October 3, 2011
INTRACTABLE
(in TRAK tuh bul – adj.)
Definition:
uncontrollable; stubborn; hard to
manage; disobedient
Sentences:
The intractable child was a torment to her
nursery school teacher.
James was intractable in his opposition to
the salary increase for the library
employees; he would not vote to give them
a raise.
Dr. Clemente was puzzled by the
intractable infection because none of the
treatments he tried had any effect on it.
Synonyms:
adamant; obstinate; uncooperative;
inflexible
Antonyms:
accommodating; compliant; tractable;
agreeable
Memory Clue:
INTRACTABLE is from the Latin ‘in’ (meaning NOT) and
‘tractabilis’ (manageable) INTRACTABLE means cannot be
managed or handled easily.
October 10, 2011
HARROWING
(HARE oh ing – adjective)
Definition:
extremely distressing, disturbing,
or frightening
Sentences:
After the harrowing experience when Ed’s
main parachute didn’t open and his
emergency one saved him at the last
minute, he vowed never to jump again.
Interviewing victims of the hurricane, the
media reported stories of harrowing
escapes from deadly winds and rising
floods.
Synonyms:
dangerous; traumatic
Memory Clue:
Think of this cartoon and
L:ink HARROWING WITH HARE ROWING.
“A HARROWING experience for a HARE ROWING”
October 17, 2011
EXPEDITE
(EK spi dyte – verb)
Definition: to speed up the progress of; to
execute quickly & efficiently
Sentences:
During the crowded sale, the store manager
opened another cash register to expedite the
check-out process.
Since our accountant was knowledgeable
about the new laws, she was able to
expedite the filing of our taxes.
In order to meet the deadline, the contractor
expedited the construction by hiring
additional workers.
Synonyms:
dispatch; accelerate; facilitate
Antonyms:
delay; hamper; hinder
Memory Clue:
EXPEDITE is from the Latin “ex” (means out) and “pedan”
(means foot) If you get your foot out of an entanglement, you
expedite your movement.
October 31, 2011
SCRUTINIZE
(SKROOT uh nyze - verb)
Definition:
to look at very carefully; to
examine or inspect critically
Sentences:
The umpire decided to scrutinize the ball
after observing the strange movements of
the pitcher.
The rocket scientists scrutinized thousands
of pages of computer printout to determine
why the shuttle had exploded.
Synonyms:
analyze; investigate; study
Antonyms:
disregard; overlook; ignore
Memory Clue:
The noun form of SCRUTINIZE is SCRUTINY To scrutinize
something is to subject it to careful observation or SCRUTINY.
The clever forgery fooled the museum curator, but it did not
withstand the scrutiny of the experts.
Something that cannot be examined or scrutinized is
INSCRUTABLE. INSCRUTABLE means mysterious or
impossible to understand.
We had no idea what William was thinking since his
smile was inscrutable.
Poker players try to be inscrutable to their opponents.
October 24, 2011
HARANGUE
(HUH rang – verb or noun)
Definition:
1. to lecture, berate; to address
forcefully (verb)
2. a long, bombastic speech; a
tirade (noun)
Sentences:
The sergeant harangued the recruits for
not keeping in step as the platoon
practiced marching.
The members ignored the main point of
the club president’s harangue on
fundraising because he was always
ranting about money.
Our neighbor is a farmer who visits
downtown every Saturday and harangues
everyone he meets about how badly the
government treats farmers.
Memory Clue:
Think of this cartoon and l:ink HARANGUE with a rhyme,
MERINGUE
“The mayor’s insulting HARANGUE about women staying out
of politics was met with thrown MERINGUE pies”