Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 44 - Day 3

Word List
  • reputed [ri pyü´ tid]
    thought, supposed, believed
    → “The language of Iceland has changed so little that modern Icelanders are reputed to be able to read sagas written thousands of years ago.” Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue
  • frail [frāl]
    delicate, weak
    → “This frail woman has the strength to work where the strong turn away.” “Mother Teresa,” New Republic, 10/16/97
  • potent [pōt´ nt]
    powerful, strong, intense
    → “Those huge differences in income found in our society must have potent causes.” Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel
  • excoriate [ek skôr´ ē āt]
    criticize severely
    → “Senator Bradley refused to excoriate his opponent, preferring to take the high road in the campaign.” ABC Eyewitness T.V. News, 10/21/99
  • devout [di vout´]
    religious, sincere
    → “This author has a devout following among young readers.” New York Times Book Review, 7/25/98

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher who is reputed to be the forerunner of the current vogue* of existentialism. In appearance he was a frail and ungainly man. An extremely erudite* thinker and writer, he was a potent force in propagating* the new approach to life. His philosophy would excoriate those who believed that man could stand aside from life. In his philosophy it is a heresy* to take a detached point of view; it is incumbent* upon the individual to get involved. What is germane* is not that we exist, but that our existence is determined by our acts. He was a religiously devout man who fervidly* believed that the individual is always paramount.*

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. Even though she was piqued* at his indolent* manner, it was pathetic* to listen to her __________ him in public.
  2. His awesome* mental dexterity* compensated* for his __________ physical condition.
  3. When Ben’s muscles began to atrophy,* the doctor initiated* therapy* with a __________ new drug.
  4. The drug is __________ to have a salubrious* effect on nascent* conditions of this type.
  5. Although he was a __________ adherent* of the party, he remained aloof* during the vitriolic* primary campaign.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. thought, supposed, believed
  2. b. religious, sincere
  3. c. delicate, weak
  4. d. criticize severely
  5. e. powerful, strong, intense
  1. reputed __________
  2. frail __________
  3. potent __________
  4. excoriate __________
  5. devout __________

Answer Key
to toe the mark—to obey or stick to a rule or policy
He wanted to kick over the traces,* but his parents made him toe the mark.

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