Unit 4- Improving Vocabulary skills EAP-0090 - Chapter 19

Noun

Adjective

Verb

Adverb

Benignity

Benign: kindly; gentle

Benignly

Synonyms: kind, benevolent, caring, gentle Antonyms: malignant Although Mr. Nash's twinkling blue eyes and snow-white beard give him a BENIGN appearance, he's actually one of the most harsh, unkind people I've ever met; The sentence suggests that "benign" means the opposite of "harsh and unkind." "Benign" means "kindly, or gentle," as in: Louisa is so benign that she'll move an ant out of the way rather than step on it. On the first day of kindergarten, little Toby was terrified. But the BENIGN smile and soft, friendly voice of his teacher soon calmed his fears. On the first day of kindergarten, little Toby was terrified. But the   BENIGN smile and soft, friendly voice of his teacher soon calmed his fears.

Blasé: unexcited or bored about something already experienced repetitively.

Synonyms: cool, relaxed, unmoved, carefree, unconcerned Antonyms: uptight, concerned Sharon always acts so BLASÉ, responding to every suggested activity with a bored “I don’t care,” as if she’d done it all a million times before; The sentence suggests that “blasé” means “bored” about something one has already done “a million times before.” "Blase" means "unexcited or bored about something already experienced repeatedly," as in: Jennifer was excited about her new job, so it disturbed her to find that her coworkers were so blase about their work. Even after thirty years of teaching kindergarten, Mrs. Truhart is never BLASÉ about her job. She can’t wait to get to school in the morning, and she sees each day in the classroom as a new adventure. Even after thirty years of teaching kindergarten, Mrs. Truhart is never BLASÉ about her job. She can’t wait to get to school in the morning, and she sees each day in the classroom as a new adventure.

Comprisal

Comprised

Comprise: to consist of ; include

Synonyms: include, encompass, contain, cover, embrace, involve Antonyms: exclude Many foreign students at our college belong to an international club which COMPRISES students from nearly thirty nations; The international club consists of students from nearly thirty nations. "Comprise" means "to consist of," as in: The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Gay Straight Alliance at our school COMPRISES students with many different sexual orientations, and brings them together to create a safe, welcoming environment for everyone. The Gay Straight Alliance at our school COMPRISES students with many different sexual orientations, and brings them together to create a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.

Condescension

Condescend: to do something one feels is beneath oneself.

Synonyms: patronize, humiliate, disdain, talk down, Antonyms: respect If Jim thinks I'm attending his party after the way he insulted my brother, he's mistaken. I wouldn't CONDESCEND to enter his house; The speaker feels it would be beneath him or her to go to Jim's house. "Condescend" means "to do something one feels is beneath oneself," as in: Because he's returning to college this fall, Barry feels he's better than the other factory workers and will barely condescend to speak to any of them. The spoiled heiress never stoops to do chores. She would never CONDESCEND to prepare her own dinner—let alone her dog’s. I can’t even imagine her cleaning up after her pet! The new homeowners took off the house’s aluminum siding, exposing the original FACADE of stone.

Facade: the front of a building; false appearance.

Synonyms: frontage, front, cover-up, deception, misrepresentation, deceit Antonyms: Paula presents the FACADE of wanting to listen to other people’s problems in order to help them. But in reality, she wants to gossip about the personal lives of those she’s “helping.” Since she intends to gossip about the people, Paula’s appearance of wanting to help them is false. "Facade" means "a false appearance," as in: Our boss puts on the facade of a liberal-minded man who sympathizes with feminists, but he has yet to promote a woman to a management position. The new homeowners took off the house’s aluminum siding, exposing the original FACADE of stone. The new homeowners took off the house’s aluminum siding, exposing the original FACADE of stone.

Haughtiness

Haughty: proud of one’s appearance or accomplishment to the point of looking down on others; arrogant

Haughtily

Synonyms: proud, arrogant, snooty, self-important, overconfident, superior, snobbish, egotistic Antonyms: modest, humble Marta was a disaster as a guide in the art museum. She's so HAUGHTY about her knowledge of art that visitors hesitated to ask questions, fearing she would look down at them for knowing so little; Marta was arrogant about her knowledge. "Haughty" means "proud of one's appearance or accomplishments to the point of looking down on others," as in: Since she won the beauty contest, Abby has been very haughty, snubbing her old neighborhood friends. Although Maria is famous and wealthy, she never acts in a HAUGHTY way. She is modest and humble, and she treats everyone as her equal. Although Maria is famous and wealthy, she never acts in a HAUGHTY way. She is modest and humble, and she treats everyone as her equal.

Libel: the publishing of false information that harms a person’s reputation.

Libelous

Synonyms: defamation, vilification, slander, smear, insult Antonyms: praise Few famous people bother to sue supermarket tabloids for LIBEL. They don't want to give more publicity to the harmful lies that were published. The sentence suggests that "libel" means the publishing of harmful lies. "Libel" means "the publishing of false information that harms a person's reputation," as in: Nick sued the newspaper for libel when it mistakenly printed that he had a criminal record. With the growing popularity of online social networks, new legal questions are coming up. For instance, if someone posts a nasty lie about you on Facebook, can you sue for LIBEL? With the growing popularity of online social networks, new legal questions are coming up. For instance, if someone posts a nasty lie about you on Facebook, can you sue for LIBEL?

Pseudonym: a false name used by an author; a penname

Pseudonymous

Synonyms: alias, penname, false name, Antonyms: The movie OUT OF AFRICA was based on a book written by Karen Blixen, who wrote under the PSEUDONYM Isak Dinesen. Karen Blixen used a false name (also called a pen name) for her writings. "Pseudonym" means "a false name used by an author," as in: When Bev won a prize for her essay on a family problem, she asked that it be published under a pseudonym. She didn't want everyone in town to know about her family's difficulties. In the past, female authors sometimes used male PSEUDONYMS because male writers were taken more seriously. For instance, the writer Mary Ann Evans published famous novels under the name George Eliot. In the past, female authors sometimes used male PSEUDONYMS because male writers were taken more seriously. For instance, the writer Mary Ann Evans published famous novels under the name George Eliot.

Redundancy

Redundant: wordy or needlessly repetitive

Synonyms: unnecessary, unwanted, verbose, wordy, extra Antonyms: My English professor sometimes said that my essays belonged in the "Department of REDUNDANT Information Department," thus illustrating the problem he was objecting to; The professor demonstrates the meaning of "redundant" by needlessly repeating the word "department." "Redundant" means "wordy or needlessly repetitive," as in: Because TV advertisers want viewers to remember the product's name, TV ads often use redundant wording, repeating the brand name numerous times. It is REDUNDANT to use the word very before the word enormous. The word enormous itself already means very large. The new homeowners took off the house’s aluminum siding, exposing the original FACADE of stone.

Glibness

Glib: characterized by a smooth, easy manner of speaking that often suggests insincerity or thoughtlessness

Synonyms: superficial, smooth, shallow, casual, simplistic Antonyms: profound Representatives of some technical schools make GLIB promises about future careers to get people to enroll. Many inexperienced people fall for the smooth promises and sign up; The promises have the smoothness of insincerity. "Glib" means "spoken in a smooth, ready manner," as in: Sandra has stopped going to singles' bars. She is tired of the men's glib compliments and pickup lines. Sarah didn’t trust the used car salesman. Instead of answering her questions about the car, he kept flashing her a fake smile and making GLIB comments about what a great deal it was. Sarah didn’t trust the used car salesman. Instead of answering her questions about the car, he kept flashing her a fake smile and making GLIB comments about what a great deal it was.