Page 89 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

08_571656 ch04.qxd 11/10/04 12:34 PM Page 80
Essential Vocabulary
80
destruction (dis TRUHK shin) n. 1. demolition; the act of destroying; slaughter;
2. the fact or state of being demolished; 3. the cause or means of demolition
• Peter’s task was to effect the destruction of the old ballpark so that it could
be replaced with a new one.
• The tornado had caused almost complete destruction where it had touched
down.
• Destruction is a good thing, when practiced in moderation.
[Syn. ruin]
detachment (di TACH mint) n. 1. a separating; 2. a unit of troops separated
from a larger unit for special duty; a small permanent unit organized for special
service; 3. the state of being disinterested, impartial, or aloof
• The shipping container was a detachment from a long-haul tractor-trailer’s
bed.
•A detatchment of marines was sent in to reconnoiter before the main land-
ing was to take place.
• The cat watched the dog being bathed with complete detachment, having
no clue that she was to be next.

QUICK REVIEW #26
Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.

1. deride a. poverty
2. derivative b. impartiality
3. derive c. ridicule
4. descent d. scorn
5. describe e. unoriginal
6. description f. ruin
7. design g. deduce
8. desolate h. scheme
9. despise i. sudden attack

10. destitution j. forsake
11. destruction k. picture
12. detachment l. tracing