Page 49 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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bereft (bi REFT) adj. 1. without; devoid (of); deprived; 2. bereaved
• For his crime, the criminal was bereft of his freedom.
• The crime victim was bereft of her feeling of security.
• The bereft twins mourned the death of their uncle.
betray (bit RAY) vt. 1. to aid the enemy, or make vulnerable to the enemy in a
traitorous way; 2. to break faith with; to not act up to expectations; 3. to deceive;
4. to give away secret information
• Benedict Arnold betrayed his defenses to the British.
• Bill went to the broker so as not to betray Anne’s faith in his ability to get
tickets for Cats.
• Nan got Sue to join the team, convincing her that they’d have fun togeth-
er; then she betrayed her by quitting.
• During the game, Sue betrayed Hal’s hiding place to Jim.
[-d, -ing, -al, -er n.] [Syn. deceive, reveal]
between (bit WEEN) prep. 1. in or through the area separating two things; 2. in
the time separating two things; 3. along a path that connects two things —adv. 1.
in a middle location, time, space, or function; 2. in the midst of; 3. in confidence
• The gate is between the third and fourth fence posts.
• Lunchtime comes between breakfast and dinner times.
• That color is between blue and green.
• Second gear is between first and third gears.
• In between jobs, Hannah and her sisters took a vacation.
• Let’s keep this between you and me.
bewilder (bee WIL der) vt. to thoroughly confuse, as by something very
involved and complicated; befuddle; puzzle
• Jose was bewildered by the Times’ crossword puzzle.
• Alice’s disappearing coin trick served to bewilder Francine.
• On Ian’s visit to the art supply store, he was faced with a bewildering selec-
tion of brushes and palette knives.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. puzzle]
bias (BY uhs) n. 1. a line cut or sewn on the diagonal to the weave of a cloth; 2.
a mental partiality or slant; bent; partiality; inclination —vt. to have a prejudice; to
influence
• The seamstress sewed the hem on a bias.
• As Jason aged, his childhood bias in favor of dark-meat chicken had
changed to one for white meat; go figure.
• The attorney feared that the judge might be unduly biased by his client’s
unsavory reputation.
• Kira’s wallpaper choice is biased by her love of earth tones.
[-ed, -ing]