Webster Essential Vocabulary

lever(LE vir) n. 1. a bar used to pry; 2. a simple machine, consisting of a bar on
a pivot (called a fulcrum), used to apply force upward on one end while the other
end is pushed downward —vt.to pry something up by the use of a lever

• Archimedes said that if he were given a long enough leverand a fulcrum to
  rest it on, he could move the world.


• Probably the levermost adult Americans are familiar with today is in vot-
  ing machines and is used to open and close the curtain.
  [-ed, -ing, -age n.]
  liberal(LIB oer il) adj. 1. freely giving; generous; 2. plentiful; abundant;

3. broadminded; 4. favoring reform; not orthodox

• Children need a liberalamount of love from their parents.


• Some people like to put a liberalamount of butter or jelly on an English
  muffin.


• Scandinavian democracies tend to be more liberalthan the United States
  when providing medical benefits.


• Martin Luther would have been considered a liberalin his day.
  [-ly adv.]

Quick Review #110.

Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.

J – L: GRE Words 303

1. jamb


2. jocular


3. laconic


4. lambaste


5. laudable


6. laudatory


7. ledger


8. lethargy


9. lever


10. liberal

a. thrash

b. generous

c. commending

d. drowsiness

e. concise

f. pry

g. pillar

h. praiseworthy

i. book

j. witty

lien(LEEN) n. a claim on someone’s property as security for the payment of a
debt or loan

• When a car is purchased on a payment plan, a bank usually has a lienon it
  until it is payed off.


• If a house has a mortgage, you can be certain the bank is holding a lien.


• An auto mechanic can get a lienin lieu of unpaid repair bills.