CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 133
Vocabulary Lesson 31: Stop It!
Today’s roots: ab-, abs- from terrere to frighten
tenere hold suadere to urge
❑ thwart(v) to stop something before it is able to succeed
Thanks to inside information, the police department was able to thwartthe bank robbery before it even began.
Synonyms:circumvent, stymie, foil Antonym:abet
❑ abstain(v) to refrain from action (abs-from+tenereto hold)
An alcoholic for twenty years, Robert was unable to abstainfrom drinking when offered a beer.
Synonyms:forgo, eschew Antonym:indulge
❑ deterrent(n) something that acts to discourage (de-away+terrereto frighten)
The picture of the vicious lion baring his teeth was an effective deterrentagainst kids’ reaching into the cage.
Synonyms:hindrance, impediment Antonym:incentive
❑ impede(v) to slow the progress of, to block
The orange cones did not do much to impedethe progress of the cars; they just drove right over them.
Synonyms:hinder, obstruct Antonyms:assist, expedite
❑ hinder(v) to slow the progress of
The weed-killer sprayed on the garden successfully hinderedthe growth of the unwanted plants.
Synonyms:impede, obstruct, thwart Antonyms:promote, facilitate
❑ curtail(v) to make less (curtusshort)
In an effort to lose weight, Mark tried to curtailhis ice cream consumption.
Synonym:diminish Antonyms:extend, boost
❑ impediment(n) something that works to impede progress; a hindrance
Louise had a speech impedimentthat caused her to stutter, but that did not keep her from being a DJ.
Synonyms:impedance, encumbrance, hindrance Antonym:aid
❑ stymie(v) to present an obstacle to
Synonyms:hinder, impede
❑ dissuade(v) to persuade not to do something (dis-against+suadereto urge)
Synonyms:deter, divert
❑ refrain(v) to hold back from doing (re-back+frenareto restrain)
Synonyms:halt, inhibit
❑ abstinence(n) the voluntary avoidance of something (abs-from+tenereto hold)
❑ tentative(adj) uncertain
Thetentativeschedule was not set in stone.
Synonyms:cautious, diffident
❑ hamper(v) to restrict the progress of
Synonyms:impede, hinder
❑ abstemious(adj) sparing or moderate in consumption