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The Importance of Being Earnest
Vocabulary Set Two
Review set one words
•  languid
sententious contempt
•  invalid
cynical
•  earnest
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indignation
delicate
•  lax
disposition
trivet
•  The trivet supported the pan over the fire.
•  Since ovens had not been invented yet, pioneers used trivets
to hold large cast iron pots they used for cooking in the
fireplace.
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trivet
•  Definition: an iron tripod placed over a fire for a cooking pot or
kettle to stand on
•  POS: Noun
patronize
•  The young lawyer was determined not to be put down or
patronized by her superiors.
•  The students were tired and frustrated with the professor’s
patronizing remarks.
patronize
•  Definition: to behave in an offensively condescending manner
•  POS: verb
•  Synonyms: scornful, disdainful, uppity
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•  Synonyms: scornful, disdainful, uppity
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apoplexy
•  The crew members tried in vain to revive the captain, but he
was dead due to apoplexy.
•  After examining the the condition of the brain, the coroner
determined death was caused by apoplexy.
apoplexy
•  Definition: a sudden, usually marked loss of bodily function
due to rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel.
•  POS: Noun
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•  Synonym: stroke, seizure
loathe
The household chores I loathe the most are dusting and
laundry.
I loathe the man who stole my brand new car and wrecked it.
loathe
•  Definition: to fill intense dislike or disgust
•  POS: Verb
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•  Synonyms: hate, despise, resent
•  Antonyms: love, admire, accept
surmise
•  When my next door neighbor’s son ate four peanut butter
sandwiches, I could only surmise he was hungry.
•  Since Bob and Mary are both book addicts, we jokingly
surmise the couple met in a library.
surmise
•  Definition: suppose that something is true without having
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surmise
•  Definition: suppose that something is true without having
evidence to confirm it
•  POS: Verb
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•  Synonyms: suspect, infer, conclude
•  Antonyms: fact, proof, truth
utilitarian
•  She traded in her sporty little coupe for a utilitarian station
wagon.
•  The design of her house was rather utilitarian. I personally
prefer a style that is more decorative than utilitarian.
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utilitarian
•  Definition: designed to be useful or practical rather than
attractive.
•  POS: Adjective
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•  Synonyms: functional, sensible, efficient
•  Antonyms: impractical, decrative
demeanor
•  His demeanor is usually cranky before his morning coffee.
•  A jury may consider a witness's demeanor on the stand in
determining the witness's credibility.
demeanor
•  Definition: the way a person behaves toward other people
•  POS: Noun
•  Synonym: attitude, behavior, conduct
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vacillate
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vacillate
•  I had for a time vacillated between teaching and journalism.
•  Unable to decide on which restaurant to enter, she vacillated
for hours before opting for Italian.
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vacillate
•  Definition: alternate or waver between different opinions or
actions; be indecisive
•  POS: Verb
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•  Synonyms: hesitate, conflicted, undecided
•  Antonyms: stay, hold, persist
debonair
•  On the day of his wedding, my brother looked debonair in his
tuxedo.
•  With his dirty hair and rumpled clothing, the homeless man
looked far from debonair.
debonair
•  Definition: confident, stylish, and charming
•  POS: Adjective
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•  Synonyms: sophisticated, refined, elegant
•  Antonyms: awkward, clumsy
hypocrisy
•  Definition: a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or
religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really
possess.
•  POS: Noun
•  Synonyms: fraud, deception, dishonesty
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•  POS: Noun
•  Synonyms: fraud, deception, dishonesty
•  Antonym: sincere, honest, trustworthy
hypocrisy
•  To say you are concerned, and yet fail to act can only be
hypocrisy.
•  It's hypocritical for him to encourage his children not to smoke
while he is puffing away on a cigarette.
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