Page 348 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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V – Z

vacillate (VAS i LAYT) vt. 1. to waver; to sway back and forth; to fluctuate or
oscillate; 2. to waver in attitude; show indecision
• It is not unusual for one’s position on an issue to vacillate as more and
better information becomes available.
• Homer and Marge often vacillate on where to go for their summer vacation.
[-d, vacillating, vacillation n.] [Syn. fluctuate]
vagrant (VAY grint) n. a person who wanders around without a regular job,
supporting him or herself by begging —adj. living the life of a vagabond; roaming;
nomadic
• Vagrants may often be found sleeping on park benches in some of our larger
cities.
• In some communities, being a vagrant is considered to be a misdemeanor.
• “Beachcomber” is a classy description for one living a vagrant existence.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. tramp]
vehement (VEE him int) adj. 1. violent; impetuous; moving with considerable
force; 2. characterized by strong feeling or passion; impassioned; fervent
• The vehement winds brought about by Hurricane Charley laid waste to
parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
• Bess was vehement in denying any knowledge of the incident in question.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. fervent]
venal (VEE nil) adj. 1. readily bribable or corruptible; 2. characterized by bribery
or corruption
• The judge did not appear to be at all venal, and this was backed up when
Don’s under-the-table offer landed Don in jail.
• The mayor and the council struck a venal bargain on the award of the
contract.
[-ly adv.]
veneer (ven EAR) vt. 1. to cover with a thin layer of more costly material; 2. to
cause to have a superficially attractive appearance —n. 1. a thin layer of wood or
other material glued as the outer layer over a base material to give an attractive
appearance; 2. a superficial appearance of something positive
• It is customary to veneer a piece of wooden furniture with a thin layer of
finer wood.
• Kitchen counters frequently are veneered with plastic for appearance and
washability.
• Mahogany and oak veneers are both popular in furniture manufacturing.
• Francine has a veneer of culture, despite her lack of formal education.

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