Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 13 - Day 1

Word List
  • importune [im´ pôr tün´]
    ask urgently
    → “Many businessmen were importuned to come to Washington.” John McDonald, On Capitol Hill
  • incontrovertible [in´ kon trə vėr´ tə bəl]
    undeniable
    → “The Wilsons lived in a universe of words linked into an incontrovertible firmament by two centuries of Calvinist divines.” John Dos Passos, U.S.A.
  • surreptitious [sər´ əp tish´ əs]
    stealthy, accomplished by secret
    → “He was surreptitiously negotiating to have 70 percent of the payments turned over to himself.” David C. Johnson, “Tax Evasion Scheme,” New York Times, 1/1/00
  • haven [hā´ vən]
    place of safety
    → “The desire to escape the city has filtered down into every other economic group, and as a result of the suburb’s popularity, that haven of refuge is itself filling up.” Lewis Mumford, “The Roaring Traffic’s Boom”
  • subjugate [sub´ jə gāt]
    conquer
    → “The country had been bitterly divided, so ruthless in its determination to keep the black majority subjugated.” Sheryl McCarthy, “Mandela Was South Africa’s Perfect Choice,” Newsday, 6/17/99

In the winter of 1941, Enrico Fermi and a number of other distinguished scientists importuned President Franklin Roosevelt for authorization to begin an all-out effort in atomic energy research. The scientists were alarmed by incontrovertible evidence of surreptitious German experiments, and they asked for speedy approval. Italian-born Enrico Fermi was the ideal man to lead the atomic research. Already in 1938 he had won the Nobel Prize for work with radioactive elements and neutron bombardment. Fermi had found a haven from the Fascists (his wife was Jewish) and he knew that if the Germans were the first to develop an atomic bomb it would mean that Hitler could subjugate the entire world. The international race for atomic supremacy was on.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Although Eddie was not sanguine* about his chances, he continued to __________ his boss for a winter vacation.
  2. In inclement* weather our barn is a __________ for many animals.
  3. The dictator used duplicity* in order to __________ his rivals.
  4. With a __________ movement, the meticulous* bookkeeper emptied the ash tray.
  5. The expert’s __________ testimony corroborated* the police report.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. undeniable
  2. b. ask urgently
  3. c. conquer
  4. d. place of safety
  5. e. stealthy, accomplished by secret
  1. importune __________
  2. incontrovertible __________
  3. surreptitious __________
  4. haven __________
  5. subjugate __________

Answer Key
to take the bull by the horns—to face a problem directly
After several days of delay, the minister decided to take the bull by the horns, and so he sent for the vandals.

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