8th grade
Name______________________________
Date________________________
Spelling/Vocabulary Unit 1C
1. hover - (v) to float or hang suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly
over or around.
2. jostle - (v) to make or force one’s way by pushing or elbowing; to bump, shove,
brush against; to compete for.
3. laggard - (n) a person who moves slowly or falls behind; (adj.) falling behind;
slow to move, act or respond.
4. plaudits - (n. plural) applause; enthusiastic praise or approval.
5. preclude - (v.) to make impossible, prevent, shut out
6. revert - (v.) to return, go back
7. rubble - (n) broken stone or bricks; ruins
8. servile - (adj.) of or relating to a slave; behaving or suitable for a slave or a
servant, menial; lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive
9. vigil - (n) a watch, especially at night; any period of watchful attention
10. wrangle - (v.) to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument,
to herd; (n) a noisy quarrel
11. adage – (n) a proverb, wise saying
12. bonanza – (n) a rich mass or ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable
or rewarding, a source of wealth or prosperity; a very large amount
13. churlish – lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to
work or deal with; rude
14. citadel – (n) a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or
commanding place
15. collaborate – (v) to work with, work together
16. decree – (n) an order having the force of law; (v) to issue such an order; to
command firmly or forcefully
17. discordant – (adj) disagreeable in sound, jarring, lacking in harmony,
conflicting
18. evolve – (v) to develop gradually; to rise to a higher level
19. excerpt – (n) a passage taken from a book, article, etc; (v) to take such a
passage; to quote
20. grope – (v) to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly &
uncertainly
8th grade
Directions: Correctly spell each vocabulary/spelling word three (3) times each.
1. hover______________________________________________________________________
2. jostle_______________________________________________________________________
3. laggard______________________________________________________________________
4. plaudits______________________________________________________________________
5. preclude______________________________________________________________________
6. revert________________________________________________________________________
7. rubble________________________________________________________________________
8. servile________________________________________________________________________
9. vigil__________________________________________________________________________
10. wrangle_______________________________________________________________________
11. adage - _______________________________________________________________________
12. bonanza - ______________________________________________________________________
13. churlish - _______________________________________________________________________
14. citadel - _________________________________________________________________________
15. collaborate - ______________________________________________________________________
16. decree - __________________________________________________________________________
17. discordant - _______________________________________________________________________
18. evolve - __________________________________________________________________________
19. excerpt - _________________________________________________________________________
20. grope - __________________________________________________________________________
8th grade
Directions: Fill in the blank with the best vocabulary word.
1. The swiftest members of the herd escaped the trappers’ nets, but the
____________________ were caught.
2. Your silly pride about doing everything on your own _______________________ your
getting the help you need so badly.
3. On the ground, teams of paramedics administered first aid to the victims of the accident,
while police helicopters ____________________ overhead.
4. They had such a long ___________________ over the use of the bicycle that their mother
finally wouldn’t allow either of them to use it.
5. With tireless devotion, the ailing child’s parents kept an anxious
_______________________ at her bedside.
6. Let me read aloud a few ________________ from the newspaper review of the new
movie.
7. The cafeteria line was so crowded that I was __________________________ past the
desserts before I could take one.
8. For two nights, he did his homework faithfully; then he ____________________ to his
usual lazy ways.
9. A word of praise from the coach meant more to me than all the loud but thoughtless
_______________________ of the crowd.
10. Before the new housing project could be built, it was necessary to tear down the old
houses and remove the ______________________.
11. If you will only show a little patience, that business investment may grow into a(n)
___________________________ for you.
12. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 released blacks once and for all from their
_________________________ bonds.
13. When the lights suddenly went out, I ______________________ my way into the
kitchen to find a candle and matches.
8th grade
14. What is the exact wording of the ____________________ about early birds and wormcatching?
15. Suddenly the _____________________ voices of two people engaged in a quarrel burst
upon my ears and jarred me out of my daydream.
16. Our teacher gave Michael and me permission to _____________________ on our
reports since we were investigating related problems.
17. During his 11 years of “personal rule,” King Charles I of England bypassed Parliament
and ruled the country by royal _______________________.
18. Kayla was only trying to help you, and you hurt her feelings when you reacted to her
criticism in such a(n) _____________________ way.
19. After the walls of their city fell to the enemy, the inhabitants withdrew to the
______________________ and continued the struggle from there.
20. As we discussed the coming vacation, we gradually ______________________ a plan
for a bicycle trip through New England.
8th grade
Directions: Match each vocabulary word with is synonym.
1. To fumble for, cast about for
2. A fort or stronghold
3. Applause, cheers, acclaim
4. Wreckage, debris
5. To unfold, develop, emerge
6. A slowpoke, straggler; slow, sluggish
7. To hinder, check, stop
8. Slavish, groveling, fawning
9. A proclamation, edict; to proclaim
10. To shove, push, bump
11. To return to, relapse
12. To team up, join forces
13. An extract, portion, section
14. Grating, shrill; different, divergent
15. A proverb, maxim
16. To squabble, bicker
17. A sudden profit or gain, windfall
18. Rude, surly, ill-tempered
19. To float; to linger; to waiver, seesaw
20. A period of watchful attention
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Directions: Match each vocabulary word with the best antonym.
21. Harmonious, in agreement
22. Boos, disapproval, ridicule
23. An early bird; swift, speedy, prompt
24. Courteous, civil, well-mannered
25. To help, promote, facilitate
26. To agree, concur, be of one mind
27. Masterly, overbearing
28. To work alone
29. To wither, shrivel up, atrophy
30. A sudden and unexpected loss
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8th grade
Directions: Write a complete sentence with 10 of the 20 vocabulary words. Each vocabulary
word must be spelled correctly to receive credit.
1.___________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________________________________________
9. ___________________________________________________________________________
10. __________________________________________________________________________
8th grade
Unit 1-C2
Across
2. to make or force one's way by pushing
4. relating to a slave; submissive
6. broken stone or bricks; ruins
7. a watch, period of watchful attention
9. a person who moves slowly
10. to return, go back
Down
1. to float or hang suspended over
3. to quarrel or argue in a noisy way
5. to make impossible, prevent
8. applause; enthusiastic praise