CAT Word List

inimical [ noun ]
	MEANING :
	adverse, harmful, unfriendly or hostile
	USAGE :
	There's no better or more immediate evidence supporting the Darwinian theory than this process of forced transformation among our inimical germs. National Geographic, Was Darwin Wrong?, By David Quammen
malapropism [ noun ]
	MEANING :
	misuse of words, especially similar sounding ones, to create humour
	USAGE :
	The president had been practicing, and the malapropism just slipped out ahead of schedule. abcNEWS, Bush Loosens Up With Press, By Ann Compton, W A S H I N G T O N, March 29
neophyte [ noun ]
	MEANING :
	1. a novice, amateur or beginner 2. someone newly baptized or converted
	USAGE :
	McCain regained some of the buzz with his choice of Sarah Palin, 44, a maverick Republican neophyte who was not even on the shortlist of candidates that at one time included the Indian-American governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal. The Times of India, McCain picks Sarah Palin, little known Alaska governor, as VP running mate, Chidanand Rajghatta, Aug 30, 2008
peccadillo [ noun ]
	MEANING :
	an insignificant or trivial sin, flaw or mistake
	USAGE :
	"Part of the problem now is that people seem to be more aware of his peccadilloes than any actions that he has taken to make the city better since he was elected." Los Angels Times, Villaraigosa affair may not be one to remember, By Steve Hymon and Duke Helfand, July 7, 2007
impertinent [ adjective ]
	MEANING :
	1. insolent, disrespectful or brash 2. inappropriate or irrelevant
	USAGE :
	That’s the trouble: the millions of people who want to look at the pictures of Miss Middleton and engage in impertinent speculations about whether she will one day be Queen of England. Telegraph, A Royal fate, By Andrew Gimson, 11/01/2007