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om • i • nous adj., threatening. The dark clouds in the sky looked ominous.

pre • dis • pose vt., give a tendency. Parents who read to their children predispose them to be enthusiastic about reading for the rest of their lives.

con • jec • ture n., prediction based on guesswork. The detective’s conjecture regarding the murderer’s whereabouts led to his arrest.

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ex • pa • tri • at • ed adj., driven from one’s land. The expatriated American writer lived in Paris in the 1920s.

in • fe • lic • i • tous adj., unfortunate, unsuitable. When questioned about the hard times he’d been through, the cowboy said he was born under an infelicitous star.

cav • al • cade n., procession (of horses). The king’s cavalcade rushed into battle.

co • quet • ry n., flirting. Due to her coquetry, Estelle’s social calendar was full.

a • nath • e • ma n., curse. The angry workers cast anathemas upon the mine owner.

pre • cip • i • tous adj., steep. Climbing the precipitous hills in the Lake District, Nancy grew dizzy.

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re • mon • strance n., protest, objection. Despite the remonstrances of the striking workers, some employees crossed the picket line.

bel • li • cose adj., hostile, eager to fight. The bellicose customer demanded to speak with the manager.

e • qua • nim • i • ty n., evenness of temper; quality of remaining calm. A good soldier retains his equanimity under enemy fire.

guile • less adj., without deceit. The guileless child softened the heart of the cynical man.

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dis • suade vt., talk out of. The man tried to dissuade the boys from swimming in the contaminated pond.

con • tor • tion n., twisting out of shape. The circus performer’s bodily contortions amazed the audience.

joc • u • lar adj., humorous. Only a person with such a jocular temperament could keep a positive outlook in such trying circumstances.

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fe • lo • ni • ous adj., of a criminal. Judd’s felonious actions resulted in a juvenile court hearing.

ex • tem • po • rize vt., contrive in a makeshift way to meet a pressing need. The volunteers extemporized a puppet show to cheer the children at the shelter.

os • ten • ta • tious • ly adv., so as to attract attention. Mr. Knier hung the Christmas lights ostentatiously.

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vo • cif • er • a • tion n., shouting. The protestors outside the White House started their slogans with angry vociferation.

vi • tu • per • a • tive adj., abusive; viciously fault-finding. The wrestler’s vituperative comments to his opponent were considered normal in the ring.

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quer • u • lous adj., full of complaint. At the grocery store a querulous patron asked for faster service.