Lesson 10
Sophomore Vocabulary

1. fallible adj. capable of error
   Because we are all human, we all make mistakes; therefore we are all fallible.
   ant:infallible         
   
   
2. fallow adj.  inactive; unproductive 
   A fallow mind needs to be stimulated.
   syn:untrained            ant: fertile, productive 
   
   
3. farcical adj.absurd; ridiculously clumsy
   If three people had not been seriously injured, the botched bank robbery would have been farcical.
   syn: ludicrous, funny             ant: somber, serious
   
   
4. fatalistic adj. believing that all things in life are inevitable, determined by fate.
   My father used to say that if you have a fatalistic attitude about life, you are most likely to think there is nothing you can do to change the course of your life.
   
   
5. fawn verb to act slavishly submissive; a young deer
   The young dancers fawned over the prima ballerina.
   syn: kowtow           ant: ignore, disregard, neglect
   
   
6. fealty noun loyalty; faithfulness
   Because surfs owed fealty to their lords, disloyalty was punishable by death.
   syn: devotion, fidelity             ant: disloyalty
   
   
7. feign adj. to pretend
   He feigned an interest in the conversation, but his mind wandered elsewhere.
   syn:simulate, fake 
   
   
8. feisty adj. aggressive, energetic, lively
   Because the tiger cub was small but feisty, we approached him warily.
   syn:quarrelsome, exuberant, spunky
   
   
9. felicity noun happiness
   A contended person, rich or poor, is more likely to enjoy felicity than a discounted one.
   ant: unhappiness, discontent
   
   
10. felonious adj. of, like, or constituting a felony (major crime)
    The boys were charged with felonious assault and spent the night behind bars
    
    
11. fester verb to rot, to form pus; to grow embittered
    If allowed to fester, a feeling of dislike can turn to bitter hatred.
    syn: to grow embittered; rankle
    
    
12. fiat noun an official order
    After seizing power, the general ruled by fiat backed by guns.
    syn: decree, authorization
    
    
13. fidelity noun faithfulness
    The king told his people that their fidelity would be rewarded.
    syn: loyalty           ant: treachery
    
    
14. filch verb to steal
    The woman filched my purse when I left the room to answer the telephone.
    syn: pilfer, snitch  
    
    
15. filial adj. due from a son or daughter
    The love we have for our parents is termed filial love.
    syn: dutiful