Vocab Unit 9

Question 1

bystander

Answer 1

(n) one who looks on or observes

The bystander who had witnessed the collision gave his statement to the police.

Question 2

canvass

Answer 2

(v) to go through an area in order to procure votes, sales, or opinions

The students volunteered to canvass the neighborhood for the candidate.

Question 3

downtrodden

Answer 3

(adj) treated unfairly or cruelly

They treated him downtrodden.

Question 4

erode

Answer 4

(v) to wear away gradually, eat away

The rock is eroding.

Question 5

gruesome

Answer 5

(adj) horrible, revolting, ghastly

The car wreck was gruesome.

Question 6

melancholy

Answer 6

(adj) sad gloomy, unhappy
(n) sadness, gloominess

She is always melancholy.

Question 7

ordeal

Answer 7

(v) a difficult or painful experience, a trail

That was a ordeal moment.

Question 8

persist

Answer 8

(v) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last remain

We must persist!

Question 9

quibble

Answer 9

(v) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections
(n) a petty objection

Do not quibble her.

Question 10

vital

Answer 10

(adj) having life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

I am a vital part.

Question 11

accelerate

Answer 11

(v.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly

Question 12

casual

Answer 12

(adj.) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal

A casual remark made by the mayor was used against him by the press.

Question 13

entice

Answer 13

(v.) to attract, tempt

To entice shoppers into the store, salespeople were giving away coupons for free gifts.

Question 14

flounder

Answer 14

(v.) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way

After suffering much damage in the storm, the small craft was left to flounder about helplessly.

Question 15

graphic

Answer 15

(adj.) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts

A witness gave the reporter a graphic account of the destruction caused by the tornado.

Question 16

parch

Answer 16

(v.) to make dry and thirsty; to shovel with heat

The fields of Oklahoma were parched by drought in the 1930s.

Question 17

puny

Answer 17

(adj.) of less than normal strength or size; of no importance

The wrestler let out a coarse burst of laughter when his puny opponent entered the ring.

Question 18

ratify

Answer 18

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, confirm

The legislatures of three-fourths of the state must ratify an amendment to the Constitution.

Question 19

regal

Answer 19

(adj.) royal, kinglike; fit for a king

The two families pooled their resources to give the bride and groom a truly regal wedding.

Question 20

stifle

Answer 20

(v.) to smother, prevent from breathing; to hold back or choke off

Unable to stifle her anger, the sculptor lashed out at her harshest critic.