7th Grade Vocab Word List Week 1: Words About Dictionaries
Even though you probably have used dictionaries many times, you might not be aware of all the kinds of
information they contain. Besides providing definitions and pronunciations of words, some dictionaries also give
information about word origins, tips about how to use words correctly, facts about geography, and short biographies of
well-known people. Certain dictionaries even provide illustrations and photographs that add to the information given in
definitions. In this lesson, you will learn words that describe the parts of a dictionary and the task of making a dictionary.
In addition, you will read an article about how dictionaries were developed.
Word
Part of Speech
Definition
abridge
verb
to shorten a piece of written material, such as a dictionary
 Related word: abridgement (noun)
browse
verb
to read here and there in a book or other piece of written material; to look in a
casual manner
citation
noun
a quotation or reference from a source
 Related word: cite (verb)
compendium
noun
a short but complete summary of information on a topic
etymology
noun
the study of the origin and history of words; the origin and history of a particular
word
 Related words: etymological (adjective), etymologist (noun)
gazetteer
noun
a dictionary or a section of a dictionary that contains the names of places and
information about those places
glossary
noun
a list of terms and their definitions, often placed at the back of a book
lexicography
noun
the process of writing or of compiling a dictionary
 Related word: lexicographer (noun)
phonetics
noun
the study of the sounds of language
 Related words: phonetic (adjective), phonetically (adverb)
 Usage note: You must use a singular verb with the word phonetics (“Phonetics is …”)
syllabication
noun
the process of dividing words into units of sounds called syllables
 Related words: syllabicate (verb), syllable (noun)
7th Grade Vocab Assignment Week 1
Select a topic in which you are especially interested, such as music, sports, movies, television, etc. Describe some terms
commonly used with that topic. Write descriptions of the terms in your own words. Make sure your descriptions are
clear to someone who has little knowledge about this field. In describing the terms, use five words of your choice from
this week’s list.
 Write at least 5 unique, complete sentences – one sentence per vocab word you choose – using the word
correctly (part of speech and definition)
 Always use the words from the far left column – NEVER THE “RELATED” WORDS
 Sentences should be more than just the word and the definition
 Sentences should be unique (different from every other sentence on the page, written by you and you alone)

Sentences should be written neatly
 The paper should have a heading and should be neat (no folds, tears, etc.)
 Underline the vocab words (or circle, highlight, etc. – just call my attention to the word)
 Skip a line after every line you’ve written (think of it as double-spacing the whole page)
 This is in paragraph form
FLASHCARDS DUE: Monday, Aug. 24
SENTENCES DUE: Tuesday, Aug. 25
7th Grade Vocab Word List Week 1: Words About Dictionaries
Even though you probably have used dictionaries many times, you might not be aware of all the kinds of
information they contain. Besides providing definitions and pronunciations of words, some dictionaries also give
information about word origins, tips about how to use words correctly, facts about geography, and short biographies of
well-known people. Certain dictionaries even provide illustrations and photographs that add to the information given in
definitions. In this lesson, you will learn words that describe the parts of a dictionary and the task of making a dictionary.
In addition, you will read an article about how dictionaries were developed.
Word
Part of Speech
Definition
1
verb
to shorten a piece of written material, such as a dictionary
 Related word: abridgement (noun)
2
verb
to read here and there in a book or other piece of written material; to look in a
casual manner
3
noun
a quotation or reference from a source
 Related word: cite (verb)
4
noun
a short but complete summary of information on a topic
5
noun
the study of the origin and history of words; the origin and history of a particular
word
 Related words: etymological (adjective), etymologist (noun)
6
noun
a dictionary or a section of a dictionary that contains the names of places and
information about those places
7
noun
a list of terms and their definitions, often placed at the back of a book
8
noun
the process of writing or of compiling a dictionary
 Related word: lexicographer (noun)
9
noun
the study of the sounds of language
 Related words: phonetic (adjective), phonetically (adverb)
 Usage note: You must use a singular verb with the word phonetics (“Phonetics is …”)
10
noun
the process of dividing words into units of sounds called syllables
 Related words: syllabicate (verb), syllable (noun)