Page 121 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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fathom (FA thim) vt. 1. to measure the depth (of water); 2. to understand com-
pletely; comprehend —n. a unit of length equal to 6 feet, primarily used to measure
water depth
• Keep fathoming the water beneath our keel.
• You must make sure that you completely fathom the directions before you
proceed.
• The fathom was originally the measure from middle fingertip to middle fin-
gertip of a man with his arms spread wide.
[-ed, -ing]
feasible* (FEE zi bl) adj. 1. doable; practicable; 2. reasonable; suitable
• It is not always feasible to change one’s automobile oil at the specified
intervals.
• We’ll need a study to decide whether putting a skating rink into West Park
is feasible.
[feasibly adv., feasability n.] [Syn. possible]
felicitous (fel IS it is) adj. 1. appropriate; used in a way suitable to the occasion;
2. having the knack to pleasingly express
• A tuxedo is a felicitous outfit to wear to a formal wedding.
• Melissa is careful to be felicitous in all her public doings.
• Ariel writes in a felicitous manner.
[-ly adv.]
fiction (FIK shin) n. 1. something made up or feigned; 2. something imagined;
3. a literary story using imaginary characters and/or events
• Rachel’s proclaiming that she was having a heart attack was pure fiction,
meant to attract attention.
• The monster that lives in your closet is no fiction!
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was a work of fiction that came from the pen of
Washington Irving.
figurative (FIG yoer uh TIV) adj. 1. representing by likeness, picture, or figure;
2. having to do with drawing, painting, etc.; 3. not in the usual or exact sense;
analagous to; metaphoric
• Some artists have figurative talents, while others do better with landscapes.
• When you say that he’s caused you a million heartaches, we presume that
you mean that in a figurative sense.
[figuratively adv.]
financial (fy NAN shuhl) adj. 1. dealing with money resources, income, etc.; 2.
concerning managing money, credit, etc.
• A corporation’s chief financial officer is responsible for overseeing all
income and expenditures.
• One unavoidable financial report that we all must deal with each year is
our income tax return.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. pecuniary, fiscal]