Vocabulary List

Abet – to help, especially with crime

Sentence – Giving the dog a treat is a way to abet his obedience.

Braggarts – someone who boasts about themselves

Sentence – Sir, I don’t seek a quarrel , not being a braggart

Cache – a safe, hidden supply

Sentence – A huge arms cache was discovered by police.

Chasten – to punish

Sentence – She has been chastened by all kinds of experiences in life.

Clarification – act of making something clear

Sentence – I asked for clarification on the legal position.

Coherent – holding together

Sentence – The film lacks a coherent story.

Despondent- very sad

Sentence – I feel despondent when my work is rejected.

Detract – to belittle, to take away from

Sentence – Shabby’s dirty clothes do not detract from her gorgeous appearance.

Heartrending – causing grief of sorrow

Sentence – heard the most heartrending screams

Malady – ailment or disease

Sentence – Zoe created a fake malady so she would not have to go to work.

Nomadic – travelling from one place to another

Sentence – Nomadic tribes wander these deserts.

Pantomime – performance with elaborate gesture but no words

Sentence – The audience roared at the pantomime

Piecemeal – done bit by bit or in pieces

Sentence – I’ve only had a piecemeal account of what happened.

Prosecute – to pursue or attack

Sentence – The police decided not to prosecute

Seclusion – insolation, privacy

Sentence – Doing anything in seclusion can be challenging.

Thwart – to stop from happening, to hinder

Sentence – I don’t think that will thwart our purposes.

Uncouth – clumsy or impolite

Sentence – She found him loud-mouthed and uncouth

Underscore – to emphasise

Sentence – The patient ‘s wish will merely underscore that duty.

Wistful – full of sad desire

Sentence – I was tired but happy and a little wistful when we finally arrived home.