bereft (bi REFT) adj. 1. without; devoid (of); deprived; 2. bereaved- For his crime, the criminal was bereftof his freedom.
- The crime victim was bereft of her feeling of security.
- The berefttwins mourned the death of their uncle.
betray (bit RAY) vt.1. to aid the enemy, or make vulnerable to the enemy in a
traitorous way; 2. to break faith with; to not act up to expectations; 3. to deceive;
- to give away secret information
- Benedict Arnold betrayedhis defenses to the British.
- Bill went to the broker so as not to betrayAnne’s faith in his ability to get
tickets for Cats. - Nan got Sue to join the team, convincing her that they’d have fun togeth-
er; then she betrayedher by quitting. - During the game, Sue betrayedHal’s hiding place to Jim.
[-d, -ing, -al, -er n.] [Syn. deceive, reveal]
between(bit WEEN) prep.1. in or through the area separating two things; 2. in
the time separating two things; 3. along a path that connects two things —adv.1.
in a middle location, time, space, or function; 2. in the midst of; 3. in confidence - The gate is betweenthe third and fourth fence posts.
- Lunchtime comes betweenbreakfast and dinner times.
- That color is betweenblue and green.
- Second gear is betweenfirst and third gears.
- In betweenjobs, Hannah and her sisters took a vacation.
- Let’s keep this betweenyou and me.
bewilder(bee WIL der) vt.to thoroughly confuse, as by something very
involved and complicated; befuddle; puzzle - Jose was bewilderedby the Times’ crossword puzzle.
- Alice’s disappearing coin trick served to bewilderFrancine.
- On Ian’s visit to the art supply store, he was faced with a bewilderingselec-
tion of brushes and palette knives.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. puzzle]
bias (BY uhs) n.1. a line cut or sewn on the diagonal to the weave of a cloth; 2.
a mental partiality or slant; bent; partiality; inclination —vt. to have a prejudice; to
influence - The seamstress sewed the hem on a bias.
- As Jason aged, his childhood bias in favor of dark-meat chicken had
changed to one for white meat; go figure. - The attorney feared that the judge might be unduly biasedby his client’s
unsavory reputation. - Kira’s wallpaper choice is biasedby her love of earth tones.
[-ed, -ing]
40 Essential Vocabulary