society

require changes in vocabulary, and these neologisms are created to describe them.

“Neologism” means “new word”, from the Greek roots “neo” (new) and “logos” (word).

Example: “It takes several years for the Oxford English Dictionary to officially add a

neologism like ‘fembot’ or ‘webmaster’ to its word list.”

It takes a while for a word or phrase to become part of the common vocabulary. First it’s

usually only used in a specific segment of society, like the hip-hop word “bling.” As it gains

widespread exposure, more and more people use it, and it becomes part of popular

culture. Finally, the word either goes out of use – do you call anyone a “hep cat” these

days? – or it settles into our standard vocabulary with a universally-understood meaning.

This sequence of events, or “chronology,” can take months or years, though with the

internet, it might only take days to get a new word into popular use. The word “chronology”

8


comes from the Greek root “kronos” meaning “time.” A chronology is a series of events, or

timeline.

Example: “Deep waterways like the Grand Canyon show the chronology of geologic

deposits in the strata revealed on the cliff walls.”

Regular use of these powerful words will convince your friends that you’re erudite.

Someone who is erudite is learned and scholarly, and has read many books to get that

education. “Erudite” is from the Latin verb “erudio” or “to train.” You can use the Ultimate

Vocabulary training course to become more erudite.

Example: “Kate has spent years studying and traveling abroad; she’s so erudite, she can

talk knowledgeably about almost anything.”

F. Words Necessary For Developing Your VocabularyThe five words in this section were very carefully chosen as necessary for developing your

vocabulary. These essential words are pertinent, requisite, adroit, assiduous, and

judicious.

Your important vocabulary development words explainedOne important aspect of increasing your vocabulary is knowing which word is pertinent to

your situation. “Pertinent” means relevant and to the point, something that is logically

connected. These Ultimate Vocabulary words won’t be powerful if you use them

incorrectly, so these lessons showing the words in context will help you a great deal.

Example: “Karen doesn’t always speak up in the weekly meetings, but when she does,

she always has something pertinent to contribute.

Knowing the pertinent words to use in any context is requisite to being a good speaker.

“Requisite” means essential or necessary. Many schools have classes they call

“prerequisites” – these are classes that it is necessary to take before moving on to a

higher-level class. A synonym for requisite is “indispensable.”

Example: “The two candidates were both very skilled, but only one had the requisite

qualifications for the position.”

9


Once you’ve mastered the requisite vocabulary and know which words are pertinent to

any topic, you’ll be adroit at using them. “Adroit” means “skillful” or “adept.” Someone who

is adroit makes the best possible choices in any given situation.

Example: “His adroit use of humor kept the debaters calm, even though the topic was

very controversial.”

It does take time and effort to learn these words and their proper usage, but with

assiduous study, you’ll soon master them. The word “assiduous” means “with care and

persistent effort.” The best students are usually the ones who are assiduous in their study

habits.

Example: “She is devoted to her mother and is assiduous in caring for her and her three

cats.”

You don’t have to spend all of your time studying, though; a judicious amount of relaxation

in your day is healthy. “Judicious” means “with good judgment” or “using common sense.”

A judicious balance of work and play is good for you.

Example: “The chef used a judicious blend of sweet and hot spices to season the grilled

fish.”


A. Words For Undesirable Personal And Business Practices

Test Sentences:Managers might be surprised at what’s being said in the lunch rooms at their companies.

Your co-workers might be surprised when you start using these Ultimate Vocabulary

words – though perhaps you shouldn’t use these words about them. Practice with these

five sentences, and fill in the correct word for each.

1. The president’s decisions were harming the economy, but because he only listened to the ________________ in his cabinet, he ignored the evidence from the economists.

10


2. The contractor made most of his profit by cheating his customers, and was _____________ for using low-grade lumber for the floorboards and beams in his houses.

3. The _____________________ ballet dancers find it hard to remember to keep their heads up and their arms in a graceful arc at all times, even during rehearsals.

4. The pond is still frozen, but the ice is so thin that even the __________________ weight of a landing bird will break it.

5. My brother doesn’t even bathe regularly, but he’s so _________________ he’s convinced that every woman he sees would love to date him.

Answers:

1. The president’s decisions were harming the economy, but because he only listened

to the sycophants in his cabinet, he ignored the evidence from the economists.

The economists were trying to tell the president that he was making bad choices,

but he only listened to the people who were telling him that everything he was

doing was correct. A sycophant is a person who flatters people in power, hoping to

get favors from them in return.

2. The contractor made most of his profit by cheating his customers, and was

infamous for using low-grade lumber for the floorboards and beams in his houses.

Replacing high-quality materials for low-grade lumber and plywood will give a

contractor a bad reputation. Someone who is infamous has a reputation for doing

bad things; they are notorious.

3. The neophyte ballet dancers find it hard to remember to keep their heads up and

their arms in a graceful arc at all times, even during rehearsals.

The dancers are new to the rules of formal ballet. They are neophytes. “Neophyte”

means a beginner, someone who is “newly planted” in a position, a role, or a

situation.

4. The pond is still frozen, but the ice is so thin that even the negligible weight of a

landing bird will break it.

11


Small birds with their hollow bones are very light; their weight is negligible.

“Negligible” means “small and insignificant.”

5. My brother doesn’t even bathe regularly, but he’s so fatuous he’s convinced that

every woman he sees would love to date him.

A person who has faults but is completely unaware of them, believing themselves

to be better than everyone else, is a fatuous person. A fatuous person is foolish

and silly because they don’t see in themselves what everyone else sees.

Even if you’re a neophyte to the Ultimate Vocabulary system, once you start practicing

these words daily the amount of time it takes to learn their correct usage will be negligible compared to the time you might spend using a regular dictionary or other resource. Take

the time now to check off these five words that you’ve just learned:

sycophant neophyte fatuous negligible infamous

B. Words For Higher PowersWhether you’re talking about art or religion, culture or careers, you’ll find these words

useful in many conversations. Practice using these words by picking the correct one to go

in one of each of the following five sentences.

Test Sentences:1. I enjoy going out to eat with my brother; his tastes are so __________________ we

can go to any ethnic restaurant, and he’ll willingly try whatever’s on the menu.

2. The sounds of pipes and drums heard faintly in the distance were a _________________ of the Scots Pride festival parade that would soon pass in front of the house.

3. Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla make up the _______________ of flavors in Neapolitan ice cream.

12


4. Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park has long been a traditional place for activists, missionaries, and would-be politicians to __________________ in hopes of getting followers.

5. Because the migratory routes of the snow geese go through several national parks, they come under the ________________________ of the Wildlife Department, and hunting them is severely restricted.

Answers:

1. I enjoy going out to eat with my brother; his tastes are so catholic we can go to any

ethnic restaurant, and he’ll willingly try whatever’s on the menu.

My brother will try any food at least once, and he enjoys many different spices and

dishes. His taste in food is catholic, meaning that it’s wide-ranging, comprehensive,

and broad in scope.

2. The sounds of pipes and drums heard faintly in the distance were a harbinger of

the Scots Pride festival parade that would soon pass in front of the house.

A harbinger is a sign of things to come. If you can hear the sounds of a parade, the

parade will soon be in view - if you’re waiting on the parade route, that is.

3. Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla make up the trinity of flavors in Neapolitan ice

cream.

Since the mid-nineteenth century, these three flavors have been put together to

make Neapolitan ice cream, and if you take one of them away, it’s no longer

Neapolitan. A set of three things that are always seen together is a “trinity.”

4. Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park has long been a traditional place for

activists, missionaries, and would-be politicians to proselytize in hopes of getting

followers.

The speakers talk as persuasively as they can to convince people to change their

opinion and agree with the speaker’s point of view. A person who is working hard to

convert someone else to their way of thinking or believing is proselytizing.

13


5. Because the migratory routes of the snow geese go through several national parks,

they come under the aegis of the Wildlife Department, and hunting them is severely

restricted.

The birds are protected by the Wildlife Department from being hunted in the

national parks. An “aegis” is a protection or a shield.

We hope you find the words in this section to be a harbinger of better vocabulary in the

future. We know that you’ll soon discover for yourself that you’re able to use these

powerful vocabulary words in your everyday conversations:

catholic trinity aegis harbinger proselytize

C. Words About WordsWhen Polonious asks Hamlet what he’s reading, Hamlet answers “Words, words, words.”

Let’s stop talking about words, and start using them. See if you can put the appropriate

word into each of the following sentences.

Test Sentences:1. The minister’s ______________ was so compelling it convinced me to go back to

seminary and study religious history.

2. Living in Spain with a French father and a Swedish mother, that child was a ________________ by the time he was six years old.

3. The old fisherman was famous for his ___________________ answers to the tourists who tried to engage him in conversation.

4. The idea of “think twice, speak once” appears in the ___________ repeated over the generations in many countries around the world.

5. She’s so _________________________ that she’s been asked to leave concert halls during performances, after the people seated around her complained to the management.

14


Answers:

1. The minister’s rhetoric was so compelling it convinced me to go back to seminary

and study religious history.

Powerful speech that persuades you to a new or different way of thinking and

believing is called “rhetoric.”

2. Living in Spain with a French father and a Swedish mother, that child was a

polyglot by the time he was six years old.

Children learn languages easily, and a child who attends school in Spanish and

speaks French and Swedish with his parents will quickly know all three languages

fluently. A “polyglot” is someone who is fluent in several languages.

3. The old fisherman was famous for his laconic answers to the tourists who tried to

engage him in conversation.

The tourists tried to have a conversation with the fisherman, but he gave them

short answers to their questions, and didn’t volunteer any information. Someone

who uses the minimum number of words is “laconic” – though to others, they might

also appear somewhat rude.

4. The idea of “think twice, speak once” appears in the saws repeated over the

generations in many countries around the world.

In Turkey, they say “Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as

much as we speak.” A Middle Eastern saying is “Listen a hundred times; speak

once.” These sayings are saws; well-known proverbs that have a message that

stays true over the years.

5. She’s so loquacious that she’s been asked to leave concert halls during

performances, after the people seated around her complained to the management.

This person just can’t stop talking, even when there are performers on the stage

playing beautiful music. That’s the meaning of “loquacious” – talkative, chatty, a

non-stop conversationalist.

15


Mark Twain said “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the

difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” Bring some power to your next

conversation with one of the five words you’ve just learned:

rhetoric loquacious saw polyglot laconic

D. Words About Things That Are Difficult To DefineTo help you use these Ultimate Vocabulary words effectively in your future, here are five

practice sentences with one of the target words left out in each. Fill in the correct word in

each sentence.

Test Sentences:1. That politician’s platform is so _____________________ that I’m not sure what

legislation he does or doesn’t support.

2. When you vote for a politician, you’re giving ____________________ approval for the way they represent your interests.

3. He’ll never get elected; he’s got great ideas but he’s so __________________ about presenting them that his opponents all seem more capable than he is.

4. Many autobiographies of famous movie stars were actually written by other people, even though the stars are the ______________ authors of the books.

5. She did years of research to prove her ____________________ that the dissolved minerals in seawater can be linked to algae blooms around the world.

Answers:

1. That politician’s platform is so nebulous that I’m not sure what legislation he does

or doesn’t support.

16


It was impossible to tell where the politician stood on important matters because his

speeches were so vague and hard to pin down. “Nebulous” means vague, hazy,

not well defined.

2. When you vote for a politician, you’re giving implicit approval for the way they

represent your interests.

Even if you only have a nebulous idea of what sort of policies a person in

government supports, your vote for that person implies that you also support those

policies. “Implicit” means something that is implied indirectly. In this example,

you’re not necessarily saying out loud that you agree with certain policies, but your

vote speaks for you, by allowing the government to continue them.

3. He’ll never get elected; he’s got great ideas but he’s so diffident about presenting

them that his opponents all seem more capable than he is.

Someone who is diffident is shy and unwilling to speak up, so it’s easy for other

people with louder voices and stronger presentations to completely overwhelm

them. “Diffident” means “lacking self-confidence” and refers to a timid person, or

one who is overly modest.

4. Many autobiographies of famous movie stars were actually written by other people,

even though the stars are the putative authors of the books

WIth so many books being written by ghostwriters, it’s hard to tell sometimes if the

name of the author on the cover is really the name of the person who wrote it. But if

a movie star claims to have written their own book, we’ll accept what they say,

even though we might not believe it. “Putative” means commonly accepted as true,

but without real reason.

5. Although she proposed the idea at a scientific conference a decade ago, she did

years of research to prove her hypothesis that the dissolved minerals in seawater

can be linked to algae blooms around the world.

At first, she had no proof that minerals in seawater caused algae bloom, but she

thought it was possible, and presented it as a hypothesis as a topic for discussion

at the conference. A hypothesis is something that is accepted as true, in order to

make more exploration and discussion possible.

17


Our hypothesis is that the more you practice these Ultimate Vocabulary words, the more

comfortable you’ll be in using them. You might think the meanings of some of the words

are nebulous and hard to define, but don’t be diffident about using them in conversation

right away. Your powerful new words are:

diffident nebulous implicit putative hypothesis

E. Words That Show Their OriginsHere’s some food for thought: the more you practice these words, the easier it will be to

use them in conversations. Fill in the blanks in these five sentences with the correct word.

Test Sentences:1. The spread of on-line communication and increased global access to the internet

has given rise to many _____________________ like “emoticon.”

2. That man must be very _________________; he’s there every day the library is open, reading books on a wide range of topics.

3. The food advisory board called for an ______________________ panel to study the effect of the newest artificial sweeteners before they are released for public use.

4. When books are written as a series, it’s important to read them in the right order to keep the _________________ straight.

5. Because the rules were unclear on that point, rather than merely interpreting the legal code, the judges became _________________ lawmakers when reaching a decision.

Answers:

1. The spread of on-line communication and increased global access to the internet

has given rise to many neologisms like “emoticon.”

A new way of communicating leads to new words to describe it. “Emoticon” is a

new word, a “neologism,” that stands for “emotional icon.”

18


2. That man must be very erudite; he’s there every day the library is open, reading

books on a wide range of topics.

Someone who has read a great many books and learned from them is “erudite”.

3. The food advisory board called for an ad hoc panel to study the effect of the

newest artificial sweeteners before they are released for public use.

When a new product is proposed for sale, it’s often tested for safety by a panel that

is put together for that specific purpose. “Ad hoc” means “for that purpose”.

4. When books are written as a series, it’s important to read them in the right order to

keep the chronology straight.

If you read the third book in a series before you read the first book, you might not

understand the plot, if it refers back to things that happened in the first two books.

Most books describe a sequence of events, or a “chronology.” Another word for

chronology is “timeline.”

5. Because the rules were unclear on that point, rather than merely interpreting the

legal code, the judges became de facto lawmakers when reaching a decision.

A judge is not supposed to create laws, but uphold them. However, in this situation,

the law itself was unclear, and the judges had to decide on the meaning of the rule

by themselves, and therefore created a new law by doing so. In reality, the judges

became lawmakers. “De facto” means “in reality” or “in practice.”

Whether the words are old or new, you’ll benefit by knowing how to use them in

conversation. You’ll sound quite erudite as you use these five Ultimate Vocabulary words:

chronology ad hoc neologism de facto erudite

19


F. Words Necessary For Developing Your VocabularyWe’ve given you a lot to chew on with this set of words. And we’ve cooked up this set of

five sentences for you to practice using each of these powerful vocabulary words. See if

you can put each word in its proper place.

Test Sentences:1. The house painters cleaned the elaborate molding around the windows with

________________ care before starting to paint.

2. We can’t contact these people who applied for the job, because they haven’t followed the instructions to include the _____________ references and telephone numbers in their applications.

3. The artist was known for her __________________ use of color in her paintings.

4. He made a _________________ choice of team members when he created his committee, trying to pick one person from each department to keep a balance between management and production.

5. That’s an interesting observation, but it’s not really ___________________ to the discussion; can we keep on topic, please?

Answers:

1. The house painters cleaned the elaborate molding around the windows with

assiduous care before starting to paint.

The plaster molding around the windows was easily damaged, so the painters were

very careful when they were cleaning it. “Assiduous” means “with care and

persistent effort.”

2. We can’t contact these people who applied for the job, because they haven’t

followed the instructions to include the requisite references and telephone

numbers in their applications.

The instructions said to list references and telephone numbers, and the applicants

did not do what was necessary. “Requisite” means essential, necessary, or

indispensable.

20


3. The artist was known for her adroit use of color in her paintings.

This artist is a very skillful painter. “Adroit” means skillful or adept, making the best

possible choice. You could also have chosen the word “judicious” in this case, if

what you meant to say was that the artist only used as much color as was

necessary to achieve the effect she wanted.

4. He made a judicious choice of team members when he created his committee,

trying to pick one person from each department to keep a balance between

management and production.

He used good judgment and common sense when making his committee

selections, therefore he was “judicious” in his selections. However, you could also

have used the word “adroit” here, if you wanted to imply that he was very skilled in

making his selection of team members.

5. That’s an interesting observation, but it’s not really pertinent to the discussion; can

we keep on topic, please?

If you’re in the middle of a conversation, and someone says something that has no

relevance to what you’ve been talking about, what they said was not pertinent to

the conversation. “Pertinent” means relevant or logically connected.

21


With assiduous study, you’ll soon have the requisite knowledge of these Ultimate

Vocabulary words and will be adroit at including them at pertinent places in your

conversations with other people. The five words you’ve learned in this section are:

judicious adroit pertinent requisite assiduous

22


Lesson 3 Workbook


A. Words for the Good TimesWe at Ultimate Vocabulary want to make sure you’re comfortable using these powerful

words in context, no matter where you are. So – let’s go to a party! You might use these

next five words to describe the scene when a large group of people are having a good

time: ribald, cacophony, milieu, eclectic, plethora.

Your words for good times in a large group of people explainedThe first word we’ll look at is “ribald”. This adjective means “vulgar, but in a humorous

way.” It can be applied to off-color jokes, or to the person who tells them. Another word for

ribald is “bawdy.”

Example: “The stand-up comic was known for his ribald jokes about his girlfriend.”

If the jokes are a little too vulgar or insulting, the audience might respond with a

cacophony of boos and catcalls. “Cacophony” means a loud confusion of sound, where

the level or type of noise – or both – are unpleasant. Usually there are so many different

sounds at once that no single part is easy to distinguish.

Example: “I don’t really like most modern jazz; all I hear is a cacophony of notes with no

real melody or rhythm.”

A nightclub is one milieu where you might hear a cacophony of sounds as well as ribald

jokes. “Milieu” means “environment” or “surroundings.” This word refers to both physical

and metaphysical space. Here are two examples:

Example 1: “A rose garden is the perfect milieu for a wedding.”

Example 2: “Her years in the political milieu have made her comfortable with people in all

walks of life.”

Some people are only comfortable around people who are very similar, while others prefer

a more eclectic group of friends. “Eclectic” means “from a variety of sources.” If you’re at

a nightclub with a very creative DJ, you’ll hear an eclectic blend of music.


Example: “Her wardrobe was an eclectic mix of vintage lace and 70’s polyester, and a

different pair of shoes for every day of the year.”

365 pairs of shoes is more than most people usually own – it’s a plethora of shoes.

“Plethora” means “more than enough.” It refers to a large number in general, but

specifically means an amount in excess of what is necessary.

Example: “There was a plethora of choices at the dessert table; there were sixteen

different pies, and too many tarts and confections to count.”

B. Words in a Calm EnvironmentIf learning all of these new vocabulary words has you feeling nervous and tense, don’t

worry. This section covers five words that will calm you down: accord, pragmatic,

transcend, panacea, and catharsis.

Your words in a calm environment explainedWe believe that learning how to use these Ultimate Vocabulary words in daily

conversation will give your career a boost. You must agree, because you’re listening to

this CD. So we both agree: we are in accord. “Accord” means agreement or harmony.

This noun can refer to specific agreement on an issue, or a general like-mindedness.

Example: “Faced with a potentially devastating flood risk, the city officials quickly reached

an accord on which riverbanks needed the most reinforcement.”

In larger cities, the officials often each represent their own districts, and argue about

issues while trying to get the most benefit for their communities. But in a crisis situation,

political fights are set aside for a more pragmatic policy of working together. “Pragmatic”

means realistic or practical. Someone who is pragmatic is down-to-earth, and focuses on

the essentials of a problem without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.

Example: “Realizing that not all of the library’s books could be moved to the new facility,

the libraries took the pragmatic approach of first moving only the books that had been

checked out in the last five years.”


Some librarians would argue that the older, perhaps more valuable books should be first

on the list. Others might say that the best thing to do would be to expand the books on

tape collection, because more people are listening to books or downloading them. There

might not be a panacea for all of the problems a modern library faces. A “panacea” is a

solution or remedy, something that cures all problems.

Example: “Some people say that gene therapy and designer drugs are the panacea that

will solve the problem of AIDS and other diseases.”

In order to get a true understanding of a problem like the AIDS crisis, you need to be able

to transcend the political and ideological issues that surround it. To “transcend” means to

rise above or go beyond. You might have heard of “transcendental meditation,” where

people try to go outside of their earthbound minds and become a part of a larger

consciousness. To transcend means to be able to cross boundaries, or remove them by

rising above them.

Example: “Yo-Yo Ma’s ‘Silk Road’ project transcends cultural boundaries by unifying

people through their shared musical history.”

Shared experience can also unify people, especially if the event is stressful or frightening.

Even watching the event second-hand can cause us to experience the same strong

emotions. We can get so wrapped up in a movie about doomed lovers that we feel their

sadness like it’s our own. And if someone’s in their own broken relationship, watching the

movie might bring on all of the tears they’ve been keeping inside. That’s a “catharsis” – a

release of emotions that is triggered by a vicarious experience of something that someone

else is going through, but that touches you in some way as well.

Example: “The therapist would show the ex-soldiers movies like “Platoon” and “In

Country,” hoping to bring on a catharsis that would help them work through their

experiences in combat.”


C. Interesting Words Beginning with “U”This section is all about “U” – words that begin with the letter U, that is: unctuous,

unconscionable, uniform, ubiquitous, utilitarian.

Your interesting words beginning with “u” explainedIf you read a lot of cooking magazines, you might find a food described as having an

“unctuous mouth feel” or “unctuous texture.” It means that the food coats the tongue with

a smooth, almost oily layer of flavor. When the word applies to food, it’s a good thing. It’s

not a good thing when applied to a person. Someone with a smooth, oily manner is usually

not to be trusted. To speak in an unctuous fashion means to be overly but insincerely

polite and flattering or ingratiating. You might call a person who speaks like that “smarmy.”

Example: “The shop clerk tried to make more sales with his unctuous treatment of the

customers, but all except the most fatuous saw right through him.”

Some people will stop at nothing to get what they want, whether it’s a record sales day or

a position of power. They can justify the most unconscionable acts by telling themselves

it’s for the greater good. “Unconscionable” means, literally, “without a conscience,” is

lacking in a moral sense. A synonym for unconscionable is “unscrupulous.”

Example: “The thief showed an unconscionable lack of feeling when he took not only

jewelry but also old family photographs from the people at the nursing home.”

People who work at a nursing home often wear uniforms that make them look alike. That’s

what “uniform” means, after all: the same, without variation. A well-mixed cake batter has

a uniform consistency – there are no lumps in it, all ingredients are blended together, and

a spoonful taken from anywhere in the bowl will be exactly like any other.

Example: “Those coffee shops do well because they train their servers to make the

coffee drinks to a uniform level of quality, no matter where the store is located.”

You know the coffee shops we mean. They’re everywhere: in airports, on street corners, in

shopping centers, in libraries and museums. They’re ubiquitous. “Ubiquitous” means

omnipresent or pervasive; in other words, found everywhere.


Example: “The advertisements for that new car are ubiquitous; I even saw one in the

community center’s monthly flyer.”

It seems like every new car that comes out has some fancy feature added to it, like a

satellite radio system or six extra cup-holders. Do they even make cheap utilitarian cars

any more? “Utilitarian” means practical and functional, without anything that doesn’t

contribute to that functionality. Six extra cup-holders in a car will not make the car run

more smoothly.

Example: “IKEA is famous for its selection of utilitarian home furnishings, like unfinished

wood shelving you assemble at home yourself.”

D. Words That Define Attitude We’re going to extremes with this set of four words that describe opposites, and one word

that’s right in the middle. The words are adamant, compliant, intransigent, amenable, and

equitable.

Your words that define attitude explainedOur first word is “adamant,” meaning inflexible or unyielding. Someone who is determined

and will not move from their position or change their opinion is adamant.

Example: “The head of the school was adamant in his belief that boys and girls should

eat meals at separate tables.”

In contrast to someone who remains adamant, a person who is compliant will allow their

position to change under pressure from others. “Compliant” means “willing to comply.”

Synonyms of compliant are “submissive” and “yielding.”

Example: “The new worker was so afraid of losing his job that he was compliant even

with the supervisor’s most outrageous demands.”

Back to the other end of the spectrum, we have the word “intransigent,” meaning

stubborn and unwilling to compromise. It’s similar to “adamant,” but has the additional


sense that the person is perhaps being inflexible just to be stubborn or contrary, and not

for any firmly-held belief.

Example: “Although Jamie had already won the arguments over child custody and

support payments, she remained intransigent in her insistence that her ex-husband also

pay for all of the school uniforms.”

If you’re in a legal battle, it’s helpful if both sides can make some compromises to bring the

matter to a resolution. If you’re willing to compromise, you’re amenable. “Amenable”

means “open to persuasion.” It doesn’t necessarily mean you change your opinion about

something, but that you’re willing to go along with the other person to avoid conflict, reach

a conclusion, or in some other way keep things moving forward.

Example: “There are many movies I’d like to see this weekend, but I’m amenable to any

suggestions or preferences you might have.”

After all that swinging from one extreme to the other, let’s finish with a word that’s right in

the middle. “Equitable” means fair, just, and impartial.

Example: “The judge ruled that the owners of the failed business had to make an

equitable division of the remaining money in the bank account.”

E. Words Describing the Nature of ThingsThe five words in this section can be used to describe the nature of things: where they are,

what they are, and how they relate to each other. These words are comprise,

circumscribe, contiguous, proliferate, and latent.

Your words describing the nature of things explainedWhen talking about the nature of something, one of the first questions might be “what is it

made of?” A car, for example, is made of many different parts and pieces, like the wheels

and engine. We can say a car is comprised of these parts. To “comprise” means to be

made of, to contain, or to include.

Example: “The panel will comprise members of each university department.”


In the previous example, the panel will be made up of people from within the university

system, but no members of the public. The panel is circumscribed and allows academic

participants only. To “circumscribe” means to limit or restrict. Its literal meaning is “to

draw a line around” – that is, to create a boundary containing one thing inside and keeping

others out.

Example: “The novices’ activities were very circumscribed during the first two weeks of

their enrolment, during which they were allowed no contact with the outside world.”

A boundary or restriction keeps things apart. When there are no boundaries, those things

can be connected. “Contiguous” means connected, touching, or adjacent, without any

break.

Example: “Although the atlas shows lines dividing the countries at their borders, when

you’re walking across the land, it’s a contiguous whole, and the borders seem irrelevant.”

Borders serve to define spaces, and to keep things in or out. But some things are harder

to contain, like ideas, or diseases, or invasive species of plants or animals. They

proliferate without paying any attention to the borders we create between our countries. To

“proliferate” means to spread rapidly, or to increase.

Example: “The wild rabbit was introduced into Australia in the 1850s to provide hunting

sport, but no-one expected the population to proliferate as much as it did, and rabbits

quickly became pests in many areas of the country.”

When something proliferates, it’s often quite obvious. By contrast, something “latent” is

hidden. It exists, but is concealed. For example, an illness can be latent until something

triggers it. One type of diabetes can exist without harm unless a virus affects the person’s

pancreas, and the latent disease becomes active. “Latent” means present but hidden,

ready to come out of hiding if the circumstances are right.

Example: “We didn’t realize Jane was so musical until a neighbor gave us their old piano;

her latent talent emerged once she started playing, and now she’s a soloist with the local

orchestra.”


F. Inspiring WordsThe five words in this section might inspire you to look ahead and aspire to reach your

goals. The words are propitious, virtuoso, auspicious, zenith, and prestigious.

Your inspiring words explainedAll the signs point towards your success now that you’re learning how to use these

Ultimate Vocabulary words. And the first two words in this section refer to favorable

circumstances: auspicious and propitious. They both mean favorable, advantageous,

boding well, a good omen. Usually, you’ll use “auspicious” when you want to

communicate the sense that the advantage or good fortune is due to an outside influence.

The Latin root originally referred to divination, the art of reading signs in the natural world

to decipher the will of the gods.

Example: “It seemed auspicious that all of the traffic lights were green as she drove to

her job interview.”

“Propitious” has the same root as “propel” and the same meaning of “moving forward.” It

also refers to a favorable or advantageous situation. Something that is propitious moves

you forward toward your goals; something auspicious smoothes the path in front of you.

Example: “The captain of the Australian yacht took advantage of the propitious winds to

increase his lead in the race.”

The America’s Cup yacht race is the most prestigious sailing event in the world.

“Prestigious” means “having a good reputation” and “held in high esteem.” The word also

has the meaning of something that has influence because of its high position, and that the

influence and esteem will spread to those who are connected to it.

Example: “Many students apply to prestigious universities such as Harvard or Yale so

that they will have an impressive curriculum vitae to show future employers.”

Your curriculum vitae is place to list your skills and accomplishments. Someone who is

highly skilled at something is called a “virtuoso.” This word is often used to refer to artists

and musicians, but there are virtuoso computer programmers and chefs as well. You’re

considered a virtuoso if you have mastered a skill beyond mere capability and into the

realm of brilliance. You’re a whiz, a genius, a wizard, a superstar.


Example: “Virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman is known for his performances of the Brahms

trio sonatas.”

Itzhak Perlman is still active in performance and teaching, and has not reached the zenith

of his career. A “zenith” is the highest point. If you’re speaking of something measured in

terms of time, it’s the culmination of that timeline. You’ll also hear the word used in

astronomy: the zenith is the point directly above any particular location on Earth, from the

perspective of someone standing on the ground looking straight overhead.

Example: “Investment in internet start-ups during the dot-com craze reached its zenith in

the late 1990s, when a new business was going public every few days.”


Tests for Reinforcing What You Have Learnt

A. Words for the Good Times

Test Sentences Are you ready to rock ‘n’ roll with your new vocabulary words? Listen to these five

sentences, and fill in the correct word in each space.

1. I tried to turn down the sound on the television, but this new remote has a ______________ of buttons, and I couldn’t find the volume control.

2. She had an ___________________ collection of art prints hanging on her walls, including reproductions of the “Mona Lisa” and several works by Jackson Pollock.

3. I enjoy taking pictures of people, and someplace like a shopping center is a perfect _________________ for candid photographs.

4. The young musicians were very enthusiastic, but their attempt at playing Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” only resulted in _______________.

5. Make sure that the tour guide you hire to lead the next trip isn’t as ______________ as the last one; we’re going to be advertising the trip as a family vacation opportunity.

Answers:

1. I tried to turn down the sound on the television, but this new remote has a plethora of buttons, and I couldn’t find the volume control

There were so many buttons that I couldn’t tell which ones did what. “Plethora”

means an excess of something, more than is necessary to do the job.

2. Elsa had an eclectic collection of art prints hanging on her walls, including

reproductions of the “Mona Lisa” and several works by Jackson Pollock.

Leonardo da Vinci painted the “Mona Lisa” in the 16th century in Italy; Jackson

Pollock’s work was famous four hundred years later. These artists have very

different styles, and Elsa has collected their works and others from around the


world. Her collection is eclectic – that is, it’s a variety of paintings from many

sources. “Eclectic” means “having a mix or variety of things.”

3. I enjoy taking pictures of people, and someplace like a shopping center is a perfect

milieu to for candid photographs.

In a shopping center, you’ll be surrounded by many different people, and it’s easy

to take candid photographs because most people will be too occupied with their

errands to notice their surroundings. A “milieu” is an environment or the

surroundings.

4. The young musicians were very enthusiastic, but their attempt at playing Mozart’s

“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” only resulted in cacophony.

The children had only been playing their instruments for a few years, and the music

was too difficult for them to play well. They weren’t playing in tune, and they weren’t

playing together, so all they were doing was making a loud and unpleasant noise. A

“cacophony” is an unpleasant confusion of sound.

5. Make sure that the tour guide you hire to lead the next trip isn’t as ribald as the last

one; we’re going to be advertising the trip as a family vacation opportunity.

It’s probably not appropriate for a tour guide to make vulgar jokes in front of young

children. “Ribald” means bawdy, off-color, humorously vulgar.

You’ll have a plethora of opportunities to use your new vocabulary words, no matter what

milieu you find yourself in. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning this eclectic set of five

Ultimate Vocabulary words:

plethora ribald cacophony eclectic milieu


B. Words in a Calm Environment

Test SentencesExpanding your vocabulary will help you win any war of words. Get ready to fight for the

right answer now, and fill in the correct word in each sentence.

1. Her background in history helped her ________________ the local politics and focus on solving the underlying ethnic issues that had existed for centuries.

2. Many people don’t like to exercise and eat healthy foods; instead, they buy diet books and pills, hoping to find a _________________ for their weight problem.

3. Officials from the space programs in China, Russia, and the U.S. are trying to come to an _______________ on the priorities for the next phase of the International Space Station.

4. I started crying while watching “Atonement,” a ______________ that helped relieve some of the pain I felt when my girlfriend left me.

5. He doesn’t spend time trying to get exotic flowers to blossom; he’s a _______________ gardener who focuses on growing fruits and vegetables suited to the climate where he lives.

Answers:

1. Her background in history helped her transcend the local politics and focus on

solving the underlying ethnic issues that had existed for centuries.

Local politics created barriers between people that hid the deeper problems of

long-standing ethnic tension and conflict. She was able to rise above those barriers

because of her understanding of the region’s history. “Transcend” means to rise

above, or go beyond.

2. Many people don’t like to exercise and eat healthy foods; instead, they buy diet

books and pills, hoping to find a panacea for their weight problem.

It would be so much easier if we could eat whatever we want, then take a pill to

keep us in perfect health and cure all of our health problems. A “panacea” is a

cure-all or remedy.


3. Officials from the space programs in China, Russian, and the U.S. are trying to

come to an accord on the priorities for the next phase of the International Space

Station.

Every country involved in a big project like the ISS will have its own list of priorities,

but in order to make progress, the countries will have to agree on some things. An

“accord” is an agreement or state of harmony.

4. I started crying while watching “Atonement,” a catharsis that helped relieve some

of the pain I felt when my girlfriend left me.

Watching the emotional crises of the people in the movie made me feel the same

emotions, and that helped me release the tension I was feeling about my own

emotional pain. A “catharsis” is a release of tension or strong emotions through a

vicarious experience, such as watching a movie where people are going through

similar emotions.

5. He doesn’t spend time trying to get exotic flowers to blossom; he’s a pragmatic gardener who focuses on growing fruits and vegetables suited to the climate where

he lives.

If you live in Norway, it’s not practical to spend all of your time trying to get banana

trees to grow in your garden. “Pragmatic” means practical, realistic, and down-to-

earth.

Using these Ultimate Vocabulary words correctly in context will help you transcend any

barriers to your advancement, both personally and professionally. While an expanded

vocabulary isn’t a panacea for all of your problems, we hope you’re planning to practice

the five new words you just learned:

catharsis panacea accord transcend pragmatic


C. Interesting Words Beginning with “U”

Test Sentences:Are you hungry to learn more words and expand your vocabulary? Test your skills with

these five sentences, and fill in the missing word in each.

1. Cruise ships often employ professional escorts to dance with the single guests, but the best escorts know they don’t have to always ply the guests with __________________ flattery.

2. Stealing money from the charity box at the local church is an ______________ act.

3. In their matching outfits and with their hair styled the same way, the triplets confused people with their _______________ appearance, as it was hard to tell which child was which.

4. In this era of cheap and easy-to-use communication equipment, the cell phone is _____________, found in small villages in India as well as corporate boardrooms in London.

5. She changes jobs and cities so often that she has eliminated everything but the most ______________ of household items from her belongings.

Answers:

1. Cruise ships often employ professional escorts to dance with the single guests, but

the best escorts know they don’t have to always ply the guests with unctuous flattery.

The escorts want to make sure that the guests feel good about themselves, but

there’s a difference between complimenting someone’s hairstyle or dress, and

insisting that they’re absolutely the most beautiful woman in the room. “Unctuous”

means ingratiating, fulsome, smarmy; flattery that’s over the top and delivered with

a too-smooth manner that makes it seem insincere.

2. Stealing money from the charity box at the local church is an unconscionable act.

It’s unscrupulous to steal from people who have even less than you do – not that

it’s right to steal from anyone, mind you! “Unconscionable” means lacking in

morals, or unscrupulous.


3. In their matching outfits and with their hair styled the same way, the triplets

confused people with their uniform appearance, as it was hard to tell which child

was which.

Identical twins or triplets sometimes enjoy dressing and acting the same way, to

keep people guessing which is which. “Uniform” means the same, without variation.

4. In this era of cheap and easy-to-use communication equipment, the cell phone is

ubiquitous, found in small villages in India as well as corporate boardrooms in

London.

There are cell phones in use all over the world, and can be found even in the most

remote locations, thanks to satellite technology. Something that is found

everywhere is “ubiquitous.”

5. She changes jobs and cities so often that she has eliminated everything but the

most utilitarian of household items from her belongings.

A person who moves house a lot probably doesn’t want to be bothered with a lot of

extra things that they don’t use very often. “Utilitarian” means practical and

functional, not just for show.

We’re done with this section on words that start with “U” and we hope “U” will enjoy using

these words in your next conversation:

unctuous unconscionable uniform ubiquitous utilitarian

D. Words That Define Attitude

Test Sentences:By practicing these vocabulary words, you’ll find using them to be smooth sailing. Test

your skills now by filling in the right word in each sentence.


1. The director is very easy-going; I’m sure he’ll be ________________ to any changes you need to make in the program.

2. Strict vegetarians are _________________ in their refusal to eat any meat, though some will accept eggs and dairy products, since these are produced without killing the animals involved.

3. There’s only one television in the house, but my roommates and I looked at the program listings and came up with an _________________ schedule that lets us all watch our favorite shows.

4. Children can be stubborn, but in general they’re used to taking direction from adults, and will be ____________________ and do what you say.

5. Even though it’s getting cold outside, some students are ______________ about complying with the dress code and won’t give up their shorts and t-shirts.

Answers:

1. The director is very easy-going; I’m sure he’ll be amenable to any changes you

need to make in the program.

An easy-going person is willing to go along with things. “Amenable” means open to

persuasion, willing to go along.

2. Strict vegetarians are adamant in their refusal to eat any meat, though some will

accept eggs and dairy products, since these are produced without killing the

animals involved.

Whether it’s for moral, religious, or health reasons, a strict vegetarian is determined

to avoid meat. Someone who is determined, inflexible, and unyielding on a point is

adamant. If it’s your personal opinion that vegetarianism is silly and pointless, you

might also think that such a person is being intransigent in their refusal to eat meat.

3. There’s only one television in the house, but my roommates and I looked at the

program listings and came up with an equitable schedule that lets us all watch our

favorite shows.


When resources are limited, it’s sometimes difficult to make sure everyone gets

their fair share. “Equitable” means fair and just, something that’s decided impartially

to be of benefit to all.

4. Children can be stubborn, but in general they’re used to taking direction from

adults, and we be compliant and do what you say.

“Compliant” means submissive and yielding, and willing to comply.

5. Even though it’s getting cold outside, some students are intransigent about

complying with the dress code and won’t give up their shorts and t-shirts.

People who continue to wear short dresses and sleeveless shirts when the

weather’s cold and rainy are probably pretty stubborn. “Intransigent” means

stubborn and unwilling to compromise.

We’re adamant in our belief that if you’re amenable to making these changes in your

vocabulary, you’ll see an improvement in your communication skills in short order.

Practice using these five new Ultimate Vocabulary words in your next conversation:

intransigent compliant equitable adamant amenable

E. Words Describing the Nature of Things

Test Sentences:Practice these new vocabulary words by fitting them into the correct spots in the next five

sentences.

1. Cirque du Soleil is a troupe _________________ of acrobats, contortionists, and clowns, but it doesn’t have any acts involving trained animals like elephants or horses.

2. When my son gets into trouble at school, I punish him by ___________________ his activities and do not let him watch television or use the computer for games.


3. The United States is made up of forty-eight ___________________ states and two others that are not connected: Alaska and Hawai’i.

4. Mint plants are very invasive; if you want to have some in your garden, keep them in a container or they will _________________ into every available space.

5. When I’m at home alone, I often succumb to my _______________ tendency towards laziness, and don’t do the dishes for days.

Answers:

1. Cirque du Soleil is a troupe comprised of acrobats, contortionists, and clowns, but

it doesn’t have any acts involving trained animals like elephants or horses.

The circus troupe contains a variety of performers. To “comprise” means to contain

or include, to consist of or be made of.

2. When my son gets into trouble at school, I punish him by circumscribing his

activities and do not let him watch television or use the computer for games.

My son is restricted, or limited, in what he can do. To “circumscribe” means to limit

or restrict, or to place a boundary around something.

3. The United States is made up of forty-eight contiguous states and two others that

are not connected: Alaska and Hawai’i.

The “lower 48”, as the residents of Alaska call them, are states that are all

connected, with at least one border touching another state. When things are

connected and touching, they are “contiguous.”

4. Mint plants are very invasive; if you want to have some in your garden, keep them

in a container or they will proliferate into every available space.

Mint spreads rapidly by sending out underground shoots in all directions.

“Proliferate” means to increase or spread rapidly.

5. When I’m at home alone, I often succumb to my latent tendency towards laziness,

and don’t do the dishes for days.


When I’m living with a roommate, I do my best to keep the house clean and share

the dishwashing duties, but left to myself, I’m most likely to put off such chores. I

can fight the tendency to laziness if there’s someone else in the house, but it’s

always there. Something that is present but hidden is “latent” – it exists, but is kept

concealed.

Bring out your latent vocabulary skills by using these powerful vocabulary words in daily

conversation:

comprise circumscribe contiguous proliferate latent

F. Inspiring Words

Test Sentences:Practicing these Ultimate Vocabulary words every day is a propitious first step in gaining

confidence in using them in context. Before you know it, you’ll be a virtuoso of

vocabulary. But first, test your skills by filling in the correct word in each sentence.

1. It was ____________________ that this apartment’s former tenants decided to move out just after I accepted a new job in this city; I don’t think I could have found a nicer spot to live.

2. She felt that getting the fourth Michelin star was the ______________ of her career as a chef, and decided to close her restaurant the next year, rather than risking a slide backwards in ratings.

3. Michael hired a lawyer from a very ________________ firm, because he wants to make sure that he wins this case.

4. Having the exchange rates for the U.S. dollar go down against European currencies has been ___________ for Londoners who want to pick up high-fashion shoes and clothes at bargain prices.

5. Pat makes some of the best cheese I’ve ever tasted – she’s a ______________ with milk and cultures.


Answers:

1. It was auspicious that this apartment’s former tenants decided to move out on the

same day I accepted a new job in this city; I don’t think I could have found a nicer

spot to live.

A lucky coincidence made the apartment available just as I needed a new place to

live. Something that is fortunate and favorable, that is a good omen, is auspicious,

especially if it comes by through luck or chance.

2. She felt that getting the fourth Michelin star was the zenith of her career as a chef,

and decided to close her restaurant the next year, rather than risking a slide

backwards in ratings.

Four Michelin stars is just about the best a restaurant can hope for, and this chef

thought that it was better to end on a high note than take the chance that one of the

stars might be taken away in the future. A zenith is the highest point, peak, or

culmination of events.

3. Michael hired a lawyer from a very prestigious firm, because he wants to make

sure that he wins this case.

The firm has an excellent reputation, and is highly esteemed. “Prestigious” means

esteemed, having a good reputation, and wielding influence because of that

reputation.

4. Having the exchange rates for the U.S. dollar go down against European currencies

has been propitious for Londoners who want to pick up high-fashion shoes and

clothes at bargain prices.

The fall of the dollar has made the purchasing power of the British pound much

stronger, and Londoners are flying to New York on weekend shopping sprees.

“Propitious” means advantageous, favorable, leading to success.

5. Pat makes some of the best cheese I’ve ever tasted – she’s a virtuoso with milk

and cultures.


Pat knows how to expertly mix cultures and age cheeses, and her cheeses are

much better than most of the ones on the market these days. A virtuoso is a master

at her craft.

You haven’t reached the zenith of your vocabulary skills yet! Keep moving higher by using

these powerful words in your conversations:

virtuoso propitious zenith prestigious auspicious


Lesson 4 Workbook


2

A. Words about Success and Achievement This block of five words is designed to inspire you to greater vocabulary-building heights

by giving you words that can be used to describe success and achievement in your life:

catalyst, lucrative, proficient, opulent, munificent.

Your success and achievement words explained

Your decision to study these ultimate vocabulary words will bring a change in the way you

communicate.

Something that brings about change by its mere presence is a “catalyst”. In general, the

word refers to “change for the better.” The catalytic converter on your car transforms

harmful emissions into non-toxic forms; a new CEO can be the catalyst for change in a

corporation.

Example: “The new lead singer for the Blackbirds was the catalyst the band needed to

take their music from ‘pretty’ to ‘powerful’ and make them a worldwide sensation.”

When change leads to success, success can often bring financial rewards. When your

activity brings in a significant amount of money, it’s described as “lucrative”. This word

comes from the Latin lucrum, or “profit.”

Example: “Anyone who has a computer and a digital camera can set up a shop on eBay,

though not everyone can turn online resale into a lucrative career.”

In general, it does take some skill to make a lot of money, and it’s easier the better you are

at your job. If you’re good at doing something, you’re proficient in it. “Proficient” means

“skilled” or “practiced.” While it’s a positive word, it’s not the most positive – that is,

“proficient” doesn’t necessarily mean “expert.” Being proficient in something means that

you’re able to do it well enough to be successful, but there might be many other people

who can do it better than you can.

Example: “She was an excellent legal assistant, as proficient at transcription as she was

at preparing documents for court and interviewing clients.”

For some people, the purpose of seeking a lucrative career is to accumulate a fortune –

and then spend it buying the biggest and best houses, jewelry, and clothing they can find.

These people have opulent lifestyles: “extravagant,” “fancy” and “luxurious” are synonyms

for “opulent” and can describe what they wear as well as the parties they throw. Opulence

is richness taken almost to excess, like a dressing gown made of cashmere, trimmed with

fur, and embroidered with gold thread.


3

Example: “The hotel’s ‘honeymoon suite’ is lavishly decorated with framed artwork and

crystal chandeliers, and the bed is topped with an opulent cover of plush velvet and silk.”

Some people who’ve made a lot of money enjoy spending it on others, and give lavish

gifts to their friends and family. These people are “munificent” – their gifts, of money or

goods, are more than usually generous.

Example: “I didn’t think I’d be able to pay for my university education, but a munificent

benefactor set up a scholarship that funded all four years of school.”

B. Words for reacting to or acting in a situation Facilitate, delegate, corroborate, exonerate, capitulate – it must be something we “ate”

that led to the choice of words in this section. All of these words are verbs that describe

different ways of acting in or reacting to a situation.

Your action words explained

The first word, “facilitate”, means “to make simple or easy.” You’re probably most familiar

with it in a business setting, where one person may facilitate a meeting or conference. By

facilitating the meeting, this person will deal with any problems and solve them – this

makes things simpler for the rest of the group. A facilitator often acts as an intermediary

between two or more people who have different views on an issue, helping them come to

agreement – this makes their discussion easier. In general, “to facilitate” means to smooth

things along, to make them easier to do, and to get rid of obstacles that prevent them from

happening.

Example: “By sending the boys out to pick up all of the sticks and debris off of the grass,

you will facilitate the process of mowing the lawn.”

When you send the boys out to clean up the lawn, you’re delegating some of the yard

work to them. “Delegate” means “to assign responsibility to someone else”. This

responsibility could be to pick up sticks, or to represent a country at an international

political meeting. Delegate is a verb, but can also be a noun that refers to the person to

whom the responsibility is assigned.

Example: “I was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work left to do on the project, but

once I was able to delegate the filing and copying to my assistant, I made more progress.”

We’re sure you’ll agree that being able to get rid of necessary but time-consuming tasks

makes your job easier. In fact, you may have examples from your own work life that will

corroborate this. “Corroborate” means to confirm or support, often using additional

evidence or examples.


4

Example: “The new witness for the defence was able to corroborate the defendant’s

claim that he was out of the country when the murder was committed.”

If you are accused of a crime, but later found innocent, you are exonerated, or freed from,

the criminal charges. “Exonerate” comes from the Latin roots “ex-“ – meaning without –

and “onus” – meaning burden, thus “exonerate”, or “without the burden”. Being accused

of a crime, or blamed for something, is a weighty burden, especially if you did not do it.

Some synonyms of exonerate are “acquit” and “absolve.”

Example: “After the new witness’ testimony was taken into consideration, the judge said

he had no choice but to exonerate the defendant from the murder charge.”

It’s important to make sure that witnesses are telling the truth in legal trials. If a lawyer

suspects that one is lying, he may spend hours questioning that witness, putting pressure

on them to change their story. In the end, the witness might just give up and tell the truth.

To give up, or to stop resisting pressure, is to “capitulate”.

Example: “I don’t believe in spoiling children, but my niece asked for a new skateboard

so many times that I finally had to capitulate and buy her one.”

C. Words for defining a concept Sometimes things aren’t always as they seem. For example, this next group of five words

might appear to be confusing or strange, but don’t worry – that only applies to the

concepts they define. The five ultimate vocabulary words in this section are analogous,

anomaly, dichotomy, fallacious, and verisimilitude.

Your words for defining a concept explained

You’re using your brain to learn these words, making connections between ideas and

storing information for later retrieval. Sounds like a computer, doesn’t it? In many ways,

your brain and a computer are very similar. In other words, a brain is “analogous” to a

computer. They’re not the same, but for the purposes of this example – comparing how

they store and process information – they’re enough alike to be able to make the

comparison.

Example: “The way a helicopter’s vanes can tilt in any direction is analogous to wing

mobility in dragonflies and other insects.”

Dragonflies have such specialized wings that they can actually fly backwards. In general, if

you’re watching something flying and it’s going backwards instead of forwards, you’d

probably think that was pretty unusual. In fact, you might say it was an anomaly.

“Anomaly” is a noun meaning something out of the ordinary, unusual, and strange.


5

Example: “At the harvest fair, we saw chickens, cows, and horses, but the two-headed

goat in the livestock tent was an anomaly we weren’t expecting.”

Something that is split into two, where each separate part has nothing in common with the

other, is a “dichotomy”. An example from biology is the division of the animal kingdom

into vertebrates and invertebrates. Together, they make up all animal life on the planet,

but since some have backbones and others do not, they form totally separate

classifications. Black-and-white reasoning is another example, where only two options are

presented, as in “You’re either with us or against us.” This is also known as a “false

dichotomy” because, for example, sitting on the sidelines not taking part is not considered

to be a valid choice. Unless you’re in the sciences, you’ll probably be using the word

“dichotomy” in this second sense.

Example: “The book ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus’ tries to explain the

author’s view of the dichotomy between the way men and women think.”

It has been scientifically proven, using brain scans, that men and women process

information differently, and in different parts of their brains. But you can’t use those results

to make the argument that because women’s brains process language more efficiently,

that means no men should ever teach English classes. That’s a fallacious argument,

based on a false premise. “Fallacious” means false, misleading, or deceptive.

Example: “The prosecutor asserted that the defendant could not have been at the pizza

parlor because she was allergic to cheese, but the judge ruled that out as fallacious, as

she had ordered a plain green salad for dinner.”

An argument that appears logical at first might seem to be true, even though it could later

be proved false. “Verisimilitude” is a noun meaning “an appearance of truth.”

Example: “The new wig and the heavy application of makeup gave her the verisimilitude

of health, but we all knew that she did not have long to live.”

D. Words for Talking about Decisions We’re glad you made the decision to improve your skills by learning how to use these

ultimate vocabulary words in context. These next five words are ones that you might use

while talking about decisions: consensus, precedent, vacillate, irrevocable, and antithesis.

Your words for talking about decisions explained

Sometimes you’re the only one who has input into a decision, but more often you’ll find

yourself working with other people who each have an opinion on the issue. Occasionally

you’ll have to negotiate until you reach consensus and can move forward. “Consensus”

means that there is general agreement about a proposal or decision, such that the

proposal can be acted on, or the decision implemented. It doesn’t necessarily mean that


6

everyone agrees exactly – sometimes people will “agree to disagree” for the sake of

progress.

Example: “Although the members representing animal rights groups thought there should

be more emphasis on the feral cat issue, the general consensus on the panel was that the

city-wide spay and neuter program be implemented this summer.”

It’s often easier to make a decision if similar situations or issues have been dealt with

before. You can use the previous decision as a precedent for your current course of

action. A “precedent” is something that has occurred or been decided on in the past that

is used to influence an action or decision in the present. Many legal systems are based on

the rule of precedence.

Example: “This was the first land use case brought to trial in the county, but the judge

was able to find a precedent for his ruling in similar cases from other regions.”

When you’re using a precedent, you’re comparing things that are alike in some way. But

sometimes you’ll be dealing with things that are completely unalike – polar opposites in

fact, where one is the antithesis of the other. “Black and white” or “good and evil” are

examples of this: good is the antithesis of evil. “Antithesis” means having absolutely

nothing in common with the other.

Example: “Politicians who favor using armies and weapons to resolve international

situations are the antithesis of true peacemakers.”

Choices aren’t always black and white. Sometimes it’s hard to decide between two

options, and you may vacillate between them. “Vacillate” means to be unable to settle on

a choice, to be indecisive.

Example: “The waiter was ready to take their dessert order, but Helen continued to

vacillate between the vanilla-bean panna cotta and the pineapple sorbet for another five

minutes.”

Once you’ve made a decision, though, sometimes there’s no going back. While it’s

relatively easy to change a dessert order, other things are impossible to stop once started,

from kicking a football to pulling the lever to dynamite a building. Such decisions are

“irrevocable”, meaning impossible to revoke, or take back.

Example: “Many people object to the death penalty because it is irrevocable, and with the

new DNA testing available, prisoners can later be found innocent of wrongdoing.”


7

E. Words for Depth of Conversation In this set of five ultimate vocabulary words, you’ll be learning descriptive words that will

give your conversations more power and depth: implement, intrinsic, impeccable,

inexorable, and incorrigible.

Your words for depth of conversation explained

In fact, when you implement all you’re learning in these lessons, you’ll be a skilled and

persuasive speaker. “Implement” is a verb that means “to put into practice” or “bring

about, cause to happen”. You might also have heard this word as a noun meaning “tool” –

you can think of using a tool to make something happen.

Example: “All I need to implement the new bookkeeping system at work is a three-day

weekend when no one is using the computers.”

Computers are an essential part of almost every business enterprise these days. In fact,

some businesses – like eBay, for example – would not exist without the internet. For these

businesses, the internet is an intrinsic part of their operation. When one thing is “intrinsic”

to another, it means that the first thing is so entwined, so essential, that it cannot be

separated from the second thing; that when you talk about the second thing it’s

understood that the first is always part of it. You can’t talk about eBay without also talking

about the internet.

Example: “Einstein’s theory of relativity is intrinsic to much of modern science, from

particle physics to astronomy.”

Studying the massive galaxies and the uncountable number of stars they contain,

watching them as they travel across light-years, gives you a sense of the forces at work, a

movement that is powerful and unstoppable. From our perspective, the forces controlling

the orbits of the planets are inexorable. “Inexorable” means relentless or unstoppable.

Example: “The boys built a sand castle on the beach, but it was washed away by the

inexorable advance of the incoming tide.”

Even the most perfectly-constructed sand castle is no match for the power of the ocean.

When something is perfect, without any flaws or errors, it can be described as

“impeccable.”

Example: “She speaks English and German quite well, but her French is impeccable, and

she often helps with the language classes at the local school.”


8

Teaching at a school brings you in contact with all sorts of students, from the ones who sit

quietly and listen to the incorrigible ones who make trouble on a daily basis. “Incorrigible”

means “not correctable.” You’ll often hear this word applied to children who persist in

doing bad things, even when they’re punished for them over and over again.

Example: “The arsonist had been in and out of jail so many times, and had been

responsible for so much damage to lives and property, that he was finally pronounced an

incorrigible criminal and sentenced to life in prison.”

F. Things Small or of Questionable Significance

Learning how to use these ultimate vocabulary words in context will make a big difference

in your life; however, all of the words we’ll look at in this section can be used to describe

things that are small or of questionable significance: trivial, nominal, dubious, tenuous,

surreptitious.

Your words for things small or of questionable significance explained

If you’re a fan of pub quizzes, you probably have a store of knowledge that’s not of much

practical use – other than for winning pub quizzes, that is. This knowledge is referred to as

“trivia.” Add an ‘L’ to the end and make it an adjective, and you have our first ultimate

vocabulary word: “trivial”. Something that is trivial has little value, significance in general,

or impact on a situation.

Example: “He would have gotten better marks on his essay on space exploration if he

hadn’t added so much trivial information quoted from ‘Star Trek’ episodes.”

Quoting from television shows or movies may make your arguments less believable and of

dubious value. “Dubious” means “questionable” or “open to doubt.” It’s a versatile word:

you can be dubious about something that is dubious.

Example: “The cheap plastic toys were colorful but of dubious quality, and Elena decided

to buy the sturdier wooden toys, even though they were more expensive.”

Handmade wooden toys are often more expensive, but if you’re lucky, you might have a

friend who carves wooden toys for his children, and he’ll be willing to make some for your

children for a nominal sum. The word “nominal” comes from the Latin “nomen,” meaning

“name,” and in this example, means “in name only” – that is, a token amount of money,

compared to what the carver could charge for the toys. Nominal means small in effect or

quantity, a trifling amount, a token gesture.

Example: “I had asked him to clean his room before I returned, but he only made a

nominal effort at picking up his clothes, and the room was just as filthy as when I left.”


9

A child who doesn’t want to clean his room might try to hide some of the mess in a closet

or under his bed, That sort of surreptitious behavior doesn’t work for long, and he’ll end up

in more trouble than before – first for having a messy room, and then for trying to hide the

mess. “Surreptitious” means sneaky, stealthy, furtive, or hidden.

Example: “Joan was so surreptitious when taking extra cards that it was years before we

figured out why she always won the card games.

The words “trivial” and “nominal” can both be used to describe similar concepts. These

words are connected by their meanings, but they also have another point of similarity: they

both end in the letters ‘A-L’. So does the word “annual”, but this word by definition has

nothing in common with the first two, other than its spelling. The connection between the

three words is very tenuous. “Tenuous” means flimsy, fragile, or not substantial. You can

use it to talk about concepts, like the tenuous tie between the words “trivial” and “annual.”

You can also use this word to describe physical characteristics. For example, a loose

button on a shirt might hang from a tenuous thread.

Example: “My family had emigrated three generations before, but even this tenuous

connection with the families in the town made me a welcome visitor.”


10


A. Words about Success and Achievement You’ll become more proficient at using these vocabulary words in context if you practice

them. Listen to these sentences, and fill in the correct word in each of them.

Test Sentences:

1. Not everyone has the talent to succeed in an acting career, but it can be very

________________ for the top Hollywood stars.

2. Her apartment is small, but the luxurious fabrics she chose for the upholstery,

carpets, and drapes give it a warmly ________________ look.

3. I had to practice on the piano for several months before I was _______________

enough to play even the simplest tune.

4. After winning the lottery, Herbert was feeling _______________, and made

donations to all of the arts organizations in town.

5. He didn’t exercise regularly until he got a dog, but that was the _________ he

needed to start taking daily walks, and now he’s even thinking about entering a

marathon.

Answers:

1. Not everyone has the talent to succeed in an acting career, but it can be very

lucrative for the top Hollywood stars.

Unknown actors playing small roles in movies might not be able to make a living

from their acting, but big-name stars get millions for their appearances. A job that

brings in a lot of money is a lucrative one. “Lucrative” means “profitable.”

2. Her apartment is small, but the luxurious fabrics she chose for the upholstery,

carpets, and drapes give it a warmly opulent look.

Fabrics that have a rich look and feel, like silk, velvet, and fur, create a luxurious

atmosphere. “Opulent” means richly decorated, full of luxury.

3. I had to practice on the piano for several months before I was proficient enough to

play even the simplest tune.

Playing the piano well requires skill. “Proficient” means “skilled” or “practiced.”

4. After winning the lottery, Herbert was feeling munificent, and made donations to all

of the arts organizations in town.


11

Someone who gives very generously to others, whether of money or gifts, is

munificent. “Munificent” means extremely generous and lavish in giving.

5. He didn’t exercise regularly until he got a dog, but that was the catalyst he needed to start taking daily walks, and now he’s even thinking about entering a marathon.

Getting a dog forced a change in his life for the better, because now he’s getting exercise regularly. Something that brings about a change is a catalyst.

Become proficient in these five new Ultimate Vocabulary words and your skillful use of

words might be the catalyst you need to move up to a new and lucrative career! We

hope you enjoyed learning how to use these words in context:

� lucrative

� opulent

� proficient

� munificent

� catalyst

B. Words for reacting to or acting in a situation

Practicing these ultimate vocabulary words by using them in context will facilitate your

learning process. Try filling in the blanks in these sentences with the appropriate words:

Test Sentences:

1. Although I wanted to take a year off and travel before starting at university, my

parents argued against it, and I decided it was easier to ______________ and

travel in the summers instead.

2. The professor accused Alice of copying her essay from another student, but when

that student was caught selling exam answers, he had to ____________ Alice.

3. My mother always knew when I had skipped school, because she would ask my

brother to __________ my stories of what happened in class that day.

4. The only way you’ll succeed in business is by learning to _______ jobs to the

people who can do them most efficiently.

5. Her background in sociology and psychology helps her to ___________ meetings,

no matter how controversial the topics being discussed.


12

Answers:

1. Although I wanted to take a year off and travel before starting at university, my

parents argued against it, and I decided it was easier to capitulate and travel in the

summers instead.

When you’re being pressured to do something and you resist at first but then give

in, you’re capitulating. “Capitulate” means to give in, or acquiesce, to someone

else.

2. The professor accused Alice of copying her essay from another student, but when

that student was caught selling exam answers, he had to exonerate Alice.

If a person is accused of doing something, but then later found innocent, they are

exonerated. “Exonerate” means to remove blame or responsibility from, or acquit.

3. My mother always knew when I had skipped school, because she would ask my

brother to corroborate my stories of what happened in class that day.

When you bring in additional evidence to confirm something that you or someone

else has said, you are corroborating that statement. “Corroborate” means to

confirm or attest to, usually including tangible proof of your confirmation.

4. The only way you’ll succeed in business is by learning to delegate jobs to the

people who can do them most efficiently.

When you have a list of tasks to do, and you assign one or more of those tasks to

another person, you are delegating those tasks. “Delegate” means to assign

responsibility to someone else.

5. Her background in sociology and psychology helps her to facilitate meetings, no

matter how controversial the topics being discussed.

It’s difficult to keep meetings productive and calm when the topic is something that

people disagree on or feel strongly about. Someone who facilitates a meeting like

that is making it easier for the discussion to move forward. “Facilitate” means “to

make easy.”

We’re sure others will corroborate our claim that daily practice of new vocabulary words is

the quickest way to gain confidence in using them. Don’t wait to start using these five new

words:

� capitulate

� facilitate

� delegate

� exonerate

� corroborate


13

C. Words for defining a concept Take a healthy bite out of your new vocabulary and fit your five new ultimate vocabulary

words into the correct blanks in these sentences:

Test Sentences

1. His entire argument for making English the national language was based on the

_____________ belief that the Bible was originally written in English.

2. Schrödinger’s paradox is based on an essential ______________: a cat cannot be

both dead and alive.

3. The dark brown wedge of rock had a crust of sparkling white quartz just like icing on

a cake, giving it the ______________ of real food.

4. Astronauts often say that being in space is _____________ to deep-sea scuba

diving, because there’s no difference between “up” and “down”.

5. The large spiky cactus was an ___________ in her otherwise pink-themed rose

garden.

Answers:

1. His entire argument for making English the national language was based on the

fallacious belief that the Bible was originally written in English.

The early Biblical texts were written in Greek, Aramaic, and many other languages,

reflecting the population of the Middle East where the texts originated. However,

some people think that because they’ve never seen the Bible in anything other than

English, that’s the language it was first written in. This is a belief based on false

premises. “Fallacious” means mistaken or misleading.

2. Schrödinger’s paradox is based on an essential dichotomy: a cat cannot be both

dead and alive.

Schrödinger’s paradox describes a cat sealed in a box with a closed glass jar of

poisonous gas and a hammer that will break the glass jar if it is triggered by the

movement of a subatomic particle. But because the only way to find out if that has

happened is to open the box, you can’t say the cat is either dead or alive until then.

A dichotomy is an “either-or” situation, where two things are opposite, but taken

together are the whole. In this example, the cat is either dead or alive – there’s no

third possibility.

3. The dark brown wedge of rock had a crust of sparkling white quartz just like icing

on a cake, giving it the verisimilitude of real food.


14

The rock might look like a piece of cake, but you’d soon regret biting into it, no

matter how realistic it appears. “Verisimilitude” means an appearance of truth or

reality.

4. Astronauts often say that being in space is analogous to deep-sea scuba diving,

because there’s no difference between “up” and “down”.

There’s another way being in outer space and being underwater is similar – you

can’t breathe in either situation. “Analogous” means the same, for purposes of the

comparison or point you’re making at the time.

5. The large spiky cactus was an anomaly in her otherwise pink-themed rose garden.

We can’t imagine a plant that looks less like a delicate rose than a large spiky

cactus. If you saw one in the middle of a rose garden, it would look very out of

place. An “anomaly” is something that is out of place, different from what is around

it, or unusual.

Your new, expanded vocabulary might make you a linguistic anomaly among your co-

workers, but don’t worry – being able to use these words in context is a skill you should be

proud of. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning these five new ultimate vocabulary words:

� anomaly

� analogous

� verisimilitude

� fallacious

� dichotomy

D. Words for Talking about Decisions Practice using these five new vocabulary words in context, by using each one

appropriately in the following sentences:

Test Sentences:

1. Taking a year off from school before going to university is not an ___________

decision, because you can always start mid-year with the next term.

2. Emily continued to ___________ between wanting to be a doctor and wanting to

make her living doing massage therapy, so the counselor suggested that she study

anatomy and physiology while she decided, since both degree programs required

those classes.

3. That candidate is campaigning by presenting himself as the ___________ of the

current officeholder, but if you look at his voting history, you’ll see that they’re quite

similar in their politics.


15

4. His family wanted to hold the wedding at their church, but her family preferred an

outdoor wedding; however, they were able to reach a ___________ when I

proposed holding the ceremony in the garden at the local chapel instead.

5. Indira Gandi, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher helped establish a modern-day

___________ for women in high political office.

Answers:

1. Taking a year off from school before going to university is not an irrevocable

decision, because you can always start mid-year with the next term.

If you change your mind about a gap year and want to start classes instead, it’s

easy to enroll in a university program even after the school year has started.

Because you can change your mind, your decision is not irrevocable – that is, it’s

something that can be changed or revoked. “Irrevocable” means something that

cannot be changed.

2. Emily continued to vacillate between wanting to be a doctor and wanting to make

her living doing massage therapy, so the counselor suggested that she study

anatomy and physiology while she decided, since both degree programs required

those classes.

When you cannot settle on one option, you are vacillating. To “vacillate” means to

be unable to decide between two or more choices.

3. That candidate is campaigning by presenting himself as the antithesis of the

current officeholder, but if you look at his voting history, you’ll see that they’re quite

similar in their politics.

“Antithesis” means “completely different, with no point of similarity.”

4. His family wanted to hold the wedding at their church, but her family preferred an

outdoor wedding in the woods; however, they were able to reach a consensus

when I proposed holding the ceremony in the garden at the local chapel instead.

A “consensus” is a general agreement on a course of action or decision. In this

example, there may have been one or two family members who still wanted either a

church or woodland setting, but were willing to go along with everyone else in order

to reach the consensus and move forward with the wedding plans.

5. Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher helped establish a modern-day

precedent for women in high political office.

Gandhi, Meir, and Thatcher were three of the most prominent twentieth-century

women who held office, and their example has helped influence political

movements around the world to promote women to positions of power. A

“precedent” is something that occurred in the past that forms the basis for a

decision or action in the present.


16

Keep practicing using these words in context and your progress will be irrevocable:

� precedent

� consensus

� antithesis

� vacillate

� irrevocable

E. Words for Depth in Conversation You can practice using your new vocabulary words in the real world and on-line. But first,

practice with these five sample sentences by filling in the appropriate word in each blank:

Test Sentences:

1. The legends of mischievous elves and fairies are found in countries around the

world, but one of the most well-known is the figure of Puck, the ________ prankster

seen in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

2. After the confusion and problems caused by the computer date change in the year

2000, programmers worldwide were told to _________ a new protocol and use four

digits to store system dates.

3. Emergency management officials tried hard to contain the flooding river, but no

amount of sandbags could stop the _________ rise of the muddy water over the

barriers and into the city streets.

4. If you’re wondering what designs to use on your wedding invitations, you should

call Kate – she has _________ taste and will create the perfect design.

5. Although many political races turn out to be popularity contests rather than

comparisons of the candidates’ qualifications, I think that having an understanding

of social and economic history is ____________ to being able to govern this

country.

Answers:

1. The legends of mischievous elves and fairies are found in countries around the

world, but one of the most well-known is the figure of Puck, the incorrigible

prankster seen in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

In Shakespeare’s play, Puck couldn’t seem to stop causing trouble for the “foolish

mortals” even though his master, Oberon, became angry with him for doing so.

“Incorrigible” means not able to be corrected, and often refers to someone who

keeps on doing bad things even when they’re punished for it again and again.


17

2. After the confusion and problems caused by the computer date change in the year

2000, programmers worldwide were told to implement a new protocol and use four

digits to store system dates.

Not all computers had problems when the dates rolled over from 19 to 20, but IT

managers everywhere made it standard to start using a four-digit date, and had

their programmers put that standard into place immediately. “Implement” means to

put into place, to start a program or routine.

3. Emergency management officials tried hard to contain the flooding river, but no

amount of sandbags could stop the inexorable rise of the muddy water over the

barriers and into the city streets.

Looking at a slow-moving river is deceptive - it’s hard to imagine the sheer power of

all those tons of water moving downstream. That’s a force that’s hard to stop easily.

Something that is “inexorable” is powerful and hard, even impossible, to stop.

4. If you’re wondering what designs to use on your wedding invitations, you should

call Kate – she has impeccable taste and will create the perfect design.

A graphic designer who always knows just the right colors and designs for each of

her clients will get a lot of praise for the quality of her work. Something of high

quality, where each detail is absolutely perfect, is “impeccable.”

5. I think that having an understanding of social and economic history is intrinsic to

being able to govern this country.

Although many political races turn out to be popularity contests rather than

comparisons of the candidates’ qualifications, it’s hard to see how any person could

be an effective leader without knowing the reasons behind the current state of

affairs. That is an essential qualification. Something that is so essential that it’s hard

to imagine that quality not being there is “intrinsic.”

Study these new ultimate vocabulary words carefully, and you’ll soon be able to implement

your new conversational abilities in the workplace and elsewhere:

� incorrigible

� implement

� inexorable

� impeccable

� intrinsic

F. Things Small or of Questionable Significance You’ll get addicted to using these new vocabulary words, once you realize how much they

add to your conversations. Make sure you know how to use them in context, and practice

by putting the correct word in each of the next five sentences:


18

Test Sentences:

1. Although he came to all of the meetings, his ____________ remarks were wasting

everyone’s time, and he was not included in the delegation.

2. If you would put in more than a ____________ amount of time towards looking for

work, you’d have a better chance of actually finding a job.

3. She’s so scared of heights that she won’t live in an apartment that’s more than

three floors up, so I’m _________ about her story about climbing Mont Blanc last

summer.

4. As the months went by, his mental health continued to decline, and today he has

only a __________ grasp on reality, and very little understanding of what’s

happening in the world around him.

5. I thought we’d bought plenty of sweets for the holidays, but I think the children have

been making ____________ raids of the pantry, because the chocolates are almost

all gone.

Answers:

1. Although he came to all of the meetings, his trivial remarks were wasting

everyone’s time, and he was not included in the delegation.

Saying something just for the sake of speaking up usually doesn’t contribute to the

progress of a meeting, if what you’re saying isn’t useful or relevant to the

conversation. “Trivial” means of little use or value.

2. If you would put in more than a nominal amount of time towards looking for work,

you’d have a better chance of actually finding a job.

Just buying a paper and glancing through the “help wanted” advertisements doesn’t

move you much closer to employment, and although you might call it a job search,

it really isn’t one, even though you’re going through the motions. “Nominal” means

so small as to have no impact, the bare minimum, or a token effort.

3. She’s so scared of heights that she won’t live in an apartment that’s more than

three floors up, so I’m dubious about her story about climbing Mont Blanc last

summer.

Anyone who’s scared of heights will probably not be spending much time in the

mountains. If you don’t believe a story, you’re dubious about it; you could also say

that a person’s story is dubious. “Dubious” means doubtful, of questionable truth or

value.

4. As the months went by, his mental health continued to decline, and today he has

only a tenuous grasp on reality, and very little understanding of what’s happening

in the world around him.


19

“Tenuous” means fragile, thin, and insubstantial. For example, when you’re very

angry, you might only have a tenuous control over your emotions.

5. I thought we’d bought plenty of sweets for the holidays, but I think the children have

been making surreptitious raids of the pantry, because the chocolates are almost

all gone.

The children were sneaking into the pantry to eat chocolates, or stealing them and

hiding them away. “Surreptitious” means hidden, sneaky, or furtive.

Working on learning how to use these ultimate vocabulary words in context is not a trivial

pursuit! You might be dubious about how much these words will help you, but we’re sure

that you’ll benefit greatly from your expanded vocabulary. Don’t hesitate to use your five

new words in conversation:

� tenuous

� surreptitious

� dubious

� nominal

� trivial


Lesson 5 Workbook


A. Words For Moving Forward With Your Vocabulary You’re expanding your horizons as you learn these ultimate vocabulary words and how to

use them correctly. These next five words will keep you moving forward and will help you

describe your journey: comprehensive, criterion, cognizant, trepidation, predilection.

Your words for moving forward with your vocabulary explained

One of the advantages of knowing – and knowing how to use – these ultimate vocabulary

words is that you’ll have the appropriate words for discussions on a wide range of topics.

Your vocabulary will be comprehensive in scope. “Comprehensive” means: covering a

wide range; being thorough; and including everything. Another synonym for

comprehensive is “exhaustive” – you might use these two words together when describing

an academic study or research project.

Example: “Before the committee made a decision, they asked the team leaders to each

present a comprehensive report on the costs and benefits of their plans to rebuild the

city’s transit system.”

A successful transit system should do three things: go places people need to go; get them

there when they need to be there; and do this all on a reasonable budget, for the city and

the riders. Each of these three points is a criterion that is used to measure the success of

a transit system. A “criterion” is a standard by which something is measured or judged.

You’re probably more familiar with the plural of criterion, which is “criteria.” One criterion,

two criteria. Many people incorrectly use the plural form for both cases.

Example: “Knowing the difference between the singular form of a noun and its plural

form, and using them correctly, is a criterion for evaluating your progress in learning a

language.”

Once you realize that many words have singular and plural forms, you’ll notice when other

people use them incorrectly. “Cognizant” means noticing something, or being aware of

something.

Example: “I didn’t really pay attention to the ingredient listings on food until I was

diagnosed with coeliac disease, but now I’m cognizant of the fact that most packaged food

has gluten in it.”

Anyone with food allergies knows that going out to eat in restaurants, or even over to a

friend’s house, can be difficult, especially if the allergy is to something as common as

wheat. If you’re afraid you might get ill and hesitate to accept invitations to dinner, you’re

experiencing trepidation. “Trepidation” means fear or hesitation, apprehension or

concern.


Example: “Although John said that Kathy was an excellent cook, I felt a bit of trepidation

when I arrived for dinner and saw smoke pouring out of the kitchen.”

Some people enjoy cooking more than others do. And when you enjoy doing something,

you have a tendency to do it more often. “Predilection” means liking or having a tendency

towards.

Example: “Jim frequently invited me to join him at the movies, but as he had a

predilection for the more violent action films, I would usually decline.”

B. Words For Your Vocabulary Arsenal You might struggle sometimes to learn how to use vocabulary in context, but don’t give up

the fight! You’ll prevail soon – and the next five words will help you describe the battle:

precision, arsenal, augment, draconian, acquiesce.

Your vocabulary arsenal words explained

One of the most important lessons to learn about using these ultimate vocabulary words is

when to use them. Using exactly the right word at exactly the right time will make the

maximum impact. You’ll learn to use words with precision. “Precision” means “exactness”

– being precise, or to the point.

Example: “I like wearing my grandfather’s wristwatch, but it can’t match the precision of

my digital timer, so that’s what I use for work.”

You’ll soon have a collection of words that you can use in any situation. Your vocabulary

will be a powerful tool in your arsenal, and will help you win arguments and prevail in

debates. An “arsenal” is a collection, usually of weapons, but also of anything used as a

weapon. Words can be very effective weapons, when used correctly.

Example: “The ruins of the castle were overgrown with moss, but we could see where

they had stored their arsenal of cannonballs and gunpowder.”

Diligent practice of these vocabulary words will augment your ability to use them correctly.

To “augment” means to increase. You can augment the sound coming from a stereo by

adding bass and treble boosters.

Example: “With the general public’s growing resistance to the war, the only way the ruling

party could augment the size of the army was by instituting a draft.”

When the leaders of a country decide on war, but the people disagree, those leaders may

resort to draconian measures like a forced draft to achieve their goals. “Draconian”

means harsh or rigid. The word comes from the name of an ancient Greek senator, Draco,


who lived in Athens in the 7th century BCE, and who was famous for his laws that

punished people severely for very minor crimes.

Example: “Singapore’s laws may seem draconian, punishing people with jail time for

littering or chewing gum, but they certainly keep the streets clean.”

Even if you think an anti-gum-chewing rule is silly, you’d have to acquiesce to that rule if

you wanted to live in Singapore. “Acquiesce” is a verb meaning give in, comply, or agree

to. Use this word when you want to make clear that this agreement is not necessarily by

choice. When you acquiesce to something, you’re saying that you’ll go along with it, even

if you previously opposed it, or continue to oppose it on a philosophical if not actual basis.

Example: “The receptionist did not want to let me wait for you in your hotel room, and it

took a half and hour’s argument, plus a call to your father, before he would acquiesce and

let me in.”

C. Words About Teaching and Education We’re glad you’re continuing your education with this Ultimate Vocabulary training course.

Learning is a process that goes on throughout our lives, and we find lessons and teachers

everywhere. The five words in this lesson can all be used when talking about teaching and

education: mentor, cerebral, monograph, admonish, edify.

Your words about teaching and education explained

Many people remember one or two influential teachers from their childhood – people who

were counselors and advisors, sharing their wisdom. These childhood mentors can have a

long-term impact. “Mentor” is a noun meaning counselor or teacher. These days, it’s likely

that you’ll also hear this word as a verb. “Mentoring” is something often done in the

workplace, when experienced staff help junior employees.

Example: “It was my first job in a law office and I was very nervous about getting

something wrong, but the senior legal assistant acted as my mentor for a few months,

answering all of my questions and helping me prepare the documents.”

As a mentor, you can provide guidance to someone at the office, help a child learn social

skills after school, or work with a student to prepare her thesis – mentoring is as much

about the practical as the cerebral. “Cerebral” means intellectual, or focused on the

activity of the brain.

Example: “Leah liked to play outside no matter how bad the weather was, but Morgan

preferred the more cerebral exercise of solving puzzles and reading books and essays.”


If you’re attending university and working with your mentor to prepare your thesis, you’ll be

doing research into what others have written about the topic you’ve chosen. You may find

several monographs on the topic by other scholars. A “monograph” is a long essay on a

single topic, usually very cerebral in nature; that is, rather than being a casual discussion,

it will be a well-documented, intellectual look at the topic. Or at least you hope it will be, so

you can use it as a reference!

Example: “She was interested in learning more about the history of the Middle East, so I

recommended two monographs on the Persian Empire in the 6th century by Dandamayev

and Babayan.”

Reading what other people have written about a topic is a good way to learn more about it.

Monographs and research papers will instruct you on a topic and improve your

understanding. “Edify” is a verb that means to instruct or improve intellectually; you may

be familiar with the result, which is “edification.” The word comes from the Latin word

“edificare” meaning “to build” – think of the word “edifice”, or building. These bits of

knowledge you gain are building your intellectual strengths.

Example: “The school bus was delayed for several hours in traffic in front of the

Parliament building, and Jane decided to use the time to edify the students on the different

branches of government and how they worked.”

Knowing how a government works is important, and if students are educated in the

process, they’ll be better at making good decisions when they’re old enough to vote.

Unfortunately, many don’t get this education, or just don’t care to learn it. Teachers can

admonish students when they don’t know the answers to simple questions about politics,

but it may take more than that to get them to learn. To “admonish” means to warn

someone that they have done or said something wrong, using serious but kind words. It’s

not angry yelling, but instead a gentle but insistent identification of a perceived fault in their

actions or attitudes.

Example: “The modern grammar school does not use corporal punishment to discipline

their students, but instead will admonish them privately, pointing out the ways in which

their behaviour affects all of the other children in the class.”

D. Words For Describing Things Relating To Groups Are you a social person? Do you like to be part of a group, or do you stand apart from the

crowd? It’s human nature to want to belong to a larger community, and we’re all part of

some subset no matter what, whether because of where we come from or what we like to

do. The five words in this section might help you describe things relating to groups:

terminology, demographic, sporadic, incongruous, ostracize.


Your words relating to groups explained

Sociology is the study of people and groups, and researchers in that field have their own

set of words related to sociology, like homogenising, assimilationist, or dialectical. But

don’t worry – we won’t be giving you these arcane words. Instead, here’s a word to

describe them: terminology. “Terminology” means a set of specialized words specific to

an area of study. These words are usually not commonly used outside of that area – for

example, you probably wouldn’t use the word “igneous” unless you were talking about

volcanic rocks or geology in general.

Example: “One of the reasons that legal systems can seem hard to understand is that not

everyone knows the terminology used in law, and words like ‘obligor’ and ‘pendency’ are

not in common use.”

There are a lot of people in law, and in some places lawyers form a large segment of the

population. A demographic study might find a correlation between the number of lawyers

in a city and the size of the city. “Demographic” means “related to a group of people who

share one or more characteristics.” In this case, the common bond is their profession, but

other demographic markers might be race, income, or gender.

Example: “Television advertisements are well-researched to appeal to the particular

demographic group that watches a specific program.”

Marketing that is targeted to one demographic group is usually more successful than

random advertisement that hopes to interest people by chance. That’s why you’ll see ads

for candy and toys aired regularly during children’s shows, rather than in a sporadic

fashion in the middle of a football game. “Sporadic” means random, without a pattern,

happening only occasionally.

Example: “Henry came to the scheduled meetings only on sporadic occasions, and

eventually we stopped inviting him to participate.”

If you promise to be somewhere and then fail to show up, people may think of you as

unreliable, or get angry with you. If they get angry enough, they might ostracize you. To

“ostracize” means to cast out of a group, or exclude from a community.

Example: “Feelings about the recent political elections were so strong that I was afraid

my friends would ostracize me if they found out that I had voted for the other party.”

When you’re the only person in a group who supports a certain politician, or the only meat-

eater in a group of vegetarians, you might feel that you just don’t fit in – that your presence

is incongruous. “Incongruous” means “not similar,” or not a match to what is around it or

what is expected.


Example: “Even though it’s well-known that studying dance will improve your agility and

coordination, the star player from the local football team was still an incongruous sight in

the middle of the ballet class.”

E. Words For Talking About Music This section’s words will be music to your ears – or at least words you might use when

you’re talking about music. Get in tune with these five ultimate vocabulary words:

mellifluous, strident, arduous, prodigy, and contemporary.

Your words for talking about music explained

The 18th –century playwright William Congreve said “Music hath charms to soothe a

savage beast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Sweet and harmonious music can

make you calmer and lift your spirits with its mellifluous tones. “Mellifluous” is an

adjective that comes from the Latin words “mellitus” meaning “honey” and “fluus” meaning

“flowing”. A mellifluous voice is one that is sweet, smooth, and flowing.

Example: “Every time my young children had a hard time falling asleep, I would play a

recording of Cecila Bartolli singing Italian lullabies, and her mellifluous voice would lull

them to sleep quickly.”

The opposite of mellifluous is “strident”, meaning loud or piercing, and harsh in tone. You

might use a strident voice when you're shouting at someone. Depending on your tastes,

you might like experimental jazz, but think that punk rock is nothing but strident noise – but

the punk rockers may consider your jazz to be equally unpleasant!

Example: “Although the carnival was extremely noisy, we could clearly hear the strident

voice of the auctioneer at the animal pens as he sold off the sheep and cattle.”

It takes a lot of practice to learn how to be an auctioneer. You've got to be able to speak

very quickly and clearly, keep track of bids from anywhere in the audience, and gauge

how much an item might sell for. You'll have to put a lot of energy and time into learning

this sometimes arduous job. “Arduous” means something needing endurance, requiring

an expenditure of energy and time. Some synonyms include demanding, strenuous, and

exhausting.

Example: “The team spent seven days living off the land, and concluded their endurance

testing with an arduous climb up the south face of the mountain.”

Some things take a lot of practice to master, but you've probably heard of people who

seem to require no practice at all, who are extremely talented, perhaps from a young age.

You might describe such a person as a “prodigy.” A prodigy is someone who excels at


doing something, and is often used in the term “child prodigy” to describe an amazing

talent in a very young person.

Example: “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a true musical prodigy: he began playing

keyboard at age three and writing music at age five, and by the time he was fourteen

years old, his operas were being performed to great success.”

Mozart lived in the last part of the 18th century, and occasionally worked with other

contemporary composers such as Muzio Clementi and Joseph Haydn. “Contemporary”

means “of the same time period.” If you're speaking of the present day, “contemporary”

can be the same as “modern.” The opposite of contemporary can either be “anachronistic”

- that is, not of the same time period – or “archaic,” meaning “not modern.”

Example: “I enjoy listening to The Beatles and Elvis Presley, but prefer contemporary

groups like The Shins or Smashing Pumpkins.”

F. Words Describing Success These ultimate vocabulary words will help you reach the pinnacle of success. This

section's words will help you describe that success: substantive, eminent, ascendancy,

ineffable, magnanimous.

Your words describing success explained

The knowledge of which words are appropriate to use in a given circumstance forms a

substantive part of your ability to speak well to a variety of audiences. “Substantive”

means making up a large part of something, or being present in quantity, having weight.

Example: “The counsel for the defence brought in enough witnesses that she was able to

create a substantive argument for dismissing the case.”

A lawyer with a reputation for skillful and impartial advocacy might later be nominated to

the judiciary, especially if she has made important contributions to the legal field. Many

judges are eminent scholars in legal history and legislation. “Eminent” means

distinguished, important, or great.

Example: “My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder, but we were

fortunate that the local university hospital had an eminent physician on staff who

specialized in treatment for that type of cancer.”

When you're at the top of your field, you have a competitive edge over your rivals. Sports

teams with unbeaten records dominate the game, and have supremacy over the rest of

the field. Their ascendancy often gives them first pick of advertisers and media exposure.

“Ascendancy” means being on top, being in control, or dominating others.


Example: “As the manufacturing centers continue to move to China and India, many

economists are commenting on the ascendancy of these countries in the world political

arena. They are beginning to overshadow the formerly robust American and European

markets.”

Sometimes things are so far ahead or above us that we find them impossible to describe.

Have you ever been so happy – or so sad – that you couldn't put your feelings into words?

“Ineffable” is a word that describes this lack of words. It means beyond words, unable to

be expressed.

Example: “Her clothes were always well-fitting and attractive, but it was her confident and

gracious manners that gave her an ineffable air of elegance and refinement.”

Elegance and refinement are characteristics often attributed to royalty or nobility. A person

who is truly noble expresses that nobility in how he or she treats other people. Someone

who is generous, noble, understanding, and tolerant is said to be “magnanimous.” This

word comes from the Latin roots “magnus”, meaning “great”, and “animus”, meaning

“spirit.” A magnanimous person has a good heart and a noble spirit.

Example: “The two top contenders in the decathlon were very closely matched, and when

the Italian athlete finally won by just one-tenth of a point, he made the magnanimous

gesture of inviting the second-place Spanish athlete to stand on the winner's podium with

him.”



A. Words For Moving Forward With Your Vocabulary Sit back, relax, and think about the five words you’ve just heard being used in context.

Now listen to these next five sentences and fill in the correct word in each blank:

Test Sentences

1. We’re so used to our standards of beauty being set by models and movie stars that

it’s hard to remember that physical appearance is not the only _________ by which

we should judge people.

2. Before I left for my six-month trek through the Amazon jungle, I visited my doctor

and had a _________ physical examination and a full complement of

immunizations.

3. If young children are given juices and sugary cereals, as adults they will have a

_______________ for sugary foods.

4. I don’t like riding my bicycle downtown because many car drivers aren’t ________

of the marked bicycle lanes, and veer in front of me at traffic lights.

5. She was only given three days to practice the piece before the performance, and so

joined the musicians on stage with much ____________.

Answers:

1. We’re so used to our standards of beauty being set by models and movie stars that

it’s hard to remember that physical appearance is not the only criterion by which

we should judge people.

A “criterion” is a standard or goal used when comparing or judging things. The

criterion of movie-star beauty is one that most people won’t be able to meet.

Intelligence, compassion, and loyalty are three criteria that are more important, we

think. And you’ll notice that we refer to three “criteria” and one “criterion.” Don’t mix

up the plural and singular forms of this useful noun.

2. Before I left for my six-month trek through the Amazon jungle, I visited my doctor

and had a comprehensive physical examination and a full complement of

immunizations.

Going into a jungle poses the risk of exposure to a variety of diseases, pests, and

dangers, and it’s a good idea to have your doctor make sure that you have all of


your shots and are in tip-top shape. A comprehensive medical examination will

cover everything. “Comprehensive” means being thorough, including everything.

3. If young children are given juices and sugary cereals, as adults they will have a

predilection for sugary foods.

If you’re raised on one type of food, that’s the food you’ll have a tendency to keep

eating when you’re older. A “predilection” is a tendency towards or liking for

something.

4. I don’t like riding my bicycle downtown because many car drivers aren’t cognizant

of the marked bicycle lanes, and veer in front of me at traffic lights.

It’s sometimes hard for bicyclists to hold on to the right of way. Drivers just aren’t

aware of bicyclists as they are of other cars, especially in cities where they’re not

used to seeing bicycles on the street. “Cognizant” means “aware of.”

5. She was only given three days to practice the piece before the performance, and so

joined the musicians on stage with much trepidation.

Unless you’re a very skilled and very confident performer, if you feel like you

haven’t had enough time to practice, you’ll probably be feeling somewhat scared

and nervous when it’s time to perform. “Trepidation” means fear, apprehension, or

concern.

Once you’ve learned these ultimate vocabulary words, you’ll no longer have any

trepidation about using them in context:

� cognizant

� predilection

� criterion

� comprehensive

� trepidation


B. Words For Your Vocabulary Arsenal Are you ready to add to your arsenal of powerful vocabulary words? Fill in the blanks in

the next five sentences, and practice using these ultimate vocabulary words in context:

Test Sentences

1. The mark of a world-class figure skater is the ___________ of his jumps, getting

them perfectly in time with the music during his routines.

2. The advance scout didn’t know what she might encounter in the woods, so she took

a whole _________ of tools and weapons in her pack.

3. I have a full-time job during the week, but because I enjoy spending money on

expensive food and entertainment, I need to _________ my income with a part-time

job on the weekends.

4. My father was very strict with us when we were growing up, but he had gone to a

boarding school where the rules were positively ______________.

5. I really liked the restaurant, but it was easier to _________ to his demand that we

find another spot than continue listening to his complaints about the food and the

service.

Answers:

1. The mark of a world-class figure skater is the precision of his jumps, getting them

perfectly in time with the music during his routines.

It’s fun to watch a figure skater do jumps and spins, but it’s even more amazing

when they time the jumps to the music playing for their Olympic routine. It takes a

great deal of precision to make sure they’re moving exactly on the beat. “Precision”

means exactness.

2. The advance scout didn’t know what she might encounter in the woods, so she took

a whole arsenal of tools and weapons in her pack.

If you want to be prepared for anything, you’ll have a good supply of equipment

available to you. An “arsenal” is a supply of weapons or tools. These tools could be

military gear of guns or bombs; they could be practical engineering gear like

hammers and wrenches; or they could be intangibles such as words. The children’s

rhyme “sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me” is not

entirely true – you’ve probably been hurt by things people have said in the past.

Well-chosen words can form an arsenal for offense or defense.


3. I have a full-time job during the week, but because I enjoy spending money on

expensive food and entertainment, I need to augment my income with a part-time

job on the weekends.

Even if you have a good salary coming in, you might want to earn a little more

sometimes, to have on hand for emergencies or entertainment. You’ll need to

increase the size of your bank account somehow. “Augment” means to increase in

size, make larger, or supplement.

4. My father was very strict with us when we were growing up, but he had gone to a

boarding school where the rules were positively draconian.

Whether true or not, boarding schools have a reputation as places where very strict

rules are enforced, and punishments are harsh for anyone breaking those rules.

When rules are very severe and limiting, and punishments extreme, the rules are

described as “draconian.” Synonyms of draconian are “oppressive” and “harsh.”

5. I really liked the restaurant, but it was easier to acquiesce to his demand that we

find another spot than continue listening to his complaints about the food and the

service.

He wouldn’t stop complaining, and although I disagreed, I decided I’d rather eat in

another restaurant than listen to him any longer, so I went along with his demand to

go to another venue. To “acquiesce” means to go along with something, but against

your wishes.

Using words with precision will provide you with powerful tools to add to your arsenal of

ultimate vocabulary words. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning these five new words:

� acquiesce

� precision

� arsenal

� draconian

� augment

C. Words About Teaching and Education Knowing how and when to use these ultimate vocabulary words is like money in the bank

– you’ll profit from the proper use of powerful words in context. Practice now by listening to

the next five sentences, and fill in the correct word in each:

Test Sentences:

1. The new waitress was very efficient and remembered even the most complicated

orders, but the maitre d’ had to ___________ her about being overly talkative with

the guests.


2. Many children who live in foster families need additional support and attention, and

organizations like Big Brother/Big Sister provide them with a ________ who can

spend time with them after school.

3. Eric had many misconceptions about vegetarianism, and I took some time to

_______ him on the facts about eating a healthy, meat-free diet.

4. My brother would like to find friends at school who would share his interests, but

the other students all seemed to spend their time discussing __________ topics,

and he likes to go dancing now and then.

5. The library at the university is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to do

research on British composers; it seems as if every professor who ever taught

there wrote a _____________ on their favorite musical genre.

Answers:

1. The new waitress was very efficient and remembered even the most complicated

orders, but the maitre d’ had to admonish her about being overly talkative with the

guests.

While most people enjoy a friendly conversation with their waiter, they’re at a

restaurant to eat and talk with their companions. A too-chatty waiter can interrupt

the dinner conversation, and restaurant staff are usually reprimanded if they spend

too much time trying to talk to the customers. “Admonish” means to reprimand, to

point out faults, in a gentle but serious manner.

2. Many children who live in foster families need additional support and attention, and

organizations like Big Brother/Big Sister provide them with a mentor who can

spend time with them after school.

Children need someone to look up to – someone who can share their experience

and wisdom, and help them learn how to make choices and decisions as they grow.

A “mentor” is a teacher or advisor.

3. Eric had many misconceptions about vegetarianism, and I took some time to edify

him on the facts about eating a healthy, meat-free diet.

“Edify” means to instruct someone to improve their intellectual and/or emotional

understanding of an issue.

4. My brother would like to find friends at school who would share his interests, but the

other students all seemed to spend their time discussing cerebral topics, and he

likes to go dancing now and then.

Even the most dedicated student can benefit from a little time away from the

academic world. Sometimes it’s nice to go on a hike with friends, swim in a lake, or


ride a bicycle. These physical pursuits can balance out the intellectual part of life –

and keep a person healthy and energetic besides. “Cerebral” means intellectual,

focused on the brain.

5. The library at the university is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to do

research on British composers; it seems as if every professor who ever taught there

wrote a monograph on their favorite musical genre.

A “monograph” is a long essay, very intellectual in nature, usually well-researched

and documented, about a single topic.

Learning how to use these ultimate vocabulary words in context will ensure that no-one

will need to admonish you for speaking incorrectly. Take every opportunity to practice

using these five new words:

� mentor

� monograph

� admonish

� cerebral

� edify

.

D. Words For Describing Things Relating To Groups Practice is just as important for vocabulary-building as it is for body-building. Make these

lessons a regular part of your day, not just a sporadic exercise, and you’ll soon be a

success! Start now by listening to the next five sentences, and filling in the correct ultimate

vocabulary word in its proper context:

Test Sentences:

1. In some religious faiths, when a person goes against the rules and breaks with the

church, the leaders will ___________ them and they will be cast out of the religious

community.

2. When I started work at the television station, my first job was as a sports

announcer; however, I didn’t know anything about sport, and had to teach myself all

of the _____________.

3. Immigration into the United States has changed the _________ makeup of some of

the states in the southwest, where the populations are now more than fifty percent

Hispanic.

4. When I was living in Japan, I found it very hard to get over a feeling of being

conspicuous in any crowd, especially in the rural mountain villages, where my blond

hair was ____________ among all of the dark-haired locals.


5. Older volcanoes such as Mount Vesuvius in Italy are dangerous because they are

unpredictable, and their ____________ eruptions are destructive to lives and

property.

Answers:

1. In some religious faiths, when a person goes against the rules and breaks with the

church, the leaders will ostracize them and they will be cast out of the religious

community.

While most churches these days will only ostracize a member if they have

committed a serious offence, even the threat of being shunned by their fellow

worshipers is often enough to keep people from breaking the rules. “Ostracize”

means to shun, or exclude from a group.

2. When I started work at the television station, my first job was as a sports

announcer; however, I didn’t know anything about sport, and had to teach myself all

of the terminology.

If you’re not a sports fan, some of the discussion can seem completely

incomprehensible. For example, if you’re not a cricket lover, the terms “googly” and

“LBW” won’t mean anything. They’re part of the jargon used by cricket players and

announcers. “Terminology” means jargon, a set of words or terms with a specific

meaning in a particular area or field.

3. Immigration into the United States has changed the demographic makeup of some

of the states in the southwest, where the populations are now more than fifty

percent Hispanic.

There are many ways of looking at a group of people, and one of them is by their

ethnic background. “Demographic” refers to a group of people who share a certain

common quality, whether it’s the level of their education, their views on global

climate change, or the color of their hair.

4. When I was living in Japan, I found it very hard to get over a feeling of being

conspicuous in any crowd, especially in the rural mountain villages, where my blond

hair was incongruous among all of the dark-haired locals.

One black sheep in the middle of a flock of white sheep is incongruous. The black

sheep’s wool is not the same as the wool of the rest of the flock. “Incongruous”

means not similar, not matching, or not fitting in.

5. Older volcanoes such as Mount Vesuvius in Italy are dangerous because they are

unpredictable, and their sporadic eruptions are destructive to lives and property.


“Sporadic” means unpredictable and random, not occurring frequently, which is a

good thing, when you’re talking about volcanoes.

As you increase your knowledge of these ultimate vocabulary words, you’ll find you have

the terminology to use in any situation. Practice using these five words in context:

� sporadic

� ostracize

� terminology

� incongruous

� demographic

E. Words For Talking About Music The more you practice using these powerful vocabulary words in context, the better you'll

be at knowing when to use the right word in your daily conversations. Soon you'll be a

grammatical prodigy! Start now with these five sentences, and fill in the blanks:

Test Sentences:

1. My sister worked at radio stations doing recordings for advertisements, and was in

great demand due to her pleasant and ______________ speaking voice.

2. Many cities have local ordinances that prohibit keeping roosters, because their

______________ crowing would disturb the neighbors in the early mornings.

3. Cutting, stacking, and storing enough wood to last the winter is an ___________

task, but it's the only way I'm able to live all year round at my mountain cabin.

4. Ellen knew that her niece would be a mathematics ____________ because she

learned how to add and subtract when she was only two years old.

5. The museum has moved all of their older paintings into temporary storage and is

featuring an exhibit of ___________ art, including works by Damien Hirst and

Tracey Emin.

Answers:

1. My sister worked at radio stations doing recordings for advertisements, and was in

great demand due to her pleasant and mellifluous speaking voice.

Her voice was smooth and flowing, as sweet as honey, and pleasant to listen to.

“Mellifluous” means sweet, smooth, and flowing, and is most often used to refer to

the sound of a voice or of music.


2. Many cities have local ordinances that prohibit keeping roosters, because their

strident crowing would disturb the neighbors in the early mornings.

The loud, piercing crows of a rooster have long been the traditional alarm clock for

people around the world – but it's not so popular in the middle of the town, these

days. “Strident” is an adjective that refers to noise of any sort that is harsh in tone,

loud, and unpleasant.

3. Cutting, stacking, and storing enough wood to last the winter is an arduous task,

but it's the only way I'm able to live all year round at my mountain cabin.

It takes a long time to lay in a winter's worth of wood, and the work is difficult and

uses a lot of energy. When a job is demanding and strenuous, it can be called

“arduous.” Other words that mean the same thing are “fatiguing” and “exhausting.”

4. Ellen knew that her niece would be a mathematics prodigy because she learned

how to add and subtract when she was only two years old.

A “prodigy” is a person who is very, very good at something. You'll often hear this

word used to describe a young child who is unusually talented or gifted

5. The museum has moved all of their older paintings into temporary storage and is

featuring an exhibit of contemporary art, including works by Damien Hirst and

Tracey Emin.

In this example, the word “contemporary” means “of this time period, in recent days,

modern.” The word means “of the same time period” but which time period that is

depends on who is speaking and what they're referring to.

When you started learning these powerful vocabulary words, you might have thought you

were beginning an arduous learning process, but the more you practice, the easier it will

get. Try to find ways to use these five new words in your next conversation:

� prodigy

� contemporary

� arduous

� strident

� mellifluous


F. Words For Describing Success Once you've won the battle to learn how to use all of these new vocabulary words in

context, you'll find it easier to make them a substantive part of your daily conversations.

Try using them now by putting the correct word in each of the following sentences:

Test Sentences:

1. When I asked my son who he'd like to invite to his birthday party, he showed a

______________ spirit unusual for such a young child, and asked to invite all of his

classmates, even the ones who bullied him after school.

2. Her cooking always had an _____________ flavor of the Indian subcontinent, but I

didn't understand why until she told me that she always added just a pinch of

saffron to each of her dishes.

3. During the Industrial Revolution, Britain came to ______________ in the global

production of textiles, and added to their control of the market by taking over the

import trade of cotton and silk from India and China.

4. He may be an _______ lecturer in philosophy, but I have no respect for his views

on evolution, as he has repeatedly stated that he believes life on Earth was started

by alien visitors.

5. When most people were spending long days working on the land to grow their own

food, it was important that fats and carbohydrates made up a ____________

portion of their diets, but these days, people don't expend enough energy to use the

calories they consume, and just get fatter.

Answers:

1. When I asked my son who he'd like to invite to his birthday party, he showed a

magnanimous spirit , unusual for such a young child, and asked to invite all of his

classmates, even the ones who bullied him after school.

It's often hard for children to forgive other children who are mean to them, but he

showed his generosity and tolerant nature by including all of the children in his

class, no matter how they treated him. “Magnanimous” means generous in spirit,

large-hearted.

2. Her cooking always had an ineffable flavor of the Indian subcontinent, but I didn't

understand why until she told me that she always added just a pinch of saffron to

each of her dishes.

Saffron is a very subtle seasoning when used in small amounts, and it would be

hard to pick it out as an individual spice in a dish, and though it would contribute to

the overall flavor you might not be able to say just what that flavor was. Something


that is present but impossible to describe in words is “ineffable.”

3. During the Industrial Revolution, Britain came to ascendancy in the global

production of textiles, and added to their control of the market by taking over the

import trade of cotton and silk from India and China.

“Ascendancy” means superiority or control, dominance or supremacy in a field or

area.

4. He may be an eminent lecturer in philosophy, but I have no respect for his views

on evolution, as he has repeatedly stated that he believes life on Earth was started

by alien visitors.\

Expertise in one field does not guarantee that you'll be as knowledgeable in

another. “Eminent” means being important or noteworthy, often for particular

expertise. Another word meaning eminent is “distinguished.”

5. When most people were spending long days working on the land to grow their own

food, it was important that fats and carbohydrates made up a substantive portion

of their diets, but these days, people don't expend enough energy to use the

calories they consume, and just get fatter.

These days, people in the new on-line societies spend most of their time sitting at

computers or at a desk. “Substantive” means a large portion of, or forming the

essential part of something.

With such powerful vocabulary words under your control, you'll soon be known as a

talented speaker and eminent orator. Practice these words as often as possible:

� magnanimous

� ineffable

� ascendancy

� eminent

� substantive


Lesson 6 Workbook


A. Words About Words "Words, words, words" said Shakespeare's Hamlet. In this section you'll learn five words

about words: syntax, nuance, didactic, hackneyed, and badinage.

Your words about words explained

You started this Ultimate Vocabulary course to get confidence in using words in context, or

using words at the right time “Syntax” refers to using words in the right place – that is,

where a word appears in a sentence, and the rules of language that determine how it

relates to the other words in that sentence. The syntax of a language is the set of rules

that tell you how to construct grammatically-correct sentences.

Example: “Even though Karl has been living in Australia for more than a decade, his

mistakes in English syntax have led to frequent misunderstandings with customers taking

his charter dive tours.”

Sometimes the best way to communicate is with simple, direct language that clearly states

what you want to say. On other occasions, you may want to be more subtle, and use

words that are a bit more ambiguous, letting the nuances of your phrases speak for

themselves. “Nuance” means a subtle difference in implication, or a hidden meaning, and

can refer to the use of a single word, or to the effect of the entire communication.

Example: “Many traditional forms of Japanese poetry use specific, symbolic words to

create nuances of meaning, and the reader must be aware of Japanese history and

culture in order to appreciate the full effect.”

Poetry is often a medium where writers play with words in order to create a certain mood

or feeling. In general, though, poetry is not used very often to teach or instruct – though

this was not always the case. In fact, many famous poems, including John Milton’s

“Paradise Lost,” are almost didactic in form and content, with a message of sin and

Christian redemption. “Didactic” means written or presented in a format designed to be

educational or instructional, especially in terms of moral or religious matters. Someone

with a didactic manner of speaking might be called “preachy” today.

Example: “During the Cultural Revolution in China, possession of books or newspapers

from the West was dangerous, and most people found it safest to only read the didactic

publications coming from the Central Committee, while following the strict party line.”

“Following the strict party line” – you’ve heard that phrase before, haven’t you? It’s used to

describe everything from political alliances to dress codes in offices. The phrase has

become a bit hackneyed. “Hackneyed” means overused, trite, banal; something repeated

so often that it has lost its original significance.

Example: “That comedian still gets bookings, even though his hackneyed jokes all poke

fun at politicians who haven’t been in office for years.”


Humor is an important aspect of communication, and the more confidence you have at

using words in context, the better you’ll be able to entertain people with your quick,

intelligent badinage. “Badinage” means banter, playful remarks, or repartee. It’s

conversation that isn’t meant to be taken seriously.

Example: “Playwright Noel Coward, like his predecessors George Bernard Shaw and

Oscar Wilde, was famous for his ability to write witty badinage that made his plays

immensely popular entertainment.”

B. Words Describing States of Being We use words to describe the reality of what we see and experience, and in a way we use

words to create that reality. In fact, many people believe that the universe was created by

the power of words, whether they follow the Christian God or the Aboriginal Songlines in

Australia. Learning how to use the power of words will help you shape your own reality, in

your professional and personal life. Start by learning these five words that describe states

of being: cosmos, permeate, integral, sacrosanct, consummate.

Your states of being words explained

Where better to begin than with the word that describes everything? "Cosmos" means

"everything that exists" and comes from the Greek word for "universe". You'll often hear it

used when people are referring to the physical universe - the vast stretches of interstellar

space in which we live - but it also has a more metaphysical sense, encompassing space

and time, everything imaginable and unimaginable at once.

Example: "The first astronauts to look back at Earth from space were all moved by the

wonder of our little planet's place in the endless cosmos around it."

Scientists studying the cosmos have come to the conclusion that something they call "dark

matter" must exist, because the there's not enough mass in the visible universe to account

for the way the law of gravity works. This dark matter permeates every part of the visible

universe, but is invisible itself. "Permeate" means to spread throughout something.

Example: "Once the students dropped the red dye into the clear glass of water, they could

see how molecular vibration caused the red coloring to eventually permeate the liquid from

top to bottom."

Science classes, with their opportunities for exploration and hands-on experimentation,

are an integral part of a well-rounded curriculum for young students. "Integral" means an

essential part of a larger whole, something that is necessary to achieve a desired result.

Example: "The choir director always took a few minutes to explain the background and

history of the composer before introducing a new piece of music, as he believed that

understanding the context of a piece was integral to learning how to sing it effectively."


Many Baroque composers followed set forms when creating their sonatas and

symphonies; for example, it was typical to have three movements in a piece, with the first

in a lively tempo, the second at a slow speed, and the third a rousing jig or gavotte. In fact,

some composers held this pattern to be sacrosanct, with the result that much of their

music sounds very much alike. Something that is "sacrosanct" is something that people

believe should not be altered or changed, because it's perfect the way it is. This word is

formed from two Latin words, "sacrum" and "sanctus", both meaning "sacred," and

originally applied to something protected under religious law.

Example: "While many people these days write their own wedding vows, others believe

that the traditional pledges such as 'in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer' are

sacrosanct and that couples are not truly married until they say them."

Have you ever met some one who seems just perfect - the ideal husband, the wise and

helpful teacher, the incorruptible politician? Or perhaps you're a fan of a consummate

actress, who is entirely believable in any role she plays. "Consummate" means the

absolute best, and describes someone who has completely mastered a skill, who is the

acme of perfection in that aspect or talent.

Example: "Pablo Picasso was a consummate artist, able to create detailed ink sketches

with a single unbroken flowing line."

C. Words About Strength or Power Once you learn these Ultimate Vocabulary words, you'll find that your ability to

communicate has gotten stronger. In turn, this will strengthen your control over your

interactions at work, and give you the power to direct conversations to your benefit. Here

are five words that can be used to describe strength or power: robust, prevalent,

impervious, redoubtable, titanic.

Your words about strength and power explained

Having confidence in your ability to use words correctly will make you more confident and

relaxed when you’re speaking in public. You’ll be able to shrug off any disruptions from the

audience – you’ll be impervious to any negative comments or questions. “Impervious”

means immune to or not affected by something.

Example: “Native Americans and early pioneer settlers would rub animal fat into their

leather shoes to make them impervious to water.”

There’s a saying that “history is written by the conquerors” and in the case of the many

native populations around the world, that’s particularly true. Although many of the

indigenous peoples had robust economies and cultures, they often could not stand up


against the military forces set against them. The word “robust” comes from the Latin word

for oak tree, and means strong and vigorous, sound and healthy.

Example: “Many people who invested in real estate lost money as the formerly-robust

world economy spiraled down into global recession.”

When there’s an economic crisis, analysts work to identify the factors that led to the

problem. Recent studies refute the prevalent theory that unregulated free market

capitalism is the best way to run the global economy. “Prevalent” means dominant or

most widespread, something that is strongest or superior, overcoming everything else.

Example: “As more and more people in the United States rely on television and the

internet to get their news, on-line newspapers have become prevalent, and traditional

publishing companies are going out of business.”

With so many alternative sources of information, even titanic news organizations like The

Times of London and The Wall Street Journal have had to follow the crowd and create

web sites. The word “titanic” comes from the Titans, the giant gods of Greek mythology.

Today, the word refers to something that has great power, strength, and force. You can

also use “titanic” to describe something very large in size.

Example: “The car started rolling towards the edge of the cliff, but with a titanic burst of

strength, Kit stopped the car long enough to give James an opportunity to wedge a block

beneath the wheel.”

Every day, people around the world accomplish amazing things, but it’s rare that we hear

about them, unless they happen in our own neighborhood. Occasionally, though, a

politician or athlete is brought to our attention, like the redoubtable Lance Armstrong, who

broke all world records in the Tour de France by winning seven times in a row, even after

fighting off several bouts of cancer. A person who is “redoubtable” is someone awe-

inspiring or worthy of respect. You can also use “redoubtable” to describe a person who

is formidable, powerful, and imposing in size as well as in ability.

Example: “Even after they left political office, both Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter

have shown themselves to be redoubtable champions for human rights around the world.”

D. Words Describing Things That Are Small And Hard

to See Learning one new Ultimate Vocabulary word each day might not seem like a lot, but even

a small change in the power and complexity of your speech will have an impact on those

around you. Sometimes the best way to influence people is by making changes so slowly

they don’t notice. Here are six words that you can use to describe things that are small or

hard to see: subtle, tentative, diffuse, amorphous, inchoate.


Your words relating to things that are small and hard to see explained

Children grow up quickly, and if you live with children, you probably don’t realize the small

changes they go through every day. But when you take them on their yearly visit to their

great-aunt, she’ll see a big difference between now and the way they were the year

before. From your perspective, though, the changes were so subtle that you didn’t notice

them when they were happening. The word “subtle” comes from the Latin term for “woven

in”, meaning that something is so blended in with its surroundings that it takes an effort to

bring it to the forefront. A subtle difference means one that is not obvious at first glance.

Example: “The forgery of the painting was very well done, but the experts could tell from

the subtle differences in the brushstrokes that the piece was not an original Rembrandt.”

Have you ever tried your hand at painting? Unless you have a good deal of self-

confidence or an innate genius for the art, your first efforts probably involved a lot of

tentative poking at the canvas with your brush. “Tentative” means uncertain or

experimental, trying something out. It can also mean only putting a small effort into

something, usually due to a feeling of fear.

Example: “We made a tentative attempt at creating an agenda for the conference, but it

was impossible to get a final format without knowing what the committee’s decision would

be on this year’s theme.”

Beginnings can be difficult times, especially if they involve coordinating a large number of

people. Without some sort of strong leadership, you can be left with an inchoate group of

individuals, each with their own ideas, unable to work together. “Inchoate” means

unformed, rudimentary, and without a final set of rules or order.

Example: “When the football team started practice at the beginning of the year, their

game strategy was inchoate and often counterproductive, but as they learned to work

together, they had more winning plays.”

Marching bands are a favorite entertainment at many sporting events, and the best ones

are famous for the precision of their form, with the musicians’ bodies creating detailed

images on the playing field. Unfortunately, the bands that haven’t practiced enough only

end up making amorphous blobs of color against the green turf. “Amorphous” means

without a clear form, unorganized, not clearly identifiable as something specific.

Example: “Some galaxies have a spiral patter, like our own while others are amorphous;

however, all of them are organized under the same laws of gravity and physics.”

When scientists first started looking into deep space, the prevailing theories led them to

believe that they would find an equal number of galaxies in any direction they looked.

However, they were surprised to find that instead of an evenly diffuse distribution of stars,

there were frequent large empty spaces with no stars at all, and other places where there


were more galaxies than expected. “Diffuse” means spread out more or less evenly. If

something is diffuse, it is not concentrated or heavier in only one spot.

Example: “The island of Kauai gets a lot of rain, but it’s usually a gentle diffuse

precipitation that soaks into the ground evenly, rather than a stronger localized shower.”

E. Words For Cooking Up a Conversation With all of these powerful Ultimate Vocabulary words, you'll have the ingredients you need

to create appealing and tasteful speeches that will satisfy your listeners as you fill their

ears. Cooking up a story is easier when you have a grocery list of fine and fancy words to

choose from. Try using these five words at your next dinner party: culinary, redolent,

carnivorous, replete, complement.

Your words for cooking up a conversation explained

With the recent popularity of cooking shows and celebrity chefs, applications to culinary

schools have been on the rise. “Culinary” means related to cooking, or to the kitchen.

Example: “Along with providing fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, many farmer’s markets

also offer workshops and demonstrations to help new cooks improve their culinary skills.”

We walked past a booth at last week’s market that was so redolent of sauteed garlic that

we got hungry again, even though we had just finished breakfast. “Redolent” means

having a strong odor of something – either good or bad. Some synonyms for redolent are

“aromatic” and “fragrant.”

Example: “I enjoy shopping at the Indian markets because they’re always redolent with

spices and tropical fruits.”

Because of the Hindu ban on eating beef, and the Muslim ban on eating pork, many

traditional Indian dishes are vegetarian. However, there are also many delicious

preparations of lamb or chicken, and even the most carnivorous diner can usually find the

meat he craves in an Indian restaurant. A carnivore is someone who eats meat; the word

comes from the Latin “carne”, meaning “meat.” “Carnivorous” is an adjective meaning

“meat-eating.”

Example: “I’ve been a vegetarian for over twenty years, and have learned how to cook

meals that are so tasty, even my carnivorous friends don’t miss the meat.”

The sign of a successful dinner party is a table surrounded by happy people with empty

plates, leaning back in their chairs, replete with satisfaction. “Replete” means “full of” – in

the previous sentence, the diners are full of satisfaction after a delicious meal.


Example: “Ella’s birthday party was perfect: the weather was sunny, the guests enjoyed

themselves, and the cake was delicious. She went to bed replete with happiness.”

Ella’s guests also enjoyed fine champagne, a dry rosé that complemented the fresh

strawberries served with the cake. To “complement” something means to complete it,

either by providing something that was missing, or by providing an additional element that

makes something better. In this case, then, we might imagine that the fruitiness of the

wine enhanced the flavors of the strawberries, or that the strawberries were so sweet that

the dryness of the wine provided a pleasing balance. Remember when using the word

“complement” – spelled C-O-M-P-L-*E*-M-E-N-T – that you are not thinking of the word

“compliment” – spelled C-O-M-P-L-*I*-M-E-N-T – which means saying something nice to

someone.

Example: “Sarah is pleased at the compliments she’s getting about how well her flower

arrangements complement the linens on the tables.”

F. Words To Invest In In uncertain economic times, it's difficult to know where to invest your money. You've

made a wise investment by getting these Ultimate Vocabulary words and putting them to

work for you. You'll get a return on your investment through your increased conversational

ability and your newly-minted wealth of powerful vocabulary words. Here are five more

words that you can bank on for conversational currency: parsimonious, appreciate,

philanthropy, prudent, gratuity.

Your words to invest in explained

When times are good, it’s easy to spend money on dinners out, or movies, or just that one

pair of shoes that caught your eye in the shop window. But when you need to be on a

budget, you’re better off being a bit parsimonious, and saving up funds for what you really

need. “Parsimonious” means unwilling to spend money. Someone who is parsimonious is

very frugal – some might even say “stingy.” While the word “parsimonious” can be used for

anyone who keeps a tight hold on their spending, it’s often applied to people who go a bit

too far in that direction.

Example: “I don’t enjoy going to restaurants with him; he’s so parsimonious he calculates

the bill down to the last penny, and never leaves more than a few dollars for the server.”

Instead of being parsimonious, perhaps being prudent with your money is a better choice.

“Prudent” means careful or practical; in this case, it means frugal and not extravagant.

Example: “She was left a very small inheritance from her mother, but because of her

prudent investments, she had enough to live on after retiring.”


In general, investments are a good way to plan for your financial future, as most

opportunities give at least a small return in interest, and that interest will appreciate over

time to increase your capital. “Appreciate” in this case means “an increase in value over

time” but it’s also used to mean “an awareness of value.” You’ll definitely appreciate how

fast your money will appreciate in a high-interest savings fund.

Example: “Stock and bonds can be volatile, so I decided to use my money to purchase

antiques and fine art, whose value will continue to appreciate no matter what the financial

markets are doing.”

Very wealthy people are often known for their charitable giving, and have grants and

scholarships and buildings named after them. But many people of ordinary means also

donate to causes, and this philanthropy helps support others who are in need.

“Philanthropy” means giving money to support a cause or institution, or charitable giving

in general. Technically, the word implies that the money is given in the spirit of charity or

love as well, and not just as a tax deduction – the word was coined from the Greek words

for “love” and “mankind” – but today it’s used in the more generic sense of “giving to

charity” without assigning any particular benevolent intent to the giver.

Example: “Even at eight years old, Leah seems to have a natural tendency towards

philanthropy; she always shares her sweets with her classmates.”

Certain institutions have become associated with a tradition of gift-giving as a reward for

services rendered. In many countries, it’s customary to add a gratuity to the restaurant bill,

or to hand a taxi driver an extra dollar for carrying your suitcases to the curbside. A

“gratuity” is a gift or reward for service. Depending on where you are, a gratuity might

also be called a “tip” or a “pourboire.” This last word comes from the French for “to have a

drink” and refers to the coins you leave on the table for your server, so that they might get

a pint for themselves after they’re off work.

Example: “Restaurants often add an automatic gratuity of eighteen percent for large

groups of people at one table; perhaps they think it makes it easier for their customers, but

I rather resent it when the service has been poor.”



A. Words About Words “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Learning these

Ultimate Vocabulary words will give you the confidence to take your place on stage as a

star performer. Start practicing your lines now with these six sample sentences:

Test Sentences

1. I hope that Brad doesn’t ask his friend James to give the toast at the wedding; his

speech is sure to be __________ and full of advice on how to live a good and

moral life.

2. In this writing class, you’ll learn to avoid the use of ___________ phrases like “don’t

put all your eggs in one basket” or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

3. She’s a very successful politician, in part because her speeches are so carefully

written that anyone can read _________ into her words and come away believing

she’s on their side.

4. One of the most difficult things for me to remember when learning German

________ was to always put the verb at the end of the sentence.

5. The best parties are ones where the food is good, the drink is better, and the

__________ between the guests leaves everyone entertained.

Answers:

1. I hope that Brad doesn’t ask his friend James to give the toast at the wedding; his

speech is sure to be didactic and full of advice on how to live a good and upright

life.

While it might be well-meant, using the wedding toast as an opportunity to give

moral instruction to the happy couple is usually not welcomed. “Didactic” means in

a form of a lesson, especially a lesson on morals or religion.

2. In this writing class, you’ll learn to avoid the use of hackneyed phrases like “don’t

put all your eggs in one basket” or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

“Tried and true” phrases – like “tried and true”, as a matter of fact – that are trite

and banal, are referred to as “hackneyed,” meaning they’ve been used and

overused so much they’ve lost their original force and impact.

3. She’s a very successful politician, in part because her speeches are so carefully

written that anyone can read nuances into her words and come away believing

she’s on their side.


We usually listen to a political speech and try to discover whether or not the

politician is really saying what we think we’re hearing, by trying to identify any

hidden meanings or misleading phrases. A “nuance” is an implication, or a hidden

difference, that might change the way a phrase or word can be interpreted.

4. One of the most difficult things for me to remember when learning German syntax

was to always put the verb at the end of the sentence.

If when English speaking the verb at the end you put, people will you not easily

understand! “Syntax” means the rules of placing words to form sentences for a

specific language.

5. The best parties are ones where the food is good, the drink is better, and the

badinage between the guests leaves everyone entertained.

Banter, repartee, teasing and light, witty conversation is called badinage. It’s not

meant to be taken seriously, but is still an effective way to communicate, and to

have fun at the same time.

Are you ready for your grand entrance? Will you attract people at your next party with your

clever badinage, and intrigue them with your skill at weaving nuance into your

conversation? We don’t want to be didactic, but remember that the best way to learn new

vocabulary is to practice, practice, practice! So keep practicing the use of these five new

words:

• badinage

• syntax

• didactic

• nuance

• hackneyed

B. Words Describing States of Being Set aside time every day to practice using the vocabulary words you're learning, and soon

you'll be completely confident in when and how to use them. Here are a few exercises to

get you started:

Test Sentences

1. Scott goes through three packs of cigarettes a day; the smell of smoke

___________ his clothes.

2. Learning how to judge measurements by eye is an ___________ part of the

training first-year students receive at the culinary school.


3. Annabeth is a ____________ politician, always ready to meet people, able to give a

speech at a moment's notice, and well-read in the issues that concern her

constituents.

4. In some churches, the area in front of the altar is ____________ and must be kept

clear; however, in my church, that's where we place the flower arrangements.

5. A thousand years ago, people believed that the Earth was the center of the

universe, but now we've learned that this planet is actually only a tiny speck in the

_____________.

Answers:

1. Scott goes through three packs of cigarettes a day; the smell of smoke permeates

his clothes.

Someone who smokes that many cigarettes is always surrounded by a cloud of

smoke and ash, and the smell of the smoke will be absorbed by the clothing he

wears. "Permeate" means to penetrate and become part of.

2. Learning how to judge measurements by eye is an integral part of the training first-

year students receive at the culinary school.

Professional chefs have to work quickly to create identical dishes for hungry diners,

and the ability to create identical portions is an essential skill that must be learned,

whether by training or experience. "Integral" means something essential to success

as a whole.

3. Annabeth is a consummate politician, always ready to meet people, able to give a

speech at a moment's notice, and well-read in the issues that concern her

constituents.

People have different ideas about what makes an ideal politician, but the list usually

includes such characteristics as honesty, openness, accessibility, and good

judgment. "Consummate" means the ideal, or the perfect model of something.

4. In some churches, the area in front of the altar is sacrosanct and must be kept

clear; however, in my church, that's where we place the flower arrangements.

Whether by law or tradition, some places are viewed as too sacred to use for

ordinary purposes. "Sacrosanct" means sacred or protected.

5. A thousand years ago, people believed that the Earth was the center of the

universe, but now we've learned that this planet is actually only a tiny speck in the

cosmos.


Everything from subatomic particles to galaxies light-years from end to end is part

of the universe we live in, aspects of the cosmos that surrounds us. "Cosmos"

means the universe, both the physical universe and the metaphysical concept of

"everything, everywhere."

You have infinite potential to improve your vocabulary, and the more you practice, the

more you'll find that these Ultimate Vocabulary words permeate your everyday

conversation, and that you've become a consummate speaker, with abilities that will take

you to the far reaches of the cultural cosmos. Enjoy using these five new powerful

vocabulary words:

• consummate

• sacrosanct

• integral

• permeate

• cosmos

C. Words About Strength or Power Have you ever felt passionate about a cause, but just couldn’t find the right words to

communicate your enthusiasm and convince other people to get involved? Learning these

powerful vocabulary words and gaining confidence to use them in context will help you

develop your abilities as a speaker. Here are some practice sentences to help you get

comfortable with the five new words you’ve learned in this section:

Test Sentences:

1. With her many honors and awards, and her brilliant career on television, screen and

stage, Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain’s most _________ actresses.

2. Firefighters often wear clothing that has been soaked in chemical retardant that

makes them temporarily _______________ to flames.

3. Expert surfers enjoy the big waves at Waimea Bay in Hawai’i, but only the most

daring will go out after a storm, when the waves reach truly _________ heights.

4. English has become the __________ language for business transactions around the

world, and it’s easy for native speakers to find jobs teaching English in various

countries.

5. I started using organic fertilizer and compost in my garden beds last fall, and this

spring the new plants are amazingly ________; they’re twice the size they were last

year.


Answers:

1. With her many honors and awards, and her brilliant career on television, screen

and stage, Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain’s most redoubtable actresses.

Dame Judi Dench has a commanding stage presence, and the talent and abilities

to play a variety of roles. It’s no wonder many aspiring actors look up to her as

someone to be admired and emulated. A “redoubtable” person is someone who

commands respect and awe, both for their personality and their accomplishments.

2. Firefighters often wear clothing that has been soaked in chemical retardant, making

them temporarily impervious to flames.

Retardant immediately puts out any fire that touches it, by means of a chemical

reaction. Another type of protective clothing is sold to people going into bug-

infested areas, soaked with repellent to keep away the insects. “Impervious” means

immune to or not affected by, or not letting something through.

3. Expert surfers enjoy the big waves at Waimea Bay in Hawai’i, but only the most

daring will go out after a storm, when the waves reach truly titanic heights.

The normal height of the waves at Waimea Bay is around 20 feet, but after a big

storm, the waves can be twice that height. These dangerous waves tower over the

surfers, and can push them underwater with unstoppable force. Something that is

“titanic” is of great size and power.

4. English has become the prevalent language for business transactions around the

world, and it’s easy for native speakers to find jobs teaching English in various

countries.

Once it was Latin, then it was French, and now it’s English – the language used by

people in commerce and trade when dealing with clients in other countries. It’s

hard to find a community anywhere in the world these days that doesn’t have at

least one person with a smattering of English. “Prevalent” means widespread, and

also dominant; something that is prevalent has taken over due to its greater force.

5. I started using organic fertilizer and compost in my garden beds last fall, and this

spring the new plants are amazingly robust; they’re twice the size they were last

year.

“Robust” means strong, healthy, and vigorous.


You’ve planted the seeds of an expanded vocabulary today, and careful tending will make

your verbal abilities grow even more robust. Soon you’ll be admired for your way with

words, a redoubtable conversationalist and sought-after speaker. Keep practicing these

five new Ultimate Vocabulary words:

• redoubtable

• robust

• titanic

• impervious

• prevalent

D. Words Describing Things That Are Small And Hard

To See Keep your vocabulary growing by practicing your new Ultimate Vocabulary words! Here

are some practice sentences to work on:

Test Sentences

1. To some people, clouds are just _________ blobs of white or grey, but others –

especially children – see shapes of animals and people in the sky.

2. Even though the beeswax candle is on a table in the corner, its warm honey scent

is _________, and you can enjoy it anywhere in the room.

3. Very few students know exactly what they want as a career; most young people

have only _________ plans and ideas about their future.

4. Helen is very reluctant to speak in public, and rarely puts up even a _______ hand

to volunteer to lead the meeting.

5. Mandarin is a difficult language for many people to learn, because of the many

________ variations in pitch and tone required when speaking.

Answers:

1. To some people, clouds are just amorphous blobs of white or grey, but others –

especially children – see shapes of animals and people in the sky.

“Amorphous” means without a defined shape or form, something not clearly

identifiable. It’s easy for one person to look at a cloud and see a bowl of fruit, while

the next person sees a rabbit.


2. Even though the beeswax candle is on a table in the corner, its warm honey scent

is diffuse and you can enjoy it anywhere in the room.

The fragrance of a candle will travel on air currents throughout a room, and the

odor will become evenly spread out. “Diffuse” means evenly spread out, or not

concentrated in any one spot.

3. Very few students know exactly what they want as a career; most young people

have only inchoate plans and ideas about their future.

If you’re like us, you changed your mind several times about the classes and jobs

you wanted to take, especially in the beginning. “Inchoate” means unformed, in the

beginning stages, without a final plan.

4. Helen is very reluctant to speak in public, but she occasionally raises a tentative

hand to volunteer to lead the meeting.

If you raise your hand, but you don’t particularly want to be noticed, you’ll be

hesitant and probably will be keeping your hand a little lower than usual. “Tentative”

means uncertain, or just trying something out and experimenting.

5. Mandarin is a difficult language for many people to learn, because of the many

subtle variations in pitch and tone required when speaking.

The meaning of many words in Mandarin differs depending on whether you say the

word with a rising or a falling tone. This can be hard for non-Mandarin speakers to

learn, especially if they didn’t grow up speaking a language that relies on such

subtle changes to create different meanings. “Subtle” means hard to distinguish,

taking an effort to identify.

It’s time to go forward boldly – don’t be tentative in finding opportunities to use these new

vocabulary words. Be subtle about working them into your daily conversations, and you’ll

soon notice an obvious difference in your ability as a speaker. Your five new Ultimate

Vocabulary words are:

1. amorphous

2. diffuse

3. inchoate

4. tentative

5. subtle


E. Words For Cooking Up A Conversation Are you hungry to learn more Ultimate Vocabulary words? Conversational skill, like

culinary skill, is something you need to practice to improve. Try using the five words

you’ve just learned in these practice sentences:

Test Sentences

1. My family always gets together for a big dinner on Sunday; after dinner, the men sit __________ in front of the television to watch football while the women clean the kitchen.

2. There are several unusual plants in this swamp that are _______________ - they get their food by trapping flies and other insects in a sticky nectar.

3. They make a good pair of ambassadors; her skill with language and dialects _______________ his ability to get people talking together.

4. I tried to smuggle some truffles back from France, but was caught at customs because my suitcase was ____________ with their pungent odor.

5. She subscribes to several ____________ magazines, and has a huge collection of recipes, but I rarely see her in the kitchen.

Answers:

1. My family always gets together for a big dinner on Sunday; after dinner, the men sit replete in front of the television to watch football while the women clean the kitchen.

There might be a more equitable distribution of work in some households, but in this family, the women seem to do all the work for Sunday dinner, while the men eat until they’re stuffed full and then relax. “Replete” means “full.”

2. There are several unusual plants in this swamp that are carnivorous - they get their food by trapping flies and other insects in a sticky nectar.

Most plants get nutrients from the soil, but carnivorous plants like the pitcher plant lure insects into their hollow stems, where they dissolve and are absorbed. There’s not a lot of meat on a fly, but “carnivorous” means “meat-eating.

3. They make a good pair of ambassadors; her skill with language and dialects complements his ability to get people talking together.

She is able to accurately translate negotiations, and he’s skilled at convincing people to start negotiating in the first place. Together, they make a completely effective ambassadorial team. When two things complement each other, it means that together they make a whole, and that together they’re better than either one alone.

4. I tried to smuggle some truffles back from France, but was caught at customs


because my suitcase was redolent with their pungent odor.

Truffles have a distinctive smell that’s so strong it will seep through most packaging to permeate everything around them. “Redolent” means having a strong odor.

5. She subscribes to several culinary magazines, and has a huge collection of recipes, but I rarely see her in the kitchen.

“Culinary” refers to the kitchen, or cooking in general.

Are you replete with knowledge now? Think about these five new Ultimate Vocabulary words the next time you’re in the kitchen practicing your culinary skills. Perhaps the air will be redolent with the savory smells of a roasting chicken – or if you’re not carnivorous, maybe you’ll be chopping up vegetables for a tasty stew. And you’ll be able to flavor your conversation with these five words:

� culinary

� redolent

� carnivorous

� replete

� complement

F. Words To Invest In Work steadily on your vocabulary skills, and you’ll profit from your new knowledge in a

very short time. Get started now with these practice sentences; fill in the most appropriate

word in each blank:

Test Sentences:

1. Don’t bother asking Mr. Overton for any contributions for the clothing drive; he’s so

_______________ that he wears his shirts until they’re nothing but rags.

2. I was so pleased by the bartender’s attentive service, that I left him five dollars as a

______________, even though I’d only had two drinks.

3. It’s too bad that we don’t teach children how to manage their money more carefully;

if they learned how to be _________ at a young age, it would become a habit that

would help them later in life.

4. George plans on switching banks, because this one promises an interest rate of six

percent, and he wants his initial investment to ___________ as quickly as possible.

5. Bill and Melinda Gates contribute money to support the fight against infectious

diseases around the world, and are often praised for their ______________.


Answers:

1. Don’t bother asking Mr. Overton for any contributions for the clothing drive; he’s so

parsimonious that he wears his shirts until they’re nothing but rags.

Someone who is determined to get every last bit of value out of what he owns, and

won’t share with those who have even less, is probably a very stingy person.

“Parsimonious” means excessively frugal, stingy, and very unwilling to spend any

money.

2. I was so pleased by the bartender’s attentive service, that I left him five dollars as a

gratuity, even though I’d only had two drinks.

When you receive excellent service, it’s often appropriate to show your appreciation

by leaving your server a bit of extra money. A “gratuity” is a reward for good service,

also known as a tip or pourboire.

3. It’s too bad that we don’t teach children how to manage their money more carefully;

if they learned how to be prudent at a young age, it would become a habit that

would help them later in life.

Teaching children to put aside a percentage of their money every month will help

them develop into adults who know how to manage their money. “Prudent” means

frugal or careful, and refers to someone who does not spend extravagantly.

4. George plans on switching banks, because this one promises an interest rate of six

percent, and he wants his initial investment to appreciate as quickly as possible.

When something appreciates, it means it gains in value. In a bank, an investment

appreciates by the accumulation of interest.

5. Bill and Melinda Gates contribute money to support the fight against infectious

diseases around the world, and are often praised for their philanthropy.

The Gates Foundation was set up to channel money into efforts to combat AIDS

and eliminate polio, which are two projects that both of the Gates feel very strongly

about. “Philanthropy” means charitable giving, with the goal of bringing benefits to

others.

We hope you feel that you’ve benefited by learning these five new Ultimate Vocabulary

words. We’re sure you’ll find opportunities to use them wisely. Your five new words are:

� parsimonious

� gratuity

� philanthropy

� appreciate

� prudent


Lesson 7 Workbook


A. Words For Describing Change Change is in the air! You’re improving your vocabulary skills and learning how to use

these powerful Ultimate Vocabulary words in context, which will lead to a change in your

abilities as a conversationalist and public speaker. In this section, we’ll speak about five

words that describe change: transmute, protean, malleable, dynamic, metamorphosis.

Your words for describing change explained

As you grow in confidence about using these vocabulary words in context, and start using

them on a daily basis, your ordinary conversations will be transmuted into highly effective

communication, where every word expresses the exact nuances of your thoughts.

“Transmute” is a verb meaning to alter, change or convert something. This change can be

to the form or substance of an object or, on a metaphysical level, to a basic characteristic.

A synonym for “transmute” is “transform.”

Example: “The tropical fruit called ackee is poisonous when raw, but boiling the fruit will

transmute the toxic substances into harmless compounds, and you can enjoy the ackee

cooked with eggs and peppers in a traditional Jamaican dish.”

A transmutation is a change that might not be apparent on the surface. By contrast, a

metamorphosis is a complete change in form or substance. Depending on the

circumstances, possible synonyms for “metamorphosis” include “reinvention” and

“rebirth.”

Example: “Children are always amazed at the process of metamorphosis that changes a

lumpy leaf-chewing caterpillar into a delicate, nectar-sipping butterfly.”

An octopus can squeeze its boneless body through a long narrow tube, or compact itself

into a shallow underwater cave. This ability to take on different forms or characteristics is

described by the word “protean,” meaning “extremely variable.” The word comes from the

name of the oldest sea god in Greek mythology, Proteus.

Example: “The protean skin coloration of animals like the chameleon and the reef squid

allows them to blend in almost invisibly with their surroundings.”

The reef squid actually uses rapid changes in skin color to communicate with other squid.

Divers who come across these animals are amazed at the bright, dynamic colors and

patterns on their skin. “Dynamic” means constantly changing or moving. A synonym for

dynamic is “active”; the opposite of dynamic is “static.”

Example: “Now that graphics designers can include animation and movies, web pages

have gotten to be much more dynamic.”

Creative people can express themselves in a variety of ways: in pencil drawings or oil

paintings, in marble sculptures or in the more malleable medium of clay. “Malleable”

means flexible or easily shaped, something that can be changed without breaking. You


can also use this word to describe an intangible characteristic, such as someone’s

personality.

Example: “Sarah got into a lot of trouble when she was a child; she was so malleable that

she’d do anything her schoolmates told her to, even if it was against the rules.”

B. Words For Discussing Technical Innovation Remember when “spam” referred to a canned luncheon meat, and not to unwanted e-mail

messages? Many words have been adopted to describe things associated with computers

and other technology. Here are five Ultimate Vocabulary words you might use when

discussing the latest innovations: binary, decode, cryptic, anthropomorphic,

superannuated.

Your vocabulary for discussing technical innovation explained

Computers are fantastically complicated machines that perform amazingly difficult tasks in

the blink of an eye, but the basic principle underneath all computer functions is surprisingly

simple: it’s nothing more than a switch between “on” and “off”, “yes” and “no.” This binary

switch is at the heart of all calculations. “Binary” means something that is separated into

two parts that are both of equal importance, but are mutually exclusive. The so-called

“binary language” is called that because its “letters” are only the number one and the

number zero, nothing more, in increasingly complex combinations.

Example: “The physics professor explained the concepts of absolutes and degrees by

comparing two types of lighting fixtures: the first one had a binary switch that turned the

light off or on, and the other had a dimmer switch that would allow the light to slowly

brighten.”

Complicated concepts in physics are often easier to understand if you can see a

demonstration using everyday objects and ideas. The best professors use a variety of

methods to help their students decode the information in their textbooks. To “decode”

something is to make it clear and easy to understand; this verb can be either transitive or

intransitive. In the intransitive sense, “decode” means “to figure something out.”

Example: “When I was working at the embassy, we received daily communications from

agents in the city, and my job was to decode the messages before passing them on to the

diplomats.”

Everyone knows the best secret agents always make sure to keep their messages as

cryptic as possible, in case they’re intercepted by the enemy. Something that is “cryptic”

is obscure or otherwise hard to understand. A cryptic communication has a hidden

meaning, and may be written in secret code.


Example: “My nephew likes the fortune-telling machine at the county fair; he’ll spend

hours dropping coins in the slot, watching the hand of the colorfully-dressed robot move

back and forth, and collecting the cryptic messages printed out.”

A small child might actually believe that a turbaned dummy inside the glass box of a

fortune-telling machine is a real person, talking to them directly. When something is

shaped like a person, it’s easy to pretend that they’re human. But we also treat machines

that look nothing like humans as if they could understand us – how many times have you

yelled at your computer today? Perhaps, as humans, the only way we know how to

communicate with something is to give it anthropomorphic characteristics first.

“Anthropomorphic” is an adjective meaning having the attributes of a human, but not

being human. These attributes can be physical, emotional, or both.

Example: “Many cultures placed figureheads at the front of their ships, whether simple

painted eyes on either side of the bow or a carved statue of a woman, in the

anthropomorphic belief that this would help the ships navigate through any hazards.”

Figureheads aren’t part of modern ship design, and most people would look on them as

superannuated, even for merely decorative purposes. “Superannuated” means old-

fashioned or archaic, something that is outdated and obsolete.

Example: “We were listening to an old radio play last night, and my niece asked what the

funny clicking noise was when one of the characters made a telephone call; it seems

rotary phones are completely superannuated, and no one under thirty even knows what

they used to sound like.”

C. Words For Describing Relationships It's all coming together now - you're getting more confidence in using these powerful vocabulary

words in context. Making these Ultimate Vocabulary words a seamless part of your conversations

will improve your ability to communicate and create productive relationships with others, both at

work and in everyday interactions. Here are five more Ultimate Vocabulary words to work on, all of

which can be used to describe relationships: alloy, symbiosis, reconcile, collusion, inundate.

Your words describing relationships explained

The better your communication skills, the easier it will be to work with people in mutually-beneficial

relationships. You'll be able to form partnerships that help you reach your goals, even as your

efforts help others. Such a symbiosis is the basis for healthy and productive interactions on both

personal and professional levels. "Symbiosis" is a noun meaning "a mutually-beneficial

relationship." "Symbiotic" is the adjective that can describe such a relationship.

Example: "The brightly-colored clownfish lives in symbiosis with sea anemones; the clownfish is

immune to the anemone's poison and hides within its tentacles, and in return the fish keeps the

anemone free of waste matter and decay."


Often two things together are stronger and more effective than either thing taken separately. A

good example is bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Both copper and tin are malleable and easily

bent, but bronze, even though it is a combination of the two, is stronger than both. An "alloy" is a

metal that is made up of two or more metallic substances that have been combined.

Example: "Rose gold is an alloy of copper and gold that is found in several places in the Middle

East and eastern Europe; the copper gives the metal a lovely reddish hue that makes it a popular

choice for rings and other jewelry."

Many people invest in gold in order to keep money out of more volatile markets such as stocks.

Because of the fixed amount of gold in existence, the value of gold is relatively stable - there is no

way for more gold to suddenly inundate the market, lowering its value. "Inundate" means to

overwhelm or deluge with something. A synonym for inundate is "flood."

Example: "The unemployment rate is so high in this town that every time our company advertises

a job opening, our resources department is inundated with applications."

When there are more people looking for work than there are jobs available, the advantage is with

the employers, who don't have to woo prospective employees with good benefits or competitive

salaries. In these situations, people sometimes accuse corporations of being in collusion with the

government to keep the unemployment rate artificially high. "Collusion" means coming together

for a secret purpose. Another word for "collusion" is "conspiracy."

Example: "The company newsletter ran several articles praising the proposed health benefits

plan, but we found out later that our CEO was in collusion with the head of the insurance

organization to cut services to most employees under the new plan."

Most insurance companies try to maximise their profit, but people covered under their policies

want to maximise their benefits. Corporate health plan administrators do their best to reconcile the

two viewpoints to create plans that provide good coverage for the least amount of money.

"Reconcile" means to create a good relationship between two things, to bring them together, or to

make them equal or even.

Example: "Although Howard had not spoken to his family for over ten years, when he married, his

wife convinced him to reconcile with his sister and brother, and they have even started taking

vacations together."

D. Words Containing “X” “X” marks the spot in this session – all of the words you’ll be learning have an “x” in them:

quixotic, prolix, maxim, axiom, noxious

Your words containing “X” explained

You’re well on your way to mastering all of the Ultimate Vocabulary words we want to

share with you, not just the ones spelled with an “x”. If your goal was to learn all of the

words in the English language that have an “x” in them, your friends might think that was


impractical, but somewhat quirky and charming, and would probably encourage you to

take on the project, even though it would be quite a task. They might even describe you as

“quixotic.” This word comes from the title character in the Spanish author Cervantes’ work

“Don Quixote.” [nb pronunciation: “quixotic” = kwix AH tick, “Quixote” = key HO tay]. Like

the Don, “quixotic” means someone who impulsively performs noble and romantic, but

impractical, acts. The expression “tilting at windmills” also comes from this literary work,

and has much the same meaning: setting yourself up against imaginary enemies, where

the enemies are much larger or more powerful than you are.

Example: “Moved by a quixotic desire to make sure everyone receives flowers on

Valentine’s Day, Ben decided to give a red rose to every person he meets on February

14th each year.”

The discussion of the word “quixotic” used quite a few words, and perhaps we could have

found a way to define it more concisely. Instead, we came up with a rather prolix

explanation. “Prolix” means wordy or verbose. It can mean using too many words, or that

the words you’re using are overly obscure themselves, or both.

Example: “Prolix dissertations increase both obfuscation and ennui; or to put it more

simply, overly-long speeches are often confusing and boring.”

As Cicero said, “Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an

orator.” A modern version of this maxim is “Keep it short and simple.” A maxim is a saying

about a general rule of life. Two synonyms for “maxim” are “proverb” and “aphorism.”

Example: “Jake was trying his best to get me to invest in his banking scheme before the

rates went up, citing the old maxim ‘he who hesitates is lost’, but I didn’t trust his

calculations, and decided to keep my money in mutual funds.”

The maxim “he who hesitates is lost” means that sometimes if you wait too long to take

action, you’ll lose the opportunity to take action altogether. On the other hand, if you’re

hesitating before jumping off a cliff, that might not be a bad thing. This proves maxims

aren’t always true. By contrast, an “axiom” is something that is accepted as true because

it has been proved constantly true in the past, or because it’s so obvious it doesn’t need to

be proved again. The word is used most often when speaking of mathematics or logic.

Example: “The science of mathematics is based on axioms that form the foundation for

further theories; for example, it is accepted as fact that only one straight line can be drawn

between any two points.”

Testing theories in mathematics usually just involves a pencil and paper, unlike chemistry

experiments, which can sometimes result in loud explosions and noxious odors when the

wrong substances are combined. “Noxious” is an adjective meaning “unpleasant”. It’s


most often used to refer to an odor. Something that is noxious is quite often toxic as well –

and there’s an extra x-word for you!

Example: “We were cleaning out the drawers in his desk and accidentally opened an old

carton of leftover food – the entire office was filled with the noxious odor of spoiled meat

for days.”

E. Words Starting With “V” For You To Conquer Julius Caesar said it first: "Veni, vidi, vici" - I came, I saw, I conquered. Here are five more

Ultimate Vocabulary words for you to conquer: venue, vocation, vehement, vapid, and

viable. V for victory!

Your words starting with “v” explained

One can just imagine Caesar at the head of his armies, planting the standard of the

Roman Eagles firmly in the ground, shouting those words out across the conquered lands.

His vehement statement would have made as much of an impression as his forceful

actions. “Vehement” means being forceful, passionate, or intense when speaking,

especially when speaking about something you have strong feelings about.

Example: “During the meeting of the local council, Mark interrupted a presentation on

proposed budget cuts with a vehement defense of spending increases for public

transportation.”

Sounds like that Council Meeting was more interesting than some we’ve been to, where

hours go by filled with vapid speeches on irrelevant issues. “Vapid” can refer either to the

speech itself, or the person making it, and means dull, lifeless, and bland, without anything

of real meaning or interest to the audience.

Example: “I don’t understand why her books are so popular; to me, they’re nothing but

vapid recitals of her memories of what seemed to be a completely unremarkable

childhood.”

Some people are talented writers, while others find it hard to create compelling narratives.

Even if writing is your vocation, it’s something that takes a lot of work to do well, as in any

other endeavor. A “vocation” is a job or occupation that you have chosen to work in

because you feel called to do it, and that you are good at doing it.

Example: “She is an excellent doctor, and her family always knew her vocation was

medicine, since she spent much of her free time as a child helping to take care of the sick

animals on the farm, and visiting the elderly at the local rest home.”


Medical School is often quite expensive. Many children may want to be doctors when they

grow up, but depending on their family’s financial situation, getting the education they

need may not be a viable option. “Viable” means “able to be done” or “possible”.

Example: “We received many suggestions from our employees about ways to improve

the workflow, but while most of the ideas were good, only a few were practical enough to

be viable choices to present to the Board at next year’s Business Planning Meeting.”

Many business meetings are held at hotels or convention centers, or other venues where

there is on-site catering and large conference rooms already set up with tables and chairs.

A “venue” is a place where events occur.

Example: “Now that the new theatre building is completed, it’s quickly becoming the

preferred venue for performances of all types, due to the quality and versatility of its stage

and seating arrangements.”

F. Words Describing Dreams And Visions These Ultimate Vocabulary words will help you achieve your dreams by providing you with

the tools to create exceptional written and oral communication at work and home. Here

are five words that describe dreams and visions: nostalgia, idyllic, renaissance, visionary,

paragon.

Your words describing dreams and visions explained

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all knew exactly the right words to use in every situation?

There would be no misunderstanding, no disagreement, no argument over meaning ...

well, maybe not. Even knowing exactly what someone means doesn’t mean you’ll agree

with it! Perhaps it wouldn’t be such an idyllic situation after all. “Idyllic” means peaceful,

happy, and perfect. People often use this word to describe imaginary states, the way they

wish things were.

Example: “It’s easy to dream of an idyllic society where no one is hungry or sick, but it’s

harder to do the real work of providing food, shelter, and medical care for people in need.”

You might hear your parents reminisce about growing up in the middle of communities that

did take care of each other, where you knew that if your garden was destroyed by rabbits,

your neighbors would be there soon after with new plants to help you get started again. A

longing for things to be the way they were in the past is called “nostalgia”.

Example: “In these days of instant messaging and cell phones, I find I’m prone to a bit of

nostalgia for the written letters and postcards we used to send instead.”

While many people, especially younger ones, have gotten used to using computers and

other electronic means of communication, there has been somewhat of a renaissance of


letter-writing, and sales of fine paper and fountain pens have been on the rise.

“Renaissance” is a word from the French meaning “rebirth” or “revival”.

Example: “The Italian Renaissance of the 14th century was a time in which art,

philosophy, and literature blossomed, bringing the cultural life of Europe back after the

devastation of the Black Death.”

One of the pre-eminent artists and thinkers of the Italian Renaissance was Leonardo Da

Vinci, who was talented in a number of fields, including art, mathematics, and music. In

addition, he was a visionary engineer, sketching ideas for helicopters, hydraulic pumps,

and hang gliders, most of which would not actually be built for centuries. “Visionary”

means someone who sees the possibilities of the future.

Example: “The microcomputer revolution began with a few visionary thinkers who

realized that small portable devices would eventually be more useful to everyday citizens

than the large data processing machines required by business.”

Many people refer to Da Vinci as a paragon of the so-called “Renaissance Man” –

someone who is equally adept at a variety of fields, who continually questions and

explores the world around him, who is both creative and scientific. “Paragon” is a noun

meaning the best, or the ideal, of something.

Example: “Helen always has snacks and drinks ready for visitors, and is adept at making

sure that everyone in her house is comfortable – she is the very paragon of hospitality.”



A. Words For Describing Change

Test Sentences

Here are five practice sentences; fill in the correct word in each:

1. Franklin spends his weekdays dressed conservatively in a dark suit and tie, but on

Saturday nights he makes a remarkable ______________ into a flamboyant

karaoke singer in a sequined Elvis costume.

2. Believing that metals could be changed from one type to another, alchemists in the

middle ages spent years trying to ________________ lead into gold.

3. She is an amazing actress; her one-woman show shows off her ____________

ability to portray a wide range of characters.

4. The children in my art class enjoy working with clay and other ____________

materials, and have created some remarkable and imaginative sculptures.

5. John has such a _____________ personality - he's always in motion, talking about

a dozen things at once.

Answers:

1. Franklin spends his weekdays at the office dressed conservatively in a dark suit

and tie, but on Saturday nights he makes a remarkable metamorphosis into a

flamboyant karaoke singer in a sequined Elvis costume.

Franklin's clients are so used to seeing him as a quiet and conservative figure that

they might not recognize him at the karaoke bar in his silver jumpsuit. When

something has changed so radically, it can be referred to as a metamorphosis, or a

complete change in shape, form, or nature.

2. Believing that metals could be changed from one type to another, alchemists in the

middle ages spent years trying to transmute lead into gold.

If it were possible to change lead into gold, it would have to happen at the

molecular level, and would not be immediately apparent. To transmute something

means to make a change in substance, but not necessarily one that is evident on

the surface.

3. She is an amazing actress; her one-woman show shows off her protean talent to

portray a wide range of characters.


"Protean" means the ability to take many different forms; in this example, the

actress might use her body language as well as her voice to play the part of a nun

or a homeless woman, the president of a corporation or an alien from outer space.

4. The children in my art class enjoy working with clay and other malleable materials,

and have created some remarkable and imaginative sculptures.

Once clay is at the right consistency, it's very flexible and can be used to make

sculptures as well as plates, bowls, and other objects. "Malleable" means easy to

shape.

5. John has such a dynamic personality - he's always in motion, talking about a

dozen things at once.

Something that is constantly moving and changing is "dynamic". The opposite of

"dynamic" is "static."

Now that you've learned these Ultimate Vocabulary words, you'll find that your

conversations will undergo a metamorphosis. Instead of using the same words over and

over again, you'll be able to choose exactly the right words to convey the subtle meanings

you intend. Your conversation will be dynamic and never boring, and you'll be admired for

your protean ability to shape your conversational style to any audience and every

circumstance. But you'll only get this absolute confidence in using these words in context

by practicing them until they're completely familiar to you. Start using these five powerful

new words today:

1. protean

2. malleable

3. dynamic

4. metamorphosis

5. transmute

B. Words For Describing Technical Innovation No frogs were harmed in the making of this vocabulary training session! Here are some

practice sentences so you can experiment with your new words:

Test Sentences:

1. The base-ten numbering system we use for everyday purposes has ten digits from

zero to nine, but the ______ numbering system only has two: zero and one.


2. Alan is very reluctant to purchase new stereo equipment; he’s still using a

____________ cassette player to record his songs, even though all the other band

members do their recording on line.

3. Many messages sent to Allied forces during World War II were written using the

Navajo Indian language, which proved to be almost impossible to _________ even if

intercepted.

4. Sheila thinks that the new philosophy teacher is extremely wise, but I think he’s just

filling his lectures full of _________ references in order to sound more learned.

5. I know it’s an ____________ attitude, but when I come home and my cat seems so

happy to see me, I think it’s because she loves me, and not because she just wants

to be fed.

Answers:

1. The base-ten numbering system we use for everyday purposes has ten digits from

zero to nine, but the binary numbering system only has two: zero and one.

Combining the two digits in various ways produces the same numbers; they’re just

harder to read unless you know the language. For example, “10” in binary is actually

the number “2”. Both of these digits are essential for the system to work. “Binary”

means having two parts.

2. Alan is very reluctant to purchase new stereo equipment; he’s still using a

superannuated cassette player to record his songs, even though all the other band

members do their recording on line.

Cassettes were replaced with CDs, and now everything’s digital. Using tape to make

recordings is an old-fashioned method. “Superannuated” means old-fashioned,

outdated, or obsolete.

3. Many messages sent to Allied forces during World War II were written using the

Navajo Indian language, which proved to be almost impossible to decode even if

intercepted.

The Navajo language is unlike any other language on earth, which makes it a very

good language to use for secret messages – if you can’t speak Navajo, you would

have no idea how to decode the message. “Decode” means “to make clear or

understandable.”

4. Sheila thinks that the new philosophy teacher is extremely wise, because she

doesn’t understand half of what he says, but I think he’s just filling his lectures full of

cryptic references in order to sound more intelligent.

If people don’t understand what you’re talking about, perhaps they don’t have the

knowledge or background you do. Or perhaps it’s because you’re really not making

any sense. “Cryptic” means hard to understand.


5. I know it’s an anthropomorphic attitude, but when I come home and my cat seems

so happy to see me, I think it’s because she loves me, and not because she just

wants to be fed.

It’s tempting to think that our pets feel the same way about us that we do them, but

until animals are able to talk back to us, we’ll never know. Assigning human

emotions, human thoughts, or human shapes to animals, machines, or other non-

human entities is called “anthropomorphizing” – the adjective describing this is

“anthropomorphic.”

The more words you know, the more you’ll understand, and formerly-cryptic texts and

conversations will become clear. Practice your new vocabulary words every day, and

you’ll quickly gain confidence in using them in context. Your five new Ultimate Vocabulary

words are:

• anthropomorphic

• cryptic

• decode

• binary

• superannuated

C. Words For Describing Relationships Don't take any time off yet - here are five practice sentences using the words you've just learned. Put the correct word in each sentence:

Test Sentences

1. Steel is an ____________ of iron and carbon that is both harder and more durable than iron alone, although it is more brittle as well.

2. Several species of ants live only on particular types of trees, which they protect by chasing off other insects; in return, the trees contribute to the ____________ by producing sweet sap to feed the ants.

3. I saw my uncle for the first time in thirty years, and he has become a very bitter and angry old man - it was hard for me to ____________ my image of him now with the memories I have of him when he was young and happy.

4. Antitrust legislation needs to be put in place to prevent multinational corporations from working in ______________ to fix the price of their products on the market.

5. We hope that the local government fixes the cracks in the levees, because if they break during the next big storm, the river will ___________ most of the downtown area.


Answers:

1. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that is both harder and more durable than iron alone, although it is more brittle as well. People have been combining metals for thousands of years, trying to find the best mixes for their purposes. An “alloy” is a mix of two or more metals.

2. Several species of ants live only on particular types of trees, which they protect by chasing off other insects; in return, the trees contribute to the symbiosis by producing sweet sap to feed the ants.

The tree and the ants have a mutually beneficial relationship, with the tree gaining

protection from harmful insects, and the ants receiving food and shelter. "Symbiosis"

means a relationship where both parties benefit. The relationship can be between two

members of the same group, or between two entirely different species.

3. I saw my uncle for the first time in thirty years, and he has become a very bitter and angry old man - it was hard for me to reconcile my image of him now with the memories I have of him when he was young and happy.

It can be difficult to bring two opposing things into balance. To reconcile things means to

bring a balance between them, to create a relationship between them, or to make them

even or equal.

4. Antitrust legislation needs to be put in place to prevent multinational corporations from working in collusion to fix the price of their products on the market.

A secret, behind-the-scenes agreement is often a conspiracy to create a situation that is

beneficial for some parties but not others. Another word for conspiracy is "collusion."

5. We hope that the local government fixes the cracks in the levees, because if they break during the next big storm, the river will inundate most of the downtown area.

The waters from a breached levee or dam would create a sudden flood that would

overwhelm the nearby areas. "Inundate" means to flood or overwhelm with something.

Are you feeling inundated by all of these new words? Don't worry! Keep practicing, and soon you'll be confidently using these vocabulary words in their correct context:

• alloy

• symbiosis

• reconcile

• collusion

• inundate

D. Words Containing “X” Small efforts do add up over time to make a large impact. Keep working on using these

Ultimate Vocabulary words in context, and you’ll soon see a definite change in your

conversational abilities. Here are five sentences to help you practice using your new

vocabulary words:


Test Sentences:

1. My brother said that after he had worked at the recycling center for a few months, he

stopped noticing the ____________ smells coming from the compost pit.

2. When I started learning algebra, I was confused even by the simple ______ that A +

B = B + A.

3. Her __________ desire to save all of the feral cats in town has drained her bank

account and left her with a houseful of sick pets that no one else wants to care for.

4. We were disappointed to see that Bishop Green had been chosen to give the

opening speech, because we don’t enjoy his ___________ sermons that go into

detail on the history of Hebrew tradition and teachings.

5. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is a _______ that

our world leaders should keep in mind.

Answers:

1. My brother said that after he had worked at the recycling center for a few months, he

stopped noticing the noxious smells coming from the compost pit.

It’s true that people can get used to anything, and if you are exposed to a strong odor

for a long period of time, you’ll find it much less noticeable than you did at the

beginning. A “noxious” odor is one that is strong and unpleasant; “noxious” can apply

to anything that is unpleasant and possibly dangerous.

2. When I started learning algebra, I was confused even by the simple axiom that A + B

= B + A.

An axiom is a statement, often of a logical nature, that is so fundamental that it does

not need to be proven before being used in further theory or speculation.

3. Her quixotic desire to save all of the feral cats in town has drained her bank account

and left her with a houseful of sick pets that no one else wants to care for.

One person, even with a huge amount of money and time, would find it hard to save

all of the abandoned animals in a town, but the wish to do so is admirable, if

impractical. “Quixotic” means having an urge to do heroic deeds, often romantically

inspired, that are impractical or far beyond one’s capabilities.

4. We were disappointed to see that Bishop Green had been chosen to give the

opening speech, because we don’t enjoy his prolix sermons that go into detail on the

history of Hebrew tradition and teachings.

Speeches that go on and on, using overly-complicated vocabulary or arcane

references to ancient texts that few people are familiar with, are usually very boring.

“Prolix” refers to something that is wordy and much too long.


5. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is a maxim that

our world leaders should keep in mind.

The old sayings are often true. A saying that is a general statement of a basic truth of

the way things are is called a maxim. A synonym for maxim is “proverb”.

When you started this course, you might have felt that it was project beyond your

capabilities, a quixotic quest to improve your vocabulary to unimagined heights. But we

disagree – by working hard and practicing daily, you’ll achieve your goal sooner than you

think. Remember this maxim: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” Venture out and start

using these five new Ultimate Vocabulary words:

• quixotic

• prolix

• maxim

• noxious

• axiom

E. Words Starting With “V” For You To Conquer Happy memories, current activities, and future plans – you need powerful vocabulary

words to be able to describe them in rich and compelling detail, so that you don’t bore your

listeners with vapid stories they’ll soon forget. Keep building your verbal strength by

practicing with your five new words:

Test Sentences:

1. My friend Dana knew from an early age that she wanted to be an architect, and she now has a successful career in her chosen ___________________.

2. The School Board wanted to bring in money by allowing advertisements on school property, but the parents were _______________ in their opposition to that plan, and protested loudly.

3. Unless he learns to speak Spanish fluently, moving to Madrid to find work as a lawyer is not really a ______________ plan.

4. No, I won’t go to the monthly Luncheon with you; last time I went, they didn’t have a vegetarian option on the menu, and besides I was bored to tears by the ___________ conversation.

5. Because of its central location, the city park is a popular ___________ for outdoor performances and weekend markets.


Answers:

1. My friend Dana knew from an early age that she wanted to be an architect, and she now has a successful career in her chosen vocation.

A career that you are attracted to, that you enjoy, and that you are good at, is your vocation. This word is often used to refer to a religious calling, for those who become priests or nuns, but can apply to any chosen career, whether paid or unpaid.

2. The school board wanted to bring in money by allowing advertisements on school property, but the parents were vehement in their opposition to that plan, and protested loudly. Many parents feel that their children are already exposed to too much commercial advertisement on television, and see the school buildings as places where the children should focus on learning. In this example, the parents spoke out loudly and strongly against the possibility of advertisements in the school. “Vehement” means forceful and impassioned, as in a speech, where the speaker is expressing his or her strong feelings on an issue.

3. Unless he learns to speak Spanish fluently, moving to Madrid to find work as a lawyer is not really a viable plan.

While it’s possible to get a job in country where you don’t speak the language, those jobs are usually in the service sector. Only fluency in the local language will make getting a professional job possible. When something is possible, or able to come about, it is viable.

4. No, I won’t go to the monthly luncheon with you; last time I went, they didn’t have a vegetarian option on the menu, and besides I was bored to tears by the vapid conversation. “Vapid” means dull, or without interest to the Listener.

5. Because of its central location, the city park is a popular venue for outdoor performances and weekend markets. A venue is a place where events happen, usually referring to a specific location, but sometimes defined by the event itself. In other words, a concert hall is a venue for musical productions, but you might also refer to the street in front of a parliament building as a venue for protestors – it’s not that the street was designed for protests, just that it’s where many protests are held.

Learning how to use these Ultimate Vocabulary words in context will make viable your

plans for future success in your personal and professional life. You may even discover that

you have a vocation to be a writer or lecturer! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning these five

words:

6. venue 7. viable 8. vehement 9. vocation 10. vapid


F. Words Describing Dreams and Visions Let these powerful new vocabulary words bring new life to your conversations. Get started

now, and practice using these five new words in context in each of the following

sentences:

Test Sentences:

1. The author Isaac Asimov is widely regarded as a _____________, writing about

social and scientific issues decades before they became reality.

2. Even as the price of fuel rises, some people feel such ______________ for the cars

of their teenage years that they keep driving them, inefficient as they are.

3. She knows exactly how to phrase things to explain the systems she works on; her

report is a ____________ of clarity and simplicity.

4. Jack says he’d find living on a remote island ____________, but I’d go mad if I didn’t

have an internet connection!

5. There’s a ________________ in handcrafted items lately, and shops selling knitting

needles and yarn are popping up everywhere.

Answers:

1. The author Isaac Asimov is widely regarded as a visionary, writing about social and

scientific issues decades before they became reality.

A hundred years before we landed on the moon, rocket trips into space were already

part of the science fiction landscape. It’s amazing sometimes to see how many of

the things those writers dreamed are now reality. A visionary is someone who

dreams about the way things could be in the future.

2. Even as the price of fuel rises, some people feel such nostalgia for the cars of their

teenage years that they keep driving them, inefficient as they are.

Looking back at one’s childhood with longing, and wanting to have the things you had

then, is called “nostalgia”. In general, it means thinking with fondness about the past,

even if the past wasn’t really as nice as you’d like to remember it.

3. She knows exactly how to phrase things to explain the systems she works on; her

report is a paragon of clarity and simplicity.

A “paragon” is an ideal, or a perfect example of something.

4. Jack says he’d find living on a remote island idyllic, but I’d go mad if I didn’t have an internet connection.


Every person has their own idea of their perfect world. “Idyllic” means peaceful,

happy, and perfect, and is often used to describe how and where someone would like

to live.

5. There’s a renaissance in handcrafted items lately, and shops selling knitting needles and yarn are popping up everywhere. The word “renaissance” comes from the French word for “rebirth” and means a new

growth or popularity in something that had faded in the past.

Once you know how to use your Ultimate Vocabulary words in context, you’ll be a paragon

of oratory – your presentations, speeches, and even everyday conversations will be clear

and compelling. Keep working on using your five new words.

• Visionary

• Renaissance

• Idyllic

• Nostalgia

• Paragon


Lesson 8 Workbook


A. Words For Difficult Times Sometimes it seems like everything’s going wrong - your co-workers are annoying, the

weather is dreary, and your dog develops a terrible case of fleas. In these situations, it’s

useful to have exactly the words you need to express your displeasure at this state of

affairs. Here’s a set of five Ultimate Vocabulary words you might need during difficult

times: vindictive, impugn, derogatory, hector, critique.

Your words for describing difficult times explained

The worst sort of co-worker is one who takes everything personally, and who’s always

looking for revenge, for imagined slights. It’s hard to trust a vindictive person, because you

never know if their next target will be you. “Vindictive” means having a desire for revenge.

The word comes from the Latin “vindicta”, meaning “vengeance.” In particular, a vindictive

person not only wants revenge, they want revenge in a way that does the most possible

harm to the other person, above and beyond any harm they themselves may have

received.

Example: “The beauty pageant contestant who was dropped in the first round blamed the

other participants for her failure, but her vindictive plan to replace their shampoo with hair

remover was stopped in time, when the stagehand noticed her hiding by the showers.”

Some people use physical force to get their revenge, and others choose to use words. If

our beauty pageant contestant had tried to eliminate the other participants by impugning

their morals and characters to the judges, she might have been believed. To “impugn”

means to attack something by saying bad things about it. It’s a verbal assault, rather than

a physical one. This word is often used when referring to an attempt to discredit someone

by questioning the truth of their statements.

Example: “John is determined to win the election; none of his television advertisements

do anything other than impugn the voting records of his opponents – even when he voted

the same way.”

Political advertisement in general tends to rely on derogatory statements about the other

candidates. “Derogatory” means insulting or belittling something or someone. A

derogatory remark shows contempt or a low opinion of something, and is often an attempt

to lower the value of that item.

Example: “The antiques collector’s derogatory comments about the color of the paint and

the tarnish on the silver handle didn’t make me lower the price of the tea set, because I’d

had it appraised and knew exactly how much it was worth.”

If derogatory remarks don’t make a vendor lower their price, maybe it’s time to try a bit of

hectoring, until they’re so tired of you they give you a cheaper price just to make you go

away. To “hector” someone means to nag them, speaking in a loud, blustering, bullying


tone. When you’re hectoring someone, it’s because you want to intimidate them into doing

what you want.

Example: “I never learned to like doing housework, because when I was growing up, my

mother would follow me around the house as I did chores, and would hector me until I did

them exactly the way she wanted them done.”

Perhaps that’s the most annoying sort of person – someone who never says anything

about your work without turning it into a critique. The word “critique” can be either a noun

or a verb, but either way it means a critical review or judgment of something or someone.

It’s not always entirely negative, but the understanding is that a critique will always point

out the faults in a person, piece, or performance.

Example: “Sarah said she’s very nervous about presenting her thesis to the panel, so I

suggested that she have a critique done by her lab partners first, to get their opinions.”

B. Words For Expressing Approval And Agreement We approve of your efforts to improve your vocabulary by using this Ultimate Vocabulary

course to learn how to use powerful vocabulary words in their correct context. And we’d

like to teach you five useful words that will help you likewise express approval and reach

agreement: solicitous, clemency, approbation, ombudsman, concord

Your vocabulary for expressing approval and agreement explained

“Approbation” is the first word we’ll discuss. It means approval or confirmation, but in

particular, approval or confirmation from someone who is higher in status to someone who

is lower in status. There is also the underlying meaning that the person higher in status is

pleased to be giving this approval, rather than just rubber-stamping it. Therefore, when

you refer to “approbation” of a resolution or bill, or something else that’s official rather than

personal, the sense is that the people approving the resolution or bill are personally happy

to do so.

Example: “The students received the approbation of the parent/teacher committee to

start an organic garden in the unused playground area.”

As all gardeners know, to get the best results, you must devote several hours a week of

solicitous attention to your garden beds, keeping them well watered and weeded.

“Solicitous” means attentively caring and concerned. In many cases, this word is used to

give the sense that you are somewhat anxious about the outcome, and want to avoid any

bad thing that might happen.


Example: “My grandmother spent so many months providing such solicitous care to my

grandfather that she neglected her own health, and after he died, it took several more

months before she was back to her usual robust self.”

Whether you’re caring for plants or people, that personal attention really makes a

difference. It’s been documented that people in hospital recover more quickly if they have

hands-on care instead of merely machine monitoring, and patients’ rights ombudsmen

make sure to keep that issue in front of hospital administrators. An “ombudsman” is

someone who represents the interests of, and advocates for, individuals who have

complaints or issues with institutions such as large corporations, businesses, or

governments. The word “ombudsman” can be traced back to the 16th century, and the Old

Norse word for “representative.”

Example: “The City Council is having a meeting to set policy for use of parks and other

public spaces, and the advocacy groups for the homeless are determined that their

ombudsman will be there to speak about the problems and issues of the transient

population.”

In many cities, it’s against the law to sleep in a public park or on the sidewalk. However,

when times are hard, the authorities may grant clemency to people who have no other

place to go, and let them off with a warning rather than imposing a fine. “Clemency”

means making a punishment less severe, or even granting a full pardon in place of any

punishment. Some synonyms of clemency are leniency, mercy, and compassion.

Example: “Although the young boy had only stolen a loaf of bread, the London judge

showed no clemency, and he was transported to Australia in the convict ship ‘Gorgon’ in

1791.”

In the struggle for equality and justice, the peoples of many nations have gone through

periods of strife before reaching a concord on what they want their governors and judges

to do. “Concord” is a noun meaning harmony or agreement, especially when referring to

opinions and beliefs. Similar terms for concord are concordance, accord, or accordance.

Example: “The indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions are trying to keep their traditional

hunting grounds free from oil exploration and mining, but so many people in the area

support the prospect of new jobs that it’s unlikely there will be concord on this issue.”

C. Words For Remaining Neutral in a Situation It’s easy to take sides – you cheer for your favorite sports team, stand by your family in a

crisis, and vote for one political party over another. But sometimes you’ll find yourself in

situations that require you to remain neutral. Here are five vocabulary words that will help

in those situations: diplomatic, arbitrary, impartial, equivocal, probity


Your words for remaining neutral explained

The iconic image of a diplomat is someone who is courteous and tactful, who can

gracefully and skillfully work with all types of people, and who uses discussion and

negotiation to resolve issues. That’s also the definition of the adjective “diplomatic”.

Example: “Karen makes a good supervisor because she’s so diplomatic at handling

arguments the employees bring to her; everyone walks away thinking they’ve won, even

though she doesn’t take anyone’s side.”

One of the hallmarks of an effective supervisor is their impartiality. “Impartial” means

treating everyone equally, listening to both sides of an argument without pre-judging the

situation or showing favoritism. Synonyms for “impartial” are “neutral” and “unprejudiced.”

Example: “The two teams had the same score, but only one of the judges could cast the

tie-breaking vote; the parents trusted her to be impartial because she didn’t have a child

taking part in the competition.”

One way of breaking a tie is by flipping a coin, or drawing straws, or some other arbitrary

method of making a decision. “Arbitrary” means “random,” and can refer to choosing one

of several options, any of which would be equally valid. However, “arbitrary” can also

mean making a choice or decision that’s based more on your personal feeling, rather than

the facts. Here are two examples of how to use this word:

Example 1: “James and Kira were equally skilled at reconnaissance, but the commander

didn’t have time to interview them, and so made the arbitrary decision that Kira would lead

the away team, and James would provide backup.”

Example 2: “All but one of the judges agreed that the Chinese chef’s dish was more

successful and that she deserved the ‘top chef medal; the last judge’s arbitrary rating of 2

seemed to be more due to the fact that he doesn’t like liver.”

When asked afterwards, the judge merely said, “It wasn’t right.” What did he mean? That

the spices were wrong, or that the meat was spoiled? Or that it wasn’t right to give the

chef the award? It’s hard to tell with an equivocal answer like that. “Equivocal” means

ambiguous or unclear. An equivocal statement is open to more than one interpretation. In

many cases, the person making the equivocal statement is deliberately trying to be

unclear and misleading.

Example: “I was trying to find out if I’d gotten a passing grade in the class, but the

teacher’s answer was equivocal, and now I’ll have to wait until the grades are published to

find out if I can take the next class in the series.”

In general, having a reputation for giving equivocal answers is less useful than being

known for your probity. If you are known for your probity, you are known to be an ethical,


fair person with strong moral principles. Two synonyms for “probity” are “honesty” and

“integrity.”

Example: “All of the lawyers in that district tried to get their cases heard before Judge

Owens, whose probity never allowed her to insert any personal opinions or feelings into

her decisions.”

D. Words Beginning With ‘Pro’ We now propose to provide you with five Ultimate Vocabulary words that will enhance

your professional standing and propel you forward in this program of learning how to use

words in context and with confidence. In short, you’ll be a “pro” once you learn these new

words: proscribe, prosaic, profound, propensity, prolific

Your words beginning with ‘pro’ explained

You may have noticed that we have a propensity for wordplay in this series. A

“propensity” is an inclination or tendency to do something. If you have a propensity for

something, you have a preference for, or attraction to, that thing.

Example: “I really do like working for Carl, but because of his propensity for eating garlic

pickles at lunch I can’t schedule any client meetings with him in the afternoons.”

We’re not sure workplaces have gone so far as to ban smelly pickles from the lunchroom,

but many companies do proscribe wearing perfume or other strong scents, on behalf of

employees with allergies. “Proscribe” means to prohibit or forbid something. Some

synonyms for “proscribe” are “exclude” and “banish” and “reject.”

Example: “This health spa offers cleansing and purification regimes that are so rigorous

they even proscribe the use of aspirin; if you have a headache, they hand you a cup of

peppermint tea.”

Mint is a common remedy for several complaints, including stomach aches, fevers, and

indigestion. It’s a good plant to have in the garden, but you need to be careful where you

plant it, as it is very prolific and its shoots will invade other garden beds if not contained.

“Prolific” means productive or fertile, producing something in abundance.

Example: “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the Classical Period’s most prolific

composers, producing over 600 works in less than thirty years.”

Knowing exactly how many symphonies, concerti, choral works, and other types of music

Mozart wrote – and precisely when he wrote each piece – may not be interesting to

someone who just likes listening to beautiful music. There are classical music fanatics out

there, however, who are fascinated by such prosaic details. “Prosaic” means


straightforward, matter-of-fact, and commonplace. Something that is prosaic is not

imaginative, and may be considered dull and unexciting.

Example: “I enjoy reading this author’s books on the lives of historical figures in the early

American Colonies, because she can make even the most prosaic aspects of daily life into

interesting vignettes.”

Sometimes all you want from a book is a moment’s entertainment, something light and

funny, and not a profound philosophical treatise. “Profound” means fundamental and far-

reaching, to extreme depth, or all-encompassing. You can use “profound” to describe a

physical or a metaphysical state; the ocean floor can reach to profound depths, and

someone who sees pictures of the marvelous creatures who live there might experience a

profound sense of awe at the wonders of the natural world.

Example: “After spending a year working with the Red Cross/Red Crescent teams in the

refugee camps, Cynthia’s formerly careless attitude towards other people underwent a

profound change, and she returned with a commitment to volunteer work and an open-

hearted compassion towards those in need.”

E. Words For Describing A Journey As you continue on your quest to learn these Ultimate Vocabulary words, and to become

comfortable using them in context, we’d like to help by giving you five new words that you

can use to describe your journey: peripatetic, itinerant, expatriate, transient, odyssey

Your words for describing a journey explained

The Ancient Greek poet Homer, who lived nearly three thousand years ago, is credited

with one of the world’s first recorded epic poems, about the hero Odysseus, who spends

years on a voyage back home, having adventures along the way as he wanders through

the lands of the Mediterranean. From this hero’s name we get the word “odyssey”,

meaning a long, wandering journey, usually towards a goal of some sort.

Example: “This documentary film follows a renowned chef on her odyssey across

Europe, looking for the world’s best traditional cheeses.”

A long journey can be even longer if you have to get there by foot. But for many thousands

of years, that was the only way to get from one place to another, and even today there are

nomadic tribes whose peripatetic lifestyles are very similar to those of their ancestors.

“Peripatetic” means traveling on foot from place to place – in other words, walking.

Example: “I used to be overweight and out of shape, until I got this job with the postal

service that requires me to spend most of the day in peripatetic activity, delivering letters.”


It used to be common for itinerant workers such as sheep shearers, tinkers, and butchers

to travel around a county, stopping in small towns to do jobs for the locals before moving

on. “Itinerant” means traveling from place to place to do work.

Example: “When Arthur was in his 20s, he spent a few summers as an itinerant laborer in

Australia, traveling from farm to farm and working for room and board, and using his free

time to explore the country.”

Each country has something unique to explore, and millions of people travel each year on

vacations to visit other lands. And some people never go back to their home country,

choosing instead to live as expatriates in a new place. The word “expatriate” can be either

a noun or a verb. If you’re forced out of your native home – that is, if you’ve been exiled or

banished – you have been expatriated: literally “sent out of the land.” Others might have to

leave their country of origin due to political unrest or persecution. However, many people

simply decide they’d rather live in Paris than in Podunk, and become expatriates living

happily in a foreign country.

Example: “Janice said that the three years she spent in Bangkok would have been very

difficult if not for the support of the other expatriate Americans who helped her with the

language and the logistics of living in Thailand.”

Three years is a long time to live away from home, but on the other hand it gives you a

richer experience of life in another culture that you won’t get from a transient visit.

“Transient” means staying in one place for a short time, or lasting a short time in general.

These days, the word “transient” is often used as a noun meaning “homeless person” due

to the fact that homeless people in general aren’t able to find any place to stay for long.

Example: “The desert oasis is home to a small group of native birds, but also provides a

resting place for a transient population of migrating cranes each spring, as they return to

northern Europe from their winter home in Africa.”

F. Words For Describing Things That Are Enjoyable

Or Amusing Are you having fun yet? We hope that you’re enjoying learning how to use these powerful

vocabulary words in context – and here are five more words for you, each of which can be

used to describe things that are enjoyable or amusing: risible, levity, jovial, animated,

carnival

Your words for the enjoyable and amusing explained

You’re familiar with the expression “I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing with you.” And we

all hope to avoid situations where people will laugh at us because we’ve done something

risible. “Risible” means amusing or comical, causing or provoking laughter. Something


that is risible is also often described as “ludicrous,” and the word “risible” is most often

heard when referring to a situation where you’re laughing at someone or something, rather

than with someone.

Example: “George thought he would fit right in at the formal dinner party, but his attempts

at making polite conversation failed, and the other guests found his table manners risible,

especially when he ate the fish with his fingers.”

Formal situations can be tricky, especially if you’re not familiar with the protocols. It’s

especially important in international diplomacy to avoid disrupting official proceedings with

a show of levity. “Levity” is frivolity or a lack of seriousness. This word is often used to

describe an inappropriate informality in behavior or tone while in a solemn situation.

Example: “Bob’s family is very traditional, and they did not appreciate the levity of his

best friend’s humorous and joke-filled eulogy at the funeral, even though I thought it

showed a very touching remembrance of their relationship.”

It’s always nice to have jovial friends with whom you can share good times and good

memories. The word “jovial” comes from the Roman god Jove, who was represented by

the planet Jupiter, and who ruled the heavens. It was thought that someone who is “jovial”

was born under the astrological influence of Jupiter, “the bringer of jollity.” “Jovial” means

jolly, cheerful, and good-humored, someone who is merry and convivial in company.

Example: “In the United States, the figure of Santa Claus is that of a jovial white-bearded

man who brings presents, but in Denmark, Saint Nicholas is a more menacing figure who

puts bad children into sacks and carries them away.”

One of the best ways to get to know someone is to ask them about their childhood, and

how they celebrated holidays. Questions on this topic almost always start an animated

retelling of special times in the past. “Animated” means lively and vigorous. Two people

can have an animated conversation, where they’re both talking quickly and emphatically.

An animated person is someone who is full of spirit and life.

Example: “Even when Sarah’s across the room, I can tell when she’s talking about

something that interests her, because her face becomes animated and she uses her

hands to punctuate her words.”

Happy memories of childhood might involve going to a county fair or other outdoor

celebration with a carnival atmosphere. A “carnival” refers to a festival or circus, or any

event where a group of people is having fun or celebrating something. As an adjective,

“carnival” means the atmosphere, or feeling, you might experience when at such an event.

Example: “The children ran eagerly towards the entrance to the carnival grounds,

clutching their ride tickets in their hands.”



A. Words For Difficult Times

Test Sentences

Are you hungry for an opportunity to try out your new Ultimate Vocabulary words? We

promise not to make any derogatory comments while you’re practising on these next five

sentences:

1. Rick spent so much time _______________ his teammates about how to paint and

decorate their robot that they didn’t get a chance to install the motor correctly, and

their robot failed in the first trial.

2. That politician shouldn’t _________ the morals of his opponent when he himself

has been arrested twice for assault and stalking.

3. You don’t want to get on Charles’ bad side – he’s very ____________, and if you

keep working together, he’ll find a way to make you look bad, even if it takes years.

4. Katelyn is beautiful, and funny, and does well in all her classes, but she’s never

been popular at school, because she’s always saying _____________ things about

the other students.

5. I really like this yoga class, because the instructor doesn’t hesitate to _________

our poses, so we know we’re doing them right in the end.

Answers:

1. Rick spent so much time hectoring his teammates about how to paint and decorate

their robot that they didn’t get a chance to install the motor correctly, and their robot

failed in the first trial.

When you’re trying to get something done, having someone look over your shoulder with a

constant stream of demands is very distracting. A person who is bullying you into doing

what they want, who is speaking in an intimidating manner, who’s nagging you constantly,

is “hectoring” you.

2. That politician shouldn’t impugn the morals of his opponent when he himself has

been arrested twice for assault and stalking.


“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” as the saying goes. In other

words, if you have faults (and who doesn’t?) it might be better to avoid pointing out the

faults in other people. “Impugn” means to point out real or imaginary faults or negative

aspects of something or someone in order to cause them to lose value or credibility.

3. You don’t want to get on Charles’ bad side – he’s very vindictive, and if you keep

working together, he’ll find a way to make you look bad, even if it takes years.

Someone who constantly wants revenge, and to make other people suffer far beyond what

they deserve, is “vindictive.” A common synonym for “vindictive” is “spiteful.”

4. Katelyn is beautiful, and funny, and does well in all her classes, but she’s never

been popular at school, because she’s always saying derogatory things about the

other students.

Cruel and unnecessary remarks about others will make even the most lovely face into an

unpleasant mask. “Derogatory” means cruel, designed to hurt, and insulting.

5. I really like this yoga class, because the instructor doesn’t hesitate to critique our

poses, so we know we’re doing them right in the end.

A “critique” is an evaluation of a person, process, or performance. In general, it means

pointing out the things that are wrong, although a balanced critique will mention the

positive aspects as well as the negative ones.

Although you now know how to use these five Ultimate Vocabulary words in context, we

hope that you’ll remember to be fair in your critiques, to avoid being vindictive, and to

make sure you stay away from derogatory remarks about other people – at least where

they can hear you! Keep practicing these words, if not the actions:

� derogatory

� critique

� hector

� vindictive

� impugn


B. Words For Expressing Approval And Agreement Head into this jungle of sentences and use one of your new Ultimate Vocabulary words

correctly in context in each:

Test Sentences

1. I’m going to leave extra money on the table for our server; I really enjoyed the

attention and ______________ care she gave to us, making sure that we always

had fresh bread and drinks.

2. If you’re worried about how people are treated in hospital, I encourage you to go to

public meetings, and perhaps become an ___________ to represent the rights of

patients.

3. Jack had been driving over 100 miles per hour through the middle of town, but

because he was on his way to help a friend with an emergency, and he’d never

gotten a ticket before, the judge granted _________ and let him off with a fine.

4. Because she had the ___________ of the church vestry for her singing group, they

were happy to provide extra money for robes and music.

5. After several weeks of negotiations, the three diplomats reached a ________ on the

proposed antinuclear treaty.

Answers:

1. I’m going to leave extra money on the table for our server; I really enjoyed the

attention and solicitous care she gave to us, making sure that we always had fresh

bread and drinks

If a server is able to answer all your questions, quick to bring you your requests,

responsive to the state of your plate and glass, and friendly as well, they have provided

attentive, caring service. “Solicitous” means attentive and caring, often all positive, but

occasionally with a bit of anxiety on that person’s part, if they’re working hard to prevent

bad things from happening.


2. If you’re worried about how people are treated in hospital, I encourage you to go to

public meetings, and perhaps become an ombudsman to represent the rights of

patients.

An “ombudsman” is someone who represents the interests of, and advocates for,

individuals who have complaints or issues with larger organizations, such as hospitals. In

general, an ombudsman represents someone who has very little power or influence.

3. Jack had been driving over 100 miles per hour through the middle of town, but

because he was on his way to help a friend with an emergency, and he’d never

gotten a ticket before, the judge granted clemency and let him off with a fine.

Frequently, speeding is viewed as “reckless endangerment” and can be subject to quite

severe punishment. However, an understanding judge may take an emergency situation

into consideration, and adjust the consequences. “Clemency” means reducing or

eliminating punishment, or granting pardon or mercy to someone.

4. Because she had the approbation of the church vestry for her singing group, they

were happy to provide extra money for robes and music.

“Approbation” means approval, and more than just approval – it’s enthusiastic approval,

where the person (or persons) doing the approving also have a personal interest in

something.

5. After several weeks of negotiations, the three diplomats reached a concord on the

proposed antinuclear treaty.

A “concord” is an agreement, or a harmony between people’s beliefs or opinions.

We hope you’re in agreement that this has been a useful exercise, and that you’re now

ready to use your five new powerful vocabulary words in conversation, with confidence:

� approbation

� concord

� clemency

� ombudsman

� solicitous

C. Words For Remaining Neutral in a Situation You’re not legally obligated to use the next five sentences to practice using these new

Ultimate Vocabulary words in context, but it is our considered opinion that it will help you

learn more quickly:


Test Sentences

1. The position of bank manager is a demanding one, and requires someone with a great deal

of personal commitment as well as unquestioned financial ________.

2. On the true/false portion of the test, you’re only given two possible answers, but in the

essay section, your responses can be more _____________.

3. I was in a rush to get out of the store, so I made an ____________ selection from the ice

cream display – I didn’t know you were allergic to strawberries!

4. If you want an ____________ opinion on your curriculum vitae, you should take it to Alice;

she spent many years working in a personnel office.

5. Ann will never realize her goal of working as a marriage counselor unless she learns to talk

to people in a more ____________ manner, rather than giving them commands.

Answers:

1. The position of bank manager is a demanding one, and requires someone with a great deal

of personal commitment as well as unquestioned financial probity.

Being responsible for other people’s money means that you need to be very trustworthy. “Probity”

means of high morals, honesty, and fairness.

2. On the true/false portion of the test, you’re only given two possible answers, but in the

essay section, your responses can be more equivocal.

With a true/false question, there are only two options, and both are quite clear. Yes means yes,

and no means no – there’s no ambiguity in your response. On the other hand, if you’re given the

opportunity to use your own words to answer a question, you might be able to write entire

paragraphs without directly answering the question. “Equivocal” means ambiguous, misleading, or

open to interpretation.

3. I was in a rush to get out of the store, so I made an arbitrary selection from the ice cream

display – I didn’t know you were allergic to strawberries!

When you’re faced with multiple choices, and they’re all equally as appealing, you can pick any

one of them at random. “Arbitrary” means at random, without necessarily relying on other factors.

An arbitrary choice can be either with or without prejudice. In this example, the arbitrary selection

of strawberry ice cream happened because the person was in a rush, and the carton of strawberry

ice cream was closest at hand. However, if the person knew about their friend’s allergy, and

decided to get the strawberry ice cream anyway, that could also be described as an arbitrary

decision.


4. If you want an impartial opinion on your curriculum vitae, you should take it to Alice; she

spent many years working in a personnel office.

Impartial” means neutral and without prejudice.

5. Ann will never realize her goal of working as a marriage counselor unless she learns to talk

to people in a more diplomatic manner, rather than giving them commands.

Someone who is diplomatic is able to work with people by discussing and negotiating issues, and

who is tactful rather than domineering.

Mastering these powerful vocabulary words will help you realize your goals! Keep practicing your

five new Ultimate Vocabulary words:

1. probity

2. equivocal

3. arbitrary

4. diplomatic

5. impartial

D. Words Beginning With “Pro” Some things you just have to do over and over and over – like practicing how to use your

new vocabulary words in their proper context. Here are five sentences to get you started:

Test Sentences:

1. Her family followed strict dietary rules and she never ate meat as a child; her

mother would even ___________ the use of eggs in baked goods.

2. If you give your children many different types of food as they’re growing up, they’ll

have a _____________ for adventurous eating when they’re older.

3. He’s such a ____________ writer that I don’t know how he found time to build his

house with his own hands.

4. Many boys think the life of a secret government agent is romantic and exciting, but

the truth is that many long hours are spent on the very _________ duty of filling out

paperwork and filing reports.


5. I hate having to lead meetings, and it was with a _________ sense of relief that I

turned the microphone over to the chapter president when she arrived.

Answers:

1. Her family followed strict dietary rules and she never ate meat as a child; her

mother would even proscribe the use of eggs in baked goods.

For some people, any animal products at all are strictly forbidden as food. To forbid

something is to proscribe it. Other words that define “proscribe” are exclude, prohibit, and

banish.

2. If you give your children many different types of food as they’re growing up, they’ll

have a propensity for adventurous eating when they’re older.

If you grow up in Japan, you’ll develop a taste for soy sauce and seaweed, but if you’re

raised in Hungary, you might crave sour cream and pickled beetroot instead. People tend

to eat what they’re used to as much as what they enjoy. A tendency towards something is

a “propensity”. Some synonyms for “propensity” are preference, attraction, or inclination.

3. He’s such a prolific writer that I don’t know how he found time to build his house

with his own hands

“Prolific” means “producing in quantity.” Someone who is a prolific writer will have written

many books, articles, dissertations, or other documents.

4. Many boys think the life of a secret government agent is romantic and exciting, but

the truth is that many long hours are spent on the very prosaic duty of filling out

paperwork and filing reports.

Even James Bond would have to spend time filling out forms in triplicate these days, given

the bureaucratic nature of modern government. “Prosaic” means ordinary, matter-of-fact,

straightforward, and often dull.

5. I hate having to lead meetings, and it was with a profound sense of relief that I

turned the microphone over to the chapter president when she arrived.

You’ve heard the expression “thank you from the bottom of my heart” – that’s a phrase

you might use when you’re truly, deeply grateful to someone. “Profound” means deeply,

from the bottom of one’s heart or the bottom of the ocean. A profound truth is

fundamental; a profound exploration of a topic means it’s far-reaching and all-

encompassing.


We’d like to thank you for taking this opportunity to expand your vocabulary. The more

confident you feel using these words in context, the greater your propensity to use them in

everyday conversation. Don’t stick to ordinary, prosaic words – use these new Ultimate

Vocabulary words prolifically, and you’ll notice a profound change in the way people listen

to you. Keep practicing these five powerful new words:

� proscribe

� profound

� prosaic

� propensity

� prolific

E. Words For Describing a Journey Walk this way to find five practice sentences, and put the correct word in each:

Test Sentences:

1. The Native Americans led a ___________ lifestyle, using dogs to pull their travois,

until the Spanish introduced the horse to the New World.

2. In the 18th century, several traditional “gypsy” societies, including the Roma of

Eastern Europe and the “travellers” of Ireland, made a living as ____________

merchants and workers for landholders and nobleman.

3. While some people move to the smaller coastal towns to live, many more are part

of a ________ population that is looking for permanent work in the larger inland

cities.

4. I moved to London by choice, but I know someone who lives as an _________

because he’s afraid of being arrested as a political dissident in his home country.

6. This cruise ship schedule is a true _________, with stops in every Mediterranean

port over a three-month period.


Answers:

1. The Native Americans led a peripatetic lifestyle, using dogs to pull their travois,

until the Spanish introduced the horse to the New World.

There were no riding animals in North America until the Spanish brought horses with them

on their explorations, and the native population had to travel everywhere on foot.

“Peripatetic” means traveling around by foot, or walking.

2. In the 18th century, several traditional “gypsy” societies, including the Roma of

Eastern Europe and the “travellers” of Ireland, made a living as itinerant merchants

and workers for landholders and nobleman.

“Itinerant” means going from place to place in order to find work.

3. While some people move to the smaller coastal towns to live, many more are part

of a transient population that is looking for permanent work in the larger inland

cities.

Immigrants to many countries arrive by boats, and port towns are frequently home to ever-

changing groups of hopeful emigres on their way to find jobs or family in the larger cities.

“Transient” means ever-changing, of short duration, not staying in one place for long.

4. I moved to London by choice, but I know someone who lives as an expatriate

because he’s afraid of being arrested as a political dissident in his home country.

Unfortunately, many people are forced to leave their homeland, whether to look for work or

in fear of their lives due to war, or famine, or political unrest. Someone who no longer lives

in his or her country of origin, no matter the reason, is an expatriate.

5. This cruise ship schedule is a true odyssey with stops in every Mediterranean port

over a three-month period.

An “odyssey” is a long voyage with many stop and adventures.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this journey today, and that you’ll continue to explore your new

vocabulary by practicing these five Ultimate Vocabulary words:

� itinerant

� peripatetic

� odyssey

� transient

� expatriate


F. Words For Describing Things That Are Enjoyable

Or Amusing There’s a lot of work to do in repairing the damage we’ve done to our planet, and you’ve

got some work to do now, practicing your five new words by putting each of them into the

correct sentence:

Test Sentences:

1. I enjoy staying for the study group after church services are over, because we

always have such _______________ discussions about the sermon text, and I

learn a lot each week.

2. The Cinco de Mayo _____________ on the waterfront is a fun event each year, and

many local Mexican restaurants have booths selling tacos and tamales to the

crowd.

3. The prosecuting attorney may seem like an easygoing, __________ fellow, but it’s

just a ruse – he’s actually one of the most ruthless lawyers in town.

4. Martin’s attempt at _____________ during the wedding ceremony was not

appreciated, especially when he pretended to have lost the ring.

5. I’ve never understood fashion; the clothes the models wear while parading down

the runway are so outrageous, wearing them in everyday life would be _______.

Answers:

1. I enjoy staying for the study group after church services are over, because we

always have such animated discussions about the sermon text, and I learn a lot

each week.

A lively conversation, with vigorous participation by all concerned, can be described as

animated. “Animated” means full of life, lively, or vigorous.

2. The Cinco de Mayo carnival on the waterfront is a fun event each year, and many

local Mexican restaurants have booths selling tacos and tamales to the crowd.


A carnival is a fair, or any event attended by a number of people in order to have fun. You

can describe any large gathering of people that is noisy, cheerful, and crowded as a

carnival.

3. The prosecuting attorney may seem like an easygoing, jovial fellow, but it’s just a

ruse – he’s actually one of the most ruthless lawyers in town.

A jovial person is someone who is cheerful, merry, good-humored, and good company.

4. Martin’s attempt at levity during the wedding ceremony was not appreciated,

especially when he pretended to have lost the ring.

While being a jovial person might make you welcome in a carnival crowd, there are some

social occasions that call for a bit more decorum. “Levity” means frivolity, or a lack of

seriousness, or inappropriate humor.

5. I’ve never understood fashion; the clothes the models wear while parading down the

runway are so outrageous, wearing them in everyday life would be risible.

“Risible” means amusing or comical, causing or provoking laughter. In general, this word

is used to mean that someone or something is being mocked.

You’ll be happy to know that we’ve reached the end of another Ultimate Vocabulary

session! Now it’s time to find everyday opportunities to use these five powerful vocabulary

words:

� risible

� levity

� jovial

� carnival

� animated


Lesson 9 Workbook


A. Words For Describing The Educational Process Your studies are paying off, and you’re learning more and more powerful vocabulary

words, and how to use them in context. Here are five words that will help you describe this

educational process: annals, pedagogy, matriculate, mnemonic, tutorial

Your words for describing the educational process explained

Do you have any little tricks for memorizing these vocabulary words? If you’ve ever

studied piano, you might have used the phrase “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” to

remember that the lines on the treble clef staff are E, G, B, D, and F. There are lots of little

rhymes and phrases like this, and some people even use pictures or sounds as mnemonic

aids. A “mnemonic” is something that helps you remember something else.

Example: “I have a little mnemonic trick to help me remember that you don’t pronounce

the ‘m’ at the beginning of the word ‘mnemonic’: I just remember the phrase ‘there’s NO

EM when you say NEM-ON-ic.’”

Mnemonics are one way of helping people learn, but there are as many styles of teaching

as there are teachers and students. A good class in pedagogy will describe the differences

between adult education techniques and methods for teaching children. “Pedagogy”

means teaching, or more precisely the activity of educating or instructing, and the methods

used to instruct.

Example: “There is a great difference in pedagogy when dealing with people who are

visual learners – those who need to see something to learn – and with people who are

kinesthetic learners – those who need to do something physical to learn.”

Anyone who wants to be a professional teacher needs to matriculate in an accredited

degree program. “Matriculate” means to enroll in a college or university in order to study

for a degree. To matriculate means to become a student.

Example: “At some universities such as Harvard and Oxford, there is a yearly ceremony

where new students are officially matriculated and added to the university’s listing.”

Getting into a good college or university is only the first step; in order to graduate with a

degree, you’ll need to study hard. Most degree programs will offer several opportunities to

participate in a tutorial, especially for students who are having trouble with a class. A

“tutorial” is a private session with a teacher or tutor where you can get intensive coaching

on a subject.

Example: “The foreign languages advisor recommends that each student either take a

term abroad or in a tutorial session with a native speaker in order to perfect their

pronunciation.”


Matriculate, buy books, complete the first-year requirements, sign up for tutorials – anyone

writing the annals of student life would be recording much the same thing every year.

From the Latin word “annus”, or “a year”, “annals” are a recording of events, a reporting of

history that is just a chronological recitation of facts. Annals do not contain opinions or

explanations. Annals can also be documentation of the work of researchers or scientists,

but again, without editorialization.

Example: “While the annals of the military base hospital might be interesting to

statisticians, I quickly grew bored with the daily listings of surgical supplies ordered and

used.”

B. Words For Describing A City New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mexico City – these large cities are full of things to do

and places to see, new people to meet, and historical landmarks to visit. Here are five

words you might use to describe a city: metropolitan, heterogeneous, amenity, urbane,

denizen

Your vocabulary for describing a city explained

While many of the Ultimate Vocabulary words you’ve learned can have multiple meanings

depending on their context or use, our first word in this section, “metropolitan,” really only

has one meaning. “Metropolitan” means pertaining to a city, or a larger urban settlement.

The word can be used to describe the city itself, or something or someone that comes

from the city.

Example: “The public transportation system uses buses, trolleys, and trains to provide

services to people in the entire three-county metropolitan area.”

If you don’t have a car, having access to a bus or train that allows you to commute to work

is an amenity appreciated by many city dwellers. An “amenity” is something that makes

your life easier or more pleasant, a convenience that is a welcome part of your life. You

may be used to hearing this word in connection with vacation spots or hotels that offer

amenities such as free drinks or dry cleaning.

Example: “The competition for customers has gotten so fierce that even the smallest

coffee shops offer amenities like free wireless connections and comfortable sofas.”

Every neighborhood has its own coffee shops; when you’re visiting a new city, stop in at

one and ask the denizens for recommendations on things to do and see in the area. A

“denizen” is someone who lives in a certain place, a local inhabitant. When you use this

word, you’re referring to someone who’s lived in a place long enough to be completely

familiar with almost everything about it.


Example: “The summer weather in Hong Kong is unpredictable, and the denizens of that

city are usually prepared for any sudden rain showers, but tourists often end up getting

soaked in an unexpected downpour.”

Large cities like Hong Kong and London have a diverse population, with people coming

from all over the world to live there. Another word for diverse is “heterogeneous” – this

means coming from different sources, made up of things that are not the same kind. The

opposite of heterogeneous is homogenous.

Example: “The ad campaigns for Benetton clothes feature a heterogeneous cast of

models, who differ widely in age and nationality, but who are of course all remarkably

attractive.”

Benetton is an Italian clothing company, one of many companies in Italy that produce

trendy clothing for high-end retailers. Italy has a reputation for beautiful clothing, and for

the sophisticated Italians who wear it. “Urbane” is another word for sophisticated.

“Urbane” means refined, polished, or suave, and can refer to a person’s appearance or

their manner.

Example: “All of the actors who have played James Bond in the movies over the years

have been known for their urbane good looks and perfect manners – at least until it’s time

to kill someone.”

C. Words For Talking About The Countryside Composers have written lush orchestral pieces describing it. Painters have used it as

subject or background for hundreds of years. Poets speak lovingly of its purity and beauty.

It’s the countryside, where – at least in the ideal – the air is clean, the people are healthy

and happy, and the animals frolic in the fields. In this section, you’ll learn five words that

you might use to talk about the countryside: bucolic, flora, fauna, microcosm, and dearth.

Your words for talking about the countryside explained

The first word, “bucolic”, means “of the country side. Originally, this word was used

primarily to refer to shepherds, and comes from the Greek word “boukolos” meaning

“herders.” Now, however, it is used when talking about any thing, or place, or person that

is rustic or rural in manner or appearance. Another word for “bucolic” is “pastoral”.

Example: “The organic gardening workshop ended with a dinner held in the lovely bucolic

setting of the farm’s herb garden, right next to the duck pond, and looking out over the

fields of hay and clover.”

Although perhaps not originally native to many areas, clover is often planted to support

bees or to provide fodder for cows, sheep, and rabbits, and is now commonly found as

part of the flora nearly everywhere people have settled to farm. “Flora” means the


vegetation or plant life that grows in a certain area, and usually refers more to the native

plants than, for example, to an ornamental cactus grown in a garden in Sweden.

Example: “The students in the first-year botany class took several field trips to study the

flora of the local ecosystems, including the riverside wetlands and the nearby mountain

foothills.”

And of course, where we have flora, we usually have “fauna” – the animals that are native

to a certain area. Again, this word usually means animals that are part of the natural

landscape, and not family pets or creatures in a zoo.

Example: “One reason I enjoy going on the expeditions sponsored by the World Wildlife

Federation is that it gives me an opportunity to see the fauna of many regions around the

world.”

With its variety of rare and common animals from many different countries, a big zoo might

be seen as a microcosm of the world itself. “Microcosm” means a miniature version of

something larger. It can also refer to a small closed system that is complete in and of

itself.

Example: “Now that the airport has its own permanent employee housing, it’s almost a

microcosm of the city, with the restaurants, shops, and services you might find just as

easily downtown.”

Airports may have all of the amenities of a downtown city centre, but there’s usually a

dearth of comfortable places to wait when your flight has been delayed. A “dearth” is a

lack of something, or an insufficient number of things that are needed. Another way to say

“dearth” is “scarcity” or “short supply.”

Example: “Although there were many little jobs that needed to be done around the office,

there was a dearth of willing volunteers to do them.”

D. Words That Talk About Talking Let’s talk about talking! Here are five words that you might use when discussing, chatting,

conversing, or otherwise communicating: garrulous, pontificate, candor, aver, dissertation

Your words that talk about talking explained

We’re sure that at some point in your life you’ve been seated next to a garrulous person

on a plane, or worked in the next cubicle over, or been standing behind them waiting to

pay for your purchases at a shop. A “garrulous” person is someone who is too talkative,

too chatty. They’re always talking about trivial things, rambling on and on without paying

much attention to their listeners. Someone who is garrulous is overly wordy.


Example: “I only had a five-minute break to run to the post office to mail my package, but

the man in front of me was so garrulous it took me fifteen minutes to get everything

signed, and I was late for the meeting.”

When you’re being delayed by someone who’s chatting away, you do have the option to

tell them that you’d appreciate it if they would finish their personal conversation later so

that you can complete your business. They may not appreciate your candor, but at least

you’ll have called it to their attention. “Candor” means frankness or outspokenness.

Another word for “candor” is “sincerity.” This quality of being straightforward and honest in

speech is something that is not always a good thing, however.

Example: “Elaine had told her sister-in-law that she’d be at church on Sunday and

couldn’t help with the wedding preparations, but with childish candor her young daughter

spoke up and said, ‘no, Mama, that’s the day we’re going to the zoo!’”

If you’re going to aver something, it had best be true – or you’d better make sure that no

one can catch you in a lie. To “aver” means to declare or assert something is true. It

means to swear to something, to report as fact, or to affirm.

Example: “The first witness continued to aver that the thief was a tall man wearing a

green jacket, but the other bystanders reported that they saw a short man in a white

raincoat running away from the scene.”

Even if they’re wrong, a stubborn person might continue to speak as if they’re absolutely

right, no matter what. Someone who does this is said to “pontificate.” “Pontificate” also

means to speak in a patronizing manner, or to speak down to someone. Other ways to

describe this manner of speech are “pompous” and “dogmatic.”

Example: “The relationship between industrial pollution and climate change has been

widely accepted in the scientific community, but some politicians continue to pontificate

about cows, trees, and the natural order of things to try to prevent effective legislation from

passing.”

Many a scientific dissertation has been written so far about global warming and climate

change, and many more will follow as new research is done. A “dissertation” is a formal

document that presents original research to a panel, and to the public. Often known as a

“thesis”, this is a paper that is often required of people who are completing a doctoral

degree.

Example: “Kenneth will be ready to present his dissertation to the board of examiners

once the final computer simulations are run and the results tabulated.”


E. Words For Describing Conflict You’re going to have a difficult time of it in this session! These five Ultimate Vocabulary

words describe conflict: misanthropic, animosity, contentious, adverse, punitive

Your words for describing conflict explained

If you don’t like our choice of words this time, you might want to argue with us about it.

We’d like to avoid this quarrel by explaining that the word “contentious” means

quarrelsome or argumentative, when speaking of a person. “Contentious” can also be

used when referring to a situation or action, in which case it means “likely to cause

controversy.” A contentious person has a tendency to dispute others, often just to pick a

fight.

Example: “The twelfth member of the jury was so contentious, arguing about issues that

were clearly disproven, that the deliberation process took many more hours than usual.”

Someone who likes to argue just for the sake of the argument is likely to gain the

animosity of others. “Animosity” means dislike or hostility. Synonyms for animosity are

“hatred” and “enmity.”

Example: “The movie star was wearing a fur coat when she arrived at the opening gala

for the new animal rights exhibit at the convention center, but the animosity of the crowd

quickly led her to take it off and apologize.”

Some animal rights activists resort to punitive measures when they see people wearing fur

coats, and throw red paint on the coats to symbolize blood. Others prefer to punish the

shops that sell the coats by marching and protesting in front of them. “Punitive” means

punishing or imposing a penalty on someone. This word implies a certain level of

harshness or severity in discipline.

Example: “The airport security guards don’t appreciate pranks about carrying guns or

bombs, and will immediately take punitive action against anyone making a joke about such

things.”

There may or may not be more danger in flying these days, but the threat of terrorist acts

has definitely had an adverse effect on the ease of airplane travel. “Adverse” means in a

negative way, or in the opposite direction. When you experience something that is

adverse, it is often because it is working against your best interests.

Example: “Bad news about the falling stock market and rising unemployment generally

has an adverse impact on government officials’ popularity, and no politician wants to run

for re-election during such a time.”


Many people distrust and dislike politicians even in the best of times, but few people are

truly misanthropic. “Misanthropic” means disliking everyone, distrusting everyone, hating

all mankind. Someone who is misanthropic always believes the worst of everyone.

Example: “In Charles Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Story,’ Ebenezer Scrooge is

transformed from a misanthropic and hateful man to a generous and happy person who

loves everyone.”

F. Words For Talking About The Mind A mind is a terrible thing to waste. We’re glad that you’re improving your mind with these

powerful Ultimate Vocabulary words, and practicing how to use them in context with

confidence. The five words in this section will be useful when you’re talking about the

mind: cognitive, intuition, esoteric, deduce, perspicacious

Your words for talking about the mind explained

Our first word, “cognitive,” refers to the process of thinking itself. The word “cognitive” is

used when speaking of the logical part of the functioning of your brain, as you learn, or

perceive, or reason. To be cognitive of something is to be aware of it.

Example: “The patient had been in a coma for four years, but his family was convinced

that he was still showing signs of cognitive function, as he seemed to respond to voices

and would move his eyes away from bright light.”

Sometimes you just have to rely on a gut feeling to tell you whether something is true or

not. In that case, you’re relying on intuition. “Intuition” means instinctive knowledge,

rather than learned knowledge. When you do something on intuition, you are doing it

without consciously thinking about the reasons for your action.

Example: “The police were unable to locate the hidden will, but Detective Jones had

known the old woman for decades, and her intuition led her straight to the kitchen, where

she found the will buried in a jar of sugar.”

Detectives rely on intuition, but they also solve crimes by using their reason to deduce the

answer. “Deduce” means to apply logic to a problem to come to a conclusion, to use

reason, or to base your opinion on facts rather than feelings.

Example: “Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character best known for his ability to deduce

the circumstances of a crime and the identity of a criminal from what seem to be

unimportant details and random facts.”

One of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous opponents, the master criminal Moriarty, belonged

to a secret group who studied esoteric methods of committing crimes. “Esoteric” means


mystical or hidden knowledge. Something that is esoteric is only understood or known by

a select group of people, usually part of a secret society.

Example: “Abraham decided to go to Israel and join a group of scholars who study the

esoteric teachings of the Kabbalah, the deepest meanings of the Judaic philosophy and

religion.”

Some things that are hidden or obscure are revealed after years of study and observation,

but if a person is exceptionally perspicacious, they might find the answers more quickly.

“Perspicacious” means able to perceive hidden things. Someone who is perspicacious

has a keen mind. Synonyms of perspicacious include “wise” and “insightful.”

Example: “Lisa was having difficulty identifying the correct charges on the billing

statement, but her co-worker was more perspicacious and was able to tell which ones had

been made by the client and which had been incorrectly credited to the account.”



A. Words For Describing the Educational Process One of the best ways we’ve found to remember things is to practice them over and over

again. Here are five practice sentences; put one of your newly-learned Ultimate

Vocabulary words in the blank spot in each:

Test Sentences

1. This exclusive primary school has a formal ceremony in which the students

_____________ after their fourth class year to become part of the advanced class,

when they pick their focus area for the next two years.

2. We can get a very good idea of what life was like in the Middle Ages by studying

the ___________ kept by the monasteries in England, France, and Spain.

3. In many modern classrooms, ______________ is believed to be less important

than student participation.

4. When my mother was studying for her Master’s in geology, she used __________

devices to help her remember the correct order of eras, periods, epochs, and ages.

5. Frances was determined to get the highest possible grade on her maths tests, and

signed up for all of the extracurricular ______________ sessions she had time for.

Answers:

1. This exclusive primary school has a formal ceremony in which the students

matriculate after their fourth class year to become part of the advanced class,

when they pick their focus area for the next two years.

When a student is officially enrolled in a degree program, or as part of a school,

college, or university, they are entered into the school’s list. The word “matriculate”

comes from the Latin “matricula”, meaning list.

2. We can get a very good idea of what life was like in the Middle Ages by studying

the annals kept by the monasteries in England, France, and Spain.


“Annals” are records of historical events, reported factually and in chronological

order. This word has a Latin root as well, coming from the word “annus” meaning

year.

3. In many modern classrooms, pedagogy is believed to be less important than

student participation.

It is important that the instructor’s teaching methods, or pedagogy, are skilled

enough that the students learn, but experts agree that it’s best to get the students

involved actively in the learning process. “Pedagogy” refers to a person’s style of

teaching.

4. When my mother was studying for her Master’s in geology, she used mnemonic

devices to help her remember the correct order of eras, periods, epochs, and ages.

You might find it easier to remember the six periods of the Paleozoic era

(Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian) by

remembering this phrase: “Camels Or Silly Devils Carry Persians”. Or maybe not –

everyone has their own tricks to help them remember things. A “mnemonic” is a

phrase, acronym, image, or other device to help you remember something else.

5. Frances was determined to get the highest possible grade on her maths tests, and

signed up for all of the extracurricular tutorial sessions she had time for.

Getting some focused one-on-one assistance in a class can make all the difference

to your final scores. A tutorial is a private or small-group teaching session with the

focus on a particular subject.

You’ll graduate with honors now that you’ve learned these five new Ultimate Vocabulary

words:

� tutorial

� matriculate

� pedagogy

� mnemonic

� annals


B. Words For Describing a City No matter where you live, you use language to communicate. Practice your

communications skills by using each of your five new Ultimate Vocabulary words in

context correctly in one of the following sentences:

Test Sentences

1. We knew that the company was starting to really pick up business when our

manager announced that we’d be moving from the outer suburbs to a more

_____________ location.

2. James was startled to find himself standing next to a famous movie actor at the

Hollywood premiere, but managed to keep the conversation going in his usual

________ manner, even with all of the cameras flashing.

3. I like going on long sea cruises; it’s nice to travel in comfort, with every possible

___________ at your fingertips.

4. When the _________ of the small border town were told about the new motorway

plans, they didn’t realize it would result in so much traffic, and the town had to hire

two new patrol officers.

5. The student body at this institution is a _____________ blend of children from

wealthy out-of-state families, first-generation immigrants, and locals who can trace

their roots back to the days of the pioneers.

Answers:

1. We knew that the company was starting to really pick up business when our

manager announced that we’d be moving from the outer suburbs to a more

metropolitan location.

“Metropolitan” means in or of a city.

2. James was startled to find himself standing next to a famous movie actor at the

Hollywood premiere, but managed to keep the conversation going in his usual

urbane manner, even with all of the cameras flashing.


Someone who is smooth, suave, and sophisticated even in situations where it

would be easy to get flustered or confused is said to be “urbane.” Some synonyms

for urbane are “refined” or “polished.”

3. I like going on long sea cruises; it’s nice to travel in comfort, with every possible

amenity at your fingertips.

What could be better than room service, restaurants, and recreation all in the same

place? These are all pleasant things that make your life enjoyable. In other words,

they are amenities. An “amenity” is something that makes your life easier or more

comfortable.

4. When the denizens of the small border town were told about the new motorway

plans, they didn’t realize it would result in so much traffic, and the town had to hire

two new patrol officers.

People who live in a certain place are called “denizens” of that place. This word

usually refers to someone who has lived in a place for a long time. Another word for

“denizen” is “inhabitant.”

5. The student body at this institution is a heterogeneous blend of children from

wealthy out-of-state families, first-generation immigrants, and locals who can trace

their roots back to the days of the pioneers.

“Heterogeneous” means coming from many different sources, or made up of many

different elements. A synonym for “heterogeneous” is “diverse.”

The more diverse your vocabulary, the easier it will be to express exactly what you mean.

You’ll be able to hold your own with any conversational partner as you gain confidence in

using these powerful vocabulary words in context. Keep practicing your five new Ultimate

Vocabulary words:

� urbane

� heterogeneous

� metropolitan

� denizen

� amenity


C. Words For Talking About The Countryside It’s like a breath of fresh air, introducing these descriptive and sophisticated new

vocabulary words into your conversation. You’ll find that the more you practice them, the

more confidence you’ll have in using them in context. Start practicing now by putting the

correct word in each of the following five sentences:

Test Sentences

1. I don’t like driving into the city on the weekend for a show because there’s generally

a __________ of convenient parking places; I’d rather take the bus downtown.

2. One of the distinguishing features of the _______ that populate the desert is their

ability to absorb water through their skin.

3. That property in southwestern Spain certainly seems like a ________ paradise, but

before you buy it, be sure that it has a good water source and a connection to the

electrical grid.

4. This aquarium is a perfect _________ of the ocean, with everything from corals to

scavengers, fish and aquatic plants.

5. The nomadic tribes of the steppes are so familiar with the __________ of the region

that they can tell exactly where they are just by looking at the ground.

Answers:

1. I don’t like driving into the city on the weekend for a show because there’s generally

a dearth of convenient parking places; I’d rather take the bus downtown.

As most city-dwellers know, parking is at a premium when there’s a show in town,

and it’s hard to find a place to leave the car. “Dearth” means “in short supply” and

refers to situations where there is not enough of something that is necessary.

2. One of the distinguishing features of the fauna that populate the desert is their

ability to absorb water through their skin.

The natural world is amazing; animals have evolved over thousands of years to

perfectly suit the land they live in. “Fauna” are the animals that are native to a

particular area or region.


3. That property in south western Spain certainly seems like a bucolic paradise, but

before you buy it, be sure that it has a good water source and a connection to the

electrical grid.

Many people want to retire to a sunny land where the food is good and the wine is

cheap, but unless they’re careful, they might get stuck in an isolated area of the

countryside, surrounded by nothing but wild sheep. “Bucolic” means rural or rustic,

in the countryside. You can use this word to describe something in either a positive

or a negative sense.

4. This aquarium is a perfect microcosm of the ocean, with everything from corals to

scavengers, fish and aquatic plants.

A “microcosm” is literally a “miniature world,” or a smaller version of a larger

environment.

5. The nomadic tribes of the steppes are so familiar with the flora of the region that

they can tell exactly where they are just by looking at the ground.

“Flora” means the plants and vegetation that grow in a specific place or region.

Now that you’re completely familiar with these five Ultimate Vocabulary words, you’ll have

everything you need to describe your next trip to the countryside. Keep practicing these

words and you’ll never have a dearth of subjects to talk about, or powerful vocabulary

words to use:

� microcosm

� flora

� fauna

� dearth

� bucolic

D. Words That Talk About Talking Many things require a lot of hard work, and getting completely comfortable using new

vocabulary words in context is no exception. Here are five sentences for you to practice

with; put the correct word in each blank:


Test Sentences:

1. Everyone likes the new receptionist because she’s so friendly and helpful, but

she’s so ____________ that the workflow in the office has slowed down

considerably since she started.

2. James will make an excellent psychotherapist; his qualities of empathy and

_______ will allow him to help people through difficult times.

3. Candidates for public office typically have to _____ that they have no current ties

to corporations or other private entities, to avoid conflict of interest.

4. I got into the habit of only showing up for the last half of the weekly meeting

because the CEO would ______________ for at least twenty minutes at the

beginning of the meeting on his opinions about the company forecast, even

though the financial officer’s report usually contradicted his statements.

5. Janet’s test scores were never more than average at university, but her

___________ was widely admired, and helped her get a job with one of the

country’s leading scientific laboratories.

Answers:

1. Everyone likes the new receptionist because she’s so friendly and helpful, but

she’s so garrulous that the workflow in the office has slowed down considerably

since she started.

We’re sure you’ve had co-workers who seem to have all the time in the world to

stand by your desk and chat. “Garrulous” means chatty and too talkative,

especially if the talk is about trivial things.

2. James will make an excellent psychotherapist; his qualities of empathy and

candor will allow him to help people through difficult times.

When you’re in a field that requires you to talk about topics that might make

people feel uncomfortable, it helps if you can present the facts honestly and in a

straightforward manner. “Candor” means honesty and sincerity, or a direct

manner of speaking.


3. Candidates for public office typically have to aver that they have no current ties

to corporations or other private entities, to avoid conflict of interest.

To “aver” means to swear to the truth of something. Synonyms for aver are

affirm, declare, and assert.

4. I got into the habit of only showing up for the last half of the weekly meeting

because the CEO would pontificate for at least twenty minutes at the beginning

of the meeting on his opinions about the company forecast, even though the

financial officer’s report usually contradicted his statements.

To “pontificate” means to speak in a pompous and self-important manner, or to

speak on some topic as if you’re the only one with all of the right answers.

Someone who is pontificating often speaks in a manner which talks down to their

listeners, in a patronizing fashion.

5. Janet’s test scores were never more than average at university, but her

dissertation was widely admired, and helped her get a job with one of the

country’s leading scientific laboratories.

A “dissertation” is a final paper that contains original research, and is usually

required of people who are pursuing a graduate degree, especially in scientific

fields.

We do solemnly swear, aver, and affirm, and tell you with all candor, that the more you

practice your Ultimate Vocabulary words, the quicker you’ll gain confidence in using them

in context. Keep practicing these five new words:

� garrulous

� pontificate

� candor

� aver

� dissertation

E. Words For Describing Conflict Sometimes the grim news that we get from around the world on a daily basis can turn the

most cheerful optimist misanthropic. To get your mind off the cares of the day, try

practicing your Ultimate Vocabulary words, instead. Here are five practice sentences; put

the correct word in each:


Test Sentences

1. They say the true character of a person doesn’t come out until they’re faced with a

challenge or an __________ situation.

2. Jami has done so much harm to our family with her thoughtless acts and

malicious words that I found it hard not to show my ___________ towards her

when I saw her yesterday.

3. Some parents took their children out of the school when they learned about the

strict disciplinary rules, but other parents felt the rules weren’t __________

enough.

4. The two candidates for office couldn’t be farther apart in their positions on public

services, environmental protection, and international relations, and we can expect

another ______________ election season.

5. Jeremy’s last four business partners have each cheated him out of large sums of

money, so it’s not surprising he’s gotten a bit _____________, expecting the worst

out of any new prospect.

Answers:

1. They say the true character of a person doesn’t come out until they’re faced with a

challenge or an adverse situation.

You know the saying – “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Difficult times

can bring out the best in a person, as they learn to grow. “Adverse” means

difficult, negative, or going against one’s best interests.

2. Jami has done so much harm to our family with her thoughtless acts and

malicious words that I found it hard not to show my animosity towards her when I

saw her yesterday.

“Animosity” means active dislike or hostility towards a person or, perhaps, an idea.

Animosity means hatred of something or someone.

3. Some parents took their children out of the school when they learned about the

strict disciplinary rules, but other parents felt the rules weren’t punitive enough.


It used to be common for children to be physically punished at school if they

misbehaved, but that isn’t a general practice these days. “Punitive” means

applying severe or harsh punishment or discipline on someone.

4. The two candidates for office couldn’t be farther apart in their positions on public

services, environmental protection, and international relations, and we can expect

another contentious election season.

It’s a rare candidate who doesn’t spend most of his or her time arguing why they

should be elected instead of their opponent. “Contentious” means argumentative,

characterized by dispute, or likely to cause controversy.

5. Jeremy’s last four business partners have each cheated him out of large sums of

money, so it’s not surprising he’s gotten a bit misanthropic, expecting the worst

out of any new prospect.

If no one treats you well, you might be forgiven if you start to dislike everyone on

principle. “Misanthropic” means disliking humanity, not trusting anyone, and

expecting the worst of people.

We hope you won’t argue the point that these five Ultimate Vocabulary words will help you

describe difficult situations in the future. In order to get the best use out of them, keep

practicing these five new words:

� misanthropic

� animosity

� contentious

� adverse

� punitive

F. Words For Talking About The Mind

Classrooms are excellent places to study, but if you don’t have a classroom handy, find

any quiet place and practice using these new vocabulary words in context. Here are five

sentences; fill in the correct vocabulary word in each blank space:

Test Sentences:

1. Candidates for the space program have to undergo a rigorous set of tests to ensure

that they have the ____________ and physical skills to perform as astronauts.


2. Anita hadn’t studied for the test, and discovered that relying on _________ to

choose the correct answer for the multiple-choice questions did not result in a very

good grade.

3. In this test of logic and mathematics, the students are required to complete each

problem in sequence before they attempt to _____________ the final answer.

4. Harold researched the _____________ details of Masonic Temple rituals before

going to see the performance of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" but found that this

knowledge did not add much to his enjoyment of the opera.

5. My cousin's child was extremely clever about getting away with vandalism in the

classroom until a particularly __________________ teacher noticed that she was

the only student who was always nearby when the damage was discovered.

Answers:

1. Candidates for the space program have to undergo a rigorous set of tests to ensure

that they have the cognitive and physical skills to perform as astronauts.

So much money is put into the space program, and it's such a difficult and

dangerous job, that program administrators want to make sure that they have the

best possible people going out into space, able to think fast in case of emergency.

"Cognitive" is a word that means all aspects of thinking, including reasoning, logic,

and analysis.

2. Anita hadn’t studied for the test, and discovered that relying on intuition to choose

the correct answer for the multiple-choice questions did not result in a very good

grade.

With a true/false test, you have a fifty percent chance of being right, but with a

multiple-choice test, you may only have a one in four chance of coming up with the

right answer. Intuition does not rely on logic, but depends more on a person's

feeling about something. Intuition does not rely on reason, but more on instinct.

"Intuition" means instinctive knowledge, rather than learned knowledge.

3. In this test of logic and mathematics, the students are required to complete each

problem in sequence before they attempt to deduce the final answer.

To "deduce" means to arrive at a conclusion or answer by using reason, logic, and

facts.


4. Harold researched the esoteric details of Masonic Temple rituals before going to

see the performance of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" but found that this knowledge

did not add much to his enjoyment of the opera.

The Masons are a secret society that have been in existence for hundreds of years,

and only the members of the society truly know all of the mystical details of its

history. "Esoteric" means hidden or secret knowledge that is only available to a

select group of people.

5. My cousin's child was extremely clever about getting away with vandalism in the

classroom until a particularly perspicacious teacher noticed that she was the only

student who was always nearby when the damage was discovered.

"Perspicacious" means seeing what is not immediately obvious, or able to come to

the right answer by keen insight.

We're sure that you're perspicacious enough to realize that the more you practice, the

more confident you'll feel at using these powerful vocabulary words in context. Keep

practicing these five new words:

1. cognitive

2. perspicacious

3. intuition

4. deduce

5. esoteric

confidence in context

Documents