CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 107
Vocabulary Unit 3
Vocabulary Lesson 15: Weak and Weaker
Today’s roots: batre to beat troph nourishment
sequi follow pli fold
❑ atrophy(v) to weaken from disuse (a-without+trophnourishment)
After surgery, extended bed rest often causes muscles to atrophyunless it is accompanied by physical therapy.
Synonyms:degenerate, deteriorate Antonyms:thrive, flourish
❑ abate(v) to subside; to decrease in intensity (ad-to+batreto beat)
The crews had to wait until the storm abatedbefore they could begin to assess the damage to the coastal town.
Synonyms:wane, diminish Antonyms:expand, amplify
❑ porous(adj) filled with many holes (porusopening)
The teenager’s story was a porousone that her parents could easily see through.
Synonyms:penetrable, pervious Antonyms:impervious, impenetrable, impregnable
❑ wane(v) to grow smaller or less intense
As the brightness of the moon wanesover the next few nights, it will become easier to see the surrounding stars.
Synonyms:abate, ebb Antonyms:wax, intensify
❑ lassitude(n) a feeling of weakness (lassusweary)
Although she tried valiantly to play through her illness, Danielle’s lassitudeovertook her in the second half.
Synonyms:listlessness, weariness Antonyms:vitality, vigor
❑ undermine(v) to weaken or diminish something
The continual setbacks to the project over many weeks underminedthe morale of the workers.
Synonyms:undercut, attenuate Antonyms:fortify, strengthen
❑ obsequious(adj) overly submissive (ob-to+sequifollow)
Synonyms:fawning, compliant
❑ attrition(n) a wearing away of strength or morale
Synonyms:debilitation, weakening
❑ enervate(v) to weaken someone’s vitality
Synonym:debilitate
❑ vulnerable(adj) prone to attack or harm
Synonyms:assailable, susceptible
❑ ebb(v) to decrease or decline slowly
Synonyms:wane, abate
❑ compliant(adj) submissive (plifold)
Synonyms:yielding, conciliatory
❑ debilitate(v) to sap the strength of (de-away+bilisstrength)
Synonyms:cripple, enervate