What the "A"?
(v.) to take without justification
(The king _____ the right to order executions to himself exclusively.)
Arrogate
(adj.) optimistic, cheery
(Polly reacted to any bad news with a _____ smile and the chirpy cry, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”)
Sanguine
(v.) to coax by using flattery
(Rachel’s assistant tried to _____ her into accepting the deal.)
Blandish
(adj.) stoic, not susceptible to suffering
(Stop being so _____; it’s healthy to cry every now and then.)
Impassive
(adj.) instilling hatred or intense displeasure
(Mark was assigned the _____ task of cleaning the cat’s litter box.)
Odious
(n.) keen insight
(Because of his mathematical _____, Larry was able to figure out in minutes problems that took other students hours.)
Acumen
(adj.) giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
(The _____ Bertrand delivered stern lectures on the Ten Commandments to anyone who would listen, but thought nothing of stealing cars to make some cash on the side.)
Sanctimonious
(n.) a gift or blessing
(The good weather has been a _____ for many businesses located near the beach.)
Boon
(adj.) rude, insolent
(Most of your comments are so _____ that I don’t wish to dignify them with an answer.)
Impertinent
(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
(Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s _____ approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)
(adj.) hard-working, diligent
(The construction workers erected the skyscraper during two years of _____ labor.)
Assiduous
(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them
(In an amazing bit of _____, penniless Paula found a $20 bill in the subway station.)
Serendipity
(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive
(The captain’s _____ manner offended the passengers.)
Brusque
(adj.) rash; hastily done
(Hilda’s hasty slaying of the king was an _____, thoughtless action.)
Impetuous
(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive
(Mark acted like Janet’s servant, obeying her every request in an _____ manner.)
Obsequious
(v.) to reject, renounce
(To prove his honesty, the president _____ the evil policies of his wicked predecessor.)
Abjure
(adj.) sedate, serious, self-restrained
(The _____ butler never changed his expression no matter what happened.)
Staid
(v.) to polish, shine
(His mother asked him to _____ the silverware before setting the table.)
Burnish
1. (v.) to impact, affect, make an impression
(The hail _____ the roof, leaving large dents.)
2. (v.) to encroach, infringe
(I apologize for _____ upon you like this, but I really need to use your bathroom. Now.)
Impinge
(adj.) appearing as such, seemingly
(Jack’s _____ reason for driving was that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying.)
Ostensible
(adj.) biting, bitter in tone or taste
(Jill became extremely _____ and began to cruelly make fun of all her friends.)
Acerbic
(n.) one who flatters for self-gain
(Some see the people in the cabinet as the president’s closest advisors, but others see them as _____.)
Sycophant
1. (v.) to support, hold up
(The column _____ the roof above the statue.)
2. (n.) something that offers support
(The _____ supports the roof above the statues.)
Buttress
(adj.) unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words
(It is said that the experience of playing with a dolphin is _____ and can only be understood through direct encounter.)
(adj.) noisy, unruly
(Billy’s _____ behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room.)
Obstreperous