Vocabulary Enrichment 21

CHAOS (n.) 
[key-os] 
– the lack of order or peace

Example: The government must control the chaos to bring back peace.
Additional Info: Chaos can be used as an adjective by dropping –s and adding –tic, as inchaotic. This word describes something that is not in order. (e.g. The misbehaving students made the classroom chaotic.)

SERIOUS BLOW (idiom)
[seer-ee-uhs] [bloh] 
– a dangerous or severe damage

Example: The soldiers made a serious blow on the enemy’s camp.
Additional Question: Have you ever experienced a serious blow in your career?

INCUR (v.) 
[in-kur] 
– to bring to oneself something that is usually unpleasant or undesirable

Example: She incurred a failing grade because of her laziness.
Additional Info: The verb incur also refers to something you run into or encounter. (It is synonymous to acquire, be subjected to, earn, expose oneself to, gain, get, induce, meet with.)

UNDEREMPLOYED (adj.)
[uhn-der-em-ploid] 
 – working for a job that does not fit one’s skills

Example: Many educated people are underemployed because of the poor economy.
Additional Info: The prefix under is attached to a word to mean “below the standard.” Some examples of words that use this prefix are undernourished (below the standard amount of nutrients in the body); underachiever (achieving less than one is capable of), underage (below the standard age).

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