Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 3 - Day 1

Word List
  • loathe [lōth]
    to hate
    → “He had braced himself not to become entangled in her loathing for him.” Phillip Roth, American Pastoral
  • reprimand [rep´ rə mand]
    to show sharp disapproval
    → “The difficulty lay in the fact the man had previously received a reprimand from his employer regarding his easy-going ways with the men under him in his department.” James Thurber, “Let Your Mind Alone”
  • lackluster [lak´ lus´ tər]
    dull
    → “The major reason for the lackluster look in their eyes was their discovery it is now possible to drive across the face of the nation without feeling you’ve been anywhere or that you’ve done anything.” John Keats, “The Call of the Open Road”
  • caustic [kô´ stik]
    sarcastic, biting
    → “His habitual sullenness, stern disposition and caustic tongue produced a deep impression upon our young minds.” Aleksandr Pushkin, “The Shot”
  • wrest [rest]
    take by force
    → “Their attempt to wrest control of the company was thwarted by the Colonel and his three supporters on the board.” Edmund Ward, Jr., “Bulls and Bears” [adapted]

“If there’s one thing I loathe,” the coach said, “it’s a quitter.” He had good reason to reprimand us at half-time, because the scoreboard revealed that we were losing, 45–20. Our lackluster performance indicated to him that we had forgotten the rudimentary* aspects of basketball. His caustic remarks fired us up, however, and we dashed out, determined to wrest control of the game from our rivals.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. With the help of his brothers he was able to __________ the leadership of the company from his partner.
  2. Speaking in a monotone, the politician was booed for his __________ address.
  3. In a __________ article, the drama critic slaughtered the hapless* actors.
  4. I __________ spinach but I love other green vegetables.
  5. When Ed arrived late, he knew that the grocer would __________ him.

Definitions Match the new words with their dictionary definitions.

  1. a. dull
  2. b. to hate
  3. c. sarcastic, biting
  4. d. take by force
  5. e. to show sharp disapproval
  1. loathe __________
  2. reprimand (v.) __________
  3. lackluster __________
  4. caustic __________
  5. wrest __________

Answer Key
crocodile tears—insincere tears
(crocodiles were said to cry while eating their prey)
When the football player broke his leg, his substitute wept crocodile tears.

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