Unit 24

viscid / viscous / vicious / vicarious / vivid

viscid adj. 黏性的 (having an adhesive quality) / ˈvɪsɪd /

• We melted the smores over the campfire until the marshmallows and chocolate became viscid enough to hold the graham crackers together.

viscous adj. 粘性的 (thick or sticky; not flowing easily) / ˈviskəs /

• When he came down with the flu, Gordon's sinuses became clogged with a viscous, green mucus.

vicious adj. 恶毒的 (very violent and cruel) / ˈvɪʃəs /

• The police dog jumped on the robber and viciously bit his leg until the policeman ordered him to release the perpetrator.

vicarious adj. 间接体验的，代理的 (experienced or felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself) /vɪˈkɛːrɪəs/

• Penelope was scared of adventure sports, but she still enjoyed a vicarious thrill by reading about famous mountaineers, bungee jumpers, and scuba divers.

vivid adj. 生动的 ((of a picture, memory, etc. ) seeming like real life because it is very clear, bright, or detailed) / ˈvivid /

• Melanie's nightmare was so vivid that she woke up screaming in fear.

prodigal / prodigious

prodigal adj. 奢侈浪费的 (characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure) / ˈprɑdəɡəl /

• The Conservatives consider Liberal social programs a prodigal expense and seek to repeal such low-income benefits.

prodigious adj. 惊人的 (amazing or wonderful, very impressive) /prəˈdɪdʒəs/

• Having received more than 5,000 dollars worth of supplies for families in need, we were thrilled by the prodigious response to our food drive.

seethe / soothe

seethe v. 强压怒火，生闷气 (to suffer violent internal excitement) / sið /

• To any observer, Gray seemed calm and composed, but on the inside he was seething with rage over the poor treatment of his cousin.

soothe v. 安慰 (to cause (someone) to be calmer, less angry, etc.) / so͞oT͟H /

• Velma tried to soothe the crying child with kisses, cuddles, and the promise of a lollipop.