Webster Essential Vocabulary

crisis(KRY sis) n.1. the turning point of an illness for better or for worse; 2. a
very painful attack of illness; 3. a decisive, crucial time in the course of anything; a
turning point; 4. a time of great danger or trouble

• Alessandra’s fever declined after the crisishad passed.


• The doctor could tell that Dylan was in crisisby the pained expression on
  his face.


• The battle’s crisiscame when the enemy turned and fled.


• September 11 has played a significant role in more than one crisis.
  [crises pl.] [Syn. emergency]

Quick Review #22.

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

C: SAT Words 69

1. convey


2. conviction


3. coop


4. corroborate


5. cosmopolitan


6. couch


7. counterfeit


8. courage


9. creation


10. creative


11. creature


12. crisis

a. dependent

b. invention

c. urbane

d. artistic

e. valor

f. emergency

g. confine

h. express

i. transport

j. confirm

k. certainty

l. sham

critic(KRIT ik) n.1. someone who makes judgments of people or things based
on certain standards; 2. such a person whose occupation is to write or broadcast
such judgments of books, music, paintings, etc.; 3. a person who indulges in find-
ing fault with everything

• Criticshelp to maintain high standards in many fields.


• Checking what trusted movie criticshave to say is one way to keep from
  wasting hard-earned money on fluff.


• My mother was a critic,finding fault with almost everything I ever did—
  but she meant well.