Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 46 - Day 1

Word List
  • ascertain [as´ ər tān´]
    discover, find out about
    → “Scientists have been trying to ascertain why dinosaurs became extinct so suddenly.” A. Hyatt Verrill, The Strange Story of Our Earth
  • dormant [dôr´ mənt]
    resting, asleep
    → “The disease may lie dormant for years before becoming active and dangerous.” Johns Hopkins Health Letter, 5/97
  • burgeoned [bėr´ jənd]
    flourished, grew
    → “In recent years programs on AM, FM, shortwave and low-powered stations have burgeoned.” Carlos Johnston, “Intelligence Report” Summer 1998
  • potentate [pōt´ n tāt]
    ruler
    → “The racing season at Saratoga invited all manner of society—from potentates to paupers.” Lanny Richards, “They’re Off!”
  • disseminate [di sem´ ə nāt]
    spread, scatter
    → “In the history of the world, no other tool has allowed us to disseminate more information than the Internet.” Computer World, 5/99

One of the anomalies* of our approach to history is the propensity* to study the venerable* empires of Europe, but we do not feel it incumbent* upon us to ascertain anything about the civilizations in our own hemisphere. We deprecate* the history of this part of the world as though progress lay dormant and that other peoples were irrelevant* until the settlers of North America arrived at Plymouth Rock. In South America, from 2000 B.C. until their empire reached its acme* at the beginning of the 16th century, lived the Incas. The site* of the capital city of the Inca empire, Cusco, lay at a height of 11,000 feet. This civilization is reputed* to have burgeoned until it covered more than 2,500 miles of the western part of the continent. Its population fluctuated* between 4 and 7 million. This empire had a highly efficacious* political and social system. Its potentate ruled with absolute power. As the empire conquered new lands, it would disseminate its language, religion, and social customs.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. While some moribund* economies atrophied* after World War II, others __________ under the salubrious* effects of loans from the U.S.
  2. In order to __________ the relationship between his girlfriend and his brother, he kept a wary* and discreet* vigil.*
  3. We are quick to __________ calumny,* but reticent* about things that may be construed* as compliments.
  4. He was appalled* at the apathy* concerning the important issue that had remained __________ for so long a time.
  5. The callous* __________ kept an imperturbable* mien* when requested to alleviate* the unconscionable* conditions existing in his land.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. spread, scatter
  2. b. discover, find out about
  3. c. resting, asleep
  4. d. flourished, grew
  5. e. ruler
  1. ascertain __________
  2. dormant __________
  3. burgeoned __________
  4. potentate __________
  5. disseminate __________

Answer Key
straight from the shoulder—in a direct, open way
I took the wind out of his sails* by telling him straight from the shoulder that I was not going to wink at* his apple polishing.*

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