400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL LESSON 38 - The Written Word Vocabulary Test
Word List
advent [ˈædvənt] n.
Coming; arrival
→ The advent of the automobile greatly increased the demand for petroleum.
Usage tips Advent is usually followed by an of phrase.
ambiguous [æmˈbɪgjʊəs] adj.
Having more than one possible meaning
→ The sentence It’s hard to say is ambiguous, with different meanings in different contexts.
Parts of speech ambiguity n., ambiguously adv.
connotation [ˌkɒnəʊˈteɪʃən] n.
A meaning implied, not stated directly
→ When my boss says, “Thank you,” the connotation is that she’s done talking and I should leave.
Parts of speech connote v.
decipher [dɪˈsaɪfəʳ] v.
To figure out the meaning, even though it is written in a code or an unknown language
→ The Rosetta Stone helped archaeologists decipher ancient Egyptian writing.
Usage tips A cipher is a code or puzzle; decipher means “solve a puzzle written in code.”
denote [dɪˈnəʊt] v.
To mean something clearly and directly
→ An “X” next to a name on this list denotes a person who has been chosen for the soccer team.
Parts of speech denotation n.
illiterate [ɪˈlɪtərɪt] adj.
Unable to read
→ In many villages nearly everyone was illiterate and unschooled, and the few who could read held great power.
Parts of speech illiterate n., illiteracy n.
ingenious [ɪnˈdʒiːnɪəs] adj.
Very clever and imaginative
→ Ann thought up an ingenious way to keep other people from accidentally taking her pens.
Parts of speech ingenuity n., ingeniously adv.
inscription [ɪnˈskrɪpʃən] n.
Something written into a piece of rock or metal
→ The inscription on my ring says “August 1, ”because that was the day of our wedding.
Parts of speech inscribe v.
phonetic [fəʊˈnetɪk] adj.
Related to the sounds in a language
→ Children learning to write often make up phonetic spellings, based on the way a word sounds.
Parts of speech phonetics n., phonetically adv.
symbolic [sɪmˈbɒlɪk] adj.
Acting as a sign for some other thing or idea
→ Since the 1970s, yellow ribbons have been symbolic of hope that someone will return from a dangerous situation.
Usage tips Symbolic is often followed by an of phrase indicating the meaning of a symbol.
Parts of speech symbolize v., symbol n., symbolically adv.
