predilection

)n.) a preference or inclination

for something (James has a

predilection for eating toad in

(.the whole with tomato ketchup

quaint

)adj.) charmingly old-fashioned

(Mary was delighted by the

quaint bonnets she saw in

(.Romania

rash

)adj.) hasty, incautious (It’s best

to think things over calmly and

thoroughly, rather than make

rash decisions(.

refurbish

)v.) to restore, clean up (After

being refurbished the old

Triumph motorcycle commanded

(.the handsome price of $6000

repudiate

)v.) to reject, refuse to accept

(Tom made a strong case for an

extension of his curfew, but his

mother repudiated it with a few

(.biting words

rife

)adj.) abundant (Surprisingly, the

teacher’s writing was rife with

(.spelling errors

salient

)adj.) significant, conspicuous

(One of the salient differences

between Alison and Helen is that

Alison is a couple of kilos

(.heavier

serendipity

)n.) luck, finding good things

without looking for them (In an

amazing bit of serendipity,

penniless Mark found a $50 bill

(.on the back seat of the bus

staid

)adj.) sedate, serious, self-

restrained (The staid butler never

changed his expression no

(.matter what happened

superfluous

)adj.) exceeding what is

necessary (Samantha had already

won the campaign so her

constant flattery of others was

superfluous(.

sycophant

)n.) one who flatters for self-gain

(Some see the people in the

cabinet as the Prime Minister’s

closest advisors, but others see

them as sycophants(.

taciturn

)adj.) not inclined to talk (Though

Magda never seems to stop

talking, her brother is quite

taciturn(.

truculent

)adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This

club doesn’t really attract the

dangerous types, so why was

that bouncer being so truculent(?

umbrage

)n.) resentment, offence (He

called me a lily-livered coward,

and I took umbrage at the insult(.

venerable

)adj.) deserving of respect

because of age or achievement

(The venerable High Court judge

had made several key rulings in

landmark cases throughout the

(.years

vex

)v.) to confuse or annoy (My

boyfriend vexes me by pinching

(.my bottom for hours on end

vociferous

)adj.) loud, boisterous (I’m tired

of his vociferous whining so I’m

(.breaking up with him