Page 47 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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behalf (be HAF) n. on (or in) behalf of; in the interest of; speaking for;
representing
• Harriet spoke in behalf of the truth’s being known.
• The lawyer appeared on behalf of his client, Mr. Jones.
behavior (be HAYV yoer) n. 1. how anybody acts; conduct; deportment; 2. any
organism’s reaction to stimulus—especially a recordable response; 3. noticeable
actions or responses of any person, animal, or machine
• Nora’s behavior seemed perfectly normal to Dennis.
• Juanita thought Ted’s behavior to be rather strange when she saw him hit
his finger with a hammer and laugh.
• Amy was disturbed by her car engine’s rough behavior.
being (BEE eeng) n. 1. existing or living; life; existence; 2. basic or essential
nature; 3. someone or thing that is alive or exists; 4. all the qualities, physical and
mental, that make up a person; personality
• Any living thing is in a state of being.
• Any plant or animal can be thought of as a being.
• Very few people acknowedge a fly as a being, but it is one.
• Most religions believe in the existence of a Higher Being.
belie (bee LY) vt. 1. to disguise; misrepresent; 2. to disappoint or leave unful-
filled; 3. to prove false or show to be untrue
• Al’s good-natured smile belies his evil intentions.
• Sally hated to belie her customer by telling her the cake she had ordered
was not yet ready.
• It is a debunker’s job to belie the tricks of charlatans.
[-d, belying]
belief (bee LEEF) n. 1. a conviction that some things are true or real; 2. faith,
especially in a religious sense; 3. confidence in; trust in; 4. something accepted as
true; 5. an opinion; an expectation; a judgment
• Geoffrey’s belief that there is a tooth fairy is based on a chapter from his
book of bedtime stories.
• Maribel’s beliefs are between her and her pastor—and are none of our
business.
• Valerie had complete belief in Harper’s honesty.
• It was her belief that Santa would show up later.
• Your accomplishments are totally beyond belief.
belligerent* (bel IDG oer ent) adj. 1. at war; 2. relating to war; of fighting; 3.
showing an eagerness to fight; spoiling for a fight
• During World War I, the belligerents engaged in four years of unmoving
trench warfare.
• The belligerent adversaries duked it out in the ring.
• Veronica’s attitude was always belligerent, as if she were seeking to get into
an argument.
[belligerently adv.] [Syn. bellicose]