L E S S O N 2 9 : D O M I N A N C E A N D S U B M I S S I V E N E S S

HONORS ENGLISH I VOCABULARY

CAPITULATE

• (intrans. verb)• a. To surrender under specified conditions; • b. To give up all resistance

• Example: After repeated attacks, the city capitulated to the superior forces of the enemy.

CONDESCEND

• (intrans. verb)• a. To agree to do something one regards as below one’s

rank or dignity.• b. To deal with people in a superior or haughty manner.

• Example: The world-renowned soprano condescended to be a judge at the high school talent show.

DEFERENCE

• (noun) • a. Courteous respect; submission to the opinion, wishes,

or decisions of another.

• Example: During the rehearsal the actors showed deference toward the director because they respected her authority and talent.

GROVEL

• (intrans. verb) • a. To behave in a demeaning or self-abasing manner;

kowtow; truckle.• b. To lie or crawl on the ground face down as a gesture of

submissiveness or abasement.

• Example: When your meet Tom Tetrazzini, your favorite movie star, you should not grovel; rather, act naturally and be polite.

LACKEY

• (noun) • A follower who behaves in the manner of a

servant; toady; flunky.• A liveried manservant; footman.

• Example: Since Sylvia became the manager of the team, she has behaved like the coach’s lackey, incapable of making her own decisions.

PREDOMINATE

• (Intrans. verb) • To have greater authority, power, or influence; prevail.

• Example: Because of the seniority rules, senior members predominate, and junior members have little effect on policy.

SLAVISH

• (adjective) Characteristic of a slave; slavelike in manner; servile.

• Example: The presumptuous customers expected the salespeople to lavish slavish attention on them.

SUBJUGATION

• (noun)• a. The act of bringing under rule or dominion.• b. Enslavement.

• Example: The Greek subjugation of the Trojans took ten years.

SUPERCILIOUS

• (adjective)• Proudly scornful; disdainful; contemptuous.

• Example: When Mrs. Thornton asked the desk clerk if she could bring her dog to the hotel, he gave her a supercilious look that made it quite clear that dogs were not welcome at the Carlton Savoy.

SYCOPHANT

• (noun) • One who seeks favor or advancement through flattering

important people; a bootlicker.

• Example: Although the deposed monarch no longer had any power, his entourage of former cabinet ministers and sycophants made him appear every inch a king.