abate (v) to become weaker; to decrease

(uh-beyt)

Clue: abate = lessen, get weaker

The speaker waited until the applause had abated before continuing.

Ex: crowd’s enthusiasm abated; pain abated; storm’s intensity abated

acknowledge (v) to admit the existence of; to express recognition or thanks for

(ak-nol-ij)

Clue: acknowledge = recognize

Did the police officer acknowledge your right to remain silent?

Ex: acknowledge the authority; acknowledge the winner; acknowledge the students

agent (n) a person who acts or does business for another;

something that brings about a result. (ey-juhnt)

Clue: agent

The author’s agent found a company to publish his latest mystery story.

Ex: a powerful agent for change; an real estate agent

authority (n) the right to give orders, make decisions, or take action; an expert source of information

(uh-thawr-i-tee)Clue: authority = the professionals or

boss

Only the Congress of the United States has the authority to declare war.

Ex: the researcher who is the authority; the authority who gives orders

devastate (v) to ruin or destroy completely(dev-uh-steyt)

Clue: devastate the estate

Farmers in the Midwest fear that the lack of rain will devastate the wheat crop.

Ex: devastate the neighborhood; devastate the land; devastate the plans

epidemic (n) the rapid spread of disease to many people at one time

(ep-i-dem-ik)

Clue: epidemic = Yellow Fever

The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia killed nearly 5000 people, 10 percent of the city’s population.

Ex: wide spread epidemic; flu epidemic; AIDS epidemic

estimate (v) to figure out roughly; (n) a number that is not exact

(v. es-tuh-meyt; n. es-tuh-mit)

Clue: estimate = a careful guess

We estimate that it will take us an hour to drive to the airport.

Ex: the mechanic’s estimate; estimate the damage

evict (v) to force out of property by taking legal action

(ih-vikt)Clue: evict = Get out!

The landlord threatened to evict the tenants for not paying the rent.

Ex: evict the renters; evict homeless

impartial (adj) not favoring one side more than another; fair

(im-pahr-shuh)

Clue: impartial = be fair

A judge should be impartial in the courtroom.

Ex: impartial referee; impartial reporter; impartial umpire

industrious (adj)hardworking; not lazy

(in-duhs-tree-uhs)Clue: industrious = busy bee

The more industrious workers in the clothing factory were rewarded with pay raises at the end of the year.Ex: industrious students; industrious athletes; industrious teachers

infuriate (v) to make very angry

(in-fyoor-ee-yet)

Clue: infuriate = furious

Cruelty to animals infuriates me.

Ex: infuriate the crowd; infuriate the judge; infuriate the parents

irrelevant (adj) having nothing to do with the subject

(ih-rel-uh-vuhnt)

Clue: irrelevant = doesn’t matter

The candidate’s personal wealth is irrelevant to our discussion about his qualifications for the job.

Ex: irrelevant information; irrelevant topic

precise (adj) exact; accurate(pri-sahys)

Clue: precise = accuracy

Do you know the precise time that your plane arrives?

Ex: precise amount; precise measurements

sham (n) something false or fake

(v) to pretend

(sham)

Clue: sham = fake

Although he tried to appear sorry, his sham apology did not fool his wife.

Ex: get-rich-quick sham; great deal was a sham

trek (n) a long, slow, and difficult journey; v. to travel slowly and with difficulty

(trek)Clue: trek = trudge

The hikers were exhausted after their trek over the mountain.

Ex: trek across the swamp; trek across the ocean