Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 38 - Day 2

Word List
  • stagnant [stag´ nənt]
    motionless, dull, inactive
    → “The place was small and close, and the long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul.” T. E. Lawrence, The Desert of the Stars
  • fatal [fā´ tl]
    deadly, disastrous
    → “What caused him to lose the election was his fatal mistake of not raising sufficient funds to publicize himself.” Jewell Bellush and Dick Netzer, Urban Politics
  • passé [pa sā´]
    outmoded, old-fashioned
    → “Everything old is new again is the theme for the designer’s adoption of passé styles and making them fashionable again.” Sophia Leguizamo, “New From Milan”
  • procrastinate [prō kras´ tə nāt]
    delay, put off
    → “Mr. Brooksmith procrastinated for several days before accepting my offer.” Henry James, “Brooksmith”
  • facet [fas´ it]
    one side or view of person or situation
    → “As soon as one becomes computer-literate, a new technical facet is introduced that challenges us once again.” New York Times, 10/25/99

In dress, the fashion appears to be “set” by a few foreign designers and a handful of affluent* individuals who purchase these designs. The fashion industry is cognizant* of the fact that fashions must change rapidly and often or their economy would become stagnant. For this industry it would prove fatal if it were not vigilant* and prepared well in advance for a new fashion trend.* As the old fashion becomes passé and a new fashion seems to be in the making, the garment manufacturers cannot afford to procrastinate. They rush large sums of money into production for a mass market. Having invested heavily, the manufacturers do everything possible to influence and motivate* the purchasers. Through every facet of publicity and advertising the industry exploits* the natural desire for people to be au courant* with the latest fashions.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. To the consternation* of the distraught* parents they learned their son was accused of using the lethal* weapon on that __________ occasion.
  2. We wish for halcyon* days when the warlike solutions will have become __________.
  3. Edna recalled with nostalgia* many __________ of her school days.
  4. We all tend to __________ when faced with an unsavory* task.
  5. The iconoclast* has the propensity* for reproaching* those who feel complacent* with leading a __________ existence.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. delay, put off
  2. b. motionless, dull, inactive
  3. c. deadly, disastrous
  4. d. one side or view of person or situation
  5. e. outmoded, old-fashioned
  1. stagnant __________
  2. fatal __________
  3. passé __________
  4. procrastinate __________
  5. facet __________

Answer Key
to get up on the wrong side of the bed—to be in a bad mood
When his mother raised Cain* about his slovenly* room, he accused her of getting up on the wrong side of the bed.

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