week forty six 1100 words

WEEK 46  DAY 1

NEW WORDS

ascertain

dormant

burgeoned

potentate

disseminate

A MIGHTY EMPIRE

One of the anomalies* of our approach to history is the propensity* to study the venerable* empires of Europe, but we do not feel it Incumbent* upon us to ascertain anything about the civilizations in our own hemisphere. We deprecate* the history of this part of the world as though progress lay dormant and that other peoples were Irrelevant* until the settlers of North America arrived at Plymouth Rock. In South America, from 2000 B.c. until their empire reached its acme* at the beginning of the 16th century, lived the Incas. The site* of the capital city of the Inca empire, Cusco, lay at a height of 11,000 feet. This civilization is reputed* to have burgeoned until it covered more than 2,500 miles of the western part of the continent. Its population fluctuated* between 4 and 7 million. This empire had a highly efficacious* political and social system. Its potentate ruled with absolute power. As the empire conquered new lands, it would disseminate its language, religion, and social customs.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

TODAY'S IDIOM

straight from the shoulder-in a direct, open way

I took the wind out of his sails* by telling him straight from

the shoulder that I was not going to wink at* his apple polishing.*

WEEK 46  DAY 2

NEW WORDS

derived

prerogative

nepotism

dearth

internecine

A BATTLE FOR POWER

The Inca emperor derived his prodigious* power and authority from the gods. The paramount* god was the sun god. It was from him the ruler passed on his prerogative to rule to his most astute* son. This nepotism had worked with great efficacy* for centuries. The land holdings were immense:" there were rich farmlands and llamas and alpacas for wool. Precious metals were plentiful: silver. Copper. bronze, and the most sacred of all, gold. This metal resembled the sun god whom they extolled." There was no dearth of idols and ornaments hammered from this gleaming metal. There was always more gold coming from the mines to replenish" the supply. At the acme" of his power, the Inca ruler died without naming the requisite" successor. In 1493 two sons began an internecine struggle for control. For the next 40 years the empire sank into the lassitude" caused by civil war.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

TODAY'S IDIOM

to rub a person the wrong way-to do something that irritates or annoys

The quickest way to rub a person the wrong way is to give him the cold shoulder.*

WEEK 46  DAY 3

NEW WORDS

tyro

sophistry

factitious

encomium

obloquy

A PERFIDIOUS* CONQUEROR

The feuding between the rival sons reached its pinnacle* in 1532; at that moment Francisco Pizarro came onto the scene. A native of Spain, he was sojourning* In Panama when he heard of the riches to be found in that far off land. Overwhelmed with cupidity,* but still a tyro when it came to wresting- power and wealth from hapless* people, he joined with an inveterate* adventurer. They gathered a small band of mercenaries.* the first two attempts failed, and Pizarro returned to Spain to request authority and money In order to conquer the West Coast of South America. Whether by sophistry or cajolery,* he was given the requisite* aid. With a force of 180 men, the dregs* of society, he Invaded Inca territory. He reached the city where the current ruler, Atahualpa, was holding court. The Incas welcomed Pizarro who, in a factitious display of friendship, heaped encomium upon Atahualpa. Unknown to the Incas, Pizarro had brought guns that were still beyond the technology* of these people. The obloquy of his next act. Ambushing the Incas and taking Atahualpa prisoner, will live in the history books that are replete* with tales of conquest.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

TODAY'S IDIOM

to draw in one's horns-to become cautious

He knew he was out of his depth,* so he drew in his horns and quit the poker game.

WEEK 46  DAY 4

NEW WORDS

hyperbole

munificent

prevarication

charisma

genocide

THE END OF AN EMPIRE

The Machiavellian* Pizarro held the captured Atahualpa for ransom. He was adamant* about receiving a room filled with gold to the height of a man's shoulder. This was taken as a hyperbole at first. But Pizarro knew the gullible* Incas would be munificent when it came to rescuing their sacred ruler. They did not procrastinate,* and a frenetic* collection of gold took place. Pizarro, to whom prevarication" was natural in dealing with the Incas, had no qualms* about executing their ruler as soon as he had the gold. The Inca empire was moribund,* but the charisma that surrounded Atahualpa was such that. After his death, the Incas fought on tenaciously* in his name for several years. Eventually, superior weapons quelled* all opposition. A policy of genocide was adopted by the Spanish conquerors, and almost two million of these proud people died in the carnage* that followed. The saga* of an ancient civilization thus came to an end.

Sample Sentences Insert the new words in these sentences.

Definitions Match the new words with their defimtions.

TODAY'S IDIOM

to throw cold water-to discourage a plan or idea

I was going to pull up stakes* and move out lock, stock,

and barrel,* but my wife threw cold water on the whole thing. 

WEEK 46  DAY 5

REVIEW

This is your last week. At this point you have worked with over 1100 of the most useful words and idioms in our language. The flna. review test will give you some idea of how well you have mastered them. From time to time you should re-read sections of this book to refresh your memory. Remember, keep learning new words at every opportunity!