Word List
abrogate(ab·ro ̆·ayt) v.to abolish, do away with, or annul by authority. It
was unclear if the judge would abrogate the lower court’s ruling.
beguile(bi· ̄l) v.to deceive or cheat through cunning; to distract the
attention of, divert; to pass time in a pleasant manner, to amuse or charm.
Violet was able to beguile the spy, causing him to miss his secret meeting.
bolster (bohl·ste ̆r) v.1. to support or prop up. 2. to buoy or hearten. Coach
Edmond’s speech bolstered the team’s confidence.
burgeon(bur·jo ̆n) v.to begin to grow and flourish; to begin to sprout,
grow new buds, blossom. The tulip bulbs beneath the soil would burgeon in early
spring, providing there was no late frost.
burnish(bur·nish) v.to polish, rub to a shine. When Kathryn began to bur-
nish the old metal teapot, she realized that it was, in fact, solid silver.
careen(ka ̆·reen) v.1. to lurch from side to side while in motion. 2. to rush
carelessly or headlong. Watching the car in front of us careen down the road was
very frightening.
decimate(des· ̆·mayt) v.to destroy a large portion of. An extended period
of neglect would eventually decimate much of the housing in the inner cities.
deprecate(dep·re ̆·kayt) v.to express disapproval of; to belittle, depreciate.
Grandpa’s tendency to deprecate the children’s friends was a frequent source of fam-
ily strife.
fetter(fet·e ̆r) v.1. to shackle, put in chains. 2. to impede or restrict. The
presence of two security guards fettered the teenagers’ plans to get backstage.
forestall(fohr·stawl) v.to prevent by taking action first; preempt. The diplo-
mat was able to forestall a conflict by holding secret meetings with both parties.
fulminate(ful·m ̆·nayt) v.1. to issue a thunderous verbal attack; berate. 2.
to explode or detonate. The senator was prone to fulminate when other legisla-
tors questioned her ideology.
immolate(im·o ̆·layt) v.1. to kill, as a sacrifice. 2. to ruin by fire. 3. to
destroy (one thing for another). In a desperate attempt to make a point about
what she considered an inappropriate book, Sophia decided to immolate the book in
public.
interdict(in·te ̆r·dikt) v.to prohibit, forbid. Carlos argued that the agricul-
ture department should interdict plans to produce genetically modified foods.