Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Bonus Week A - Day 4

Word List
  • glut [glut]
    oversupply
    → “The world in that age had a glut rather than a famine of saints.” R. S. Fuller, Holy War
  • risible [riz´ ə bəl]
    laughable
    → “He is the most risible misanthrope I ever met with.” Tobias Smollett, Humphrey Clinker
  • dilatory [dil´ ə tor ē]
    delaying
    → “Between dilatory payment and bankruptcy there is a great distance.” Samuel Johnson
  • specious [spē shəs]
    deceptively attractive
    → “It was a specious argument but delivered so effectively that it was convincing.” Murray Bromberg, Wagers of Sin
  • denouement [dā nōō man´]
    outcome
    → “We all sat awaiting the denouement of the play in silence.” Mayne Reid

As one might have expected, manifold* law suits against the White Star Line began to crop up within weeks of the sinking and rescue. The glut of billionaires on board (Astors, Wideners, Guggenheims, Strausses, et al.) did not file any claims, but other cases went all the way to the Supreme Court and kept lawyers and judges busy for the next four years. The average claim had been for a modest $1500, and the average award, paid by the White Star Line, was a risible $1000. White Star’s top notch legal staff was accused of using dilatory tactics, tiring the claimants until they agreed to settle for a mere pittance*. Their lawyers called many claims specious and rejected them out of hand.

The denouement of the story is rather sad. American and British maritime law had long given special protection to ship owners on the grounds that their business was such a risky one. And so there was a limit to the amount of money that White Star could be assessed. In the end, they paid only 4% of the $16 million originally demanded by the survivors and were happy to close the books on the ocean disaster. We can imagine that if a similar tragedy were to take place today, the settlements would be in the hundreds of millions.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The play’s __________ came with three dead bodies on the stage.
  2. Umpires do not like pitchers who use __________ styles.
  3. In debating, __________ arguments are rarely effective.
  4. What Harry felt was __________, Sally thought was pathetic.
  5. Our choir has a __________ of tenors and a shortage of sopranos.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. delaying
  2. b. laughable
  3. c. oversupply
  4. d. deceptively attractive
  5. e. outcome
  1. glut __________
  2. risible __________
  3. dilatory __________
  4. specious __________
  5. denouement __________

Answer Key
to brave the elements—to go out in bad weather
Despite the freezing rain, Cynthia decided to brave the elements.

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