Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 10 - Day 4

Word List
  • inert [in ėrt´]
    without power to move
    → “The Japanese drifted inert in his life jacket watching 449 approach until the bow crossed in front of him.” Robert J. Donovan, PT 109
  • salient [sā´ lē ənt]
    outstanding, prominent
    → “The salient feature of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 is that it prohibits discrimination against the disabled.” Robert McFadden, “Court Ruling on Disabled Teacher Is Annulled,” New York Times, 6/25/99
  • imminent [im´ ə nənt]
    likely to happen, threatening
    → “I admired the easy confidence with which my chief loped from side to side of his wheel and trimmed the ship so closely that disaster seemed ceaselessly imminent.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
  • squeamish [skwē´ mish]
    easily shocked, over sensitive
    → “My brother, who voted for Mr. Mbeki and who has faith in his leadership, is not squeamish.” Mark Mathabane, “South Africa’s Lost Generation”
  • engrossed [en grōst´]
    absorbed
    → “The wasp was engrossed utterly in her task.” Alan Devoe, “The Mad Dauber”

“Give me some of the rudimentary* information about the disease, Doc,” said Jerry, glancing toward the inert figure of his son. “Well, as you know, the malady* used to be called ‘hydrophobia’ (fear of water) because one of the symptoms is an inability to swallow liquids. Actually, it is caused by a live virus from the saliva of an infected animal. If saliva gets into a bite wound, the victim may get rabies. The virus travels along the nerves to the spine and brain. Once the salient characteristics appear (ten days to six months) then death is imminent.” “What are the symptoms?” asked Mrs. Hart. “Pain and numbness, difficulty in swallowing, headaches and nervousness. Also, muscle spasms and convulsions.” The squeamish neighbors who were engrossed in the doctor’s remarks gasped. “I think we should go ahead with the injections,” the distraught* Mrs. Hart said. “I’ve heard enough.”

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The senator loathed* it when people said that an atomic war was __________ .
  2. When his __________ partner complained about a lack of ethics,* the businessman laughed at his innocence.
  3. __________ in his crossword puzzle, he failed to notice the paucity* of customers in the restaurant.
  4. One of the __________ features of her poetry is a dependence upon euphemisms.*
  5. Seeing the __________ player, the manager dashed out onto the field.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. outstanding, prominent
  2. b. without power to move
  3. c. likely to happen, threatening
  4. d. absorbed
  5. e. easily shocked, over sensitive
  1. inert __________
  2. salient __________
  3. imminent __________
  4. squeamish __________
  5. engrossed __________

Answer Key
to tilt at windmills—to fight imaginary enemies (from Don Quixote)
The vice president told the committee, “We’re really on your side, and if you fight us you’ll be tilting at windmills.”

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