Lesson 5
Junior Vocabulary

1. circumspect adj. careful, watchful; attentive to all points
   The teacher tried to be circumspect in his judgment; he wished to discipline the students effectively, but not too severely.
   syn: wary, judicious, prudent            ant: rash, foolhardy
   
   
2. circumvent verb to get around; to beat or defeat by trickery; to prevent an occurrence
   Although he did not tell a lie, he did circumvent my question by claiming that he could not remember the night before.
   syn: thwart, balk, outwit          ant: abet, facilitate, promote
   
   
3. clandestine adj. secret
   Romeo and Juliet were forced to hold clandestine meetings because of their parents' feuding.
   syn: covert, furtive, underhanded              ant: forthright, open, aboveboard
   
   
4. clement adj. 1. merciful; lenient   2. mild, as weather
   1. Despite the abhorrent nature of the crime, the judge handed down a surprisingly clement sentence.
   2. For his vacation, he chose the clement climate of the tropics.
   syn: 1. forbearing, benign
          2. temperate
   
   
5. cliche noun a worn-out idea or overused expression
   While the candidate had promised new ideas, he soon began to mouth the same old cliches.
   syn: platitude, trite phrase
   
   
6. coerce verb  to compel by force; to force a person to do something against his or her will
   Because of peer pressure, students sometimes feel coerced to take an action with which they feel uncomfortable.
   syn: compel, constrain, force
   
   
7. collaborate verb 1. to work with another toward a goal
                              2. to cooperate with an enemy invader.
   1. The lyricist and composer collaborated on the stage musical.
   2. Although he did not have the courage to actively oppose the Nazis, he did not collaborate with them.
   syn: 1. cooperate      2. abet
   
   
8. comely adj. attractive or handsome; pleasing to the sight
   The writer could often refer to his beautiful sister as a "comely lass."
   syn: becoming, attractive, handsome               ant: homely, repulsive, plain
   
   
9. complacent adj. pleased with oneself or one's deeds
   Though an affable fellow, he tended to be a little too complacent for me.
   syn: unconcerned, conceited, contented              ant: discontented, humble, dissatisfied
   
   
10. concur verb to be of the same opinion; to agree
    He said that three hours was too long for a lecture, and we all concurred.
    syn: approve, assent               ant: disagree, demur, dissent