#53 intrinsic ~ itinerant

Question 1

intrinsic

/ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk, -zɪk/

Answer 1

adj. part of the essential nature of sth.; inherent
- Larry’s intrinsic boldness was always getting him into trouble.
- There was an intrinsic problem with Owen’s alibi: It was a lie.
The opposite of intrinsic is extrinsic.

Question 2

introspective

/ˌɪntrəˈspɛktɪv/

Answer 2

adj. tending to think about oneself; examining one’s feelings
- The introspective six-year-old never had much to say to other people but always seemed to be turning sth. over in her mind.
- Randy’s introspective examination of his motives led him to conclude that he must have been at fault in the breakup of his marriage.

Question 3

inundate

/ˈɪnənˌdeɪt, -ʌn-, ɪnˈʌndeɪt/

Answer 3

v. to flood; to cover completely with water; to overwhelm
- The tiny island kingdom was inundated by the tidal wave. Fortunately, no one died from the deluge.
- The mother was inundated with telegrams and gifts after she gave birth to octuplets.

Question 4

invective

/ɪnˈvɛktɪv/

Answer 4

n. insulting or abusive speech
- The critic’s searing review was filled with bitterness and invective.
- Herman wasn’t much of an orator, but he was brilliant at invective.

Question 5

inveterate

/ɪnˈvɛtərɪt/

Answer 5

adj. habitual; firm in habit; deeply rooted
- Eric was such an inveterate liar on the golf course that when he finally made a hole-in-one, he marked it on his score card as a zero.
- Larry’s practice of spitting into the fireplace became inveterate despite his wife’s protestations.

Question 6

irascible

/ɪˈræsəbəl/

Answer 6

adj. easily angered or provoked; irritable
A grouch is irascible.
- The CEO was so irascible, his employees were afraid to talk to him for fear he might hurl paperweights at them.

Question 7

ironic

/aɪˈrɒnɪk/

Answer 7

adj. meaning the opposite of what you seem to say; using words to mean sth. other than what they seem to mean
- Eddie was being ironic when he said he loved Peter like a brother; in truth, he hated him.
- Credulous George never realized that the speaker was being ironic as he discussed a plan to put a nuclear-missile silo in every backyard in America.

Question 8

irrevocable

/ɪˈrɛvəkəbəl/

Answer 8

adj. irreversible
To revoke is to take back. Sth. irrevocable cannot be taken back.
- My decision not to wear a Tarzan costume and ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is irrevocable; there is absolutely nothing you cold do or say to make me change my mind.
- After his friend pointed out that the tattoo was spelled incorrectly, Tom realized that his decision to get a tattoo was irrevocable.
Sth. that can be reversed is revocable.

Question 9

itinerant

/aɪˈtɪnərənt, ɪˈtɪn-/

Answer 9

adj. moving from place to place
- The life of a traveling salesman is an itinerant one.
- The itinerant junk dealer passes through our neighborhood every month or so, pulling his wagon of odds and ends.
- The international banker’s itinerant lifestyle began to seem less glamorous to him after his first child was born.

Question 10

itinerary

/aɪˈtɪnəˈrɛri, ɪˈtɪn-/

Answer 10

n. the planned route or schedule of a trip
- The tour guide handed each traveler an itinerary of the tour bus route so they would know what to expect throughout the day.