Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 44 - Day 4

Word List
  • diminutive [də min´ yə tiv]
    tiny, small
    → “A giant of a chef, he is a diminutive, modest man.” New York Post, 10/10/99
  • profuse [prə fyüs´]
    overflowing, abundant
    → “He offered profuse apologies for his show of exasperation, and he volunteered to read to her, something in French.” Aldous Huxley, “The Giaconda Smile”
  • dulcet [dul´ sit]
    sweet or melodious to the ear
    → “Her dulcet tones and intelligent reading of the story captivated the hearers.” “Our Town,” New York Times, 10/7/99
  • impromptu [im promp´ tü]
    spur of the moment, offhand
    → “At an impromptu airport news conference, Gov. Bush declined to respond directly to questions about his experience with drugs.” Associated Press Report, “Next Question, Please,” 6/5/99
  • malevolent [mə lev´ ə lənt]
    ill-disposed, ill-intentioned
    → “Our military action against the malevolent head of the Serbian government has finally ended.” Newsweek, 4/8/99

The saga* of the introduction of that diminutive song bird, the canary, into the homes of the world as tame pets is an interesting one. In the sixteenth century a trading ship going to Italy stopped at an island named “Canis,” from the Latin word for wild dog, which could be found there in profuse numbers, off the coast of Africa. The dulcet song of the wild birds whetted* the interest of the captain. In impromptu cages hundreds were taken aboard to be traded. The sailors called these gray-green birds, spotted with yellow, “canaries.” As they approached the island of Elba, near Italy, a malevolent storm put the boat in jeopardy* of sinking. A member of the crew released the birds, and the intrepid* canaries instinctively flew towards land. The peasants on Elba took the wild canaries in as pets. Eventually, the birds found their way into homes throughout Europe where they were domesticated and bred for variety of song and shades of colors. The canaries prevalent* today differ greatly from the ones discovered over four hundred years ago.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. As the music reached a frenetic* tempo, the audience lost all decorum* and broke into __________ dancing.
  2. He had no qualms* about opposing the clique* who insidiously* exerted a __________ influence on the president.
  3. The connoisseur* was able to glean* a worthwhile painting from the __________ variety of poor ones at the exhibit.
  4. Europeans drive __________ cars because their narrow roads and high prices for gasoline are not conducive* to or compatible* with our large ones.
  5. The blasé devotee of the opera was awakened from his ennui* by the __________ tones of the new soprano.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. ill-disposed, ill-intentioned
  2. b. tiny, small
  3. c. spur of the moment, offhand
  4. d. sweet or melodious to the ear
  5. e. overflowing, abundant
  1. diminutive __________
  2. profuse __________
  3. dulcet __________
  4. impromptu __________
  5. malevolent __________

Answer Key
to be under a cloud—to be in temporary disgrace or trouble
Until they discovered the real thief, he was under a cloud.

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