Vocabulary Level F Unit 13 abet verb to

Vocabulary Level F Unit 13

abet • (verb) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) • ANT: hamper, hinder, impede, frustrate

aver • (verb) to affirm, declare confidently • SYN: assert, asseverate, avouch • ANT: deny, disavow, repudiate, disclaim

blatant • (adjective) noisy in a course, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense • SYN: flagrant, glaring, egregious, disagreeably loud • ANT: inconsequential, trifling, piddling, petty

broach • (verb) to bring up or begin to talk about (as subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to pierce (a keg or cask) in order to draw off liquid; (noun) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

buttress • (verb) to support, prop up, strengthen; (noun) a supporting structure • SYN: (verb) bolster, reinforce, brace, shore up • ANT: (verb) undermine, weaken, impair

carousal • (noun) noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with a suggestions of heavy drinking) • SYN: drinking bout, drunken revel, binge

collate • (verb) to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc. ; to arrange in order for some specific purpose • SYN: sort out, crosscheck, rearrange

connoisseur • (noun) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical and official judgments, especially in one of the fine arts • SYN: authority, savant, pundit, collectors • ANT: ignoramus, philistine, yahoo

disconsolate • (adjective) deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation • SYN: grief-stricken, inconsolable, comfortless • ANT: cheerful, blithe, buoyant, jaunty

encumber • (verb) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc. ); to fill up, block up, hinder • SYN: overload, saddle, hamper, clog • ANT: unburden, unload, relieve

foment • (verb) to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm • SYN: instigate, incite, stir up • ANT: quell, quash, squelch, suppress

grisly • (adjective) frightful, horrible, ghastly • SYN: gruesome, gory, hideous • ANT: pleasant, delightful, attractive

herculean • (adjective) (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercase h) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusual strength • SYN: mighty, powerful, arduous, onerous, colossal • ANT: puny, Lilliputian, bantam

impassive • (adjective) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless • SYN: emotionless, stoical, unemotional, insensible • ANT: emotional, passionate, excitable

inauspicious • (adjective) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future • SYN: unpropitious, unpromising, untimely • ANT: propitious, favorable

incontrovertible • (adjective) unquestionable, beyond dispute • SYN: incontestable, indisputable, indubitable • ANT: debatable, dubious, open to question

nonplussed • (adjective, participle) puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss • SYN: perplexed, baffled, stumped, flabbergasted • ANT: poised, confident, assured

opportune • (adjective) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time • SYN: timely, appropriate, felicitous • ANT: untimely, inconvenient, inappropriate

prolific • (adjective) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse • SYN: fruitful, fecund, proliferous • ANT: barren, unproductive, sterile, sparse

rejoinder • (noun) a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit • SYN: answer, reply, response, riposte, retort