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

Word List
  • regimen [rej´ ə mən]
    a system of control
    → “I guarantee weight loss when my regimen is followed strictly.” Dr. Robert Atkins
  • denigrated [den´ i grāt ed]
    defamed
    → “Napoleon’s henchmen denigrated the memory of Voltaire whose name the Emperor abhorred.” Christopher Morley
  • guile [gīl]
    trickery
    → “Oh, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, And with a virtuous vizard hide foul guile.” Shakespeare, Richard III
  • mortal [mor´ tl]
    leading to death
    → “All is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly.” Shakespeare, As You Like It
  • inflicted [in flikt´ ed]
    imposed upon
    → “Many of the cares that we are inflicted with are but a morbid way of looking at our privileges.” Sir Walter Scott

At 8:25 the Lincolns arrived at the theater. When they entered Booths 7 & 8, as regimen dictated, the band played “Hail to the Chief.” The 1675 members of the audience stood to honor the great man, and then the play commenced. It is reported that Booth said to a drunk who had denigrated his acting skill, “When I leave the stage, I will be the most famous man in America.”

At about 10 P.M., with extreme guile, Booth had managed to be behind Box 7 in the darkness of the hallway. He saw the silhouette of a head above the horsehair rocker. Derringer in his hand, he aimed it between the President’s left ear and his spine. The shot was drowned out by laughter on the stage. Shouting “Revenge for the South,” Booth climbed over the ledge of the box and jumped onto the stage, breaking his leg in the process.

In pain, Booth limped out the stage door where his horse was waiting and made his getaway. Days later, however, he was cornered in a Virginia barn and shot. Three of the cabal* members were arrested and hanged.

At the theater, a 23-year-old doctor attended to the wounded President. He found that the lead shot had lodged in Lincoln’s brain, a bad sign. Several soldiers carried Mr. Lincoln across the street to a private house. His family physician came and so did the Surgeon General. The President struggled throughout the long night, but it was apparent that a mortal wound had been inflicted, and he could not be saved.

At 7:22 A.M. it was over; two silver coins were placed on the assassinated President’s eyes. Then Secretary Stanton uttered the famous words, “Now he belongs to the ages.”

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The blow to the boxer’s jaw turned out to be a __________ one.
  2. Using __________, the magician pulled the wool over the spectators’ eyes.
  3. Aunt Ethel’s morning __________ called for three cups of coffee.
  4. When her boss __________ Martha’s stenographic ability, she quit.
  5. The prison guards __________ torture on some of the inmates.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. leading to death
  2. b. defamed
  3. c. a system of control
  4. d. trickery
  5. e. imposed upon
  1. regimen __________
  2. denigrated __________
  3. guile __________
  4. mortal __________
  5. inflicted __________

Answer Key
to throw one’s hat in the ring—to run for political office
Before a gathering of the party’s faithful, the local congressman threw his hat in the ring for the position of senator.

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