Vocabulary Unit 9

Caustic:Adjective- Able to

dissolve or eat away by chemical action.

Sharp and biting.

Acid is a highly caustic material.

Censor:Noun- An official who

examines art for immoral, offensive, or dangerous,

and is empowered to remove this material.

Verb: To examine for and remove objectionable

material.

Noun: Being a censor is a difficult job. It is not

always easy to distinguish art from

obscenity.Verb: Many parents think reality shows

should be censored.

Censure:Noun- Open and

strong criticism or disapproval.

Verb- To severely criticize.

I am wary of anyone who is quick to

censure and slow to forgive.

Chagrin: Noun- Irritation,

embarrassment, or humiliation caused by

disappointment or frustration.

Verb- To cause such a feeling.

Much to my chagrin, I made a fool of

myself in “Dancing with the teachers.”

Charlatan:Noun- Anyone who claims to have skills or knowledge that he or she doesn’t

possess.

The man who came to fix my dishwasher

was a complete charlatan. He had

no idea what he was doing.

Chronic:Adjective-

Continuing over a long period of time or recurring often.

My mother suffers from chronic

arthritis.

Circuitous:Adjective- Indirect or

roundabout; long winded.

I took the circuitous route home from

school.

Circumspect:Adjective- Cautious

or prudent, especially in regard to the consequences

of actions or statements, tactful.

Always be circumspect when

dealing with people you don’t know well.

Circumvent:Verb- To get around or avoid, especially

by trickery or deception.

We planned our route so as to

circumvent the road construction.

Clandestine:Adjective- Concealed

from view so as to hide one’s purpose.

The spy held a clandestine meeting

with officials from Russia.