Autobiography of a Face, chapter 2 vocabulary

Gebs (United States of America)
21 words 15 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    No matter how good any website is, it cannot conjure jobs out of thin air. The Guardian, Dec. 25, 2012
  2. extricate
    release from entanglement or difficulty
    Every effort to extricate himself is futile—he only sinks the deeper into the treacherous sand.
  3. penultimate
    next to the last
    Lewis Hamilton remained upbeat despite seeing his chances of second place in the Spanish Grand Prix ruined by a puncture on the penultimate BBC, May 10, 2010
  4. extol
    praise, glorify, or honor
    He spent some time down here in Mexico, and never grew tired of extolling the country. Carr, Annie Roe
  5. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    While Mr. Edwards stood by silently, the Barons explained they were simply trying to keep Ms. Hunter placated so she would not go public. New York Times, May 21, 2012
    Better definition: to win over -- You might be able to PLACATE, or win over, your little sister by giving her ice cream if you want her to stop screaming.

    Also: to soothe; to pacify; to appease; to calm
  6. disdain
    look down on with contempt
    You will hear about his dislike for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, his disdain for everything New England up to and including, we believe, clam chowder. New York Times, Jan. 10, 2011
  7. harbinger
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
    But later on began abundant rains, the harbinger of spring. Sienkiewicz, Henry
    Alternate definition: foreshadowing
  8. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
    There is no use in castigating yourself for not having done better. Marden, Orison Swett
  9. malignant
    dangerous to health
    Additional information: A malignancy is dangerous to health, and it is usually characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth.
  10. besotted
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
    He becomes besotted with her, even though she really is a selfish tramp. Harper was so besotted, he let spiders crawl all over his body even when he came to after passing out.
    Some definitions indicate that when a person is besotted, he or she is "infatuated" with another. This is correct when considering the phrase "drunk with love."

    It also means "to make stupid or foolish," which too much alcohol can definitely do to a person.
  11. precarious
    fraught with danger
    The late Steve Irwin, also known as the "Crocodile Hunter," constantly placed himself in very precarious positions.
    Fraught means "full"; therefore, precariousness has to do with something that is full of danger.
  12. terminus
    a place where something ends or is complete
    The pier was at the western terminus of the city bus line. When her search for sanity reached its terminus, she checked herself in to McLean Hospital, a mental institution in Boston.
  13. anthropomorphize
    ascribe human features to something
    Billy's overcame his feelings of loneliness because of his lack of friends by anthropomorphizing his pets.
  14. chasm
    a deep opening in the earth's surface
    The couple's argument about having children opened up such a chasm between them that the marriage eventually fell apart. The Grand Canyon is not any old hole in the the earth; it is a vast chasm created by the relatively small Colorado River.
    A chasm can mean any sort of large gap; it doesn't necessarily have to do with the surface of the earth.
  15. cajole
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    She gently cajoled Jim to take her shopping, something she knew he hated, by telling him he could buy the expensive suit he had been coveting.
    Note: To cajole is somewhat like what it is to placate someone.The difference is that placating often has to do getting someone who is angry or irritated to calm down.
  16. tenor
    the adult male singing voice above baritone
    Every single word you choose to write is laden with meaning that can dramatically alter the tenor and message of a story. The tenor of the party was far more good-natured than the previous night, and not a single punch was thrown.
    Additional information: OK, so, yeah, a tenor is how an opera singer might be classified, but as used in Autobiography of a Face, it means the basic quality, character, or condition of a situation.
  17. tenuous
    lacking substance or significance
    The cease fire between the warring nations was tenuous, and only hours after it began, Molotov cocktails were being hurled over the border.
    Something that's tenuous can also be of a flimsy consistency. Consider the context in which it's used in the following sentence:

    Having no facts on which to base his opinion, Steve's argument was tenuous.
  18. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
    We would like to think that ethical behavior is implicit in everyone, but find that most children must be clearly instructed in the rules of proper conduct. "When you borrow my car," Melissa said to Tony, "we have an implicit agreement that you will return it, right?"
    Additional definition: Contained in the nature of something; inherent
  19. patronize
    treat condescendingly
    "Duh, Mom," Tina said. "I know the fire is hot; don't patronize me." The wealthy country-club types possessed an obvious patronizing attitude toward the poor workers hired to do the menial labor on the grounds.
    Further information: When you "patronize" a store, it means that you are a regular customer -- or "patron." This is not the way Lucy Grealy uses it in the book. She's talking about treating someone as if s/he is ignorant or stupid.
  20. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    In times of chaos and crisis, even the best leaders can falter and fail. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) said it was too early to pinpoint what had caused the jetliner's two engines to falter.
    Additional definition: to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent; to be unsteady and unsure; to give way.
  21. dejected
    affected or marked by low spirits
    As years rolled on he became more dejected and depressed in spirits, the cause of which was known to no mortal.  Davies, R. Rice The unfortunate book review left the author feeling dejected, as if his capabilities as a writer were faltering.
    In other words, to be dejected means you're sadder than sad; you're uber-sad.
Created on Wed Apr 03 14:03:04 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Apr 03 16:06:10 EDT 2013)

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