Page 103 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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elocution (EL i KYOO shin) n. 1. vocalizing words distinctly when speaking in
public; 2. the art of public speaking or declaiming (now usually associated with a
studied or artificial style)
• Cicero was well known for his elocution in the Senate of ancient Rome.
• Proper elocution requires one to project from the diaphragm rather than
just speaking with one’s voice.
• Opera singers are often taught elocution.
[-ary adj., -ist n.]
eloquent* (EL uh kwint) adj. 1. having a vivid, forceful, fluent, graceful, and
persuasive quality of writing or speech; 2. vividly expressive
• Mark Twain was an eloquent speaker as well as a humorous one.
• Rachel shrugged and sighed an eloquent sigh.
[-ly adv.]
elude (il OOD) vt. 1. to use quickness, cunning, etc. to avoid being captured;
evade; 2. to escape detection, notice, or understanding
• The fox does not often elude detection by the hounds.
• The prisoner eluded the guards by hiding in the laundry bin.
• I recognize her face, but her name eludes me.
[-d, eluding] [Syn. escape]
embellishment* (em BEL ish mint) n. 1. fancying up; 2. something that
adorns, as an ornament, or a bit of fancifulness added to a factual account; a fancy
musical phrase
• Tree lights and icicles are often added as embellishments.
• A good storyteller often adds a few embellishments, just to make his (or
someone else’s) role appear more important.
• William F. Cody’s (Buffalo Bill’s) autobiography has often been called one
big embellishment from start to finish.
• A rimshot on a snare drum accompanying a TV talk-show host’s punch
line is an embellishment.
embitter (em BIT ir) vt. 1. to anger; make resentful or morose; 2. to make more
bitter; exascerbate; aggravate
• Ignore his cynicism; he’s just an embittered old grouch.
• Pulling her hair is bound to embitter her even further.
[-ed, -ing, -ment n.]
embrace (em BRAYS) vt. 1. to enfold in the arms, usually as an expression of
affection or desire; to hug; 2. to accept readily; to avail oneself of; 3. to take up or
adopt (especially eagerly or seriously); 4. to include; contain
• The homecoming sailor happily embraced his wife and child.
• Phyllis embraced Cathy’s offer to help her with math.
• Mr. Jones eagerly embraced his new profession.
• The science of biology embraces zoology and botany.
[-d, embracing] [Syn. include]