Vocab Master Day – 47

1.Prelude

Meaning: an action or event serving as an introduction to

something more important.

Synonym: preliminary, overture, opening, preparation

Antonym:conclusion, postscript

Sentence: “a ceasefire had been agreed as a prelude to full peace

negotiations”

2.Premonition

Meaning: a strong feeling that something is about to happen,

especially something unpleasant.

Synonym: foreboding, presage, presentiment, prognostication

Sentence: “he had a premonition of imminent disaster”

3.Preponderance

Meaning: the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity,

or importance.

Synonym: prevalence, predominance, dominance

Sentence: “the preponderance of women among older people”

4.Repechage

Meaning: a trial heat (as in rowing) in which first-round losers are

given another chance to qualify for the semifinals

Sentence: The British would now have to row and win in a

repechage the next day if they were to be one of the final six

boats in the medal race.

5.Vivacious

Meaning: (especially of a woman) attractively lively and

animated.

Synonym: lively, animated, full of life, spirited, high-spirited,

effervescent

Sentence: “her vivacious and elegant mother”

6.Onus

Meaning: the responsibility for something

Synonyms: blot, stain

Sentence: he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes

onto other team members

7.Recourse

Meaning: something that one uses to accomplish an end especially

when the usual means is not available

Synonyms: expedient, resource

Sentence: a toddler quickly learns that a tantrum is a surefire

recourse when a polite request for something is met with

parental indifference

8.Jingoism

Meaning: extreme patriotism

Synonyms: chauvinism, xenophobia

Sentence: the popular jingoism that swept the lower–middle

classes

9.Precedence

Meaning: the condition of being considered more important than

someone or something else; priority in importance, order, or

rank.

Synonym: outweigh, supersede,

Sentence: “his desire for power soon took precedence over any

other consideration”

10.Hierarchy

Meaning: a system in which members of an organization or society

are ranked according to relative status or authority

Synonym: pecking order, ranking, grading, ladder, social order,

social stratum

Antonym: disordered, free-for-all

Sentence: “the initiative was with those lower down in the

hierarchy”