Term
| stealth adj. (stealthy, stealthily) sneaky |
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Definition
| The cat stealthily crouched in the grass eyeing its intended victim and waiting for just the right moment to pounce. |
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Term
| malevolent adj. (malevolently) wicked or evil |
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Definition
| The malevolent spirit howled profanities through the night from the depths of the old basement. |
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Term
| assuage v. (-ed, -s, -ing) to make something uncomfortable feel better |
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Definition
| It took about three years for my feelings of grief to assuage after the death of my father. |
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Term
| dictum n. (dictation, dictate) a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle. |
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Definition
| There is an old dictum which states, "Might makes right," but I disagree. |
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Term
| arbitrate v. (-d, -ing, -s) to act between parties to resolve their differences |
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Definition
| f your two best friends are fighting over the last piece of gum in the pack, you might arbitrate by telling them to split it. |
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Term
| nauseate v. (-d, -ing, -s, nausea, nauseous) to feel sick to the point of almost vomiting |
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Definition
| The first few weeks of her pregnancy were difficult because Katy woke up every morning feeling nauseated and dizzy. |
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Term
| melancholy adj. (melancholic) gloomy or depressed |
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Definition
| The one act play was so melancholy that I felt depressed even after I left the theater! |
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Term
| aloof adj. (aloofly) not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. |
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Definition
| After meeting Jenine for the third time, Michael realized she wasn't shy, just aloof, because she hardly spoke and acted bored every time they went out. |
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Term
| benign adj. (benignly) showing or expressing kindness or gentleness |
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Definition
| Until Jem and Dill excluded me from their plans, she was only another lady in the neighborhood, but a relatively benign presence. |
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Term
| acquiesce v. (acquiesced, acquiescing) submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent |
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Definition
| We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerfully acquiescing to Atticus's instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging. |
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