BEWARE A
PARSIMONIOUS
PREDECESSOR
NOTE: You are responsible for knowing ALL words defined
in this list as well as the prefixes/suffixes and words defined in the boxes.
virtuoso • termerity • volition • torpor. quandary •
trepidation. zenith. reticence. respite. parsimony.
nostalgia • predecessor
VIRTUOSO n. a highly skilled performer
As Meatloaf yowled eloquently from the top of the oak tree, Dad
observed, "Hmm, we have a true feline virtuoso. Now if only she were
a virtuoso at climbing, she could get herself down from there."
TEMERITY n. unwise boldness; rash or reckless behavior
Meatloaf showed unusual temerity in scaling that oak. Dude, of course, is
forever hurtling into danger with a temerity that would never occur to a
more sensible dog.
VOUTION n. use ofyour own wi1l, by your choice
Animals were once viewed as beings of instinct only, with no powers of
volition. Now we know that animals act on their own volition fairly
often.
TORPOR n. sluggishness, lethargy; Inability to think or act
quickly adj. torpid
To be absolutely pooped is to feel torpor. I was in a totally torpid state
once after a grueling wrestling match. Boxers must feel a similar torpor
after their matches.
QUANDARY n. a feeling a puzzlement or doubt
Choosing a college is a perplexing process that has most of us in a state
of quandary. It's a quandary that will remain, I think, until the final
decision is made.
TREPIDATION n. fear, worry, apprehension
I keep seeing the phrase "in fear and trepidation," which seems
repetitious, because trepidation often means fear. I'd rather say, "He
went forward timidly, with trepidation."
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SAT WORD FLASH
ARCH - chief or main; ruler
hierarchy-a series arranged by rank or grade
at the top of the hierarchy
her place in the hierarchy
anarchy-lack ofgovernment, often resulting in lawlessness
historical anarchy in the Balkans
anarchy in the ranks
Also: patriarch, matriarch, monarch, archangel, architect
ZENITH n. the highest point, or acme; point of culmination
Although zenith means the highest point in the sky above us, I more
often hear it used in phrases like "when his powers were at their zenith"
or "at the zenith of her career."
RETICENCE n. quietness and restraint in personality adj.
reticent, silent, restrained, reserved
President Calvin Coolidge, a silent, restrained New Englander, was
famous for his reticence. On hearing that this most reticent of men had
died, writer Dorothy Parker said, "How can you tell?"
RESPITE n. time of relieffrom activity; rest, pause, tuU
Thanksgiving weekend came as a welcome respite after a crazy autumn.
That's the purpose of a vacation, of course-to act as a respite from our
normal, busy lives.
LU/LUC - light
lucid-clear and distinct; sensible, inteUigible
a graceful, lucid talk
having recovered luetd speech
elucidate--to explain fuUy and clearly
elucidate his problem, please
always happy to eluetdate
Also: lucidity, translucent, luminous, Lucifer, lucubration
BEWARE A PARSIMONIOUS PREDECESSOR
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PARSIMONY n. extreme stinginess; thrift; penny-pinching
As all of Dickens's readers know, the character Ebenezer Scrooge is
synonymous with parsimony. Underpaying his staff and failing to heat
his business office were only a few of Scrooge's parsimonious habits.
NOSTALGIA n. a sentimental longing for a past time or state
adj. nostalgic
My grandparents are a typically nostalgiC pair who always tell the same
stories about my dad as a kid. Nostalgia for the past and the way things
were must be a natural part of growing older.
PREDECESSOR n. an ancestor,. prior person In a position
My predecessor on the newspaper was an editor who turned the various
staff members into a close family of coworkers. My grandparents, who
are my hereditary predecessors and who aren't one bit parsimonious,
generously provide a vacation spot for our entire family each summer.
MIMORYFIX
To learn these new words, write each one on a sheet of paper. Also write
a synonym or definition for each and say the words aloud as you work.
FILL IN THI BLANKS
From the new words in this chapter, select the one that best completes
the meaning and logic of each sentence. Note which tense or form of the
word is required for sense.
1. Meadowlark Lemon, a magician on the basketball court, and
Itzhak Perlman, a gifted violinist, are both _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
in their respective fields.
2. The alternatives were so different and so complex that I was left
in a complete _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
3. When the anaesthetic has worn off and the patient is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, the newspaper reporter will want to interview him.
4. A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ man, Jacob Grunch amassed a fortune
through careful management and total disregard of others' needs.
5. I wouldn't mind crossing the desert at night, but never when the
sun is at its _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
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6. SAT WORD FLASH in every limb of his body, the hibernating
bear stretched slowly, then settled back into sleep.
7. I remember my summers at camp with __________
sorry that I'm too old to return.
8. Before the principal called him to her office, my friend Greg went
of his own
, hoping to mitigate her anger
by his voluntary appearance.
9. Today's politicians don't dare be
because the TV era demands articulate speakers. folk, 10. We're amazed every year at the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the
squirrels who collect acorns from our porch, despite the vigilance
of Meatloaf and Dude.
MATCHING ANTONYMS
Knowing opposites is helpful. Match the words on the left with their
opposites on the right.
1. trepidation·
2. reticence
3. zenith
4. torpid
5. temerity
6. elucidate
7. anarchy
8. virtuoso
9. predecessor
____________ 10.parsimony
to obscure
descendant
hyperactive
order
confidence
beginner
generosity
nadir (lowest point)
bombast
timidity
• Knowing what trepidation is, what does intrepid probably mean?