Essential Vocabulary - Noel's ESL eBook Library

I: SAT Words 141
intimidate (in TIM id ayt) vt. 1. to make afraid; daunt; 2. to deter or compel
with threats of violence; cow
• It is easy to intimidate little children, but it’s not very sporting.
• Mobsters have been known to intimidate potential witnesses against them
to deter them from testifying.
[-d, intimidating, intimidation, intimidator n.]
intrepid (in TRE pid) adj. not afraid; bold; fearless; very brave
• Actors who play Roman gladiators appear to be intrepid.
• The Marines who fought on Iwo Jima were intrepid indeed.
• Are you intrepid enough to ride a big roller coaster
[Syn. brave]
intrigue (in TREEG) vt. 1. to bring on by secret plotting; 2. to excite the curiosity;
fascinate —n. 1. a secret or underhanded plotting; 2. a secret plot; 3. a love affair
• Brutus and Cassius intrigue to kill Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s take on the
subject.
• A cliff-hanger intrigues one to find out what will come next.
• The intrigue of Quisling’s fifth column betrayed Norway.
• Many believe the death of JFK was the result of intrigue.
• Tracy and Hepburn’s intrigue lasted many years.
[-d, intriguing] [Syn. plot]
intrinsic (in TRIN sik) adj. essential nature; not depending on outside sources;
inherent
• Gold has always had an intrinsic value as a precious metal.
• Some, but not all, believe that good is intrinsic to all people.
• The intrinsic nature of children is innocence.
[-ally* adv.]
intrusion (in TROO zhin) n. 1. the act of forcing one’s self or ideas on another
who has not asked for and/or does not welcome them; 2. (law) the illegal entry
onto another’s land; 3. (geology) the squeezing of magma between layers of solid
rock; the actual solidified rock so created
• Eric’s intrusion into the girl’s locker room was not greeted with amusement.
• Tresspassing is one form of illegal intrusion; burglary is another.
• Volcanic intrusions can be found in some museums’ geological exhibits.
intuitive (in TOO it iv) adj. 1. having to do with intuition (a direct and immediate
understanding or learning of something without use of reasoning); 2. learning
or knowing by such a feeling
• Ginny seemed to have been born with an intuitive grasp of how to ride a
horse.
• Alan found driving an automobile to be intuitive and was driving like an
old-timer the first time he took the wheel.
[-ly adv.]