Webster Essential Vocabulary

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

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sacrosanctity (SAK ri SANKTt i tee) n. something very sacred; holiness;
inviolability



  • The Catholic Church insists on the sacrosanctityof the marriage vows.

  • To Muslims, the sacrosanctityof the Dome of the Rock must not be violated
    by nonbelievers.
    sagacious (suh GAY shis) adj. wise; showing keen perception and sound
    judgment


•A sagaciousperson limits the amount of money he brings to the tables in a
casino.


  • One who drinks alcoholic beverages and then drives is not sagacious.
    [sagaciously adv.] [Syn. shrewd]
    salvage(SAL vij) vt. to save or rescue from a shipwreck, or fire, flood, etc.; to
    engage in the saving of goods or wrecked ships —n.anything so rescued, especially
    the refloating of lost ships for historical purpose or for monetary compensation, or
    the recovery of goods from wreckages

  • Ken was able to salvagefew household goods after the tornado had gone.

  • Some divers make a living from salvagingvaluables from shipwrecks.

  • The sunken hulks of lost ships are sometimes raised and sold for their
    salvagevalue.
    [-d, salvaging] [Syn. save, rescue]
    sanctimonious(SANK ti MOH nee is) adj. pretending to be very holy or pious;
    feigning righteousness


•A sanctimoniousperson is one with a “holier-than-thou” attitude.


  • Fred Flanders was extremely sanctimonious,until he was caught one day
    with his hand in the cookie jar.
    [sanctimoniously adv.] [Syn. devout]
    sanction(SANK shin) vt. 1. authorized approval or empowerment from an
    authoritative agent or agency; 2. support, encouragement; 3. a coercive measure
    taken by a group (like a boycott) to bring someone or something into line

  • State governments sanctionmarriages within their borders.

  • Sue sanctionedher daughter’s going after her employer in court for failing
    to pay her in full for her services.

  • The United States has imposed economic sanctionson Cuba since the early
    1960s.
    [sanctioned*, -ing]
    sarcastic (sahr KAS tik) adj. 1. a taunting remark that has the nature of being
    caustic, cutting, and/or ironic (usually with the intent to hurt); 2. one who uses
    such remarks (sarcastic usually implies the intent to hurt)

  • When Alice told Phil that his new Mohawk haircut looked awesome, she
    was being sarcastic;she meant awful.
    •A sarcasticremark often means the opposite of what is said, like irony.
    [sarcastically adv.]
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