Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 29 - Day 1

Word List
  • lithe [līŦH]
    graceful
    → “Tasteless headlines screamed ‘Newtie’s Cutie’ to describe the lithe hymn-singing young staff member who inexplicably fell for her portly Newt.” Robert Reno, “Political Garbage,” Newsday, 8/19/99
  • obese [ō bēs´]
    very fat
    → “The rush to lose weight by unproven methods often leads to complications for obese people.” Johns Hopkins Health Letter, Summer 1997
  • adherent [ad hir´ ənt]
    backer, supporter
    → “The state employs a flag as a symbol for adherents to the government as presently organized.” U.S. Supreme Court decision, 1943
  • bliss [blis]
    happiness, pleasure
    → “Is there anything to match the bliss on a teenager’s face the day she obtains her license to drive?” Car and Driver, 9/99
  • pathetic [pə thet´ ik]
    sad, pitiful, distressing
    → “He is the latest loser trying to solve his pathetic life behind a gun.” Editorial, New York Post, 7/30/99

Of the many highly popular sports in the United States, football must be rated around the top. This sport allows the speedy and lithe athlete to join with the slower and obese one in a team effort. The skills and strengths of many men are welded together so that one team may work as a unit to gain mastery over its opponent. The knowledgeable adherent of a team can follow action covering many parts of the playing field at the same time. He is in a state of bliss when his team executes a movement to perfection. However, there is no one more pathetic than the same fan when the opposition functions to equal perfection.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. The disgruntled* __________ switched his loyalty to the opposition party.
  2. It was a pleasure to watch the __________ body of the ballet dancer as she performed the most difficult steps.
  3. There is something __________ about a great athlete who continues to compete long after he has been bereft* of his talents.
  4. His insatiable* hunger for sweets soon made him __________.
  5. Oh, what __________ could be seen in the eyes of the ardent* couple as they announced their engagement!

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. backer, supporter
  2. b. very fat
  3. c. sad, pitiful, distressing
  4. d. graceful
  5. e. happiness, pleasure
  1. lithe __________
  2. obese __________
  3. adherent __________
  4. bliss __________
  5. pathetic __________

Answer Key
on the spur of the moment—on impulse, without thinking
On the spur of the moment he turned thumbs down* on the new job.

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