Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 11 - Day 3

Word List
  • elapse [i laps´]
    to slip by
    → “True, a decent time had elapsed, and it was not even suggested that Waythorn had supplanted his predecessor.” Edith Wharton, The Descent of Man [adapted]
  • meticulous [mə tik´ yə ləs]
    careful
    → “Even later, in 1992, Barnstead’s meticulous records allowed researchers to put names on six previously unidentified Titanic survivors.” “Titanic and Halifax,” The Nova Scotia Museum
  • domicile [dom´ ə sīl]
    home
    → “At night he returned peaceably enough to his lonesome domicile.” Theodore Dreiser, “The Lost Phoebe”
  • lax [laks]
    careless, negligent
    → “The fact that his employer was lax on this score was one of many things that he had to condone.” Henry James, “Brooksmith”
  • sporadic [spə rad´ ik]
    occasional
    → “TROOPS ENCOUNTER SPORADIC VIOLENCE” Headline, Newsday, 6/14/99

Forty hours had elapsed before the police work and the publicity paid off. By meticulously checking the registrations of every red station wagon in the neighborhood and then crosschecking dog licenses, the police narrowed the search to four owners. After a few telephone calls, the apologetic owner was located and directed to bring her muzzled German shepherd to the Hart domicile. Bobby identified the dog, and the animal was taken to a veterinary’s clinic to have the necessary tests performed. The lax owner, Mrs. McGraw, admitted that the dog had a sporadic mean streak, but she scoffed* at the idea of rabies. Jerry Hart noticed for the first time in two days that his uneasy feeling had departed.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Inadvertently,* Emma had allowed two months to __________ before paying her rent.
  2. The lackluster* battle was punctuated by __________ mortar fire.
  3. A man’s __________ is his castle.
  4. Because the watchman was __________ , thievery was rampant* at the warehouse.
  5. The __________ musician had nothing but disdain* for his disorganized friends.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. careless, negligent
  2. b. to slip by
  3. c. occasional
  4. d. home
  5. e. careful
  1. elapse __________
  2. meticulous __________
  3. domicile __________
  4. lax __________
  5. sporadic __________

Answer Key
to sow one’s wild oats—to lead a wild, carefree life
During his teen years, the millionaire avidly* sowed his wild oats.

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