formidable(FAWR mid uh bil) adj. 1. causing fear; 2. difficult to overcome;- impressive
- Gerald’s threat to sue was a formidableone as far as Bob was concerned.
- Audrey found the obstacle course a formidablebarrier.
- Vance’s performance on the SAT was formidableindeed.
[formidably adv.]
fortuitous(for TOO i tus) adj. 1. occurring by accident; by chance; 2. lucky; by
good fortune - Bill’s running into his future employer at the ballpark was just a fortuitous
occurrence. - How fortuitousthat Hillary won the state lottery.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. accidental]
forum(FOR uhm) n. 1. the ancient Roman open marketplace; 2. a court of law;
tribunal; 3. an opportunity for open discussion - The Roman forumwas a marketplace in which ideas as well as goods were
exchanged. - A court of law serves as a forumin which justice is dispensed (not to be
confused with “dispensed with”). - Often a televised debate serves as a forumfor political candidates to present
their ideas and to discuss their plans should they be elected.
fracas(FRAY kuhs) n. a noisy fight or loud quarrel; a brawl
- The police had to come break up the fracasat the tavern last night.
- When Mr. and Mrs. Unger get into one of their frequent shouting contests,
the fracasdisturbs the whole neighborhood.
frieze(FREEZ) n. a series of decorations, painted or sculpted, usually in a hori-
zontal band- A series of high-relief sculptures forms a friezedecorating a fireplace mantle
at the Vanderbilt home.
functionary(FUNK shin er ee) n. a person who performs a certain function,
especially an official - A server in the cafeteria is a functionary,as is a janitor.
- The keeper of public records is a functionary,whose function is, obviously,
keeping public records.
fusion(FYOO zhin) n. 1. joining by melting together; fusing; 2. a joining as if
by melting together (for example, two factions of a political party); 3. nuclear
fusion - Welding is a practical form of fusionand is used to join the frames of cars
and aircraft to their skins. - In times of war, it has been customary for a fusionof the political parties to
occur so that the nation acts as one. - It is the aim of scientists to use nuclear energy formed by fusion(the
principle of the H-bomb) for peaceful purposes.
- A series of high-relief sculptures forms a friezedecorating a fireplace mantle
E – F: GRE Words 287