Page 296 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

27_571656 ch22.qxd 11/10/04 12:43 PM Page 287
E – F: GRE Words
formidable (FAWR mid uh bil) adj. 1. causing fear; 2. difficult to overcome; 287
3. impressive
• Gerald’s threat to sue was a formidable one as far as Bob was concerned.
• Audrey found the obstacle course a formidable barrier.
• Vance’s performance on the SAT was formidable indeed.
[formidably adv.]
fortuitous (for TOO i tus) adj. 1. occurring by accident; by chance; 2. lucky; by
good fortune
• Bill’s running into his future employer at the ballpark was just a fortuitous
occurrence.
• How fortuitous that Hillary won the state lottery.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. accidental]
forum (FOR uhm) n. 1. the ancient Roman open marketplace; 2. a court of law;
tribunal; 3. an opportunity for open discussion
• The Roman forum was a marketplace in which ideas as well as goods were
exchanged.
• A court of law serves as a forum in which justice is dispensed (not to be
confused with “dispensed with”).
• Often a televised debate serves as a forum for political candidates to present
their ideas and to discuss their plans should they be elected.
fracas (FRAY kuhs) n. a noisy fight or loud quarrel; a brawl
• The police had to come break up the fracas at the tavern last night.
• When Mr. and Mrs. Unger get into one of their frequent shouting contests,
the fracas disturbs the whole neighborhood.
frieze (FREEZ) n. a series of decorations, painted or sculpted, usually in a hori-
zontal band
• A series of high-relief sculptures forms a frieze decorating a fireplace mantle
at the Vanderbilt home.
functionary (FUNK shin er ee) n. a person who performs a certain function,
especially an official
• A server in the cafeteria is a functionary, as is a janitor.
• The keeper of public records is a functionary, whose function is, obviously,
keeping public records.
fusion (FYOO zhin) n. 1. joining by melting together; fusing; 2. a joining as if
by melting together (for example, two factions of a political party); 3. nuclear
fusion
• Welding is a practical form of fusion and is used to join the frames of cars
and aircraft to their skins.
• In times of war, it has been customary for a fusion of the political parties to
occur so that the nation acts as one.
• It is the aim of scientists to use nuclear energy formed by fusion (the
principle of the H-bomb) for peaceful purposes.