Vocabulary lesson 64

sage (n. & adj.) a very wise person who may share his or her wisdom with others – They asked the sage for thoughts on how to handle the problem. vast (adj.) huge in area or amount, or seemingly endless – The sailor looked out over the vast ocean, wondering if he’d see land again….

context (n.) the situation, events, or information that are related to something and that help you to understand it – True knowledge implies understanding and an ability to put facts into a context. criterion (n.) a standard that you use to judge something or make a decision about something – That is the criterion or…

Definitions and samples intensify (v.) to increase in power; to act with increased strength – That tension is expected to intensify as the nation’s financial crisis deepens. irrigation (n.) the supplying of water to dry land – Farmers pay money to add ammonia to irrigation water because it is a fertilizer. obtain (v.) to gain…

Definitions and samples expand (v.) to increase in size, number or importance, or to make something increase in this way – Some of these pieces were later expanded into full-length books. fade (v.) to (cause to) lose color, brightness or strength gradually – Remember that most computer inks will fade over time if left in…

Midterm: A test you take halfway through a class. It measures what you have learned from the beginning until that point. Before then, players will be pressed to score well on midterm exams and papers. Cubicle: A small work space that is separated from other work spaces by low, often temporary walls. At work he…

Definitions and samples acquisition (n.) the act of taking possession of something – Our recent acquisition of over 2,000 books makes ours the biggest library in the region. consciously (adv.) with awareness of one’s actions – He may have hurt her feelings, but he never would have done so consciously. vein (n.) any of the…