4000 Essential English Words 2 Unit 5: May 29,1953

classWord List

• ancestor [ˈænsɛstə] n.
  An ancesto

  Unit 5: A Bet

  Word List

  • alternate [ˈɔ:ltərneit] v. 

  To alternate means to switch back and forth between two things.

  → The best exercise alternates muscle and heart strengthening.

  • apologetic [əˌpɒləˈdʒetik] adj. 

  If someone is apologetic, they are sorry about something.

  → The boy felt apologetic after losing his sister’s favorite toy.

  • benign [biˈnain] adj. 

  If something or someone is benign, they do not hurt anyone.

  → Many spiders look scary, but most are actually benign.

  • char [tʃɑːr] v. 

  To char means to burn something so that it turns black.

  → While Frank went inside to get the mustard, he accidentally charred the hotdogs.

  • clarify [ˈklærəfai] v. 

  To clarify means to make something easier to understand by explaining it.

  → Drew tried to clarify all the functions of Michelle’s new computer.

  • dogged [ˈdɔ(:)gid] adj. 

  When someone’s actions are dogged, they try hard to continue something.

  → Her dad bought her a new jacket after her dogged requests for one.

  • distress [disˈtres] n. 

  Distress is the feeling of being upset or worried.

  → Failing a class caused the student a lot of distress.

  • ensue [inˈsuː] v. 

  To ensue means to happen after something.

  → After a few minutes of lightening, thunder ensued.

  • gasp [gæsp] v. 

  To gasp means to make a noise by quickly breathing in when surprised.

  → John always gasps when watching a scary movie.

  • negotiate [niˈgouʃieit] v. 

  To negotiate means to try to make an agreement through discussion.

  → Mario and Joe took a long time negotiating the contract between the companies.

  • overdose [ˈouvərdous] n. 

  An overdose is an instance of taking or having too much of something.

  → John’s skin was burned from an overdose of sunshine.

  • persuasion [pərˈsweiʒən] n. 

  Persuasion is the act of making someone do or believe something.

  → The persuasion of his argument convinced the customer to buy the laptop.

  • relay [ˈriːlei] n. 

  A relay is a race in which teams of runners or swimmers race against each other.

  → Jerry was the fastest on his team, so he ran the last part of the relay.

  • reluctance [riˈlʌktəns] n. 

  Reluctance is a feeling of not wanting to do something.

  → Jesse took out the trash with great reluctance.

  • restate [riːˈsteit] v. 

  To restate something means to say it again or in a different way.

  → Mrs. Jones restated the test question to the class.

  • sesame [ˈsesəmi] n. 

  Sesame is an herb that is grown for its small seeds and its oil.

  → I used the buns with the sesame seeds on them.

  • sip [sip] v. 

  To sip something means to drink a small amount at a time.

  → Liza relaxed on the beach, sipping fruit juice through a straw.

  • verge [vəːrdʒ] n. 

  The verge is the point at which something is about to happen.

  → Joan was on the verge of leaving her house when the phone rang.

  • wary [ˈwɛəri] adj. 

  If someone is wary, they are cautious or mistrusting.

  → She was wary of going to school because she hadn’t done her homework.

  • waver [ˈweivə:r] v. 

  To waver is to be unable to decide between two choices.

  → I wavered between eating the apple or the cake for a snack.

  r is a family member from the past.
  → My ancestors came from Germany.
• angle [æŋgl] n.
  An angle is the direction from which you look at something.
  → The giraffe turned its head to see from another angle.
• boot [buːt] n.
  A boot is a heavy shoe that goes over your ankle.
  → He wore boots so that his feet wouldn’t get wet.
• border [ˈbɔːrdər] n.
  A border is the edge of an area.
  → The postcard had a pretty green border of pine needles.
• congratulate [kənˈgrætʃəleɪt] v.
  To congratulate someone is to tell them that you are happy for them.
  → Bill and Angela congratulated each other on a job well done.
• frame [freɪm] n.
  A frame is a border for a picture or mirror.
  → I have to get a frame for my friend’s picture.
• heaven [ˈhɛvən] n.
  Heaven is the place that some people believe people go when they die.
  → When I die, I hope that I go to heaven.
• incredible [ɪnˈkredəbl] adj.
  If someone or something is incredible, it is hard to believe they are true.
  → I have an incredible story to tell you about my vacation.
• legend [ˈledʒənd] n.
  A legend is a story from the past.
  → There is a well-known legend about a king and his queen.
• praise [preɪz] v.
  To praise is to show that you like someone or something.
  → The coach praised both athletes after a good practice.
• proceed [prəˈsiːd] v.
  To proceed is to go in a certain direction.
  → My son and I proceeded to the beach so we could go fishing.
• pure [pjʊər] adj.
  If something is pure, it is very clear and beautiful.
  → The rose was pure. It had no dirt or imperfections.
• relative [ˈrelətɪv] n.
  A relative is a family member.
  → My relatives came by to see the new baby.
• senior [ˈsiːnjər] adj.
  If one is senior, they are the oldest or have been there the longest.
  → Because he got his job first, Bob is the senior
• silent [ˈsaɪlənt] adj.
  If someone or something is silent, they make no sound.
  → Since no one was home, the house was silent.
• sink [sɪŋk] v.
  To sink into something is to slowly fall into it.
  → The boat had a hole in it, and it sank into the ocean.
• superior [səˈpɪəriər] adj.
  If someone or something is superior, they are better than another.
  → I think cooking outdoors is superior to cooking indoors.
• surround [səˈraʊnd] v.
  To surround something is to close in on it from all sides.
  → We surrounded the suspect on all four sides.
• thick [θɪk] adj.
  If something is thick, it is wide and solid.
  → The fog was so thick that I couldn’t see through it.
• wrap [ræp] v.
  To wrap is to cover something on all sides.
  → I wrapped his gift and put a bow on it.