CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 143
Vocabulary Unit 6
Vocabulary Lesson 36: What the Heck?
Today’s roots: gradi to step, to go equi equal
crypto secret dis- apart❑ ambiguous(adj) unclear in meaning (ambigereto wander)
The teacher’s ambiguousinstructions left us with no idea of what we were supposed to do.
Synonyms:vague, obscure Antonyms:apparent, lucid❑ obscure(adj) not easily understood; indistinct (obscurusdarkness)
The comedian’s jokes contained obscurereferences that left the audience confused and silent.
Synonyms:vague, enigmatic, cryptic Antonyms:evident, lucid❑ equivocal(adj) deliberately ambiguous or misleading (equi-same+vocareto call)
The defendant’s equivocalanswers made it hard for the prosecutor to prove his case.
Synonyms:evasive, indirect Antonyms:straightforward, forthright, candid❑ convoluted(adj) intricate and hard to follow (con-together+volvereto roll)
The instructions in this manual are so convolutedthat I don’t even know where to begin.
Synonyms:cryptic, inscrutable, incomprehensible Antonyms:coherent, intelligible❑ cryptic(adj) enigmatic; mysterious (cryptoconcealed, secret)
The soldier’s crypticreply over the radio to his captain suggested that something was amiss.
Synonyms:cryptic, obscure, incomprehensible Antonyms:coherent, intelligible❑ unfathomable(adj) impossible to comprehend (un-not+fathomto grasp)
The idea that time slows as our speed increases is unfathomableto most of us.
Synonyms:baffling, impenetrable, inscrutable Antonyms:coherent, intelligible❑ nebulous(adj) vague; indefinite (nebulamist)
Bill’s memory of the car accident was nebulous;he remembered only bits and pieces of the ordeal.
Synonyms:hazy, unclear Antonym:lucid❑ enigma(n) a mystery or riddle (oenigmariddle)
Synonyms:conundrum, riddle❑ esoteric(adj) difficult to understand (Gr esoterikosbelonging to an inner circle)
❑ ramble(v) to wander aimlessly, either verbally or physically
Synonyms:stray, babble❑ desultory(adj) aimless; prone to random digressions (desultoriousskipping about)
❑ digress(v) to go off topic (dis-away+gradito step, to go)
Synonyms:diverge, deviate, ramble❑ profound(adj) deep; insightful (pro-forth+fundusbottom)
Synonyms:philosophical, sagacious