avid

1. Having a strong desire for,

to the point of greed.

Avid for the attention of their babysitter, the

children shouted and tumbled about on the floor.

2. Eager; enthusiastic.

Marcia is an avid skier who spends each weekend on the slopes.[image]

brusque

Abrupt in manner or speech; gruff

The lawyer's brusque questioning intimidated the witness.

With a brusqueness unlike her, Melanie ended the conversation.

concise

Short and to the point.

"Speed Kills" is a concise way of warning

drivers of the dangers of going too fast.

demean

To cause a lowering of self-esteem;

To lower in reputation or character

Don't demean yourself by denying what everyone knows to be true.

June felt that beings scolded in

front of her friends was demeaning.

despicable

Deserving contempt or scorn

Stealing from the class treasury was a despicable thing to do.

emulate

To try to equal; to imitate

Musicians around the world have tried

to emulate Louis Armstrong's soulful trumpet playing.

evoke

1. To call forth; to produce.

After the oil spill, the governor's appeal for clean-up

volunteers evoked a huge response from people in the state.

2. To bring to mind, often by suggestion.

The tinkling notes from the music box

evoked for me the carefree joys of childhood.

excruciating

Very painful

The ointment soothed the excruciating burn on Ronald's arm.

inaugurate

1. To install in office

with a formal ceremony

Presidents of the United States are

inaugurated in January following the November election.

2. To begin officially

or mark the opening of

On Tuesday, Mayor Ovalles inaugurated a free

vaccination program for all children under five living in the city.

pervade

To spread throughout

Laughter pervades the house whenever Aunt Sara visits us.

proprietor

An owner of a store or other business

The proprietors of the downtown shops

planned a sidewalk sale for the first weekend in June.

pseudonym

A fictitious name used

by an author; a pen name.

Female British authors of the nineteenth century often

had to use a male pseudonym in order to get their books published.

The sisters Anne, Emily, and Charlotte Bronte

used the pseudonyms Acton, Ellis, and Currer Bell.

rebuff

1. To reject bluntly

2. To drive back

(noun)

1. A blunt rejection

2. An abrupt setback in progress.

resilient

(adjective)

1. Capable of recovering

quickly from misfortune.

2. Returning quickly to an

original shape or conditions.

(noun)

1. The ability to recover or spring back.

turbulent

(adjective)

1. Chaotic, unruly

2. Stormy; tempestuous

(noun)

1. Great disturbance or agitation

2. Rapid changes in wind speed

and direction in the atmosphere