STAPLE, adj. [stā'pəl]
(Bread is a staple food.)
Meanings:
· necessary foods or commodities; principal; main
· e.g. wheat is a staple crop; a staple topic of conversation
Synonyms: essential, basic, chief, fundamental, important, in demand, key, popular, predominant, primary, standard
Antonyms: unstaple
ANCIENT, adj. [ān'shənt]
(People began making bread in ancient times.)
Meanings:
· a time long ago
· e.g. an ancient history; an ancient custom; an ancient folk tale
Synonyms: antiquated, antique, old-fashioned; antediluvian, archaic
Antonyms: current, cutting edge, fresh, modern, new, recent, up-to-date
OVERTHROW, vb. [ōvər-thrō']
(He believed that if you kept people well fed and happy, they would not overthrow the government.)
Meaning:
· to cause the fall or end of
· e.g. a plot to overthrow the government; the Czar was overthrown
Synonyms: overturn, subvert, topple, tumble
HOSPITALITY, n [hŏspĭ-tāl'ĭ-tē]
(In
Meanings:
· friendly and generous treatment of guests
Synonyms: warm, cordiality, geniality, friendliness
Antonym: inhospitality, unfriendliness
PRAIRIES, n [preər'ē]
(For example, the Prairies are called the “bread basket of the world.”)
Meaning:
· a large area of flat or rolling grassland that is treeless
SIGNIFICANT, adj. [sĭg-nĭf'ĭ-kənt]
(Bread also plays a significant role in many religious ceremonies.)
Meaning:
· important and having a special meaning
· e.g. a significant event/development
Synonyms: consequential, considerable, important, substantial, momentous, pregnant
Antonyms: insignificant, minor, unimportant
