Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 10 - Day 2

Word List
  • pertinent [pėrt´ n ənt]
    to the point
    → “What seems pertinent is to observe that jazz gravitated toward a particular kind of environment in which its existence was probable.” Arnold Sungaard, Jazz, Hot and Cold
  • mastiff [mas´ tif]
    large dog
    → “That island of England breeds very valiant creatures; their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.” William Shakespeare, Henry V
  • obsess [əb ses´]
    to haunt, preoccupy
    → “To obsess over acquisitions is especially damaging to human felicity.” Llewelyn Powys, Earth Memories
  • doleful [dōl´ fəl]
    sad, melancholy
    → “The patients were left in doleful plight, as the whole country resounded with the consequent cry of ‘hard times’.” Washington Irving, “The Devil and Tom Walker”
  • wan [won]
    sickly pale
    → “Why so pale and wan, fond lover? Prithee, why so pale?” John Suckling, “Encouragement to a Lover”

As soon as Jerry Hart could get the pertinent facts from his wife, he dashed out of the office on his way home. He jostled* people in the hallway, implored* the elevator operator to hurry, and with flagrant* disregard for an elderly gentleman jumped into the cab he had hailed. The twenty-minute taxi ride seemed interminable* and all the while horrible thoughts occurred to Jerry. Visions of an ugly mastiff with foaming jaws obsessed him. A crowd of people had gathered in front of his house so that Jerry had to force his way through them. Little Bobby was on his bed, surrounded by a doctor, a policeman, Jerry’s doleful wife, his two daughters, and a half-dozen wan neighbors.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The stockbroker was __________ with the idea of becoming a painter.
  2. My nervous neighbor bought a pugnacious* __________ to frighten burglars.
  3. __________ expressions abounded* throughout headquarters on the night of the election.
  4. During the trial the astute* lawyer was able to elicit* the __________ information from the key witness.
  5. After the tension, his normally ruddy face was __________ and tired.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. sad, melancholy
  2. b. to the point
  3. c. sickly pale
  4. d. to haunt, preoccupy
  5. e. large dog
  1. pertinent __________
  2. mastiff __________
  3. obsess __________
  4. doleful __________
  5. wan __________

Answer Key
on the carpet—being scolded
Because of her repeated lateness, Betty’s boss called her on the carpet.

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