CONCEPT VOCABULARY AND WORD STUDY
What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
Frederick Douglass
WORD LIST
obdurate stolid disparity denounce equivocate conceded
A. DIRECTIONS: In each of the following items, think about the meaning of the
italicized word or phrase, and then answer the question.
1. If Shana conceded the election results, would she probably be ahead or behind
in the vote count?
2. Would a soccer player denounce a teammate's performance in a game if the
two players were also good friends? Explain.
3. If a disparity was found in the vote count after the student election, would it
mean that there was a clear winner? Why or why not?
4. If Brett seemed stolid when he heard the bad news, did he seem calm? Why?
5. If the children equivocate in response to the question, "Who broke the toy?",
are they answering truthfully or not? Explain.
6. If Ashid's parents were obdurate in their decision, did Ashid get his way?
B. WORD STUDY: The Latin prefix ob- is added to a base word to suggest the meaning
"against." In the case of the verb to object, the base -ject comes from the Latin word
iacere meaning "to throw." When you object to what someone has said, you oppose or
stand against it.
1. Use a college-level dictionary, either print or online, to research the origin and
meaning of the word obstacle. Explain the meaning of the prefix and the base word.
2. Write a definition of the word obstacle as it is used today.
3. Write a sentence in which you use the word obstacle correctly.