Vocabulary Workshop Units 4-6 Level B

alliance

a joining together for some common purpose

bewilder

to puzzle completely, confuse

buffoon

a clown; a coarse, stupid person

controversial

arousing argument, dispute, or disagreement

dishearten

to discourage

fruitless

not producing the desired results, unsuccessful

hostile

unfriendly; unfavorable; warlike, aggressive

inflammable

easily set on fire; easily angered or aroused

inflict

to give or cause something unpleasant, impose

malignant

deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious

mortify

to hurt someone's feelings deeply; to cause embarrassment or humiliation; to subdue or discipline by self-denial or suffering

orthodox

in agreement with established or generally accepted beliefs or ways of doing things

procure

to obtain through special effort; to bring about

scurry

to run quickly, scamper, hurry

sodden

soaked with liquid or moisture; expressionless, dull; spiritless, listless

spirited

full of life and vigor; courageous

virtual

having a certain force or effect in fact but not in name; so close as to be equivalent to the real thing

void

completely empty; having no legal force or effect; empty or unfilled space; to cancel or nullify

wayward

disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious

wince

to draw back suddenly, as though in pain or fear; the act of drawing back in this way

uncertainty

doubt, the state of being unsure

anecdote

a short account of an incident in someone's life

consolidate

to combine, unite; to make solid or firm

counterfeit

an imitation designed to deceive; not genuine, fake; to make an illegal copy

docile

easily taught, led, or managed; obedient

dominate

to rule over by strength or power, control; to tower over, command due to height

entreat

to beg, implore, ask earnestly

fallible

capable of being wrong, mistaken, or inaccurate

fickle

liable to change very rapidly, erratic; marked by a lack of constancy or steadiness, inconsistent

fugitive

One who flees or runs away; fleeting, lasting a very short time; wandering; difficult to grasp

grimy

very dirty, covered with dirt or soot

iota

a very small part or quantity

maul

to beat or knock about, handle roughly; to mangle; a heavy hammer

potential

possible, able to happen; something that can develop or become a reality

radiant

shining, bright; giving forth light or energy

rural

relating to farm areas and life in the country

substantial

large, important; major, significant; prosperous; not imaginary, material

tactful

skilled in handling difficult situations or people, polite

tamper

to interfere with; to meddle rashly or foolishly with; to handle in a secret and improper way

ultimate

last, final; most important or extreme; eventual; basic, fundamental

anonymous

unnamed, without the name of the person involved; unknown; lacking individuality or character

browse

to nibble, graze; to read casually; to window shop

dupe

a person easily tricked or deceived; to deceive

dynamic

active, energetic, forceful

eradicate

to root out, get rid of, destroy completely

frustrate

to prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; to cause feelings of discouragement

grim

stern, merciless; fierce, savage, cruel

inimitable

not capable of being copied or imitated

makeshift

a temporary substitute for something else; crude, flimsy, or temporary

marginal

in, at, or near the edge or margin; only barely good, large, or important enough for the purpose

pending

waiting to be settled; until

prescribe

to order as a rule or course to be followed; to order for medical purposes

preview

something seen in advance; to view beforehand

prominent

standing out so as to be easily seen; important, well-known

quaint

odd or old-fashioned in a pleasing way; clever, ingenious; skillfully made

reluctant

unwilling, holding back

scrimp

to handle very economically or stingily; to supply in a way that is small, short, or scanty

snare

to trap, catch; a trap or entanglement

utmost

greatest, highest, farthest; the extreme limit

vengeance

punishment in return for an injury or a wrong; unusual force or violence