Define:
poignant
(poin-yunt)
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
Watching her daughter wake up was particularly poignant for her mother who had worried by her bedside the whole night.
Define:
polar
(poe-lur)
adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
The two were so different their personalities could be considered polar opposites.
Define:
polemic
(puh-lem-ik)
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
As soon as the graduate student obtained her doctorate, she published a polemic refutation of her mentor’s work.
Define:
ponderous
(pon-dur-us)
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness
adj. requiring a lot of work
The ponderous task was completed in no time, thanks to the large number of volunteers we had.
Define:
portend
(pore-tend)
v. to foretell
The witch claimed that the stormy weather portended the ruler’s downfall.
Define:
posit
(poz-it)
v. to assume as fact
Some physicists posit that the universe will expand forever.
Define:
postulate
(poss-chuh-lehyt)
v. to assume a basic truth
Economic theory postulates limits on essential resources as the basis of human behavior.
Define:
bolster
(bole-stur)
v. to support
The candidate’s campaign was bolstered by endorsements by several former military leaders.
Define:
bombastic
(bom-bass-tick)
adj. inflated, arrogant
The bombastic way in which the author described his new novel repulsed me.
Define:
brood
(brewd)
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
The hen protected her new brood from the farmer’s inspection.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. so emotionally intense as to be painful
poignant
(poin-yunt)
synonyms: agonizing, bitter; sharp, keen
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. related to opposite extremes or sides
polar
(poe-lur)
synonyms: opposite, contrary, counter
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. controversial
n. a controversial argument
polemic
(puh-lem-ik)
synonyms: refutation, dispute
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to handle due to heaviness; or
adj. requiring a lot of work
ponderous
(pon-dur-us)
synonyms: burdensome, unwieldy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to foretell
portend
(pore-tend)
synonyms: foreshadow, harbinger
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to assume as fact
posit
(poz-it)
synonyms: propose an explanation based upon assumptions, postulate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to assume a basic truth
postulate
(poss-chuh-lehyt)
synonyms: assert, premise, suppose
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to support
bolster
(bole-stur)
synonyms: assist, aid, help
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. inflated, arrogant
bombastic
(bom-bass-tick)
synonyms: grandiose, egotistical
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a group of offspring
v. to worry over
brood
(brewd)
synonyms: cluster, breed; grieve, dwell upon
