Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 6 - Day 3

Word List
  • disparage [dis par´ ij]
    to discredit, belittle*
    → “It (government control) has been called crackpot, but that doesn’t disparage it for me.” E. B. White, One Man’s Meat
  • laudable [lôd´ ə bəl]
    praiseworthy
    → “American historians, in their eagerness to present facts and their laudable anxiety to tell the truth, have neglected the literary aspects of their craft.” Samuel Eliot Morrison, By Land and by Sea
  • fiasco [fē as´ kō]
    complete failure
    → “Your $25 contribution to our fund will bring you an hilarious tape of the fiasco of an elementary school’s production of ‘Peter Pan.’” Public Broadcasting Announcement, 12/25/98
  • masticate [mas´ tə kāt]
    to chew up
    → “Trying to masticate a huge hamburger with an open mouth is a no-no.” Advice from Ms. Manners, syndicated columnist, 6/4/98
  • eschew [es chü´]
    avoid
    → “When in Rome, we decided to eschew Arithmetic.” Ruth McKinney, “Proof in Nine”

Speaking of inventions and discoveries, I just learned that an eminent* scientist in Ohio has developed a pill that contains all the nutritive value of three complete meals. In addition to providing us with the vitamins and minerals we need daily, this pill also gives a feeling of fullness. According to its sponsors, the pill will nourish and satisfy. I hate to disparage such a laudable achievement, but to me it seems like a most objectionable discovery. Rather than a scientific triumph, I’d be inclined to label it as an egregious* blunder, a scientific disaster, a laboratory fiasco. Is there anyone in his right mind who thinks that a pill can replace the pleasures of devouring hot corn bread, masticating on a thick steak, biting into crisp french fries, or attacking a chocolate sundae? I’m afraid that this is one pill I’ll have to eschew from chewing.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The paradox* is that Javert’s inexorable* pursuit of Jean Valjean was both __________ and despicable.
  2. The affluent* storeowner __________ the efforts of his small competitor, saying that he could always tolerate* that kind of rivalry.
  3. To aid in digestion, you must __________ each piece of meat one dozen times.
  4. In an acrimonious* letter, her father described the project as a complete __________ .
  5. Once he sought the limelight, but now he __________ all interviews.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. to discredit, belittle*
  2. b. avoid
  3. c. to chew up
  4. d. praiseworthy
  5. e. complete failure
  1. disparage __________
  2. laudable __________
  3. fiasco __________
  4. masticate __________
  5. eschew __________

Answer Key
to let sleeping dogs lie—to let well enough alone, to avoid stirring up old hostilities
The lawyer wanted to open up the old case, but his partner advised him to let sleeping dogs lie.

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