Page 17 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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absorb (ab ZAWRB) vt. 1. to suck up; 2. to take up the full energy or attention
of; engross; 3. to take in and incorporate; 4. to assume the full cost
• The sponge absorbed the entire spill.
• Learning fractions absorbed Hailee’s full attention.
• If we fail to absorb the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them.
• I’ll absorb the charge for the window replacement.
[-ed, -ing, absorbant adj.]
abstain (ab STAYN) vi. to hold back (from); refrain from
• I shall abstain from smoking or drinking.
• Three voted for the bill, two against it, and one abstained.
[-ed, -ing, abstention n.]
abstract (ab STRAKT for adj., AB strakt for n., v.) adj. 1. not concrete; thought of
apart from any material object; 2. not easily understood —n. a brief statement of
the content of a book, court case, article, etc.; a summary —vt. to remove or take
away; to summarize
• I had an abstract idea of what he meant, but nothing solid.
• Frankie’s ideas were too abstract to fully comprehend.
• We knew about the case from having read the abstract.
• Abstract the story, stating only the relevant facts.
[-ed, -ing, abstraction n., abstractly adv.]
absurd (ab SOERD or ab ZOEHRD) adj. 1. so obviously untrue as to be laugh-
able; 2. laughably different from what is reasonable
• The story that his arms were tired because he had just flown in from Los
Angeles was absurd.
• The outfit that Gino wore with the red and white striped shirt and the
green and yellow checked pants was absurd.
[absurdly adv., absurdity n.]
accentuate (ak SEN choo ayt) vt. 1. to pronounce or mark with a stress or
accent; 2. emphasize
• When you tell people about your vacation, accentuate the high points and
play down the low points.
• Wear clothing that accentuates your youthful looks.
[-d, accentuating, accentuation n.]
acceptable (ak SEPT ibl) adj. adequate; tolerable; bearable; okay
• Eating peas at a restaurant using only your knife is not considered accept-
able manners.
• Dressing in a toga is considered acceptable at certain fraternity parties.