Henry VIII and British History

Students in the United States should consider themselves lucky when it comes to studying the

country’s history. The United States has been a nation for approximately 225 years. We would

be if we had to learn as much history as students in Great Britain, for their history

goes back some 1,000 years! In that time England has had many interesting and unusual

rulers. One who has fascinated us is Henry VIII. Ruling some 450 years ago, he became well

known because of his many marriages and his for doing away with some wives

who displeased him.

In physical appearance he was unattractive—he was large and. When his first wife

could not bear him a son who would be heir to the throne, he divorced her. This caused a

break with the Pope who refused to recognize the divorce. Henry VIII sent an to the

Pope and renounced Catholicism. He then married Anne Boleyn but decided to her

after quickly tiring of her. His third wife died in childbirth, and he divorced his fourth. His

fifth, Katherine Howard, was also beheaded. Only his sixth wife was able to live on after

Henry’s death in 1547. From this brief history of only one English ruler, it is easy to imagine

how much an English history student must learn in order to prepare for an exam. In Henry

VIII’s case, one would have to get a “head start.”

N EW W ORDS

Ascertain

as´ ər tān´

Dormant

dôr´ mənt

Burgeoned

bėr´ jənd

Potentate

pōt´ n tāt

Disseminate

di sem´ ə nāt

W EEK 46 D AY 1

A MIGHTY EMPIRE

One of the anomalies* of our approach to history is the propensity* to study the venerable*

empires of Europe, but we do not feel it incumbent* upon us to ascertain anything about the

civilizations in our own hemisphere. We deprecate* the history of this part of the world as

though progress lay dormant and that other peoples were irrelevant* until the settlers of North

America arrived at Plymouth Rock. In South America, from 2000 B.C. until their empire

reached its acme* at the beginning of the 16th century, lived the Incas. The site* of the capital

city of the Inca empire, Cusco, lay at a height of 11,000 feet. This civilization is reputed* to

have burgeoned until it covered more than 2,500 miles of the western part of the continent. Its

population fluctuated* between 4 and 7 million. This empire had a highly efficacious*

political and social system. Its potentate ruled with absolute power. As the empire conquered

new lands, it would disseminate its language, religion, and social customs.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. While some moribund* economies atrophied* after World War II, others

________________ under the salubrious* effects of loans from the U.S.

2. In order to ________________ the relationship between his girlfriend and his brother,

he kept a wary* and discreet* vigil.*

3. We are quick to ________________ calumny,* but reticent* about things that may be

construed* as compliments.

4. He was appalled* at the apathy* concerning the important issue that had remained

________________ for so long a time.

5. The callous* ________________ kept an imperturbable* mien* when requested to

alleviate* the unconscionable* conditions existing in his land.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. ascertain a. spread, scatter

7. dormant b. discover, find out about

8. burgeoned c. resting, asleep

9. potentate d. flourished, grew

10. disseminate e. ruler

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

straight from the shoulder —in a direct, open way

I took the wind out of his sails* by telling him straight from the shoulder that I was not

going to wink at* his apple polishing.*

N EW W ORDS

Derived

di rīvd´

Prerogative

pri rog´ ə tiv

Nepotism

nep´ ə tiz əm

Dearth

dėrth

Internecine

in´ tər nē´ sn

W EEK 46 D AY 2

A BATTLE FOR POWER

The Inca emperor derived his prodigious* power and authority from the gods. The

paramount* god was the sun god. It was from him the ruler passed on his prerogative to rule

to his most astute* son. This nepotism had worked with great efficacy* for centuries. The land

holdings were immense;* there were rich farmlands and llamas and alpacas for wool.

Precious metals were plentiful: silver, copper, bronze, and the most sacred of all, gold. This

metal resembled the sun god whom they extolled.* There was no dearth of idols and

ornaments hammered from this gleaming metal. There was always more gold coming from

the mines to replenish* the supply. At the acme* of his power, the Inca ruler died without

naming the requisite* successor. In 1528 two sons began an internecine struggle for control.

For the next 4 years the empire sank into the lassitude* caused by civil war.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The emissary* from the president tried to allay* the fears that a deleterious*

________________ feud was inevitable within the party.

2. A pragmatic* philosopher ________________ the theory that we have noses in order to

hold up our eyeglasses.

3. Your efforts to ingratiate* yourself into your boss’s favor are nullified* by the

unmitigated* ________________ manifest* in this firm.

4. He gave his adversary* the dubious* ________________ of choosing the weapon by

which he was to meet his inevitable* end.

5. In the potpourri* of restaurants there is no ________________ of succulent* dishes.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. derived a. scarcity, lack

7. prerogative b. involving conflict within a group, mutually destructive

8. nepotism c. an exclusive right or power

9. dearth d. descended from, received from a source

10. internecine e. favoritism toward relatives

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to rub a person the wrong way —to do something that irritates or annoys

The quickest way to rub a person the wrong way is to give him the cold shoulder.*

N EW W ORDS

Tyro

tī rō

Sophistry

sof´ ə strē

Factitious

fak tish´ əs

Encomium

en kō´ mē əm

Obloquy

ob´ lə kwē

W EEK 46 D AY 3

A PERFIDIOUS* CONQUEROR

The feuding between the rival sons reached its pinnacle* in 1532; at that moment Francisco

Pizarro came onto the scene. A native of Spain, he was sojourning* in Panama when he heard

of the riches to be found in that far off land. Overwhelmed with cupidity,* but still a tyro when

it came to wresting* power and wealth from hapless* people, he joined with an inveterate*

adventurer. They gathered a small band of mercenaries.* The first two attempts failed, and

Pizarro returned to Spain to request authority and money in order to conquer the West Coast

of South America. Whether by sophistry or cajolery,* he was given the requisite* aid. With a

force of 180 men, the dregs* of society, he invaded Inca territory. He reached the city where

the current ruler, Atahualpa, was holding court. The Incas welcomed Pizarro who, in a

factitious display of friendship, heaped encomiums upon Atahualpa. Unknown to the Incas,

Pizarro had brought guns that were still beyond the technology* of these people. The obloquy

of his next act, ambushing the Incas and taking Atahualpa prisoner, will live in the history

books that are replete* with tales of conquest.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. Although he was erudite* about a copious* number of things, he was a naive,* callow*

________________ when it came to relating to girls.

2. John Wilkes Booth’s egregious* act remains an infamous* ________________.

3. Her ________________ made use of every glib* artifice.*

4. In the office he played the ________________ role of a martinet,* while at home he

was filled with compassion*.

5. The modest prodigy* treated the fervid* ________________ that followed his

performance as though they were a mere bagatelle.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. tyro a. high praise

7. sophistry b. beginner, novice

8. factitious c. false reasoning or argument

9. encomium d. sham, artificial

10. obloquy e. disgrace, shame, dishonor

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to draw in one’s horns —to become cautious

He knew he was out of his depth,* so he drew in his horns and quit the poker game.

N EW W ORDS

Hyperbole

hī pėr´ bə lē

Munificent

myü nif´ ə sənt

Prevarication

pri var´ ə kā´ shen

Charisma

kə riz´ mə

Genocide

jen´ ə sīd

W EEK 46 D AY 4

THE END OF AN EMPIRE

The Machiavellian* Pizarro held the captured Atahualpa for ransom. He was adamant* about

receiving a room filled with gold to the height of a man’s shoulder. This was taken as a

hyperbole at first, but Pizarro knew the gullible* Incas would be munificent when it came to

rescuing their sacred ruler. They did not procrastinate,* and a frenetic* collection of gold

took place. Pizarro, to whom prevarication was natural in dealing with the Incas, had no

qualms* about executing their ruler as soon as he had the gold. The Inca empire was

moribund,* but the charisma that surrounded Atahualpa was such that, after his death, the

Incas fought on tenaciously* in his name for several years. Eventually, superior weapons

quelled* all opposition. A policy of genocide was adopted by the Spanish conquerors, and

almost two million of these proud people died in the carnage* that followed. The saga* of an

ancient civilization thus came to an end.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. Even those who were not fans of the movie star candidly* admit the

________________ that surrounded him.

2. The United Nations has outlawed ________________ as the ultimate* crime, which

must be eradicated.*

3. Her constant ________________ made her a pariah* to her friends.

4. The rhetoric* soared into flagrant* ________________.

5. He was surprised by the ________________ gratuity* given by the usually

parsimonious* termagant.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. hyperbole a. quality of leadership inspiring enthusiasm

7. munificent b. planned destruction of an entire people

8. prevarication c. deviation from the truth, lying

9. charisma d. generous

10. genocide e. exaggerated figure of speech

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to throw cold water —to discourage a plan or idea

I was going to pull up stakes* and move out lock, stock, and barrel,* but my wife threw

cold water on the whole thing.

W EEK 46 D AY 5

REVIEW

This is your last week. At this point you have worked with over 1100 of the most useful words

and idioms in our language. The final review test will give you some idea of how well you

have mastered them. From time to time you should re-read sections of this book to refresh

your memory. Remember, keep learning new words at every opportunity!

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. ascertain a. lack, scarcity

2. burgeoned b. favoritism towards relatives

3. charisma c. novice, beginner

4. dearth d. artificial, sham

5. derived e. lying, deviation from the truth

6. disseminate f. ruler

7. dormant g. scatter, spread

8. encomium h. an exclusive power or right

9. factitious i. dishonor, disgrace, shame

10. genocide j. high praise

11. hyperbole k. quality of leadership inspiring enthusiasm

12. internecine l. asleep, resting

13. munificent m. grew, flourished

14. nepotism n. planned destruction of an entire people

15. obloquy o. false reasoning or argument

16. potentate p. mutually destructive, involving conflict in a

group

17. prerogative q. received from a source, descended from

18. prevarication r. generous

19. sophistry s. exaggerated figure of speech

20. tyro t. find out about, discover

IDIOMS

21. to draw in one’s horns u. in a direct, open way

22. straight from the shoulder v. to discourage a plan or idea

23. to throw cold water w. to become cautious

24. to rub a person the wrong way x. to do something to irritate or annoy

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WHICH WORD COMES TO MIND?

(From Weeks 45–46)

Record separately the letter of the vocabulary word adjacent to the sentence or phrase that

brings it to mind.

a. appalled i. potentate

b. brigand j. dearth

c. yen k. livid

d. tyro l. decapitate

e. corpulent m. prevarication

f. prerogative n. raconteur

g. genocide o. taut

h. nepotism p. internecine

1. “Hiring your nephew, eh?”

2. “All hail the sultan!”

3. “I just looked in the mirror; tomorrow we start our diet.”

4. The descent of the guillotine

5. “I have a strong desire to own Japanese currency.”

6. George Washington to his father: “I cannot tell a lie.”

7. Now showing: The Pirates of Penzance

8. Best storyteller in town

9. The Civil War

10. “He claims to have the right to change his mind.”

WORDSEARCH 46

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

1st Day

1st Day

2nd Day

1st Day

3rd Day

Words, Words, Words

You have been strengthening and building a basic vocabulary as you have progressed through

this book. The tests, quizzes, and exercises have helped you how far you have

advanced. We hope you have come to the end of 1100 Words You Need to Know with a

command of vocabulary that has from week to week. Your interest and attention

have paid off in many ways. You have pleasure and knowledge from reading

passages on varied topics. You are better equipped to read, study, converse, and write with

confidence.

The objectives that started you working on building your vocabulary should not now become

. A permanent desire to master new words should be an added value obtained from

this book. We hope that any you receive for your command of English vocabulary

will spur you on to more and greater mastery of words you need to know.

BURIED WORDS

(From Week 1–46)

Locate the word being defined from the review words of the week indicated. Then find the

embedded word that fits the definition (e.g., the answer to the first example is automaton,

which contains the “buried” word tomato).

REVIEW WORD BURIED WORD

1st Week:

machine that behaves like a person a common vegetable

unending a fixed limit, definite period of time

2nd Week:

to use lively gestures a twitching of face muscles

basic, elementary a small part of a dollar

3rd Week:

expression of sympathy a small portion, gratuity

lacking brightness a strong passion

4th Week:

able to be touched a sharp taste

publish a school dance

5th Week:

exemption a joke, play on words

shortage a large community

6th Week:

contrary a part of a poem or song

dread, dismay rear end of a boat

7th Week:

to end school semester

relentless, unappeasable a heavy rope or chain

8th Week:

forerunner a drunken carousal, spree

distant give expression to feelings

9th Week:

harmful a regulation

followers anger

10th Week:

read carefully a trick

outstanding, prominent foreign

11th Week:

to pass by part of a church

confirm to enter and steal

12th Week:

bitter criticism part of the body

perfection mathematical term

13th Week:

undeniable open to view

in an early stage unit of measurement

14th Week:

soft job a function in trigonometry

to strive for a venomous serpent

15th Week:

debatable something found, a collection

an associate in crime parasitic insects

16th Week:

exact opposite a tax

protection military conflict

17th Week:

perfect, complete total

spread out in battle formation a tactic to frustrate or embarrass an

opponent

18th Week:

polished, civilized destructive or ruinous thing

going from place to place prong of a fork

19th Week:

lavish a low place to collect water

agree to finance formal or religious practice

20th Week:

very sad drag, move heavily

moderate in eating or drinking stop, hold back

21st Week:

descendant an electrically charged part of an atom or

molecule

decay a vulgar person, a heel

22nd Week:

relieve without curing cease to please, a cloud

related to marriage the core or point

23rd Week:

serving to pay back an outlaw, a political conservative

unusual occurrence a prophetic sign

24th Week:

unwise an overly modest person

looking down on someone or something entice, attract, allure

25th Week:

trembling, shaking with old age strange

hurt, damage, injury reduce by cutting, decorate

26th Week:

prevailing, common, general a valley (poetical)

angry, antagonistic steps over a fence

27th Week:

hesitate, waver, stumble change, vary, transform

inflexible, unyielding an obstruction

28th Week:

hinder, interfere, block mischievous child

discord, hard sound, dissonance false, cheap imitation

29th Week:

lack of interest walkway

difficult to describe, undistinguished style of writing

30th Week:

slander, abuse to arrange in line

persuade, coax, cajole pay attention

31st Week:

rough, harsh, shrill three-pronged instrument

harmful, bad take out, remove

32nd Week:

out-of-date a bowlike curve or structure

pardon, excuse to put on as a garment

33rd Week:

momentary, passing, fleeting thin plate giving wind direction

self-satisfied fine thread sewn in patterns

34th Week:

facial expression of disgust a spice, a club carried by an official

spacious, large disgusting, distasteful

35th Week:

a moralistic story can be cultivated

haggard, thin female relative

36th Week:

person or thing that embodies or

represents the best a large book or volume

wish, envy, want a small bay

37th Week:

temporary stay a round vase

beginning, to develop or exist the act of going up

38th Week:

easy to manage a shaded walk

underhandedness, trickery stylish, elegant

39th Week:

unreasonable, without conscience child, or descendant

abuse, blame to give out in measured amounts

40th Week:

works that an artist is ready to perform forward, free, saucy

weakness, weariness a young woman

41st Week:

slogan, pet phrase trunk of a tree

rush, flood the top of the head

42nd Week:

requirement locale, position

change, variety plunge into

43rd Week:

waste away a memento of victory or success

desire to make amends, regret closely confined

44th Week:

ill-disposed, ill-intentioned a brewed beverage

abundant, overflowing to blend by melting

45th Week:

a strong leaning in favor to delight, fascinate, charm

inexperienced, youthful to permit

46th Week:

artificial, sham perform, behave

mutually destructive, conflict within a

group to shut up, confine

WORDS IN CONTEXT

Select the correct word from the four given that applies to the corresponding letter in the

blank.

With the 1. of the TV computerized games, many set owners have become 2. in

trying to outwit the electronic toys. The 3. finds it almost impossible to react quickly

enough. Before he or she can 4. what is going on, the little lights have sped by. Those

who have a 5. for thinking and reacting quickly find these games a 6. problem.

While the experts’ behavior appears 7., they really are 8. and 9.. If one is

10. about trying again and again, then the 11. of TV computer games can be

mastered.

1. (a) rhetoric (b) prelude (c) advent (d) retrospect

2. (a) reticent (b) engrossed (c) slovenly (d) trivial

3. (a) wary (b) tyro (c) profuse (d) deplorable

4. (a) ascertain (b) obviate (c) deem (d) cajole

5. (a) lassitude (b) pall (c) legerdemain (d) penchant

6. (a) perverse (b) negligible (c) lugubrious (d) glib

7. (a) conjugal (b) frenetic (c) devout (d) ambiguous

8. (a) connubial (b) brash (c) facile (d) blunt

9. (a) aloof (b) affluent (c) overt (d) imperturbable

10. (a) bogus (b) elusive (c) tenacious (d) pecuniary

11. (a) effigy (b) malady (c) paroxysm (d) repertoire

It is 12. that women have 13. into fields of work that were, until recently, the

14. of men. It did not happen because of the 15. of the males, but it was largely

due to the 16. insistence by women that they occupy their rightful place in our society.

While some men still 17. women who seek to fill jobs previously closed to them, others

take the 18. view that the only 19. for women should be their ability to do the

work, and that 20. obstacles have no place in a democracy.

12. (a) unctuous (b) voluble (c) manifest (d) wistful

13. (a) perpetuated (b) burgeoned (c) advocated (d) spewed

14. (a) acme (b) taboo (c) antipathy (d) prerogative

15. (a) largess (b) ultimate (c) complicity (d) avarice

16. (a) pernicious (b) tenacious (c) ostensible (d) phlegmatic

17. (a) deprecate (b) aspire (c) permeate (d) covet

18. (a) discreet (b) pragmatic (c) precocious (d) rash

19. (a) remuneration (b) reproach (c) duplicity (d) criterion

20. (a) puissant (b) sporadic (c) capricious (d) zealous

*For reference only.