Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 17 - Day 1

Word List
  • perpetrate [pėr´ pə trāt]
    commit
    → “Thanks to Mr. DeLay, we learn that violence perpetrated by gun owners is really the product of larger forces.” Editorial, “Mr. DeLay’s Power Play,” New York Times, 6/20/99
  • consummate [kən sum´ it]
    complete, of the highest degree
    → “Arnold Zweig, a writer of consummate artistry, presents a picture of delicacy and charm that hovers on the brink of disaster.” Roger Goodman, World-Wide Stories
  • subterfuge [sub´ tər fyüj]
    ruse, trick
    → “He was a free-will agent and he chose to do careful work, and if he failed, he took the responsibility without subterfuge.” Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, “A Mother in Mannville”
  • concoct [kon kokt´]
    devise
    → “I am concocting a seduction; I do not require a pastry chef.” Ben Brantley, New York Times, 6/15/99
  • fallacious [fə lā´ shəs]
    misleading
    → “The demand was plausible, but the more I thought about it, the more fallacious it seemed.” A. D. White, Scams and Schemes [adapted]

One of the truly remarkable stories of World War II concerns a ruse* that was perpetrated with such consummate skill that it saved the lives of many Allied troops and helped to shorten the war. The simple, bold, and ingenious subterfuge which British officers concocted is the subject of Ewen Montagu’s classic, The Man Who Never Was. In short, the idea was to plant fallacious documents concerning the Allied invasion of Europe upon a dead officer, have his body recovered by agents who would transmit the false information to Germany, and then observe the effects of the plan.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Because the inspector had given only cursory* attention to the reports, I surmised* that his conclusion would be __________.
  2. Johnny Cochrane, the famous and controversial* lawyer, gave __________ attention to the preparation of every case.
  3. It was necessary for the interloper* to __________ a convincing story in order to gain access* to the exhibit.
  4. In order to __________ the swindle, the jaunty* confidence man adopted an amorous* approach toward the wealthy widow.
  5. The experienced teacher realized that Ricky’s stomachache was merely a __________ to keep him from taking the French test.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. devise
  2. b. complete, of the highest degree
  3. c. commit
  4. d. ruse, trick
  5. e. misleading
  1. perpetrate __________
  2. consummate __________
  3. subterfuge __________
  4. concoct __________
  5. fallacious __________

Answer Key
to draw in one’s horns—to check one’s anger, to restrain oneself
The performer drew in his horns when he saw that his critic was an eight-year-old boy.

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