webster essential vocabulary: part 2

M–N<br /> machination (MAK in AY shin) n. a secret or artful plot, usually one having<br /> evil intention (usually plural)<br /> • The machinations of the KGB have made for some pretty exciting spy novels.<br /> • The Odessa File tells of the machinations of an organization designed to further the cause of the Nazis after the war.<br /> [Syn. plot]<br /> <br /> malediction (MAL I DIK shin) n. 1. a curse or the calling down of an evil spell<br /> on someone; 2. evil talk about someone; slander<br /> • Giving one the evil eye is one form of malediction popular among some<br /> European cultures.<br /> • Certain Caribbean cultures carry out their maledictions through the use of<br /> effigies called voodoo dolls.<br /> • The newspaper story about Henry’s drug misuse was a malediction worthy<br /> of a healthy sized lawsuit.<br /> malinger* (muh LING oer) vt. to feign illness or injury to avoid work; to shirk<br /> • They have a name for malingering in the army; it’s goldbricking.<br /> • One who malingers and gets a reputation for so doing is not likely to<br /> remain employed for very long, unless, of course, his/her employer is<br /> his/her parent.<br /> [-ed, -ing, -er n.]<br /> <br /> mallet (MAL it) n. 1. a kind of hammer usually with a head of wood (used to<br /> drive a chisel) or of hard rubber (used to bang out dents in sheet metal); 2. a longhandled hammer with a cylinder-shaped head used for playing croquet or one with<br /> an even longer handle used for playing polo; 3. a small, wooden hammer with a<br /> round head used to play xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, bells, etc.<br /> • The body-shop worker uses a rubber mallet to hammer out small dents.<br /> • A polo mallet has a very long handle because each player must strike the<br /> ball while seated on a horse.<br /> • Wooden mallets with ball-shaped heads are used to strike the keys on a<br /> xylophone.<br /> mandate* (MAN dayt) n. 1. an authoritative order, usually in writing; 2. the<br /> overwhelming wishes of an elected official’s constituents, regarded as an order<br /> —vt. to require, as by law<br /> • As a result of World War I, mandates to rule certain areas that used to be<br /> parts of the Ottoman Empire were issued by the League of Nations.<br /> • The shop foreman has a mandate from ownership to require each worker to<br /> put in 16 hours of overtime.<br /> • Senator Strong’s overwhelming victory is a mandate for him to pursue<br /> equal rights for women.<br /> • The new law mandates a $300 fine for overtime parking.<br /> [-d,* mandating]<br /> <br /> 153<br /> <br /> 154<br /> <br /> Essential Vocabulary<br /> <br /> manual (MAN yoo il) adj. 1. of or having to do with the hands; 2. without<br /> electrical or other power assist; 3. not automatic (as in an automotive transmission)<br /> —n. 1. a book of facts or instructions; 2. any of several organ keyboards; 3. a drill<br /> for handling certain weapons<br /> • A carpenter needs good manual dexterity.<br /> • Most old-fashioned wells have a manual crank that lifts a bucket on the<br /> end of a rope.<br /> • To drive a car with a manual transmission, you must learn how to use the<br /> clutch.<br /> • Don’t throw out your DVD manual; you never know. . . .<br /> • The fingers operate the manual on an organ, while the feet play the<br /> pedals.<br /> • A good soldier must learn the manual of arms.<br /> manuscript (MAN yoo skript) adj. 1. handwritten or typed, but not printed;<br /> 2. writing consisting of unconnected letters; not cursive —n. 1. a book or document<br /> written by hand; 2. a copy of an author’s work submitted to a printer or publisher;<br /> 3. writing, as apart from printing<br /> • Your report needs to be at least four pages of manuscript, double-spaced if<br /> typed.<br /> • Manuscript is the style of writing we first learn, before we are taught to<br /> write in cursive.<br /> • Until the printing press was invented, all books were manuscripts.<br /> • Any manuscript submitted to a publisher should be accompanied by an<br /> SASE (self-adressed stamped envelope).<br /> mar (MAHR) vt. to injure or damage so as to disfigure; spoil; impair; hurt the<br /> appearance<br /> • With her key, Joan marred the finish on Bud’s car.<br /> • The cries of protesters marred the president’s appearance at the convention.<br /> [-red, -ring]<br /> <br /> mastery (MAS tir ee) n. 1. control; rule; 2. the upper hand in a struggle;<br /> victory; 3. expert skill or knowledge; 4. accomplishing success in understanding<br /> something<br /> • Agassi had complete mastery on the tennis court.<br /> • In the battle between the sexes, women achieve mastery about 60% of the<br /> time.<br /> • Glenn’s lack of mastery of the guitar is what caused his audience to leave<br /> the recital during the intermission.<br /> • Kim’s years of practice had led to mastery of the art of karate.<br /> <br /> M – N: SAT Words<br /> <br /> 155<br /> <br /> materialism (muh TIR ee uhl i zm) n. 1. the philosophical doctrine that everything in the world is matter, and even thought, will, and feeling can be connected<br /> to matter (the opposite of idealism); 2. the notion that possessions, wealth, and<br /> comfort are the most important things in the world; 3. the tendency to be more<br /> concerned with material things than with the intellectual or spiritual<br /> • The philosophy of materialism enjoyed some popularity in the nineteenth<br /> century.<br /> • The idea of materialism permeates some of the work of pop singer<br /> Madonna—especially in her song “Material Girl.”<br /> • When a person pursues someone of the opposite sex because of the latter’s<br /> wealth, that is a display of materialism.<br /> [materialistic adj., materialistically adv.]<br /> <br /> mathematical (MATH i MAT i kl) adj. 1. of, concerned with, or about mathematics; 2. precise; rigorously exact<br /> We all need some sort of mathematical education.<br /> A high-quality diamond must be cut with mathematical precision.<br /> maverick (MAV rik) n. 1. a stray calf; any unbranded livestock; 2. a person who<br /> takes an independent stand or a position different from that of the rest of his group<br /> • One of the jobs of a cowboy on a drive is rounding up mavericks.<br /> • A maverick politician often votes against the official position of his party’s<br /> leadership.<br /> maxim (MAX im) n. a concisely worded statement of truth or rule of conduct<br /> • “A stitch in time saves nine” is a well-known maxim.<br /> • “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” is a maxim we<br /> should all live by.<br /> [Syn. saying]<br /> <br /> meaning (MEE ning) n. significance; import; what is intended to be conveyed,<br /> signified, or indicated —adj. 1. intending; having purpose; 2. significance<br /> • Only time will tell us the meaning of today’s world events.<br /> • Sally was meaning to tell Harry how much she cared.<br /> • Barbara’s locket’s meaning was a reminder of her mother.<br /> [-ly adv.]<br /> <br /> means (MEENZ) n. 1. the way in which something is done; agency; 2. available<br /> wealth; resources; 3. great wealth<br /> • He had the means to get over the top of the fence.<br /> • Margie had the means to buy the very best silver.<br /> • The CEO of the software company is a woman of great means.<br /> <br /> 156<br /> <br /> Essential Vocabulary<br /> <br /> QUICK REVIEW #54<br /> Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most<br /> nearly the same thing.<br /> 1. machination<br /> <br /> a. stray<br /> <br /> 2. malediction<br /> <br /> b. intent<br /> <br /> 3. malinger<br /> <br /> c. greediness<br /> <br /> 4. mallet<br /> <br /> d. saying<br /> <br /> 5. mandate<br /> <br /> e. precise<br /> <br /> 6. manual<br /> <br /> f. wealth<br /> <br /> 7. manuscript<br /> <br /> g. order<br /> <br /> 8. mar<br /> <br /> h. spoil<br /> <br /> 9. mastery<br /> <br /> i. handwritten<br /> <br /> 10. materialism<br /> <br /> j. hammer<br /> <br /> 11. mathematical<br /> <br /> k. control<br /> <br /> 12. maverick<br /> <br /> l. instructions<br /> <br /> 13. maxim<br /> <br /> m. curse<br /> <br /> 14. meaning<br /> <br /> n. shirk<br /> <br /> 15. means<br /> <br /> o. plot<br /> <br /> media (MEE dee uh) n. all means of communication, such as radio, television,<br /> cinema, and print matter that provide the public with news and entertainment<br /> • Most of the media in the United States are driven by advertising dollars.<br /> • Since the advent of television, the roles played by the print media have<br /> tended to become more specialized.<br /> mediocre (MEE dee OH kir) adj. 1. of average quality; not too good, not too<br /> bad; 2. inferior; not good enough<br /> • The quality of prime-time TV shows has, over the years, been mediocre,<br /> with the best shows airing after 10 P.M.<br /> • For the most part, packaged supermarket baked goods are mediocre when<br /> compared with freshly baked goods.<br /> melee (MAY lay) n. 1. a noisy or confused struggle or brawl among a number of<br /> people; 2. a confused mixture<br /> • After the first half of watching the football game at the tavern, a melee<br /> broke out among the patrons.<br /> • Sangria is a melee of citrus fruits and red wine served over ice.<br /> melodrama (MEL uh DRAH muh) n. 1. a play or film concerned with exaggerated conflict and sensational overacting stereotypical characters; 2. any sensational<br /> hyperemotional acting, utterance, etc.<br /> <br /> M – N: SAT Words<br /> <br /> 157<br /> <br /> • Melodrama is typical of daytime soap operas, with lots of gesticulating and<br /> grand gestures.<br /> • Silent films were filled with melodrama in contrived scenes such as the<br /> heroine’s being tied to the tracks as the train approaches.<br /> [-tic adj., -tically adv.]<br /> <br /> memorable (MEM uh ri bl) adj. worth remembering; notable<br /> • Lou Gehrig’s farewell address was a memorable moment in sports history, as<br /> was Jackie Robinson’s breaking baseball’s color line.<br /> • September 11, 2001, is probably as memorable a date for today’s generation<br /> as was December 7, 1941, for the World War II generation.<br /> [memorably adv., memorability n.]<br /> <br /> mentor (MEN tir) n. 1. a wise advisor; 2. a teacher, coach, or active role model<br /> —vi., vt. to act as an advisor or teacher<br /> • Athenian philosopher Aristotle was a mentor to Alexander of Macedon, also<br /> know as Alexander the Great.<br /> • Julius Caesar was a mentor to Octavian, who later became the first Roman<br /> emperor, Caesar Augustus.<br /> merely (MEER lee) adv. no more than; only; and nothing else<br /> • Fishing is thought by some to be merely a blood sport rather than a form of<br /> relaxation.<br /> • Mighty Mouse is merely a muscular mouse in yellow and red tights and cape.<br /> metamorphose* (met uh MAWR fohz) vt. to change in form or in nature; to<br /> transform; to undergo metamorphosis<br /> • The caterpillar can be seen to metamorphose into a moth or butterfly.<br /> • A tadpole will metamorphose into a frog or toad.<br /> • Now metamorphose your frown into a smile; it uses fewer muscles.<br /> [-d, metamorphosing] [Syn. transform]<br /> <br /> metaphor* (MET uh fawr) n. a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, but not using like or as (which would make it a simile), for example, “raining<br /> cats and dogs,” but not “that pepper is as hot as fire”<br /> • Metaphor is skillfully used by Shakespeare, although it is sometimes mixed as<br /> in “. . . to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing drown them.”<br /> • A metaphor is like a simile, which is what the first part of this sentence is.<br /> methodical (meth AH dik uhl) adj. orderly and systematic<br /> • The surgeon proceeded with the operation in a methodical manner.<br /> • The floor waxer was methodical, making sure that he got every square inch<br /> of the room.<br /> [methodic adj., -ly adv.]<br /> <br /> meticulous* (mi TIK you luhs) adj. extremely careful about detail; paying careful attention; scrupulous<br /> • The model builder was meticulous in his attention to getting the rigging<br /> just right.<br /> • The chef was meticulous in making sure that no raw meat came in contact<br /> with ingredients meant for the salad.<br /> <br />