Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 41 - Day 1

Word List
  • curry [kėr´ ē]
    to seek favor by flattery
    → “The candidates are visiting many senior centers in an attempt to curry support among the elderly.” AARP Bulletin, 9/99
  • pall [pôl]
    cease to please, become dull
    → “A pall had descended upon Mr. Timberlake, and I understood why he did not talk to me about the origin of evil.” V. S. Pritchett, “The Saint”
  • succulent [suk´ yə lənt]
    juicy
    → “Use this coupon to get $1 off on a succulent holiday turkey.” Advertisement, Waldbaum’s Supermarket, 11/99
  • satiety [sə tī´ ə tē]
    excess, overly full, surfeit*
    → “One of the soldiers was given leave to be drunk six weeks, in hopes of curing him by satiety.” William Cowper, Selected Letters
  • intrinsic [in trin´ sik]
    within itself, inherent*
    → “We appear to have lost the belief that honesty is an intrinsic aspect of political leadership.” Editorial, Christian Science Monitor, 5/17/98

The American housewife is queen of all she surveys in the supermarket. She decides what items shall be purchased. Grocery manufacturers are well aware of her power to make one product a success and another a failure. They spend huge sums developing new products with which to curry her favor. Fearful that a successful product will soon begin to pall, the manufacturers, without cessation,* come out with “new and improved” versions to whet* her appetite. Sometimes it is only a box or package that has been changed—perhaps a colorful photo of a succulent meal on a TV dinner box. In the larger supermarkets the housewife is faced with a satiety of merchandise, particularly in the copiously* stocked laundry detergent section. While there may be almost no intrinsic difference among the many brands, advertising and packaging serves to importune* her to buy one rather than another.

Did you spot it? The “new word” you’ve seen before? It’s intrinsic.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. The connoisseur* of fine foods declared the restaurant the ultimate* in the preparation of __________ meat dishes.
  2. She coveted* the antiquated* locket even though it had only an __________ value.
  3. He discreetly* tried to __________ favor with his employer.
  4. The host exhorted* his guests to eat to __________ .
  5. Those conditions were not conducive* to a felicitous* evening as the dance would soon __________ for the lack of feminine companionship.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. excess, overly full, surfeit*
  2. b. within itself, inherent*
  3. c. to seek favor by flattery
  4. d. juicy
  5. e. cease to please, become dull
  1. curry __________
  2. pall __________
  3. succulent __________
  4. satiety __________
  5. intrinsic __________

Answer Key
a pretty kettle of fish—a mess, troubles
He thought it was an innocent white lie, but it got him into a pretty kettle of fish.

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