Vocabulary 9
The *ords in this lesson deal with the common human traits of boldness
and mildness. While most people tend to be either bold or mild, an occasional
individual manages to combine these two characteristics. Mohandas Ghandi,
one of the great leaders of the twentieth century, proved that mildness can
actually inspire boldness. Ghandi led a powerful movement that brought
India and Pakistan independence from Great Britain in the 1950s.In keeping
with the mildness that characterized his personal life, he lived simply, eating
only vegetarian foods and even weaving his own clothing. ln fact, he refused
to injure any living thing. But Chandi used his mildness in a bold way,
fostering the concept of nonviolent resistance against oppression. When he
and his followers were attacked in political protests, they simply refused tcr
fight back. In this way, they maintained personal dignity and showed the
justice of their cause. This arresting response awakened the conscience of the
world, and had a profound influence both on the fate of India and l)akistan
and, later, on civil rights movements throughout the world.
brazen
complaisant
conspicuous
docile
flamboyant
intrepid
pacific
reserrred
strident
unabashed
After you have studied the definitions and example for earch."'ocabularv word, r,r'rite
the word on the line to the right.
1, brazen (bra'zan) odjct:tiztt' Rudely bold; insole.nt.
undergo with bold or brash self-assurance.
trntrs.tttrlt
To face or
RelatedWords brazenly ndrterb;brazenness rrorlr
Example
Tom made a brnzcnremark about the r-rnattr.-rctive
color of
Tiffanv's dress.
2. complaisant (kem-pla'sant) ndjectizte Showing a dcsirc or willingncss to plcasc;
"to
cheerfully obliging; amiable. (From the C)ld French word cotrrllnirc,meaning
please")
Refated Words
Example
complaisan.ce noun; complaisantly adt,crh
Miriam's crtnrplaisant
attitude made her an easy pers()n to work
with.
USAGENOTE: Conrpare
comDlocent.Like conrploisont,comDlocentmeans
"eager
t o p l e a s e Jb' u t i t
"contented
also rneans
to
a fault; self-satisfiedand
unconcerned."
3. conspicuous (ken-spik'ytn-as) ndjt'ctiuc a. Easv to notice; obvious.
b. Attracting attention by being unusual or rem.lrkabler.(From the I-atirr.orl-, an
"to
intensive prefix, and specere,meaning
look")
Related Words
Example
conspicuously adztcrb;conspicuousness rTolri
The last to arrive, Patric'ia made a cttnspicutttts
entrance at the
formal dinner oartl'.
4. docile (dbs'el) adjectiae Easily managed or taught; gentle. (From the Latin word
"to
docere,meanrng
teach")
Refated Word
Example
docilely adaerb
Becausethe puppy was unusually docile,the Ayalas chose him as
a pet for their four-year-oid
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Boldness and Mildness
53
5'
5. flamboyant (fldm-boi'ent) adjectiae a. Exaggerated or high-flown in style or
manner; showy. b. Highly elaborate; ornate. c' Richly colored; vivid. (From the
"flame")
Latin word flamma, meaning
Ref ated Words
Exampf e
flamboyance noun; flamboyantly adverb
The journalist was criticized for his flamboyant wrltrng style.
6' -
6. intrepid (in-tr6p'id) adjectizte Courageous; fearless; bold. (From the Latin ir-,
"alarmed")
meaning"not,"andtrepidus,meaning
Ht"it",ft\?J::'t:?"
notrtr
RelatedWords intrepidlyadaerb;intrepidness
;TiTi;Jil:;;ff
Example
7'
7' pacific (pa-sif ik) adjectiue Promoting peace; peaceful; tranquil; serene. (From the
"to
"peace,"
make")
and t'acerc,meaning
Latin words par, meaning
Example
:;
intrepid.
The intrepid adventurer risked her life exploring the jungles along
the Amazon River.
The powerful nation's;rncry'cstatements were reassurin5;to its
weaker neighbor.
8'
8. reserved (ri-z0rvd') adjectiae a. Quiet and restrained in manner. b. Held for a
"to
keep
meaning
particular person or persons. (From the Latin word r('.sut)are,
back")
Refated Words
Example
reservation iloutt: reserve trt'rtr
Instead of reacting angrily to the insulting remark, Meg answered
Ted in a rescrrtedway.
9.
9. strident (strrd'nt) nd jt:ctiuc Having a shrill, harsh, and grating sound or effect.
(From the Latin word stridcre,meaning "to make harsh sounds")
Refated Words
Example
stridency noun; stridently nduerh
The speaker's stridentvoice irritated many members of the
audience.
10.
10. unabashed (irn'a-b.lsht') ndiectitte Not embarrassed or ashamed
Refated Word
Exampfe
54
USAGENOTE:AN
unabashedly aduerb
Forgettinghis lines for the secondtime, Paul remained unahashetl.
Boldness and Miidness
of unoboshed
is
antonym
::::3:1,ff:l|}i"discon"ashamed."
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DATE
NAME
On the answer line, write the word from the vocabulary list that best completes
each definition.
1. Someone who shows a desire or willingness to please is -.
1.
2. A rudely bold or insolent person is -.
2.
3. A courageous or fearless person is -.
3.
4. A peaceful person is -.
4.
5. Something that is easy to notice or that attracts attention is -.
{
6. Something that is exaggerated or showy is -.
6.
7. An -
7.
person is not easily embarrassed.
8. To have a shrill, harsh, or grating sound or effect is to be -.
8.
9. Someone who is quiet and restrained in manner ls -.
9.
1 0 . A n e a s i l ym a n a g e dp e r s o n i s - .
10.
Decide whether the italicized vocabulary word has been used correctly in the sentence
On the answer line, write Correctfor correct use and Incorrectfor incorrect use.
1. Wanting to please his aunt, Jerry made a series of brazenremarks.
1.
2. People sometimes overlook Suzanne because she is such a reseruedperson.
2.
3. Becauseof her pacific nature, Linda was often called upon to settle her friends'
arguments.
3.
4. Henry's dark gray suit seemedfTamboyantnext to Anna's bright red dress.
4.
5. David Livingstone, the intrcpid explorer responsible for some of the first maps of
5.
central Africa, followed the Zambezi River to Victoria Falls in 1855.
6. Turning bright red and stammering helplessly, Felicia continued her recitation,
b.
totallv unabashed.
7. As the speaker became angrier, a strident tone crept into his voice.
7.
8. Duane's extreme height made him conspicuous----€ven
on the basketball team.
8.
9. Wilma's stubbornness was the reason that her employer described her as having a
docllepersonality.
9.
10. In a complaisantframe of mind, Michelle mowed the lawn even before her father
asked her to.
10.
Decide which word or phrase has the meaning that is the same as (a synonym) or
opposite to (an antonym) that of the capitalized vocabulary word. Write the letter of
your choice on the answer line.
1. CONSPICUOUS (antonym):
a. invisible
b. obvious
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c. shy
d. faint
Boldnessand Mildness
55
2. UNABASHED (synonym):
a. displeased
b. absent
2.
c. uninspired
d. unembarrassed
c. fearful
d. aggressive
c. harsh
d. sweet
c. clownish
d. ill-mannered
5. FLAMBOYANT (synonym):
a. showy
b. dull
c. neat
d. conservative
7. PACIFIC(antonym):
a. colorful
b. mild
c. outra€teous
d. turbulent
c. talkative
d. amiable
c. outspoken
d. joyful
c. brash
d. polite
J.
INTREPID(antonym):
a. bold
b. modest
J.
4. STRIDENT(synonym):
a. mellow
b. adventurous
DOCILE (antonym):
a. mild
b. stubborn
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. COMPLAISANT (synonym):
a. slncere
8.
b. unfriendiy
9. RESERVED(antonym):
a. quiet
b. optimistic
1 0 . B R A Z E N( s y n o n y m ) :
a. shy
b. proud
10.
Decide which form of the vocabulary word in parenthcses best completes the sentence.
The form given may be correct. Write your answer on thc answer line.
1. The of the talk-sl'row host's voice discouraged many listeners from calling
tn. (stridcnt)
1.
2. The groom's parents were -
2.
absent from the wedding cercrnony. (t'ortslticuotts)
3. The baby sitter prided herself on her -
attitude towarcl thc scluabbling four-
J.
year-olds. (pacit'ic)
4. Without a deposit the hotel clerk would not accept a -
4.
for Labor Day
weekend. (rest:raed)
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 1973) was a fashion designer known for tl'redesign. (flamboyant)
6. The ttrur guidc -
8. Hoping for a fish, the trained seal -
Boldnessand Mildness
6.
to the top of Mt. Everest in
7.
clapped his flippers three times. (docile)
8.
into the teachers' cafeteria to look for the coach. (brnzen)
10. The young man smiled (unabashed)
56
J.
led the tourists through the ancient stone ruins. (complnisnnt)
7. Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander, climbed 1953. (intrepid)
9. Jeremy walked -
of hcr
as the store detective accused him of shoplifting.
9.
10.
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