Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 37 - Day 1

Word List
  • confront [kən frunt´]
    come face to face with
    → “When we gaze into a seeming infinity of tomorrows, we face the challenge that any generation confronts when it looks ahead.” Editorial, “2000 and Beyond,” New York Times, 1/1/00
  • antipathy [an tip´ ə thē]
    dislike, distaste, hate
    → “There is no need to anticipate any antipathy from your future in-laws when you plan a wedding.” “Wedding Guide,” Courier-Life Publications, 7/99
  • servile [sėr´ vəl]
    slavish, submissive
    → “Uriah Heep, so physically repulsive and hypocritically servile, fascinated David at first but later revolted him.” Holly Hughes, Barron’s Book Notes, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • volition [vō lish´ ən]
    willpower, choice
    → “To prove her innocence, she took a lie detector test of her own volition.” New York Times, 9/21/99
  • sojourn [sō´ jėrn]
    temporary stay
    → “He returned from a long sojourn in Europe.” Alan McCulloch, Encyclopedia of Australian Art

Henry Thoreau attempted to confront the problem and solve the enigma* of how one might earn a living and yet not become an ignominious* slave to the task. He viewed the industrial revolution with antipathy. Man in a servile role to extraneous* possessions was a main target of his writings. He believed that one could attain genuine wealth not by accumulating objects or money, but through enjoyment and perusal* of nature. By his own volition he gave up friends and comforts for a two year sojourn by himself at Walden Pond. What others might judge as penury,* was seen by Thoreau as the epitome* of wealth.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. He found his __________ position a degrading* one and could not accept it with equanimity.*
  2. The expatriate* decided to make his __________ in France a permanent one in order to give up his nomadic* way of life.
  3. Why do we refuse to __________ the unsavory* problems of our times in a candid* and incisive* way?
  4. He was a tenacious* competitor, and at his own __________ he placed his title in jeopardy* on many occasions.
  5. Her __________ towards men was based on rather nebulous* events that she construed* to prove that they were all perfidious.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. temporary stay
  2. b. willpower, choice
  3. c. dislike, distaste, hate
  4. d. come face to face with
  5. e. slavish, submissive
  1. confront __________
  2. antipathy __________
  3. servile __________
  4. volition __________
  5. sojourn (n.) __________

Answer Key
to tighten one’s belt—to get set for bad times or poverty
He knew he would have to draw in his horns* and tighten his belt or he would wind up on skid row*.

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