ample = adj. having a large size, being enough
syn. sufficient
adv. amply

There is ample evidence that the young man was speeding when the accident occurred.

She was amply paid for the work she completed.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
arid = adj. having little rain or water (e.g. in geography)
syn.. dry

The area known as the Sahara Desert is one of the most arid places in the world.

The valley on the leeward side of the mountain is extremely arid.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
avoid = v. to stay away from; to keep from happening
syn. avert; shun; prevent
adj. avoidable
n. avoidance

He could not avoid letting his feelings show.

The incident would have been avoidable if he had told the truth.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
defy = v. to withstand successfully; to provoke intentionally
syn. resist; challenge
n. defiance
adj. defiant
adv. defiantly
adj. (death-)defying

The defendant defied the judge's order, and, as a result, was charged with contempt of court.

The circus performer does her death-defying routine without a safety net.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
enact = v. to pass a law
syn. legislate
n. enactment

Congress enacted the legislation during its last session.

The legislators voted for the enactment of the law, but the court decided it was unconstitutional.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
even = adj. regular, smooth; in equal parts
syn. equitable, balanced
n. evenness

The sound isn't even; turn up the left speaker.

The profits were divided evenly among the investors.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
feign = v. to pretend, make believe
syn. pretend, simulate
adj. feigned

He feigned illness when it was time to visit the dentist.

His unhappiness was feigned; he really didn't care.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
fertile = adj. able to produce abundantly
syn. prolific, productive
v. fertilize
n. fertility
n. fertilizer

The delta areas of rivers are known for their fertile soil.

Fertilizers are used on crops to increase yields.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
freshly = adv. caught or produced not long ago
syn. recently
adj. fresh
v. freshen
n. freshness

Freshly harvested produce is hard to find in the winter.

The freshness of the politician's ideas appealed to younger voters.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
function = n. the normal activity of something or someone
syn. role, purpose
adv. functionally
adj. functional
v. function

The director's function is to organize and lead the department.

Most equipment in this room cannot function without electricity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
fundamental = adj. forming a basic part of something
syn. essential
adv. fundamentally
n. fundamentalist
n. fundamentalism

The student government promised fundamental changes in the registration process.

Religious fundamentalism, be it Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, poses a clear threat to democratic values.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
indiscriminate = adj. not done carefully; unplanned
syn. haphazard, random, careless
adv. indiscriminately

The indiscriminate use of pesticides causes significant negative environmental impact.

The book's chapters seem to be organized indiscriminately.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
selective = adj. chosen or done with care
syn. discriminating, careful
adv. selectively
adj. select
v. select
n. selection
n. selectivity

They were very selective when they chose the members of the academic committee.

The company's selection as consultant made many observers suspect that they had bribed the responsible officials.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
spacious = adj. having a lot of room
syn. expansive
adv. spaciously
n. space
n. spaciousness

The spacious plains of the Midwest make up the nation's breadbasket.

The spaciousness of American homes sometimes comes as a surprise to first-time visitors from Europe.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
withstand = v. to resist successfully or endure
syn. face, confront, survive

The former president of the Bank of Japan apparently could not withstand the pressures of his job, so he committed suicide.

The old building withstood the terrible storm.