Vocabulary list 11 - Adjectives

W
hat does careful description add to a given conversation, story, or explanation? Adjectives add
color, definition, and detail to any piece of writing. They serve to qualify and clarify the subject at
hand. Consider a mental image coming into focus as additional information is put forth: “There was
a man. There was an old man. There was an old, dolorous man.” In this way, adjectives help us account for speci-
ficity when trying to conjure up a figure, picture, mood, or situation in our minds.
CHAPTER
Vocabulary
List 11:
Adjectives
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Adjectives are typically understood as words used to describe nouns,
that is, people, places, things, and ideas. But, beyond this textbook defi-
nition, we may begin to think about the role of adjectives in our expe-
riences as readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.
14
171

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VOCABULARY LIST 11: ADJECTIVES
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173
1
3
4
2
6
5
78
9
1211

10
14
17
15
18
19
16
13
Across
2 something that’s meant to
be funny
3 shy, modest, reserved
6 relating to
8 touchable, perceptible
9 devoted to the pursuit of
sensual pleasure, gourmet
10 bold, adventuresome,
insolent
14 commanding
17 indirect, circuitous
18 innumerable
19 surly
Down
1 apt, disposed to
2 glib, lacking appropriate
respectfulness
4 stylish, lively
5 spunky, showing
aggressiveness, liveliness
7 tempering, moderating

11 elaborate, sumptuous
12 woeful, melancholy
13 intense, desperate
15 amazing, massive
16 cynical, scornful
Choose the word from the Vocabulary List that best fits into the crossword puzzle. You can check your answers
at the end of the chapter following the answers to the questions.
Vocabulary List 11: Adjectives
audacious
churlish
demure
dolorous
epicurean
extenuating
facetious
feisty
flippant
imperious
jaunty
myriad
oblique
ornate
palpable
prodigious
prone
relevant
sardonic
vehement

audacious (o˙·da¯ ·shəs)

(adj.)
fearlessly, often recklessly daring, adventurous, and
brave; unrestrained by convention or propriety;
insolent
The student’s behavior—swearing at the
teacher in class—resulted in detention for a
week.
churlish (chər·lish)
(adj.)
boorish or vulgar; having a bad disposition; surly;
difficult to work with; intractable
The child was immediately punished for his bad
attitude and behavior.
demure (di·myu˙ r)
(adj.)
modest and reserved in manner or behavior; shy
Having always been attracted to the shy and quiet
type, James predictably fell for the
woman to whom he was introduced.
dolorous (do¯ ·lə·rəs)
(adj.)
exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain
My friend’s expression could be
explained by the painful divorce process in
which she found herself.
epicurean (e·pi·kyu˙·re¯ ·ən)
(adj.)
devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially
to good food and comfort
The feast lasted for hours as those in

attendance enjoyed fine wine, delicacies, and
the host’s beautiful home.
extenuating (ik·sten·yə·wa¯t·in)
(adj.)
lessened the magnitude or seriousness of, especially
by making partial excuses
After hearing the entire story surrounding the
supposed crime, the judge realized there existed
circumstances that put the
situation in perspective.
facetious (fə·se¯
·shəs)
(adj.)
playfully jocular
“Don’t be ,” requested the girl’s mother,
who was tired of her daughter’s refusal to take
the situation seriously.
feisty (f¯·ste¯)
(adj.)
touchy; quarrelsome; full of spirit; frisky or spunky
Our new young puppy was extremely ,
jumping playfully all over the apartment and
licking our faces.
flippant (fli·pənt)
(adj.)
marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert
Her remarks during the interview cost
her the job as she failed to demonstrate the
necessary respect for her potential coworkers.
imperious (im·pir·e¯·əs)

(adj.)
arrogantly domineering or overbearing; dictatorial
“It is my , ruthless political strategy that
will conquer all contesting factions in this city,”
exclaimed the egocentric, overconfident mayor.
jaunty (jo˙ n·te¯)
(adj.)
having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk; crisp
and dapper in appearance
The groom looked dapper in his stylish
suit and hat as he confidently entered the
church on his wedding day.
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VOCABULARY LIST 11: ADJECTIVES
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