Vocabulary Level FUnit 3 Part B

inadvertentsangfroid

nominalsedition

noncommittaltenuous

peculate vitriolicproclivitywheedle

Inadvertent

Inadvertent

• (adj.) Resulting from or marked by a lack of attention; unintentional, accidental

• Synonyms: accidental, unconsidered • The poor fellow was stronger than ha

realized, and the damage he did was inadvertent.

Nominal

Nominal

• (adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be taken seriously

• Synonym: inconsequential• Because so many of its patients were

having financial troubles, the health clinic charged only the nominal fees.

Noncommittal

Noncommittal

• (adj.) not decisive or definite • Synonym: n/a• We questioned her quietly, carefully,

and at length, but her answers remained noncommittal.

Peculate

Peculate

• (v.) to steal something that has been giving into one’s trust

• Synonym: embezzle • Investigators discovered that the

clerk came up with a scheme to peculate from the company.

Proclivity

Proclivity

• (n) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency

• Synonym: penchant• Curious, patient, and fond of long

walks outdoors, she soon displayed a proclivity for nature study.

Sangfroid

Sangfroid

• (n) composure or coolness• Synonym: poise• An experienced actor can perform

with what seems like limitless sangfroid, even when he forgets the line.

Seditious

seditious

• (adj.) resistant to lawful authority• Synonym: rebellious• Dictators usually begin their reigns

by searching out and silencing seditious opinion

tenuous

tenuous

• (adj.) Thin• Synonym: flimsy• My understanding of trigonometry

was tenuous until I attended the extra-help sessions.

vitriolic

vitriolic

• (adj) bitter, sarcastic • Synonym: acerbic • Though hurt by his vitriolic language,

I had to admit that some of his points were valid.

Wheedle

Wheedle

• (v) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

• Synonym: sweet-talk • The spy used charm and flattery in

order to wheedle the information from the diplomat.