Vocabulary Chapter 1

1. to free from guilt or blame or their consequences: The court absolved her of guilt in his death.

2. to set free or release, as from some duty, obligation, or responsibility (usually fol. by from ): to be absolved from one's oath.

–noun 1. a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent; adversary.

2. the adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work: Iago is the antagonist of Othello.

• –adjective
• 1. utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.

2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.

• –adjective
• 1. deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd: eccentric conduct; an eccentric person.

2. Geometry . not having the same center; not concentric: used esp. of two circles or spheres at least one of which contains the centers of both.

• –adjective
• 1. having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable: an amiable disposition.

2. friendly; sociable: an amiable greeting; an amiable gathering.

3. agreeable; willing to accept the wishes, decisions, or suggestions of another or others.

• verb (used with object)
• 1. to come upon or meet with, esp. unexpectedly: to encounter a new situation.

2. to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.): We encounter so many problems in our work.

• –adjective
• 1. not involving questions of right or wrong; without moral quality; neither moral nor immoral.

2. having no moral standards, restraints, or principles; unaware of or indifferent to questions of right or wrong: a completely amoral person.

• –noun
• 1. a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He is the epitome of goodness.

2. a condensed account, esp. of a literary work; abstract.

• –noun, plural -ties.
• a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to display itself in action: a deep-seated animosity between two sisters; animosity against one's neighbor.

1. to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame: to malign an honorable man.