The adventure of vocabulary

antecedent

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:09:45 -0400

The steam engine was the antecedent to the gasoline engine.

Your ancestors were your antecedents.

The atomic bomb was the antecedent to the hydrogen bomb.

alienate

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:07:09 -0400

The boss alienated his secretary by shouting at her when she made a mistake.

All during school, Bob Smith felt alienated by the other students because he wore his hair down to his knees.

Barb was alienated from her group when they learned that she was the town gossip.

alternative

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:52:07 -0400

It’s an alternative life style; he turned native.

“I’ve had six by-pass operations” said Harry. “it’s no fun, but better than the alternative”

The alternative to playing in the band was to go out for the football team.

ajar

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:29:41 -0400

Hey, the jars ajar; we’re outta here

When the police carefully examined the crime scene, they found a window had been left ajar

By leaving the front door of the house ajar, hundreds of mosquitoes kept me awake all night long

allure

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:21:13 -0400

Not all fish lures allure all fish.

The actress allured the crowd with her overwhelming beauty.

The sailors were allured into believing that the calm, balmy seas would never become a ferocious storm.