Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know (MCQ Test + PDF) Week 3 - Day 1
NEW WORDS
- loathe [lōth]
“He had braced himself not to become entangled in her loathing for him.” Phillip Roth, American Pastoral
- reprimand [rep´ rə mand]
“The difficulty lay in the fact the man had previously received a reprimand from his employer regarding his easy-going ways with the men under him in his department.” James Thurber, “Let Your Mind Alone”
- lackluster [lak´ lus´ tər]
“The major reason for the lackluster look in their eyes was their discovery it is now possible to drive across the face of the nation without feeling you’ve been anywhere or that you’ve done anything.” John Keats, “The Call of the Open Road”
- caustic [kô´ stik]
“His habitual sullenness, stern disposition, and caustic tongue produced a deep impression upon our young minds.” Aleksandr Pushkin, “The Shot”
- wrest [rest]
“Their attempt to wrest control of the company was thwarted by the Colonel and his three supporters on the board.” Edmund Ward, Jr., “Bulls and Bears” [adapted]
TODAY’S IDIOM
crocodile tears—insincere tears (crocodiles were said to cry while eating their prey)
When the football player broke his leg, his substitute wept crocodile tears.
