Vocabulary- Lesson 4

an item of personal, movable property

"Please do not order me around Lady Boswell, I am neither your servant nor your CHATTEL."

(chatel)

stern, as in manner; without excess, unadorned, severely simple and plain

"Her home was AUSTERELY decorated, very plain furniture without frills and only items that were necessary."

(aw STEER)

to express sorrow or regret; to mourn

"It is LAMENTABLE that Roscoe quit college in his sophomore year; his professors considered him the brightest engineering student in his class."

(la MINT)

distant, reserved in manner; uninvolved

" Nothing ruins a fine dinner at a good restaurant like an ALOOF waiter who makes the entire experience uncomfortable."

(uh LOOF)

of or relating to the brain; an intellectual person

Dr. Clark was too CEREBRAL to be a boy scout leader. Instead of saying "pitch your tents over by the cliff," he would confuse everyone with his big words and say "construct the canvas shelters in the proximity of the promontory."

(suh REE brul)

not appropriate, unsuited to the surroundings; not fitting in

"Ed appeared INCONGRUOUS wearing his tuxedo on an old-fashioned hayride."

(in KAHN grew us)

a defensive wall; something serving as a principal defense

"Our mother was a BULWARK against bad times; no matter how bad things became, she always wore a smile and had a cheerful word"

(BULL wurk)

an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste

"When it came to coins, Jerry proclaimed he was a CONNOISSEUR, because he had collected them all his life."

(kahn uh SUR)

harsh sounds

" An unpleasant CACOPHONY of sound was produced as the orchestra tuned their instruments. But once they began to play together the sounds became euphonious."

(kuh KAFH uh nee)

to remove; to delete; to erase

"The wet and muddy footprints were EXPUNGED with soap and water."

(ex PUNGE)