Lesson 6- Clarity and Vagueness

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

adumbrate arcane covert educe fathom 6. impervious 7. limpid 8. manifest 9. nebulous 10. translucent

1. adumbrate (verb)

a.

b.

c.

To give a sketchy outline of. To disclose partially or guardedly. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow. Related Word: adumbration Ex: The details of the marketing plan were kept secret; but the company president briefly adumbrated the basic strategy at the staff meeting.

2. arcane (adj)

 Known or understood only by a few; esoteric. Ex: The system if addressing English nobility by different titles seemed arcane to Americans.

a.

b.

c.

d.

3. covert (adj; noun)

Concealed; hidden; secret. Covered or covered over; sheltered. A covering or cover. A covered place or shelter; hiding place. Related Words: covertly; covertness. Ex: The man was arrested for making covert sales of arms to rebel forces.

4. educe (verb)

a.

b.

To draw or bring out, elicit. To assume or work out from given facts; deduce. Related Words: educible; education. Ex: The director educed an emotional performance from the seemingly unresponsive actor.

5. fathom (verb)

a.

b.

c.

To get to the bottom of and understand. To determine the depth of; sound. A unit of length equal to six feet used in the measurement of marine depths. Related Words: fathomable; fathomless. Ex: With painstaking effort Marion ultimately fathomed the confusing passage in The Canterbury Tales.

6. impervious (adj)

a.

b.

c.

Incapable of being penetrated. Incapable of being affected. Not open to argument or suggestion. Related Words: imperviously; imperviousness. Ex: My new raincoat is impervious to water and wind.

7. limpid (adj)

a.

b.

c.

Characterized by transparent clearness. Easily intelligible. Calm and untroubled; serene. Related Words: limpidly; limpidness. Ex: Snorkeling in limpid water allows one to see the variety of fish in the ocean.

8. manifest (adj; verb)

a.

b.

c.

Clearly apparent to the sight or understanding; obvious. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal. To be evidence of; prove. Related Words: manifestation; manifestly. Ex: The gratefulness of the people rescued from the storm was manifest in every smiling face.

9. nebulous (adj)

a.

b.

Lacking definite form or limits; vague. Cloudy, misty, or hazy. Related Words: nebulously; nebulousness. Ex: Until Monica could confirm her theory, she kept the nebulous idea to herself.

10. translucent (adj)

 Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to make impossible the perception of distinct images. Related Words: translucence; translucently. Ex: Behind the translucent window shade, shadowed figures moved back and forth.