Have we mastered our environment?

Natural disasters tend to nullify the best efforts of mankind. It is as though there are forces at

work that are contemptuous* of our proud achievements. Who has not read of or seen the

waters that deluge our towns and cities, jeopardizing* lives and culminating* in the

destruction of the results of endless work in the space of a few moments? We are all

vulnerable* to feelings of futility as we view the carnage caused to cattle from the sudden

inundation.* Despite the laudable* advances made in technology, * it can be seen that we cannot

yet say we have mastered our environment. Disasters of this type, leaving only pathetic*

vestiges* of homes and shops, are accepted as inevitable,* and all we can do is to attempt to

ameliorate* the conditions that result.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. In spite of his efforts to cajole* the girl, she remained aloof,* and the

________________ of his efforts made him lugubrious.*

2. To our consternation,* modern ________________ has made feasible* a spate* of

lethal* devices that could lead to the inadvertent* destruction of the world.

3. In order to ________________ the height advantage of his adversary,* he abjured*

smoking and did an inordinate amount of exercise until he was the acme* of litheness*

and dexterity.*

4. We found it impossible to mollify* the irate* owner of three prize cats as he viewed the

________________ caused by our large dog.

5. The office was ________________ with requests for his autograph as the girls became

cognizant* of his identity.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. nullify a. slaughter

7. deluge (v.) b. to flood

8. futility c. abolish, cancel

9. carnage d. applied science

10. technology e. uselessness

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to build upon sand —to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation

Because they were amateurs and without money, the political campaign was built upon

sand and the candidate was a flash in the pan.*

N EW W ORDS

Libel

lī´ bəl

Defamatory

di fam´ ə tôr ē

Plaintiff

plān´ tif

Canard

kə närd´

Deprecate

dep´ rə kāt

W EEK 44 D AY 2

GOOD NEWS—AND BAD

One of the latent* dangers indigenous* to our constitutional guarantee of freedom of the

press has to do with the protection of the individual against the detriment* that might come

from news reports involving him. There are libel laws that protect against false charges. If an

individual believes his character or livelihood have been damaged by a defamatory article, he

can sue. As the plaintiff he must refute* the story and show how the defendant caused him

harm by printing a canard. The defendant attempts to substantiate* the truth of the article. The

printing of news may besmirch* an individual’s character, but there is no way to alleviate*

this problem without changes in the Constitution. This would be tantamount* to destroying the

efficacy* of our coveted* right to learn the truth from the press. We all deprecate a situation

in which someone suffers because of exposure in the newspapers. Only when the harm is

caused by someone with a desire to malign* under the guise* of printing the news can the

individual expect to win compensation* through the courts.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The mayor vehemently* denied there was any antipathy* between the governor and

himself and blamed this ________________ on their political opponents.

2. I resent your ________________ remark that depicts* me as a culprit.*

3. The egregious* calumny* of the defendant worked to the advantage of the

________________.

4. Publishers of newspapers and magazines augment* their staff with lawyers to represent

them when they are sued for ________________.

5. The cynic* will ________________ the motives of anyone who tries to ameliorate* the

iniquities* in our society.

Definitions Study these carefully for the fine differences in meaning.

6. libel (n.) a. express disapproval

7. defamatory b. the complaining party, in law

8. plaintiff c. degradation by writing or publishing

9. canard d. damaging character by false reports

10. deprecate e. a made-up sensational story

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

a pretty kettle of fish —a messy situation, a problem

He knew that when he attacked the sacred cow* he would be in a pretty kettle of fish.

(Do you remember this idiom? It was used earlier in the book and should be familiar.)

N EW W ORDS

Reputed

ri pyü´ tid

Frail

frāl

Potent

pōt´ nt

Excoriate

ek skôr´ ē āt

Devout

di vout´

W EEK 44 D AY 3

A PHILOSOPHER FOR OUR TIME

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher who is reputed to be the forerunner of the

current vogue* of existentialism. In appearance he was a frail and ungainly man. An

extremely erudite* thinker and writer, he was a potent force in propagating* the new

approach to life. His philosophy would excoriate those who believed that man could stand

aside from life. In his philosophy it is a heresy* to take a detached point of view; it is

incumbent* upon the individual to get involved. What is germane* is not that we exist, but that

our existence is determined by our acts. He was a religiously devout man who fervidly*

believed that the individual is always paramount.*

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. Even though she was piqued* at his indolent* manner, it was pathetic* to listen to her

________________ him in public.

2. His awesome* mental dexterity* compensated* for his ________________ physical

condition.

3. When Ben’s muscles began to atrophy,* the doctor initiated* therapy* with a

________________ new drug.

4. The drug is ________________ to have a salubrious* effect on nascent* conditions of

this type.

5. Although he was a ________________ adherent* of the party, he remained aloof*

during the vitriolic* primary campaign.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. reputed a. thought, supposed, believed

7. frail b. religious, sincere

8. potent c. delicate, weak

9. excoriate d. criticize severely

10. devout e. powerful, strong, intense

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to toe the mark —to obey or stick to a rule or policy

He wanted to kick over the traces,* but his parents made him toe the mark.

N EW W ORDS

Diminutive

də min´ yə tiv

Profuse

prə fyüs´

Dulcet

dul´ sit

Impromptu

im promp´ tü

Malevolent

mə lev´ ə lənt

W EEK 44 D AY 4

THE ISLAND OF WILD DOGS

The saga* of the introduction of that diminutive song bird, the canary, into the homes of the

world as tame pets is an interesting one. In the sixteenth century a trading ship going to Italy

stopped at an island named “Canis,” from the Latin word for wild dog, which could be found

there in profuse numbers, off the coast of Africa. The dulcet song of the wild birds whetted*

the interest of the captain. In impromptu cages hundreds were taken aboard to be traded. The

sailors called these gray-green birds, spotted with yellow, “canaries.” As they approached the

island of Elba, near Italy, a malevolent storm put the boat in jeopardy* of sinking. A member

of the crew released the birds, and the intrepid* canaries instinctively flew towards land. The

peasants on Elba took the wild canaries in as pets. Eventually, the birds found their way into

homes throughout Europe where they were domesticated and bred for variety of song and

shades of colors. The canaries prevalent* today differ greatly from the ones discovered over

four hundred years ago.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. As the music reached a frenetic* tempo, the audience lost all decorum* and broke into

________________ dancing.

2. He had no qualms* about opposing the clique* who insidiously* exerted a

________________ influence on the president.

3. The connoisseur* was able to glean* a worthwhile painting from the

________________ variety of poor ones at the exhibit.

4. Europeans drive ________________ cars because their narrow roads and high prices

for gasoline are not conducive* to or compatible* with our large ones.

5. The blasé devotee of the opera was awakened from his ennui* by the

________________ tones of the new soprano.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. diminutive a. ill-disposed, ill-intentioned

7. profuse b. tiny, small

8. dulcet c. spur of the moment, offhand

9. impromptu d. sweet or melodious to the ear

10. malevolent e. overflowing, abundant

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to be under a cloud —to be in temporary disgrace or trouble

Until they discovered the real thief, he was under a cloud.

W EEK 44 D AY 5

REVIEW

The history, or derivation, of words is called “etymology.” This is a fascinating study and it

gives insight to the background of words such as “canary,” and thousands of others. Knowing

the history of a word helps you remember it.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. canard a. flood

2. carnage b. express disapproval

3. defamatory c. intense, strong, powerful

4. deluge d. sincere, religious

5. deprecate e. sweet or melodious to the ear

6. devout f. abundant, overflowing

7. diminutive g. slaughter

8. dulcet h. uselessness

9. excoriate i. criticize severely

10. frail j. damaging character by false reports

11. futility k. a made-up sensational story

12. impromptu l. small, tiny

13. libel m. cancel, abolish

14. malevolent n. ill-disposed, ill-intentioned

15. nullify o. weak, delicate

16. plaintiff p. the complaining party, in law

17. potent q. applied science

18. profuse r. believed, thought, supposed

19. reputed s. offhand, spur of the moment

20. technology t. degradation by writing or publishing

IDIOMS

21. a pretty kettle of fish u. to be in temporary disgrace or trouble

22. to be under a cloud v. to obey or stick to a rule or policy

23. to toe the mark w. a messy situation, a problem

24. to build upon sand x. to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

SENSIBLE SENTENCES?

(From Weeks 41–44)

Choose the word that makes sense in each of the sentences below.

1. The station’s switchboard was (deluged, deprecated) by phone calls when the popular

soap opera was cancelled.

2. The (diminutive, frail) ballplayer proved that size doesn’t matter in some sports.

3. Peter was surprised when his normally nervous boss seemed so (blas é, aloof) about the

bad financial news.

4. Our mouths began to water when the (dulcet, succulent) dish was set upon the table.

5. Coming from a small city in Costa Rica, Ligia was not used to the (potent, frenetic)

pace of life in Boston.

6. With (bogus, insidious) identification papers, the terrorists attempted to board the

waiting airplane.

7. When the time came for Lisa to select a subject to major in, she found herself in a

(quandary, potpourri).

8. The (malevolent, benevolent) dictator was generally beloved by his people even though

he limited their freedoms.

9. Only a (negligible, manifest) amount of gas escaped from the laboratory during the

experiment.

10. The president of the School Board intended to (excoriate, nullify) the parents at the

opening meeting.

WORDSEARCH 44

Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this

week for each blank in the following story.

Clues

4th Day

1st Day

1st Day

3rd Day

1st Day

Reprieve for Wolves

One of the most difficult problems to resolve has to do with the conflicting interests of

environmentalists and profit-making businesses. Examples of this dilemma appear frequently.

While the dispute about cutting down a forest to preserve owls has been in the news, there

appeared another conflict in the state of Alaska. Hoping to increase the number of tourists

who seek to hunt deer and caribou, the State of Alaska ordered the killing of some of the

number of wolves that prey on those animals.

This resulted in a of letters and articles condemning the that would result

from the anti-wolf policy. So, once again, the environmentalists, who maintain that the natural

balance should not be interfered with, ran up against the Alaskan tourist industry, which wants

to attract hunters who will increase the state’s revenue. After much publicity about the wolf

hunt and articles that tended to this policy, Alaska decided to the proposed

action.

N EW W ORDS

Wistful

wist´ fəl

Raiment

rā´ mənt

Brigand

brig´ ənd

Corpulent

kôr´ pyə lənt

Rail

rāl

W EEK 45 D AY 1

IN DAYS OF YORE

Current novels are replete* with lurid* crimes, carnage* and death. Do you get wistful when

you recall the romantic tales that begin with an innocent maiden travelling through the rustic*

countryside? She is dressed in glittering raiment. The scene is idyllic.* Without warning, the

group is set upon by a virile* brigand, who, in the most perfunctory* and callous* fashion,

carries her off. Pandemonium* results! Her entourage* is in a state of bedlam.* Her corpulent

escort is irate,* but unable to do anything to thwart* this debacle.* All he can do is rail against

the catastrophe. What to do? What to do?

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The potpourri* of au courant* fashionable ________________ includes the fatuous*

and the discreet.*

2. While all disgruntled* men may ________________ against malevolent* or

Machiavellian* leaders, democracy offers a way to ameliorate* iniquities* through the

ballot.

3. Is there any veracity in the platitude* that ________________ men are jocose?*

4. To be candid,* there is little to be ________________ about in the “good old days.”

5. They captured the ________________, and he was incarcerated* for a mandatory*

period.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. wistful a. dress, clothing

7. raiment b. scold, use abusive language

8. brigand c. longing, pensive,* wishful

9. corpulent d. robber, bandit

10. rail (v.) e. fleshy, obese,* excessively fat

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to flog a dead horse —to continue to make an issue of something that is over

He thought he could keep the pot boiling* about his opponent’s winking at* crime, but he

was flogging a dead horse.

N EW W ORDS

Raconteur

rak´ on tėr´

Sullen

sul´ ən

Rift

rift

Emissary

em´ ə ser´ ē

Ruminate

rü´ mə nāt

W EEK 45 D AY 2

WOE IS ME!

The raconteur of our story about idyllic* times gone by goes on to elucidate* how the

comely* heroine is taken to the bandits’ hideout. There, a sullen crew of cutthroats is

gathered. They don’t wish to procrastinate;* she must be taken immediately to a foreign land

where much treasure will be paid for her. Their cupidity* knows no bounds. The leader wants

to hold her for ransom from her wealthy parents. The gang demurs;* they are reticent.* There

is a rift among the criminals. Their leader remains truculent, and they agree to wait for just

two days for the ransom money. An emissary from the grief-stricken parents is expected at

any moment. The wan* maiden, her spirits at their nadir,* has time to ruminate about her

lugubrious* fate.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. He alluded* to the ________________ caused in the school by the plethora* of hirsute*

boys who ignored the criterion* for appearance.

2. Well known as a(n) ________________, he was never chagrined* when asked to tell a

story from his large repertoire.*

3. Despite all attempts to mollify* her, she remained ________________ about the levity*

caused by her slovenly* raiment.*

4. The obscure* country, an aspirant* for membership in the United Nations, sent a(n)

________________.

5. An anomaly* of our modern technology* is that the more we need to know, the less

time we have to ________________.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. raconteur a. ill-humored, grim

7. sullen b. ponder, reflect upon

8. rift c. a skilled storyteller

9. emissary d. a split, an opening

10. ruminate e. an agent

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

the die is cast —an unchangeable decision has been made

The fat was in the fire* and the die was cast when he decided to tell the white lie about

how he had found the money.

N EW W ORDS

Taut

tôt

Livid

liv´ id

Martinet

märt´ n et´

Yen

yen

Bagatelle

bag´ ə tel´

W EEK 45 D AY 3

TO THE RESCUE

Back at the castle, the situation is taut with emotion. The fair maiden’s mother is livid with

fear and anxiety; she has attacks of vertigo.* She talks about her daughter ’s audacity* in

riding out into the ominous* forests despite many similar kidnappings. The girl’s father, a

martinet who rules his family with an iron hand, staunchly* refuses to pay the ransom.

Iniquity* shall not be rewarded! At this moment of crisis a heroic knight volunteers to rescue

our heroine; he has had a secret yen for the young beauty. Avoiding rhetoric,* he pledges his

all to castigate* those responsible for this ignominious* deed. He holds his life as a mere

bagatelle against the duty he owes his beloved mistress. At the propitious* moment, he rides

off to do or die for her.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The rabid* baseball fan lost his equanimity* and became ________________ when the

star pitcher became pugnacious* and was removed from the game.

2. There was a ________________ international situation caused by the proximity* of

unidentified submarines to our coasts.

3. When one enlists in the army, one expects to be under the aegis* of a

_______________.

4. His ________________ for imbibing* and romping* with girls worked to his

detriment*.

5. The little boy tried to wheedle* a larger allowance from his father by the caustic*

observations that it was a mere ________________ when compared to the allowances of

his friends.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. taut a. strict disciplinarian

7. livid b. tense, keyed up, on edge

8. martinet c. pale

9. yen d. a trifle

10. bagatelle e. strong desire, strong longing

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

a cat’s paw —a person used as a tool or dupe*

The spy used the innocent girl as a cat’s paw to get military information from the

grapevine.*

N EW W ORDS

Callow

kal´ ō

Appalled

ə pôld´

Penchant

pen´ chənt

Decapitate

di kap´ ə tāt

Termagant

tėr´ mə gənt

W EEK 45 D AY 4

WELL DONE, SIR KNIGHT!

Seeking his adversaries,* the knight rides to their hideout. Despite his callow appearance, he

is reputed* to disdain* danger and to be a prodigious* horseman. The kidnappers lose their

equanimity* at his approach. They are appalled at the prospect, and they are in a quandary* as

to which one will meet him on the field of combat. The leader, under duress,* rides out. “Do

you have a penchant to die?” derides* the knight. More vituperative* remarks follow. They

spur their horses toward each other. It takes but one blow for our hero to decapitate the

villain. The others flee to avoid their imminent* destruction. The knight takes the maiden on

his horse, and they ride back to the castle. Their wedding soon follows. Little does the knight

realize that the fair maiden is a garrulous* termagant who will make his life miserable with

caustic* remarks. Still, the cliché,* “And they lived happily ever after,” must conclude our

fabricated* tale.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. We do not ________________ criminals because of our aversion* to such repugnant*

punishments.

2. I do not wish to deprecate* your ________________ for cowboy music, but I find it

banal.*

3. Why do you remain docile* while that ________________ besmirches,* maligns,* and

belittles* you?

4. Each long holiday weekend we are ________________ at the carnage* on our

highways.

5. It was deplorable* the way the capricious* girl led the ________________ youth on a

merry chase.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. callow a. youthful, inexperienced

7. appalled b. behead

8. penchant c. a strong leaning in favor

9. decapitate d. a scolding woman, a shrew

10. termagant e. dismayed, shocked

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

coup de gr â ce —the finishing stroke

When my girlfriend left me, it was a bitter pill to swallow,* but the coup de gr â ce was

that she kept my engagement ring.

W EEK 45 D AY 5

REVIEW

Language grows and changes. In “days of yore” there were not nearly as many words in our

language as we have today. Within the next 50 years hundreds of new words will be added.

Educated and alert individuals make new words part of their vocabulary as quickly as they

come into accepted use.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. appalled a. behead

2. bagatelle b. shocked, dismayed

3. brigand c. pale

4. callow d. a trifle

5. corpulent e. bandit, robber

6. decapitate f. an agent

7. emissary g. grim, ill-humored

8. livid h. clothing, dress

9. martinet i. on edge, keyed up, tense

10. penchant j. strict disciplinarian

11. raconteur k. wishful, pensive,* longing

12. rail l. a strong leaning in favor

13. raiment m. an opening, a split

14. rift n. a skilled storyteller

15. ruminate o. inexperienced, youthful

16. sullen p. excessively fat, fleshy, obese*

17. taut q. reflect upon, ponder

18. termagant r. a shrew, a scolding woman

19. wistful s. use abusive language, scold

20. yen t. strong desire, strong longing

IDIOMS

21. a cat’s paw u. the finishing stroke

22. the die is cast v. an unchangeable decision has been made

23. coup de grâce w. to continue to make an issue of something that is over

24. to flog a dead horse x. a person used as a tool or dupe

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 45

Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this

week for each blank in the following story.

Clues

4th Day

4th Day

1st Day

2nd Day

4th Day