World History � chapter 21 Vocabulary List 3

							World History – chapter 21                                                  Vocabulary List 3
(American Revolution)


1. convention (n) - a meeting or formal assembly, as of representatives or delegates, for
    discussion of and action on particular matters of common concern.
        a. Representatives from all of the colonies met in Philadelphia at the
            Constitutional convention.


2. declaration (n) - something that is announced, avowed, or proclaimed.
        a. The Declaration of Independence declared the colonies’ independence.
            i.   Synonyms: official statement, proclamation


3. liberality (n)- generosity, generous act; breadth of mind or outlook.
        a. The dean’s well-known liberality allowed an atmosphere of spirited        debate
            to flourish at the college.
                      i. Synonyms: broad-mindedness, open-mindedness
                      ii. Antonyms: stinginess, miserliness, narrow-mindedness


4. lucid (adj)- easy to understand, clear; rational, sane.
        a. The ability to speak in a lucid and persuasive fashion is a great asset to a
        politician.
                      i. Synonyms: intelligible, understandable
                      ii. Antonyms: murky, muddy, obscure, unintelligible


5. navigation (n) - the art or science of plotting, ascertaining, or directing the course of
a ship, aircraft, or guided missile.
        a. The navigation acts controlled the passage of British ships into America.


6. pensive (adj)- thoughtful; melancholy.
        a. We admired the skill with which the artist captured the child’s pensive
        expression.
                      i. Synonyms: reflective, contemplative, wistful


7. perilous (adj)- dangerous.
        a. Episodes of old-time movie serials usually ended with the hero or heroine in
perilous circumstances.
                      i. Synonyms: risky, chancy, hazardous, unsafe
                      ii. Antonyms: safe, secure, harmless


8. predispose (v)- to incline to beforehand.
        a. My genetic makeup seems to predispose me to colds and sore throats.
            i.   Synonyms: expose, make susceptible to
            ii. Antonyms: immunize against; shield from
9. quartering (v) – to give a place of residence, especially the buildings or barracks, to house
military personnel or their dependents.
             a. In a time of war, private citizens proved their patriotism by quartering soldiers.


10. render (v)- to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially; to process, extract.
             a. The freelance writer presented the managing editor with a bill for services
             rendered.
                 i. Synonyms: present, furnish, submit, make, effect


11. revenue (n) - the income of a government from taxation, excise duties, customs, or
other sources, appropriated to the payment of the public expenses.
             a. Part of the British revenue came from taxing the American colonies.
                 i.    Synonyms: earning, gains, money, proceeds


12. skeptical (adj)- inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true.
             a. I am skeptical of promises made by politicians when they are running for
             office.
                 i. Synonyms: dubious, suspicious, incredulous
                 ii. Antonyms: believing, credulous, gullible, ingenuous


Word Bits:
-ous             full of, having (adj)
pre-             before
luc              clear
-ion             act or result of