Lesson 3
Freshmen Vocabulary

  1. alleviate verb to make more bearable; to ease the pain
    Susan had hoped to alleviate her back pain by taking more Tylenol.
    syn: lesson    ant: exacerbate, aggravate

  2. analogous adj. similar or parallel in certain ways
    To many people, the phrase "ethnic cleansing" sounds analogous to Hitler's "Final Solution."
    syn: akin     ant: dissimilar, unlike

  3. dismantle verb to take apart; disassemble; to strip of furnishing or equipment
    After the young boy was injured, Max dismantled the swing set.
    ant: construct

  4. distraught adj. extremely troubled or agitated; worried
    The breakup of her relationship left Jenny distraught.
    syn: anxious, frantic     ant: placid, serene


  5. dormant adj. inactive, not being used, alive but in a resting condition
    Some animals, such as bears, go into dormant hibernation during winter.

  6. maim verb to disable; to cripple
    She was maimed in the car accident.

  7. meticulous adj. extremely or excessively careful about details
    He was very meticulous in picking up each tiny piece of glass with tweezers.
    syn: exact. fastidious    ant: careless, imprecise, sloppy

  8. murky adj. not clear; foggy, hazy; dark or gloomy
    Because the details of the plan were murky, her mother wouldn't give her permission to go.

  9. narcissism noun excessive admiration of one's self; self-love
    While John thinks that Alice's constant need to look at herself in the mirror is a sign of her insecurity, others see it as a sign of Alice's narcissism.

  10. squabble verb to engage in a minor quarrel; to argue noisily over a small matter
    The children squabbled over who should sit in the front seat
    syn: quarrel, bicker     ant: concur