Page 697

dig • ni • fied adj., showing nobility. Jackson had a dignified look as he sat in his tuxedo.

Page 698

pos • ter • i • ty n., future generations. We will save pictures and mementos for posterity.

tact • ful adj., having or showing good sense of what to say and do. Gina answered the question with a tactful response. tactfully, adv.

in • ev • i • ta • ble adj., unavoidable. Getting wet is inevitable when wind blows the rain.

e • lu • sive adj., not easily seen or understood. The elusive wolf has only been spotted twice.

Page 699

suit • or n., man who is seeking a romantic relationship with a woman. In that old movie, the suitor brought the young woman a bouquet of daisies.

al • ter v., change. The waves will alter the shape of the sand castle.

con • demn v., disapprove of. My club chooses to condemn all acts of vandalism in the neighborhood.

Page 700

hom • age n., something done to show honor or respect. We would like to pay homage to volunteers in the community.

non • cha • lant adj., unconcerned or uninterested. Because Fatima was an enthusiastic football fan, she could not understand why her brother was nonchalant about the outcome of the game. nonchalantly, adv.

as • sume v., take on. I would like the children to assume more household responsibilities.

dog • ged • ness n., stubbornness. It is difficult to argue with my sister because of her doggedness.

Page 701

in • var • i • a • ble adj., constant. Extremely hot temperatures are invariable in most countries near the equator.

at • tri • bute n., quality or characteristic. Herman’s sense of honesty was his finest attribute.

cryp • tic adj., having hidden or mysterious meaning. Frank was bothered by the cryptic message left on his answering machine.

sur • rep • ti • tious adj., secret, sneaky. Marvin had a surreptitious way of learning people’s secrets. surreptitiously, adv.

Page 702

grudge v., not give willingly. The company owner grudged bonuses and raises to even hard-working employees.

af • firm v., prove. The way the defendant averted his eyes served only to affirm his guilt from the prosecutor’s point of view.

Page 703

ruse v., trick. Queen Fatima knew that the enemy’s apparent surrender was merely a ruse to draw her own troops out into the open.

pre • cau • tion • ar • y adj., safety. Many car companies are installing air bags in their vehicles as precautionary devices.

re • tire v., go away. The servant said that since he was no longer needed, he would like to retire for the evening.

Page 704

med • i • ta • tion n., deep and continued thought. Pamela spent hours in meditation before deciding whether to have an operation or not.

ar • dent adj., passionate. Senator Johnson made an ardent plea to his colleagues about the need to increase the education budget. ardently, adv.

Page 705

waft v., cause to move as if by the action of waves. Sylvia dropped a feather from the bridge, leaving it waft down to the surface of the river.

in • ap • pro • pri • ate adj., not proper. Many people feel it is inappropriate for companies to use animals for the testing of their products.

a • ban • don • ment n., impulsiveness and freedom of action. Samantha was delighted that the band played her favorite songs with abandonment.

Page 706

stren • u • ous adj., requiring hard work and energy. Rocco was out of shape, and swimming just a few laps had become strenuous for him.

Page 707

pluck n., courage and strength. The boxer showed a lot of pluck by continuing to fight even after his opponent had knocked him down.

ex • ag • ger • ate v., make something seem greater than it really is. No one believed Luther when he said he owned 20 rare pets because they knew he loved to exaggerate.

Page 708

vain adj., being too concerned with one’s own looks or possessions. We did not compliment Reggie on his new wardrobe because he was too vain already.

im • per • i • ous adj., commanding; marked by arrogant assurance. Sheila’s imperious behavior caused others to shy away from her.

Page 709

swoon v., faint; feel powerful emotion. Frank will swoon when he gets a visit from his hero.

Page 710

or • deal n., difficult experience. Benedict considered sitting quietly for twenty minutes to be the most difficult ordeal imaginable.

pro • pound v., propose. The city council chose the occasion of the big parade to propound its new zoning policies.

o • men n., sign of a future event. The black clouds that Gertrude saw before she left for school seemed to her a bad omen for a test day.

Page 711

sta • ple adj., most important. In many countries, rice is the staple crop.