Page 266 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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C: GRE Words
cavalier (KAV uh LEAR) adj. 1. casual or unconcerned attitude; an indifference
to matters of concern or importance; 2. arrogant and haughty —n. 1. a knight or
armed horseman; 2. a courteous, gallant gentleman
• Barry had a cavalier attitude about his manners, and it would someday
come back to haunt him.
• Vaughn was so cavalier that most others felt he was looking down his nose
at them.
• Part of the outfit of a French cavalier was a wide-brimmed felt hat with an
ostrich plume sticking out.
• Cavaliers made a point of helping damsels in distress.
[-ly adv.]
charisma (kuh RIZ muh) n. a special quality or charm that encourages loyalty
or devotion
• Joan of Arc’s charisma is what made her soldiers follow her leadership.
• A rock star or a movie star who has charisma attracts a large band of
devotees.
[-tic adj., -tically adv.]
chary (CHAI ree) adj. 1. careful; cautious; 2. not giving freely; sparing
• Tania was chary of hurting anyone’s feelings.
• The cafeteria attendant was chary of the size of the portions she meted out.
[charily adv.] [Syn. wary]
chemical (KEM ik uhl) adj. 1. of or having something to do with chemistry;
2. made by or used by chemistry —n. 1. involving the use of alcohol and/or drugs;
2. any of the chemical elements or a compound thereof
• Chemistry studies how chemicals interact or fail to interact.
•A chemical reaction always occurs when an acid and a base are mixed
together, with the resulting compounds being a salt and water.
• It is essential that people avoid developing dependencies on chemicals.
• If a chemical is an acid, its formula always contains an H (for hydrogen).
[-ly adv.]
churlish (CHOER lish) adj. 1. boorish; surly or mean; 2. peasantlike; ill man-
nered; ill bred
• It was Shirley’s churlish nature that kept everyone at a distance from her.
• Evan was churlish, as if he’d been brought up in a barn.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. boorish]