Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 40 - Day 2

Word List
  • cant [kant]
    insincere or almost meaningless talk
    → “Although we hear much cant about loving one’s neighbor, life provides endless examples of just the opposite.” Paula Love, The Will Rogers Book
  • umbrage [um´ brij]
    resentment, offense
    → “I do not take umbrage when I’m looked over, I do when I’m overlooked.” Mae West, The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West, Joseph Weintraub, Editor
  • magnanimous [mag nan´ ə məs]
    generous, noble
    → “There was no way he was going to be magnanimous and share this prized baseball with anyone who claimed a share of the glory.” Don DeLillo, Underworld
  • vilify [vil´ ə fī]
    malign,* slander
    → “One who belongs to the most vilified minority in history is not likely to be unaware of the freedoms guaranteed by our constitutions.” Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, decision, October 1943
  • elucidate [i lü´ sə dāt]
    to make clear
    → “The Secretary of State tried to elucidate the government’s policies in the troubled Middle East.” New York Times, 5/7/98

The television press interview is conducive* to close scrutiny* of a candidate. His public speeches may contain many cant phrases, but a sharp question by an astute* reporter can destroy a cliché* filled statement. The politician now will procrastinate* in his answer; a new facet* of his personality may be revealed by his demeanor.* Perhaps he will take umbrage at a suggestion that he favors the affluent.* His record is searched for evidence that he has been equally magnanimous to the indigent.* He accuses the reporter of attempting to vilify him. Is he being accused of turpitude* in office? It is time to discreetly* go on to another topic. The candidate wishes to extol* the virtues of his program and record. The press wants to allude* to things that keep him in the midst of controversy. They insist that he elucidate positions that the politician would rather leave in a nebulous* state.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. We feel so sanctimonious* when we __________ the character of a felon*.
  2. The diplomat was astute* enough to see through the __________ of the Machiavellian* ambassador.
  3. A somber* examination of those indigent* families, bereft* of hope, sunken in apathy,* should motivate* us to be more __________ in our attempts to improve their lot.
  4. I was flabbergasted* when he took __________ at my whimsical* remarks.
  5. The judge ordered the censor to __________ his reasons for removing passages from the book in such a capricious* manner.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. insincere or almost meaningless talk
  2. b. to make clear
  3. c. resentment, offense
  4. d. malign,* slander
  5. e. generous, noble
  1. cant __________
  2. umbrage __________
  3. magnanimous __________
  4. vilify __________
  5. elucidate __________

Answer Key
the sum and substance—the heart or substantial part
The sum and substance of our pyrrhic victory* was that our hopes for a stable future had gone up in smoke.*

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