VOCABULARY

1. impart
   transmit, as knowledge or a skill
   Long before writing and books were in common use, proverbs were the principal means of imparting instruction.
   — Preston, Thomas
2. propriety
   correct behavior
   I felt a trifle doubtful about the propriety of taking a short cut across private grounds, and said as much.
   — Sutphen, Van Tassel
3. consecrate
   render holy by means of religious rites
   The building was consecrated as a Protestant Episcopal church in May, 1814.
   — Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
4. proceeds
   the income or profit arising from a transaction
   His own share in the proceeds was about a hundred thousand dollars.
   — Stark, James H.
5. fathom
   come to understand
   But after flying for so many years, the idea of hanging up his sparkling wings is hard for him to fathom.
   — New York Times (Mar 17, 2012)
6. objective
   the goal intended to be attained
   The objective was to mobilize students from 18 high schools across the city to provide community services and inspire others.
   — New York Times (Feb 5, 2012)
7. clad
   wearing or provided with clothing
   A few of the villagers came behind, clad in mourning robes, and bearing lighted tapers.
   — Various
8. partisan
   devoted to a cause or party
   But given the bitter partisan divide in an election year, Democrats said they would never be able to get such legislation passed.
   — Chicago Tribune (Mar 30, 2012)
9. faction
   a dissenting clique
   One faction declared it would begin an armed struggle against the government of the United States.
   — Slate (Feb 29, 2012)
10. contrived
    artificially formal
    In lesser hands the story about a young man who discovers life among the dead could be impossibly cute and contrived.
    — New York Times (Mar 25, 2012)
11. venerable
    impressive by reason of age
    Thus, after much more than two hundred years, the venerablebuilding looks almost as it did when the first students entered its doors.
    — Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
12. restrained
    not showy or obtrusive
    By contrast, Mr. Pei’s restrained design took time to claim my attention, particularly since it sat quietly next door to Saarinen’s concrete gull wings.
    — New York Times (Oct 6, 2011)
13. besiege
    harass, as with questions or requests
    He can’t trot down the street without being besieged by paparazzi.
    — New York Times (Mar 18, 2012)
14. manifestation
    a clear appearance
    Singing and dancing are manifestations of what many Syrians describe as a much broader cultural flowering.
    — New York Times (Dec 19, 2011)
15. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    Afterward, the leaders fought court orders to release records showing what they had done, drawing an uncommonly sharp rebuke from a federal judge.
    — Washington Post (Mar 14, 2012)
16. insurgent
    in opposition to a civil authority or government
    The Free Syrian Army, an insurgent group made of defecting soldiers and based in southern Turkey, claimed responsibility for both attacks.
    — New York Times (Nov 20, 2011)
17. rhetoric
    using language effectively to please or persuade
    His fiery rhetoric in support of limiting cuts to projected defense spending has surprised and impressed some of Obama's toughest Republican critics.
    — Reuters (Jan 5, 2012)
18. scrupulous
    having ethical or moral principles
    The reason is that the vast majority of businesses are scrupulous and treat their employees well.
    — The Guardian (Jun 4, 2010)
19. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
    Company officials at Safeway said those replacement workers will remain on standby until the agreement is ratified by union members.
    — Washington Post (Mar 29, 2012)
20. stump
    cause to be perplexed or confounded
    Though family members long suspected Evans, a local handyman who frequently hired local youths, the case stumped investigators for years.
    — Washington Post (Aug 30, 2011)
21. impart
    transmit, as knowledge or a skill
    Long before writing and books were in common use, proverbs were the principal means of imparting instruction.
    — Preston, Thomas
22. propriety
    correct behavior
    I felt a trifle doubtful about the propriety of taking a short cut across private grounds, and said as much.
    — Sutphen, Van Tassel
23. consecrate
    render holy by means of religious rites
    The building was consecrated as a Protestant Episcopal church in May, 1814.
    — Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
24. proceeds
    the income or profit arising from a transaction
    His own share in the proceeds was about a hundred thousand dollars.
    — Stark, James H.
25. fathom
    come to understand
    But after flying for so many years, the idea of hanging up his sparkling wings is hard for him to fathom.
    — New York Times (Mar 17, 2012)
26. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
    The objective was to mobilize students from 18 high schools across the city to provide community services and inspire others.
    — New York Times (Feb 5, 2012)
27. clad
    wearing or provided with clothing
    A few of the villagers came behind, clad in mourning robes, and bearing lighted tapers.
    — Various
28. partisan
    devoted to a cause or party
    But given the bitter partisan divide in an election year, Democrats said they would never be able to get such legislation passed.
    — Chicago Tribune (Mar 30, 2012)
29. faction
    a dissenting clique
    One faction declared it would begin an armed struggle against the government of the United States.
    — Slate (Feb 29, 2012)
30. contrived
    artificially formal
    In lesser hands the story about a young man who discovers life among the dead could be impossibly cute and contrived.
    — New York Times (Mar 25, 2012)
31. venerable
    impressive by reason of age
    Thus, after much more than two hundred years, the venerablebuilding looks almost as it did when the first students entered its doors.
    — Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
32. restrained
    not showy or obtrusive
    By contrast, Mr. Pei’s restrained design took time to claim my attention, particularly since it sat quietly next door to Saarinen’s concrete gull wings.
    — New York Times (Oct 6, 2011)
33. besiege
    harass, as with questions or requests
    He can’t trot down the street without being besieged by paparazzi.
    — New York Times (Mar 18, 2012)
34. manifestation
    a clear appearance
    Singing and dancing are manifestations of what many Syrians describe as a much broader cultural flowering.
    — New York Times (Dec 19, 2011)
35. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    Afterward, the leaders fought court orders to release records showing what they had done, drawing an uncommonly sharp rebuke from a federal judge.
    — Washington Post (Mar 14, 2012)
36. insurgent
    in opposition to a civil authority or government
    The Free Syrian Army, an insurgent group made of defecting soldiers and based in southern Turkey, claimed responsibility for both attacks.
    — New York Times (Nov 20, 2011)
37. rhetoric
    using language effectively to please or persuade
    His fiery rhetoric in support of limiting cuts to projected defense spending has surprised and impressed some of Obama's toughest Republican critics.
    — Reuters (Jan 5, 2012)
38. scrupulous
    having ethical or moral principles
    The reason is that the vast majority of businesses are scrupulous and treat their employees well.
    — The Guardian (Jun 4, 2010)
39. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
    Company officials at Safeway said those replacement workers will remain on standby until the agreement is ratified by union members.
    — Washington Post (Mar 29, 2012)
40. stump
    cause to be perplexed or confounded
    Though family members long suspected Evans, a local handyman who frequently hired local youths, the case stumped investigators for years.
    — Washington Post (Aug 30, 2011)