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ungainly
(adj.) [un GAYN lee] clumsy; awkward; hard to handle. As she struggled to hold her tuba upright, Terry wondered, “Why on earth did I choose such an ungainly instrument?”
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catalyst
(n) [KAT l ist] someone or something that brings about a change. The guest appearance of the rock star was a catalyst in raising funds for the homeless.
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alleviate
(v)[ə LEE vee ayt] to make easier to endure; to relieve; to diminish. Although the new drug is said to alleviate the symptoms, it will not cure the disease.
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dismantle
(v)[dis MANT l] to pull down; to take apart. Before the movers could take the pool table out of the game room, they had to dismantle it.
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impassive
(adj.) [im PAS iv] without feeling or emotion; insensible. Spartans were admired for the impassive behavior even when suffering great pain.
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nonchalance
(n) [non shə LONS] carelessness; lack of interest or concern. Edward’s nonchalance about his studies explained his poor showing on the midterm exams.
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pariah
(n) [pə RI ah] an outcast. Anyone who breaks the code of honor at West Point is treated like a pariah.
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ribald
(adj.) [RIB əld] low, vulgar humor (from Middle English ribaud, a person of low rank). Out of respect for their visiting grandparents who might be offended by the vulgar stories, Nat and Natalie refrained from their usual ribald dinner conversations.
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schizophrenia
(n) [skit sə FREE nee a] a form of psychosis characterized by withdrawal from reality. The use of therapeutic drugs and sheltered environments help many victims of schizophrenia live productive and happy lives.
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sedate
(adj.) [si DAYT] composed, collected; deliberate. The visiting dignitary strolled at a sedate pace in review of the honor guard drawn up to greet him at the airport.
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sedulous
(adj.) [SEJ oo les] diligent; painstaking, industrious. Cuthburt’s sedulous attention to the preparation of the case left no opportunity for his opponents to find omissions or oversights.
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spurious
(adj.) [SPYOOR ee əs] lacking authenticity; counterfeit; false. It was discovered that the correspondent who files the spurious report had actually never been at the battle site.
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susceptible
(adj.) [se SEP tə bəl] very sensitive; capable of being acted upon, influenced by or affected by a specific trait. School attendance in the wintertime is likely to be poor because the children are more susceptible to colds in that season.
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therapeutic
(adj.) [thayr ə PYOO tik] having healing or curative powers. It is still believed that bathing in the mineral waters of Agua Caliente has a therapeutic effect on joint diseases.
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tirade
(n) [TI rayd] a long, angry or scolding speech; a harangue. The dictator’s tirade attacked the forces which opposed his regime, accusing them of plotting a coupe.ungainly (adj.) [un GAYN lee] clumsy; awkward; hard to handle. As she struggled to hold her tuba upright, Terry wondered, “Why on earth did I choose such an ungainly instrument?”
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