Lesson 3
Junior Vocabulary

1. avarice  noun  excessive greed; desire for wealth
   He became a doctor not to save lives but to appease his avarice.
   syn: greed              ant: liberality; generosity
   
   
2. avid adj. eager; extremely interested
   He was such an avid moviegoer that the theater gave him a half-priced, lifetime pass.
   syn: voracious; keen                ant: apathetic
   
   
3. bacchanalian adj. wild with drunkenness
   The student flunked out of college because of the bacchanalian life he had lived.



4. balk verb to stop short and refuse to continue; to obstruct
   Although he desperately needed the money, he balked at the idea of working for less than minimum wage.
   syn: hesitate; frustrate; block             ant: facilitate; abet
   
   
5. banter noun teasing; good-natured joking
   As she sat at the table, Ruth enjoyed listening to the banter of her husband and his old college roommate.
   
   
6. barrister noun lawyer
   In England, a lawyer or attorney who argues cases in court is called a barrister.
   
   
7. bask verb to lie in or be exposed to warmth
   While in Florida on vacation, all she did was bask in the sun.
   
   
8. bastion noun a strong defense; a fort
   During critical times in the history of the world, the United States has been called the bastion of democracy.
   
   
9. bawdy adj. indecent; humorously obscene
   Because some people called it a bawdy show, the car manufacturer withdrew as a sponsor for the program.
   syn: risqué
   
   
10. befuddle verb to confuse; to perplex
    Did he try to befuddle you with his fast talk?
    syn: bewilder; fluster                 ant: clarify