accost- verb-to approach or speak first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way; approach, confront
animadversion – noun- a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval; rebuke, reproof
avid – adj- desirous or something to the point of greed; eager; keen, enthusiastic
brackish – adj – having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink; briny, saline
celerity – adj – swiftness, rapidity of motion or action; promptness, alacrity, speed
devious – adj- staying from the straight or direct course; acting in a shifty or underhanded way; tricky,
roundabout, sly, artful
gambit – noun – in chess an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to
gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type; ploy, stratagem, ruse, maneuver
halcyon –noun – calm, peaceful, happy, golden, prosperous; tranquil, serene, placid, palmy
histrionic – adj – theatrical, artificial, melodramatic; affected, stagy
incendiary –adj- deliberately setting or causing fire or strife; inflammatory, provocative
maelstrom – adj- a whirlpool of great size and violence- a situation resembling a whirlpool in
violence or destruction; vortex, chaos, turbulence, tumult
myopic –adj- nearsighted, lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation, lack of foresight or
discernment; shortsighted
overt –adj- open, not hidden; expressed or revealed; clear, obvious, manifest, patent
pejorative – adj – tending to make worse, expressing disapproval; derogatory; belittling
propriety –noun – the state of being proper or appropriate; fitness, correctness, decorum
sacrilege- noun- improper or disrespectful treatment of something considered sacred, desecration, profanation, defilement
summarily – adverb – without delay or formality; concisely; promptly, abrubtly
suppliant – adj – asking humbly and earnestly;
talisman – noun – an object that serves as a charm or is believed to have magical powers.
undulate – verb – to move in waves or a wavelike motion, ripple, fluctuate, rise and fall
Vocabulary 2, exercise 2. Choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences. Make sure to use the correct verb tense or plural as needed.
1. Although a heavy snowfall was not expected, the highway department responded with surprising __________________________.
2. Many innocent people caught in the ______________________ of the revolution lost their lives and property.
3. The nobleman was ____________________ by the beggars on his way to the castle.
4 The interrogator used ____________________ methods to try to get the suspect to inciminate himself.
5 The baseball fans began to _____________________ as they cheered, so that they appeared to move like a wave.
6 The social worker questioned the ________________________ of the police’s request to see confidential records.
7 The shipwrecked passengers on the life raft became ill after drinking _____________________ water.
8 The woman often spoke of the ____________________ days of her youth.
9 He made a ______________________ address to the parole board, asking for an early release.
10. The arsonist planted a(n) __________________________ bomb in the basement of the store.
11 The _____________________ foreign policy of the last administration led to serious problems with
our allies.
12 Upon receiving his award, the young actor made a(n) _____________________ speech.
13. The anthropologist was accused of committing a __________________________ when she
disturbed an ancient burial ground.
14. The lawyer stepped over the line when he used a _____________________ term in referring to the defendant.
15. Many people do not believe that rabbit’s feet and other _________________________bring good
luck.
16. The inexperienced filmmaker was disheartened by the _________________________ of the film critic.
17. Asking an interesting stranger about his or her job is a popular ___________________ at a party.
18 In order for congress to declare war, the president must demonstrate a(n) _______________ threat.
19 As soon as there was evidence of criminal wrong doing, the official was ______________________ ousted from his post.
20. Most writers are also ________________ readers who have loved books since childhood.
Vocabulary 2, exercise 3 Provide either the synonym or antonym for the underlined word.
Synonyms
1. a tireless petitioner ____________________________
2. a lucky amulet ______________________________
3. the vortex of public opinion _____________________________
4. ripple in the current _____________________________
5. was taken in by her stratagem _____________________________
6.outraged by the desecration ____________________________
7. apologized for his
unnecessary rebuke _____________________________
8. swam in the briny water ____________________________
9. abruptly resigned from the cabinet _____________________________
10. behaved with her usual decorum _____________________________
11. memories of our serene beginnings _________________________
12. confronted the thief at the door ________________________
13. completed the job with alacrity _______________________
14. their derogatory references to the past _________________________
15. took an indirect root _________________________
Antonyms
16. identified the peacemaker _________________________
17. make a very low-key plea for mercy ______________________
18. one of the most reluctant participants _________________________
19. known for farsighted thinking ____________________________
20. took secret action to avoid a crisis ___________________________
Vocab 2, exercise 1. Choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences. Make sure to use the correct verb tense or plural as needed
1 To our dismay we discovered that the water we had worked so hard to bring to the surface was too
_______________________ for human consumption.
2. As an employee of the local polling service last summer, it was my job to ______________________ people
on the street and ask them questions.
3. Many a rich southern planter saw all his resources swallowed up in the _________________________ of the
Civil War.
4. After the prisoner had been found guilty of treason, he was led before the firing squad and
___________________ executed.
5. Saying that “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” is not an effective response to their
_____________________________ on your conduct.
6. During the rainy season, the highway sank at so many points that its surface began to
_________________________ like the track of a roller coaster.
7. I stand before you an abject _____________________, hoping against hope for your forgiveness.
8. My brother is such a(n) ________________________ collector of toy soldiers that I sometimes think our
house has been invaded by a pint-sized army.
9. The suffix ling often has a _______________________ connotation, as in the word princeling derived from
prince.
10. On the return trip, we cut straight across the meadows rather than taking the
more________________________ path along the river.
11. In grandmother’s day the standards of _________________________ required that a young lady wear a hat and gloves when she went out in public.
12. The _______________________ in which he accepted out invitation to dinner suggested that he was badly
in need of a good meal.
13. The tons of ____________________________ material ignited and turned the waste disposal plant into a
towering inferno.
14. In the eyes of most Americans, people who spit or burn the flag are guilty of an intolerable _____________.¬¬¬¬¬
15. We looked back at those ____________________________ years before the war as a kind of “golden age”
in our history.
16. Any book on chess strategy usually discusses the standard opening moves, such as the “knight’s”
_____________________________.
17. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a(n) _______________ act of war.
18. Down in the old square, a wrinkled old peasant was selling charms and ____________________ to warn off the evil eye.
19. Her temper tantrum was nothing more than a (n) ________________________ outburst.
20.Her pale face, hunched shoulders and _______________ stare showed that she had spent her life pouring over old books and documents.
Vocabulary 2, exercise 4 Circle the correct word for each sentence.
1. Her reckless words had an (incendiary, overt) effect on the already large crowd and large-scaled rioting
ensued.
2. He is the kind of person who is not concerned with real moral values but simply with appearances and
(celerity, propriety).
3. He regarded his Phi Beta Kappa key as a (animadversion, talisman) that would open him all doors and win
him universal acceptance.
4. After years of failure to sell a single story, the young writer described himself bitterly as a(n) ( pejoratives,
avid ) collector of rejection slips.
5. She was buffeted about in a veritable (gambit, maelstrom) of emotions caused mainly by her own
dissatisfaction with herself.
6. His methods were so complicated and his purposes so (avid, devious) that we were not sure whether he was
spying on the enemy or us.
7. Without even considering the new evidence that I was about to present, they (summarily, deviously) denied
my appeal to reopen the case.
8. In an age when the United States has truly global responsibilities, we can ill afford leaders with (myopic,
pejorative) points of view.
9. The adoring fan regarded my negative comment about his favorite singer as tantamount to (maelstrom,
sacrilege).
10. I certainly do not claim that my performance in office was beyond critics, but I deeply resent
(animadversions, maelstroms) on my honesty.
11. Although politicians must have some ability to dramatize themselves, it is very easy to overdo the
(proprieties, histrionics).
12. As the defendant left the courtroom, he was (accosted, gambited) by a group of reporters looking for his
reaction to the verdict.
13. Walt tends to react slowly, but when he feels his own interests are at stake, he can react with (myopia,
celerity).
14. Since the word appeasement is associated with disastrous concessions to Adolf Hitler, it has acquired a(n)
(pejorative, overt) connotation.
15. John Masefield’s poem “Sea Fever” has an (avid, undulating) rhythm that actually gives one the feeling of
being on a rolling ship.
16. “His acts of defiance have been so (myopic, overt) and premeditated that I have no choice but to fire him,”
she said sadly.
17. Instead of imbibing the (brackish, suppliant) waters of superstition, let us refresh ourselves with long
draughts of common sense.
18. “I realize that this type of (gambit, sacrilege) has its risks,” she said, “but I expect it to pay off handsomely
in the end.
19. Nary a ripple disturbed the (halcyon, brackish) calm of the sea on that glorious summer afternoon.
20. The infatuated school boy, in one of his more restrained expressions, described himself as a (suppliant,
sacrilege) on the altar of love.
Answers to yesterday's Hamlet test on Act I
1. This refers to the paradox of Gertude and Claudius's quick wedding, after the death a month earlier or King Hamlet.
2.The pun is on the word sun, as compared to the filial relationship son. A child should be blessed but in this case, the new father is casting a shadow.
3. "Your father had a father, that father lost, lost his" ; it is "obstinate condolment"; "peevish opposition"; "vulgar thing to sense"
4. It is against God's law to commit suicide.
5.Hamlet is bitter and sarcastic.
6.Hamlet observes that his father was a complete man; that is he was both good and bad; still, he was unique and gone.
7.If bad things are going to happen, there is nothing can stop them. (ties into theme of fate)
8.Hamlet tells Ophelia that Hamlet cannot marry her, as he has political responsibilites.
9. She reminds Hamlet of the hypocritic priest, who tells his parishioners to behave, when he himself does not.
10. Polonius tells Ophilia to not be so naive or innocent, that Hamlet's tenders (sweet words) will not lead to marriage. She must tender (watch herself) carefully or she'll embarass Polonius by making him a father or causing a scandal.
11. Claudius is drinking; Hamlet is disgusted.
12. purgatory (note: Limbo was the place for unbaptized babies)
13. A serpent bit him
14. With juice of cursed hebona in a vial / And in the porches of my eat did pour
15. People can appear to be kind, but they really are not.
16 Hamlet is fated to revenge his father's death.
17. beaver
18. Globe Theatre
19. Denmark
20. blank verse
Posssesives...copy of today's handout
Folks seem to be having problems with possessives. Please review the rules and fill in the blanks as needed.
THIS IS DUE TOMORROW: SEPTEMBER 26
General Rules for Making POSSESSIVE NOUNS
RULE ONE: Most words simply get apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the box belonging to Steve -> Steve's box
the bedroom of the child -> the child's bedroom
YOUR TURN: Write in the correct word for each blank.
the house belonging to Julie -> 1. That is _______ house.
the name of the cat -> 2. My ________ name is Maggie.
the car belonging to my friend -> 3. My_________ car is blue.
the newspaper from yesterday -> 4. Did you read__________________ newspaper?
RULE TWO: Plural nouns ending in S simply get an apostrophe (s').
EXAMPLES:
the box belonging to the girls -> the girls' box
the bedroom of the kids -> the kids' bedroom
YOUR TURN: Write in the correct word for each blank.
the restroom for ladies -> 5. Where is the_________________ restroom?
the cars belonging to my friends -> 6. I saw my_______________ cars in the parking lot.
the tests taken by the students -> 7. The teacher will return the__________________ tests after lunch.
RULE THREE: For irregular plurals (not ending in S), add apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the coats of the women -> the women's coats
the jackets of the children -> the children's jackets
YOUR TURN: Write in the correct word for each blank.
the restroom for men -> 8. Where is the______________ restroom?
the choice of the people -> 9. Vote for this candidate. He is the _________________ choice.
the tracks of the geese -> 10. It was easy to follow the_________________ tracks in the snow.
RULE FOUR: For names ending in S, add apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the cat belonging to Charles -> Charles's cat
the jacket of the Phyllis -> Phyllis's jackets
YOUR TURN: Write in the correct word for each blank.
the house belonging to Mr. Janus -> 11. Where is ________________ house?
the shoes belonging to Curtis -> 12. Those are _______________ shoes.
the sister of Ross -> 13. Monica is_______________ sister.
ALTERNATE RULE FOUR: For names ending in S, simply add an apostrophe (s').
EXAMPLES:
the cat belonging to Charles -> Charles' cat
the jacket of the Phyllis -> Phyllis' jackets
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the book belonging to Ulysses -> 14. That is______________- book.
the desk belonging to Doris -> 15. I sit next to ___________________-desk.
the mother of Francis -> 16. Do you know where_____________________- mother lives?
