Word Power: Building Vocabulary Skills
Lesson 3
Lesson Quiz
Lesson Words
Etymology: [luridus (Latin), "pale yellow"]
1. sensational or shocking; as, for example, a lurid sex scandal
The newspaper printed a lurid report of the brutal murder, with no detail omitted.
Synonyms: ghastly, graphic, sensational, vivid, shocking
2. something that is very brightly colored (often used in a negative sense)
The room was painted a very lurid red.
Synonyms: intense, brilliant, vivid
Etymology: [reciprocare (Latin), "to move back and forth"]
to interchange; to give in return
The two countries have a reciprocity agreement which permits tax-free traded between the two countries.
Synonyms: exchange, repay
Etymology: [cearig (Anglo-Saxon), "full of care"]
careful; economical
My doctors is chary about giving a diagnosis until he has thoroughly reviewed all of the laboratory results.
Synonyms: cautious, circumspect; frugal, thrifty
Antonyms: rash, reckless; prodigal, lavish, spendthrift, wasteful
NOTE: Wary, meaning "cautious," is frequently used instead of chary. A person is wary if he is on the alert against deception or danger, as a wary response. Chary indicates general carefulness, particularly with respect to expenditures, as chary of praise, chary in budgeting.
Etymology: [puntilloso (Spanish), from puntillo, "a small point"; from punctum (Latin), "a point"]
scrupulously exact or attentive to the nice points of manners, dress, and so on
Many Jewish people are punctilious about eating Kosher foods.
Synonyms: scrupulous, precise, meticulous, correct
Antonyms: careless, negligent
Etymology: [dolor (Latin), "grief"]
Sad; causing or expressing sorrow
September 11, 2001 was a doleful day for most Americans.
Synonyms: grievous, rueful, melancholy, lugubrious, cheerless, plaintive
Antonyms: joyous, jubilant, gay, elated, gala, blithe
Etymology: [akme (Greek), "point"]
the highest point
The Roman Empire, at the acme of its power, stretched from Britain to the Middle East.
Synonyms: apex, summit, peak, zenith
Antonyms: nadir, base
Etymology: [culpare (Latin), "to blame"; from culpa, "fault"]
deserving blame
The attorney was found culpable of professional misconduct, and was suspended for 2 years.
Synonyms: censurable, blameworthy, blameful, blamable
Antonyms: commendable, laudable, praiseworthy, blameless, meritorious
NOTE: At one time, when a prisoner was brought before the bar of justice, the judge asked the defendant how he pleaded. If the latter replied, "Not guilty," the prosecutor would step forward and signify that he was ready to prove the defendant guilty by saying "Culprit" (from culpa, "guilty," and prit, "ready to prove"). From this original usage of culprit has developed its modern meaning, "an offender."
Etymology: [gremen (Low German), "to blacken"]
deeply ingrained dirt
My grandfather worked in a coal mine and he would come home from work each day with grime all over his body.
Synonyms: soot, dirt, smut, filth
Etymology: [arbitrare (Latin), "to express an opinion as a witness"; from arbiter, "a witness," "a judge of any matter"]
arrived at by the exercise of the will of an individual; not necessarily based on reason or justice, as an arbitrary decision, an arbitrary opinion
The judge was accused of being arbitrary in his decisions: often he gave different sentences to individuals guilty of similar offenses.
Synonyms: autocratic, absolute, capricious, whimsical
Antonyms: fair, just, equitable, reasonable, conciliatory, limited, restricted
Etymology: [chic (French), "stylish"]
elegant or smart in dress
Beth looked very chic in her new dress.
Synonyms: stylish, elegant, refined, tasteful
Antonyms: drab
