abut

Unit 8

to join at one end/be next to; to support/prop up (verb)

Land that abuts a river or lake is considered highly desirable location for a home.

attire

Unit 8

clothes, apparel, garb (noun)

 to dress, to adorn (verb)

The special attire that firefighters wear protect them from the flames.

The children happily attire their stuffed animals in holiday outfits.

avail

Unit 8

to be of use/benefit; to make use of/profit (verb)

use, benefit, value  (noun)

Be sure to avail yourself of all the services in the library.

I tried repeatedly to contact my neighbor, but to no avail.

crony

Unit 8

a very close friend/pal/chum (noun)

We have been cronies ever since we met in second grade. 

cryptic

Unit 8

puzzling, mystifying (adj)

The letter to the editor was so cryptic that I couldn't be certain what the writer was trying to say.

divergent

Unit 8

going in different directions; departing from convention (adj)

Two people may be close friends despite their having very divergent interests.

enmity

Unit 8

hatred, ill-will (noun)

Despite a long, close match, the defeated player felt no enmity toward the new champion.

fervent

Unit 8

very earnest/emotional/passionate/hot (adj)

The president delivered a fervent plea for tolerance and peace.

gaunt

Unit 8

thin and bony/starved looking (adj)

We left food and water for the gaunt alley cat.

infiltrate

Unit 8

to pass through/gain entrance to gradually or stealthily (verb)

Some of our men infiltrated the enemy's camp and captured their leader.

nullify

Unit 8

to make of no value, cancel, wipe out (verb)

After seven days, you cannot nullify the contract without a penalty.

perceptible

Unit 8

capable of being grasped by the senses or mind (adj)

There was no perceptible improvement in the patient's condition. 

plummet

Unit 8

to plunge straight down (verb)

a weight fastened to a line (noun)

Seabirds plummet headfirst into the ocean to catch small fish.

Experts think the pierced round stones served as plummet to weigh fishing nets.

proclaim

Unit 8

to declare publicly/officially (verb)

We proclaim our loyalty to our country when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

proxy

Unit 8

an agent/substitute  (noun)

The vice president may be called upon to be the president's proxy at the funeral of a foreign leader.

rankle

Unit 8

to cause anger/irritation/bitterness (with suggestion that the pain grows worse with time) (verb)

Insults may rankle a person for many years.

scavenger

Unit 8

a person who collects/removes usable items from waste materials; an animal that feeds on refuse/dead bodies (noun)

A few scavengers, such as catfish, will help to keep a fish tank clean.

stint

Unit 8

to limit, be sparing/frugal (verb)

a limit, a fixed share of work, a period of activity (noun)

Good hosts never stint on food for their guests.

A stint as a guest host of a talk show can help launch a persons's career.

stoical

Unit 8

self-controlled; not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain (adj)

He tried to appear stoical when he heard the bad news, but I realized he was deeply hurt.

unflaggering

Unit 8

tireless, continuing with vigor (verb)

The candidates paid tribute to the unflaggering loyalty of their supporters.