Lesson 52   -   edHelper.com

Word List unfit unflinching ungainly unprecedented unseemly unwary unwitting upbraid upshot upstart urbane utensil utilize utopian vague vain valiant valid vane vapid variable vehement venal vendetta wither

Definitions

1.

unfit (n-ft) adjective    a. not fit; not adapted or suited; unsuitable b. unqualified or incompetent. c. not physically fit or in due condition.

2.

unflinching (n-flnchng) adjective    not hesitating or drawing back; resolute; steadfast.

3.

ungainly (n-gnl) adjective    a. not graceful; awkward; unwieldy; clumsy b. in an awkward manner.

4.

wither (wthr) verb    a. to shrivel; fade; decay b. to lose the freshness of youth, as from age (often fol. by away). c. to make flaccid, shrunken, or dry, as from loss of moisture; cause to lose freshness, bloom, vigor, etc.

5.

unprecedented (n-prs-dntd) adjective    having no precedent; never before observed or experienced.

6.

unseemly (n-sml) adjective    a. not seemly; not in keeping with established standards of taste or proper form; unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc. b. inappropriate for time or place c. in an unseemly manner.

7.

unwary (n-wâ) adjective    unmindful of potential harm or deception; not cautious.

8.

unwitting (n-wtng) adjective    a. not aware; unknowing. b. not intentional; innocent; inadvertent.

9.

upbraid (p-brd) verb    a. to find fault with or reproach severely; censure b. (of things) to bring reproach on; serve as a reproach to.

10.

upshot (psht) noun    a. the final issue, the conclusion, or the result b. the gist, as of an argument or thesis.

11.

upstart (pstä) noun    a. a person who has risen suddenly from a humble position to wealth, power, or a position of consequence. b. a presumptuous and objectionable person who has so risen; parvenu. c. being, resembling, or characteristic of an upstart.

12.

urbane (û) adjective    a. having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities b. reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., esp. in expression

13.

utensil (y-tnsl) noun    a. any of the instruments or vessels commonly used in a kitchen, dairy, etc. b. any instrument, vessel, or tool serving a useful purpose

14.

utilize (ytl-z) verb    to put to a particular use; use.

15.

utopian (y-tp-n) adjective    a. of, pertaining to, or resembling Utopia. b. (usually l.c.) founded upon or involving idealized perfection. c. (usually l.c.) given to impractical or unrealistic schemes of such perfection.

16.

vague (vg) adjective    a. not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed b. indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings c. not clear or distinct to the sight or any other sense; perceptible or recognizable only in an indefinite way

17.

vain (vn) adjective    a. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited b. proceeding from or showing personal vanity c. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile

18.

valiant (vlynt) adjective    a. boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted b. marked by or showing bravery or valor; heroic c. worthy; excellent.

19.

valid (vld) adjective    a. sound; just; well-founded b. producing the desired result; effective c. having force, weight, or cogency; authoritative.

20.

vane (vn) noun    a. See"weather vane." b. a blade, plate, sail, etc., in the wheel of a windmill, to be moved by the air. c. any of a number of blades or plates attached radially to a rotating drum or cylinder, as in a turbine or pump, that move or are moved by a fluid, as steam, water, hot gases, or air.

21.

vapid (vpd) adjective    a. lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor; insipid; flat b. without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious

22.

variable (vâ) adjective    a. apt or liable to vary or change; changeable b. capable of being varied or changed; alterable c. inconstant; fickle

23.

vehement (v-mnt) adjective    a. zealous; ardent; impassioned b. characterized by rancor or anger; violent c. strongly emotional; intense or passionate

24.

venal (vnl) adjective    a. likely to act dishonestly or wrongly, in return for money or the like; likely to accept bribes; corrupt. b. associated with or done in response to a bribe. c. able to be obtained with a bribe or other corrupt means.

25.

vendetta (vn-dt) noun    a. a feud between two families, involving murder and revenge; blood feud. b. any long, fierce, or bitter feud or rivalry.