Lesson 13
Sophomore Vocabulary

1. holocaust noun a great or complete destruction of life (usually by fire)
   The peaceful village had been turned into a holocaust by the fire bombs.           
   
   
2. homily noun a sermon
   "Sir," I said, "I need food and clothes for these people, not a homily on patience."
   syn: tedious lecture                 
   
   
3. hone verb to sharpen
   Before he went on a mission, he always honed his knife to a razor sharpness.
   ant: to dull
   
   
4. hovel noun a dirty, wretched living place
   The social worker looked with with distaste at the dreary hovel in which the children were living.
   ant: palace, mansion    
   
   
5. humane adj. kind, compassionate
   The veterinarian told us that putting the injured horse to sleep was the only humane thing to do.
   syn: tender, merciful, considerate         ant: inhumane, cruel
   
   
6. imbibe verb to drink (esp. alcoholic liquor)
   The beer I imbibed on an empty stomach soon made me feel quite dizzy.
   ant: abstain
   
   
7. imbue verb to fill completely
   He was so imbued with his country's ideals that he would gladly risk his life for it.
   syn: saturate, pervade
   
   
8. immaculate adj. spotless
   The rooms were as immaculate as the grounds surrounding the large estate.
   syn: clean, pure            ant: dirty, spoiled, spotted
   
   
9. impedeverb to hinder, obstruct
   The car broken down in the middle of the road impeded the flow of traffic.
   syn: delay, retard            ant: aid, encourage
   
   
10. impel verb push into motion
    Impelled by hunger and thirst, the man staggered across the desert.
    syn: urge, force, propel, drive            ant: restrain              
    
    
11. impermeable adj. not permitting passage (esp. of fluids)
    
    Because the map case was made of rubber, it was impermeable to water.
    
    syn: impenetrable             ant: permeable
    
    
12. harp verb to persist in talking continuously (on or about something)
    My parents harp on the importance of completing homework.     
    
    
13. haughty adj. arrogant, proud
    He gave them a haughty look as he waved the visitors through the gates.
    syn: arrogant           ant: humble, shy
    
    
14. havoc noun great destruction
    The commandos landed behind enemy lines in order to create confusion and havoc.
    
    
15. hilarity noun gaiety, joy
    Because of the hilarity at my slumber party, everyone was awake all night.
    syn: mirth            ant: sadness, misery