extraneous(eks TRAY nee is) adj. 1. not pertinent or relevant; 2. coming from
the outside; 3. not properly or truly belonging
- When discussing whether something is or is not the right thing to do, the
amount you’re willing to pay to have it done is extraneous. - The phases of the moon are extraneousto the seasons on earth.
- When playing Chopin’s piano sonatas, the presence of a flute player is
extraneous.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. extrinsic]
extricable(EKS tri ki bil) adj. able to get out from; able to separate from; capa-
ble of being disentangled - An egg yolk is easily extricablefrom a shelled egg—especially after the egg
has been hard-boiled. - The painter’s having failed to deliver on his part of the contract made
Harvey extricablefrom it. - A single rubber band is usually quite extricablefrom a ball of rubber bands.
[extricably adv.] [Syn. escapable]
extrovert(EKS tra VOERT) n. an outgoing person; one who directs her atten-
tion away from herself and toward others - Francesco is quite an extrovertfor a six-year-old and spends much of his
time thinking up ways to get those around him to laugh. - Extrovertsare generally a good deal more animated than introverts—their
opposites.
[extroversion n.] [Syn. outgoing]
facetious(fis EE shis) adj. joking or trying to be funny (especially at an inap-
propriate time) - Being facetiousis practically a full-time job for a punster.
- Vicki told Bill, “Don’t think I’m being facetiouswhen I tell you you’re my
best friend, but I am.”
[-ly adv.] [Syn. witty]
facilitate(fa SIL i TAYT) vt. to make possible, or to make it easier to do something - The hardened tips on shoelaces greatly facilitatelacing shoes and boots.
- Ramps being installed on most street corners facilitategetting on and off
sidewalks for the handicapped.
[-d, facilitating] [Syn. ease]
faction(FAK shin) n. inside a larger organization, a group of people smaller
than the whole working toward or aiming at one specific goal; partisan - When the school PTA met, one factionfavored holding a Christmas party,
while another was dead set against it. - Because it is a part of a larger whole, one can properly say that a factionis a
fraction of a group.
feckless(FEK lis) adj. 1. weak; ineffective; 2. careless; irresponsible - Mary was fecklessabout bringing her umbrella to work, and she paid for it
when the skies opened up.
282 Essential Vocabulary