Lesson 13
Freshmen Vocabulary
- colloquial adj. used in or
suitable to spoken language or to writing
that seeks the effect of speech; conversational
If you say "phone" for "telephone", you are using a colloquial form.
syn: informal, vernacular ant: formal - commiserate verb to feel or to express sorrow;
to sympathize.
Susan commiserated with her friend when the friend's mother died. - compatible adj. able to live or perform
in agreement with others
While they were not compatible, they buried their differences for the sake of the team.
syn: agreeable ant: discordant - incipient adj. in an initial or early stage of development
He pretended to be angry, but an incipient smile turned up the corner of his lips.
syn: informal, vernacular ant: formal - incontrovertible adj. not capable of
being disputed or disproved
Although the evidence against him was incontrovertible, the defense planned to get him off on a technicality.
syn: irrefutable ant: disputable, debatable - incorrigible adj. not capable of being
corrected or reformed
Prisoners considered incorrigible rarely receive an early release.
syn: intractable ant: formal - prolific adj. producing offspring
or fruits in great abundance; turning out
many products of the mind.
He was a prolific author who wrote fifteen novels in ten years.
syn: fertile, fruitful ant: barren, sterile - pugnacious adj. eager to fight;
quarrelsome
Beau was suspended for being overly pugnacious.
syn: combative ant: peaceful - querulous adj. given to complaining
The customer became querulous with he waitress when his meal was served late and cold.
syn: petulant, cranky ant: contented, genial - tedious adj. something tiresome because
of the slowness or length of it
Alfred would enjoy his work more if it just weren't so tedious.
syn: onerous ant: interesting - tentative adj. not definite or
permanent; indicating hesitancy or uncertainty
The tentative time for the program to begin was 8:00 PM
syn: provisional; open to change ant: confirmed, firm, settled - thwart verb to prevent something from taking place; to block, hinder
Superman is always thwarting Lex Luther's plan to destroy the planet.
syn: foil, frustrate ant: support - vilify verb to use abusive or slanderous language about or of; to defame
Although Lincoln was often vilify while he was alive, today is is looked upon as a great man.
syn: slander ant: praise - virtuoso noun a musical performer of exceptional excellence
The symphony conductor was called a virtuoso at a very early age. - vulnerable adj. open to danger or to attack; easily hurt or influenced
In war, helicopters are vulnerable to enemy fire.
