Page 21 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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acknowledge (ak NAH lidzh) vt. 1. to admit to be true; confess; 2. to recognize
the claims or authority of; 3. to answer a greeter, respond to an introduction, etc.;
4. to express thanks for; 5. to affirm the reception of something
• Roxane acknowledged the charges against her.
• The insuror acknowledged the claims of the victim.
• The chair acknowledges the senator from Neverland.
• I’d like to acknowledge both my parents for the gift of life.
[-d, acknowledging, acknowledgment n.]
acquire (ak WYR) vt. 1. to gain or get something; 2. to take possession of; obtain
• You would do well to acquire a good education.
• We all acquire some of our parents’ traits by heredity.
• The United States acquired the Louisiana Territory by purchasing it from
France.
• An appreciation for caviar is an acquired taste, unlike a love for creamed
corn, which is, of course, innate.
[-d, acquiring]
acquisition* (AK wuh zi shuhn) n. something or someone obtained
• A developer’s acquisition of the old Bethlehem Corp.’s property is seen as a
good thing for Easton.
• Tania’s acquisition of a new PDA made her very happy.
• Ali’s acquisition of a new chauffeur pleased her to no end.
[acquisitive adj., acquisitively adv., acquisitiveness n.]
acrimony (AK ruh moh nee) n. bitterness, sharpness, or harshness of speech,
manner, or temper
• The acrimony of the temper of a scorned woman is legendary both in litera-
ture and in life.
• Dylan greeted the news that his new DVD player did not work at all with
considerable acrimony in his oaths.
[acrimonious adj., acrimoniously adv.] [Syn. asperity]
acute (uh KYOOT) adj. 1. sharply pointed; 2. shrewd; quick of mind; 3. sensitive to
something (like acute hearing); 4. severe and sharp (like acute pain); 5. serious; severe
• An acute angle forms a sharp point.
• Geoffrey’s acute mind made short work of the crossword.
• The eagle’s acute eyesight can pick up a mouse on the ground from hun-
dreds of meters in the air.
• Certain pains, like John, are acute but of short duration.
• There is an acute shortage of labor in some job categories.
[-ly adv., acuity n.] [Syn. sharp, keen, critical]
adapt* (uh DAPT) vt. 1. to make suitable or to make fit by changing; 2. to
change oneself to fit new or changed conditions
• Jim thought it perfectly sensible to adapt his gas stove’s IN line to connect
to the hot water line from his sink.
• When Mary travels between Miami and Juneau, she adapts her wardrobe—
especially outerwear—accordingly.
[-ed, -ing, -able adj., -ation, -er, adaptability n.]