Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 17 - Day 2

Word List
  • manifold [man´ ə fōld]
    complex, many
    → “China’s Xinhua News Agency treated manifold claims of procedural error with disbelief.” “Trying to Build Bridges in China,” TIME, 6/28/99
  • assiduous [ə sij´ ü əs]
    devoted, attentive
    → “Richard Greenberg is aiming here for big laughs at the expense of the generation he so assiduously chronicled in the past.” Peter Marks, “Making Mincemeat of Boomer Values”
  • impeccable [im pek´ ə bəl]
    faultless
    → “That is why the so-called ‘better’ juvenile books, skillfully constructed, morally sanitary, psychologically impeccable—don’t really make much of a dent on the child’s consciousness.” Clifton Fadiman, “My Life is an Open Book”
  • fraught [frôt]
    filled
    → “Ev’ry sigh comes forth so fraught with sweets, ’Tis incense to be offered to a god.” Nathaniel Lee, The Rival Queens
  • resourceful [ri sôrs´ fəl]
    able to meet any situation
    → “The crew of the $20 million independent film had to be very resourceful to hold down costs.” Beth L. Kiel, “Allen in Hollywood,” New York, 6/21/99

After Commander Montagu and his colleagues had been given official approval for their dangerous escapade, they encountered manifold problems. First, they conducted an assiduous search for a body that looked as though it had recently been killed in an airplane disaster. Then, a detailed history of the man had to be invented that would be so impeccable that the enemy would accept its authenticity. This meant documents, love letters, personal effects, keys, photographs, etc. Each step was fraught with difficulty, but the schemers were unbelievably resourceful. As a result, in the late spring of 1942, “Major Martin” was prepared to do his part for his country.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Burdened by her __________ responsibilities, the young executive was precluded* from enjoying her new wealth.
  2. Fear permeated* the crippled airplane as the passengers realized that their situation was __________ with danger.
  3. Although basically frugal,* his taste in clothing is __________ .
  4. The store owner was __________ enough to run a sale the day after his building had been razed* by the flames.
  5. Florence Nightingale was a paragon* of mercy in her __________ care for the wounded soldiers.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. able to meet any situation
  2. b. faultless
  3. c. complex, many
  4. d. devoted, attentive
  5. e. filled
  1. manifold __________
  2. assiduous __________
  3. impeccable __________
  4. fraught __________
  5. resourceful __________

Answer Key
to put the cart before the horse— to reverse the proper order, do things backwards
My assistant was so eager to get the job done that he often put the cart before the horse.

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