In Other Words…
Students preparing for the upcoming ACT may find a more extensive vocabulary rather helpful. All definitions compliments of Webster’s Dictionary.
Asperity:
Pronunciation: \a-ˈsper-uh-tē,/
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural as·per·i·ties
Etymology: Middle English asprete, from Anglo-French aspreté, from aspre rough, from Latin asper, from Old Latin *absperos, from ab- ab- + -speros; akin to Sanskrit apasphura repelling, Latin spernere to spurn — more at spurn
Date: 13th century
1 : rigor, severity
2 a : roughness of surface : unevenness; also : a tiny projection from a surface b : roughness of sound
3 : roughness of manner or of temper : harshness <asked with some asperity just what they were implying>
His asperity was obvious to everyone in the room.
Dereliction:
Pronunciation: \ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən, ˌde-rə-\
Function: noun
Date: 1597
1 a : an intentional abandonment b : the state of being abandoned
2 : a recession of water leaving permanently dry land
3 a : intentional or conscious neglect : delinquency <dereliction of duty> b : fault, shortcoming
The dereliction of the city left the people saddened.
Engulf:
Pronunciation: \in-ˈgəlf, en-\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1555
1 : to flow over and enclose : overwhelm <the mounting seas threatened to engulf the island>
2 : to take in (food) by or as if by flowing over and enclosing
— en·gulf·ment \-mənt\ noun
The scent engulfed her.
Flamboyant:
Pronunciation: \-ənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French, from present participle of flamboyer to flame, from Old French, from flambe
Date: 1832
1 often capitalized : characterized by waving curves suggesting flames <flamboyant tracery> <flamboyant architecture>
2 : marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior <a flamboyant performer>
— flam·boy·ant·ly adverb
She was a flamboyant dancer.
Maladroit:
Pronunciation: \ˌma-lə-ˈdrȯit\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from mal- + adroit
Date: 1685
: lacking adroitness : inept
synonyms see awkward
— mal·adroit·ly adverb
— mal·adroit·ness noun
The boy was often described as maladroit or clumsy.
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