by S L Ager
365 awry (adv) off course; astray, badly, askance, afield, wrongly, amiss, askew, crookedly. (ant) straight.
366 dignity (n) a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect, self-esteem, propriety, poise, worth. (ant) humiliation.
367 submissively (adv) in a submissive (obedient) manner; compliantly, passively, meekly. (ant) assertively.
368 severe (adj) harsh and stern; strict, hard, austere, unsympathetic, cruel, ruthless, hard-hearted. (ant) mild.
369 supplication (n) action of appealing or pleading; plea, prayer, request, appeal, petition. (ant) offer.
370 embellish (v) make more interesting for better effect; elaborate, exaggerate, enhance. (ant) simplify.
371 keel (v) fall over or collapse; faint, drop, slump, swoon, topple, black out. (ant) stand, straighten.
372 light-headed (adj) dizzy and faint; giddy, unsteady, woozy, wobbly, shaky, groggy, delirious. (ant) steady.
373 inanimate (adj) not alive or showing signs of life; inactive, unresponsive, lifeless, inert, idle. (ant) animate.
374 egotistical (adj) overly interested in oneself; selfish, smug, narcissistic, vain, arrogant, proud. (ant) selfless.
375 devious (adj) skilful at using underhand (deceitful) tactics; conniving, dishonest. (ant) honest.
376 custom (adj) made to personal order; personalised, bespoke, individualised, tailored. (ant) mass-produced.
377 cavernous (adj) like a cavern (large cave); vast, spacious, capacious, roomy, yawning. (ant) small, cramped.
378 contrition (n) a feeling of remorse and penitence (sorry); apology, regret, repentance. (ant) impenitence.
379 subordinate (adj) low-ranking and less important; lesser, inferior, lowly, subservient. (ant) superior.
380 puny (adj) weak and small; slight, minor, insignificant, inadequate, worthless, useless. (ant) mighty.
381 prissy (adj) fussily and excessively respectable; prim, stuffy, strait-laced, fastidious, precious. (ant) unfussy.
382 tersely (adv) in a terse (short) manner; snappily, abruptly, curtly, brusquely, concisely. (ant) long-windedly.
383 superfluous (adj) unnecessary or irrelevant; redundant, unneeded, useless, unwanted, dispensable. (ant) necessary, essential.
384 recuperate (v) recover from exertion (effort) or illness; convalesce, improve, rally, mend. (ant) deteriorate.
385 disparaging (adj) regarding something as having little worth; belittling, ridiculing, derisive. (ant) admiring.
386 mewl (v) cry feebly as a baby might; weep, whimper, snivel, whine, grizzle, pule, moan. (ant) laugh.
387 oval (adj) possessing a rounded and slightly elongated outline, egg-shaped; elliptical, ovoid.
388 alcove (n) a recess (hollow or indentation) in a wall; niche, nook, corner, cubicle, bay. (ant) protrusion.
389 amidst (prep) surrounded by or in the middle of; among, amongst, within, amid. (ant) outside.
390 unprecedented (adj) never known or done before; unmatched, unparalleled, extraordinary. (ant) common.
391 data (n) information collected for use; statistics, facts, figures, numbers, documents, records.
392 forlorn (adj) sad and abandoned or lonely; pitiful, dejected, despondent, hopeless, pathetic. (ant) cheerful.
393 astute (adj) able to quickly assess and turn to one’s advantage; sharp, shrewd, cunning. (ant) dim-witted.
394 bolster (v) support or strengthen; boost, fortify, sustain, assist, prop, shore up. (ant) weaken, hinder.
395 escort (v) accompany (go with) someone somewhere; shepherd, chaperone, lead, direct. (ant) abandon.
396 whimper (v) make low, feeble sounds expressing displeasure; whine, mewl, snivel, bleat. (ant) rejoice.
397 stupendous (adj) incredibly impressive; astounding, astonishing, remarkable. (ant) unremarkable.
398 piercing (adj) showing keen intelligence; perceptive, insightful, sharp, shrewd, astute. (ant) dim.
399 acclimatise (v) become accustomed (used) to; adapt, adjust, familiarise, habituate. (ant) misadjust.
400 inquisitively (adv) in an inquisitive (curious) way; quizzically, curiously, enquiringly. (ant) indifferently.
401 transaction (n) an instance of conducting business or a deal; exchange, agreement, arrangement.
402 attentively (adv) in an attentive (watchful) manner; heedfully, vigilantly, alertly. (ant) carelessly.
18. A Silent Witness
1 intervene (v) take part to prevent or alter something; interfere, intercede, interrupt, intrude. (ant) avoid.
2 despicable (adj) deserving contempt (scorn) and hatred; appalling, loathsome, abhorrent. (ant) admirable.
3 unavoidable (adj) not able to be avoided, ignored or prevented; inevitable, unescapable. (ant) avoidable.
4 undoubtedly (adv) without doubt; certainly, undeniably, definitely, unquestionably. (ant) doubtfully.
5 conquer (v) successfully overcome; defeat, overthrow, beat, vanquish, trounce, annihilate. (ant) lose to.
6 perpetrator (n) someone who does something wrong or illegal; culprit, offender, criminal.
7 implicitly (adv) in an implicit (absolute) way; completely, unquestioningly, unreservedly. (ant) restrictedly.
8 explicitly (adv) in an explicit (definite) way; openly, clearly, obviously, unequivocally. (ant) ambiguously.
9 duplicity (n) deceitfulness; deception, underhandedness, disloyalty, betrayal. (ant) honesty.
10 submission (n) action of acceptance or yielding (surrender); capitulation, resignation. (ant) rebellion.
11 aspiration (n) hope or ambition of achieving; desire, dream, wish, aim, purpose, goal. (ant) apathy.
12 desolation (n) great unhappiness or loneliness; misery, heartbreak, despair, anguish, woe. (ant) gladness.
13 slick (v) make smooth and glossy; sleek, flatten, plaster, gel. (ant) roughen, rumple, tousle.
14 chignon (n) a coil or knot of hair on the back of a woman’s head; bun, twist, updo.
15 willowy (adj) tall, slim and lithe; slender, graceful, elegant, svelte. (ant) stocky, squat.
16 stalk (v) pursue (follow, chase) or approach stealthily (unseen); hunt, trail, shadow, haunt, prowl.
17 cloak (v) cover, hide or disguise; conceal, veil, shroud, wrap, envelope, swathe, camouflage. (ant) reveal.
18 enviable (adj) causing envy (jealousy); attractive, admirable, desirable. (ant) unenviable.
19 obscene (adj) offensive against morality (decency); vile, atrocious, outrageous, sickening. (ant) innocuous.
20 depraved (adj) morally (ethically) corrupt; wicked, immoral, evil, vicious, deviant, warped. (ant) pure.
21 hallowed (adj) greatly honoured and revered (respected); prized, beloved, esteemed. (ant) disgraceful.
22 charlatan (n) someone falsely claiming to have a certain skill or knowledge; imposter, cheat. (ant) expert.
23 grief (n) intense sorrow because of a loss or death; heartbreak, anguish, desolation, distress. (ant) comfort.
24 semblance (n) the outward appearance of something; approximation, show, pretence. (ant) reality.
25 imposter (n) someone pretending to be someone else to deceive others; phony, charlatan.
26 ceremoniously (adv) done with an air (look) of ceremony; grandly, grandiosely. (ant) informally.
27 injustice (n) lack of justice (fairness); unjustness, unfairness, wrongdoing, abuse, crime. (ant) justice.
28 transient (adj) lasting for only a short while; fleeting, passing, temporary, momentary. (ant) permanent.
29 hither and thither (adv) in various directions; all around, round about.
30 silhouette (n) visible, dark shape and outline; contour, form, shadow, profile, line, figure.
31 duvet (n) quilt filled with feathers, down or synthetic fibre; eiderdown, comforter, coverlet, bedding.
32 register (v) make an impression (mark) on one’s mind; enter, penetrate, sink in. (ant) erase.
33 graphic (adj) showing clear and vivid (realistic) details; lifelike, explicit, lucid, detailed. (ant) sketchy.
34 fend off (v) defend oneself from something; stop, block, repel, resist, parry, discourage. (ant) encourage.
35 fitful (adj) not regular or steady; disturbed, broken, restless, erratic, sporadic. (ant) unbroken, peaceful.
19. The Flying Sponge
1 portentous (adj) of or like a portent (sign of something bad); ominous, threatening, fateful. (ant) trivial.
2 lethargically (adv) in a lethargic (lazy) manner; indolently, leisurely, idly, lifelessly. (ant) energetically.
3 shrill (adj) high-pitched; sharp, piercing, jarring, strident, thin, blatant. (ant) moderate, low, calm, soft.
4 bowl (v) strike (hit); knock, collapse, fling, toss, roll, chuck, lob, propel, butt, impel.
5 heft (n) weight or heaviness; bulk, size, clout, mass, immensity. (ant) lightness.
6 bode (v) be a portent (sign) of a certain outcome; promise, forecast, portend, indicate.
7 detritus (n) debris or waste; leftovers, scraps, rubbish, refuse, litter, garbage, trash, bits.
8 oncoming (adj) approaching or about to happen; looming, nearing, advancing, imminent. (ant) receding.
9 debrief (n) interview about a completed mission or undertaking; probe, interrogation. (ant) brief.
10 breezily (adv) in a breezy (light) manner; briskly, brightly, cheerily, merrily, flippantly. (ant) seriously.
11 snobby (adj) like a snob (one who feels or acts superior); snooty, conceited, pretentious. (ant) humble.
12 snob (n) someone who overly respects position and wealth, and looks down on other people; snoot.
13 quip (n) a witty (humorous) remark; witticism, joke, wisecrack, retort, banter, jest, jibe.
20. An Unexpected Change of Plan
1 hunched (adj) bent over with shoulders raised; curled, bowed, stooped, arched, curved. (ant) straightened.
2 speckle (n) a small speck (spot) or patch of colour; mark, spatter, dot, fleck, dapple, mottle. (ant) mass.
3 strategy (n) a plan to achieve an overall or long-term aim; tactic, action, approach, method. (ant) disorder.
4 with a vengeance (adv) with intensity (force, strength); vigorously, powerfully, fiercely. (ant) mildly.
5 peck (v) kiss lightly or perfunctorily (quickly).
6 postpone (v) arrange to take place later than planned; delay, defer, rearrange, reschedule. (ant) advance.
7 catastrophic (adj) extremely unfortunate and damaging; disastrous, calamitous, ruinous. (ant) beneficial.
8 breach (n) a break or gap in something, often made by an attacking enemy; violation. (ant) repair.
9 application (n) action of applying something to a surface; dab, administering. (ant) removal.
10 reunite (v) come or get back together; reconcile, reunify. (ant) split, separate, estrange.
11 reschedule (v) replan or change the time of; postpone, defer, rearrange, reorganise.
12 capitalise (v) take the chance to gain advantage from; maximise, exploit, profit. (ant) lose.
13 berate (v) criticise or scold (tell off); rebuke, slate, censure, chide, revile, lambaste. (ant) praise.
14 splay (v) spread or thrust apart; spread out, expand, extend, drape, stretch, strew, span. (ant) huddled.
15 twang (n) a pinging or ringing sound or movement caused by pulling or plucking; boing.
21. Another Unexpected Change of Plan
1 coincidence (n) something that seems to happen by chance; accident, fluke, luck, quirk, fate. (ant) plan.
2 pervasive (adj) spreading throughout; prevalent, inescapable, persistent. (ant) scarce, limited.
3 chasten (v) correct, restrain or moderate behaviour; humiliate, subdue, humble. (ant) encourage.
4 civility (n) courtesy in behaviour or speech; politeness, consideration, courteousness. (ant) rudeness.
5 novel (adj) unusual or new; different, unfamiliar, peculiar, unprecedented, curious. (ant) normal, familiar.
6 admonish (v) reprimand (tell off) firmly; warn, advise, reproach, chide, caution, rebuke. (ant) allow, praise.
7 regally (adv) in a regal (royal) manner; nobly, majestically, grandly, ceremoniously. (ant) commonly.
8 lilt (n) characteristic rise and fall of the voice; cadence, intonation, accent, tone, rhythm. (ant) monotone.
9 trill (v) make a warbling or quavering sound like a bird; sing, chirp, twitter, shrill, tweet.
10 mock (adj) not real, but not intended to deceive (trick); pretend, simulated, imitation. (ant) genuine.
11 detour (n) an alternative route (course); diversion, digression, deviation.
12 smithereens (n) small pieces; bits, fragments, shards, particles, smithers. (ant) whole, completeness.
13 vigilant (adj) watching carefully for problems or danger; watchful, observant, attentive. (ant) inattentive.
14 foreboding (n) a bad feeling about something; apprehension, dread, misgiving. (ant) confidence.
15 grisly (adj) causing disgust or horror; abominable, appalling, ghastly, frightful, hideous. (ant) delightful.
16 ratty (adj) irritable and bad-tempered; moody, tetchy, irascible, grumpy, mean. (ant) good-humoured.
17 venue (n) place where something (an event) happens; site, location, setting, spot, ground.
18 organiser (n) someone who arranges something; coordinator, manager, director, controller.
19 thoroughfare (n) a path, route or road between two places; access, passage, way.
20 all hands on deck (idiom) a saying used to indicate that all team members are required to help.
21 sightseeing (n) the activity of visiting places of interest; touring, exploring, trekking, jaunting, scouting.
22 pallid (adj) pale-faced; wan, pasty, white, ashen, sallow, anaemic, blanched. (ant) rosy, healthy.
23 bead (n) a drop of liquid on a surface; dot, droplet, drip, globule, blob.
24 realisation (n) becoming aware that something is a fact; understanding, comprehension. (ant) ignorance.
Errata & Information
1 erratum (n) an error in writing or publishing (plural: errata).
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Cadwaladr Quests books have no affiliation with CEM, Durham University, GL Assessment,
any school or examination boards.
This book does not purport to be a dictionary, nor does it aim to replace one.
Reading this book does not guarantee your child will pass any exam, but I hope it will help to make learning vocabulary more enjoyable.
Copyright © 2018 by S. L. Ager
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner.
The Cadwaladr Quests is a registered trade mark.
Developmental editor: Anna Bowles (via Reedsy.com)
Copyeditor and proofreader: Leonora Bulbeck (via Reedsy.com)
Cover design and interior formatting: Mark Thomas / Coverness.com (via Reedsy.com)
With thanks to Moon Tuition: Moontuition.co.uk
ISBN 978-1-9993018-0-4 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-9993018-1-1 (eBook)
www.slager.co.uk