Accelerated Core Vocabulary List
“The Road Not Taken”
1. Diverge
“Hyla Brook”
2. Hyla
3. Flourished
4. Foliage
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1. Alacrity – (noun) cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness
2. Circumstance – (noun) a condition with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that
accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; an influencing factor
3. Delectable – (adjective) delightful; highly pleasing; enjoyable: a delectable witticism; delicious:
4. Expedition – (noun) an excursion, journey, or voyage made for some specific purpose, as of war
or exploration.
5. Melancholy – (adjective) affected with, characterized by, or showing mournfulness, depression,
sadness
6. Laborious – (adjective) requiring much work, exertion, or perseverance
7. Philosopher – (noun) a person who offers views or theories on profound questions in ethics,
metaphysics, logic, and other related fields.
8. Ponderously – (adjective) to do something in a way that demonstrates great weight; being
awkward, unwieldy, dull, or labored.
9. Straitened – (verb) to put into difficulties, especially financial ones
Dragonwings Vocabulary List
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Perturb - to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate.
Reciprocate - to give, feel, etc., in return.
Insolent - boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting
Conjecture - the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for
proof.
5. Nimble - quick and light in movement; moving with ease; agile; active
6. Amiable - having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable:friendly
7. Malicious - full of, characterized by, or showing malice; malevolent; spiteful; vicious
8. Malleable- capable of being extended or shaped
9. dubious - doubtful; questionable
10. intuitive – possessing the quality or ability of having such direct perception or quick insight
11. chide - to express disapproval of; scold; reproach
12. prudent - wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; careful in providing for the future
13. wizen - to wither; shrivel; dry up
14. benevolent - characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings;desiring to help others;
charitable
15. luminous - radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright; lighted up or illuminated
16. resonate - to resound
17. methodical - acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly; painstaking, especially slow and
careful; deliberate
18. prudent - wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; careful in
providing for the future
19. erratic - deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion
20. fastidious - excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
21. patronize (2 definitions) - 1. to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage;
trade with.
2. to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward
22. ominous - portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening
23. perpetual - continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
24. sardonic - characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering
25. forlorn - desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance;
lonely and sad
Farewell to Manzanar Vocabulary List
1. Interned- Being forced to stay in a place
2. Dredge- bring up
3. Turbulent - violent
4. Patriarch - male head of the family
5. Inevitable - unavoidable
6. Trough -narrow, open container that holds water
7. Edicts -rules proclaimed by one in authority
8. Idealist -person who wants things to be perfect
9. Imperiously -in an arrogant, domineering way
10. Vulnerability - being open to attack or injury
11. Vigilante - someone who take the law into his/her own hands
12. livid - extremely angry
13. resigned -accepting what comes without complaint
14. posthumous -happening after death
15. bias -preference based on prejudice
16. rescinded -canceled
17. agitating -arousing public awareness and feeling
18. assimilate - become like others in custom, etc.
19. ominous -unfavorable, threatening
20. benevolent -kindly, charitable
21. overt - public; obvious; not hidden
22. acquiesce - agree without objections
23. intangible - not able to be seen or touched
24. capitulate - surrender on certain conditions
25. sedate - calm; serious
“Camp Harmony”
1. Palled V. – became boring
2. Tersely Adv. – briefly and clearly without unnecessary words
3. Glutinous Adj – sticky; guey
4. Elongated V. – lengthened; extended
5. Laconically Adv. – with few words (synonym of palled)
6. Breach N. – an opening; a breakthrough in a wall or in a line of defense
7. Medley N. – jumble; mixture of dissimilar things
8. Riveted V. – fastened or held firmly, as if by rivets
9. Harrowing Adj. – distressing; painful
10. Vigil N. – watch; act of staying awake to keep watch
“Rules of the Game”
1. pungent Adj. – sharp and intense odor
2. recessed Adj. – indented or hollow
3. benefactor N. - a person who makes a gift of value or high financial worth, to an institution.
4. benevolently ADV. – to do something in a way to purposely help others; intended for benefits
rather than profit
5. adversary N. – an opponent or enemy
6. retort V. – a quick, sharp or witty reply
7. malodorous ADJ. - having a bad odor
8. ponder V. - to consider deeply and thoroughly
9. impart V. - to make known; tell; give or reveal
10. circumstances N. – things that affect your situation
11. donned V. – to put on or wear
12. deliberate V. – carefully weighed or considered; studied
13. etiquette N. – commonly accepted requirements for social behavior
14. vanity N. - excessive pride or being conceited about your
appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; being vain
15. careen V. - to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion
“The Telltale Heart”
1. acute- ADJ. sharp, keen, intense
2. audacity - N. shameless daring, boldness
3. conceived - V. thought of
4. crevice - N. a crack
5. derision - N. scornful laughter, ridicule
6. hypocritical - ADJ. not sincere; a pretender
7. stealthily - ADV. cautiously, secretly
8. stifled - V. smothered
9. vehemently - ADV. with intense emotion
10. suave- ADJ. smoothly agreeable or polite
11. gesticulations- N. large gestures
12. deductible - ADJ. able to be subtracted
13. attainable - ADJ. able to come into possession
14. invalidate- V. cancel out, take away
15. vex V. - to annoy or disturb
16. profound - ADJ. having great knowledge
17. hearken V. - pay close attention to
18. conceal- V. to hide
19. dismember - V. cut to pieces
20. fluently - ADV. smoothly, without effort
Extra Credit
1. fatigue - N. hard work, labors
2. trifles- N. unimportant matters
“The Raven”
1. beguiling V- charming, tricking
2. dirge N - death songs
3. divining V- speculating
4. ominous ADJ - threatening
5. respite N - a break, arest from something
6. decorum N - proper behavior, good manners
7. discourse N - speech, conversation
8. implore V - beg earnestly
9. placid ADJ - calm,peaceful, still
10. tempest N - wild storm
11. pondered V - thought deeply about
12. pallid ADJ - pale, lacking color
13. pall N - a dark, gloomy covering or atmosphere
14. undaunted V – to not be afraid, fearless
15. volume N - collection of print, a book
16. countenance N - face or expression
17. token N memento
18. prophet N – one who sees the future
19. ungainly ADV - awkward, clumsy
20. ghastly ADV - causing terror, horror
Extra Credit
1. gloat V - gaze intently, ponder with satisfaction
The Kidnapped Prince Vocabulary
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abhorrence (Noun) the act of utterly loathing or hating
alacrity (Noun) cheerful promptness and eagerness
animadversion (Noun) harsh criticism, usually censorious in nature; act of criticizing
approbation (Noun) approval
avaricious (Adj) greedy
chilblains (Noun) a swelling and inflammation of the extremities, such as hands or feet, caused by
exposure to cold
dexterity (Noun) skill, quickness, and grace in physical activity
enumerate (Verb) to spell out; to list; to count
execration (Noun) a curse
fetters (Noun) anything that confines a person, such as shackles or chains
imputation (Noun) an accusation as of a fault or
attribution (Noun) insinuation; to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider as caused by
something
inducement (Noun) a motive to compel one to do something
iniquity (Noun) a wicked or sinful act; a gross injustice
Interposition (Noun) something that gets in the way of something else; an intervention
Inveigle (Verb) to entice; to win over by flattery or praise; to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful
talk
Invidious (Adj) obnoxious; causing discontent
Laudable (Adj) worthy of being praised, commended
Manumission (Noun) formal emancipation from the bondage of slavery
Obeisance (Noun) the acknowledgment of another's power or superiority; a movement of the body
expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar
gesture
Oblations (Noun) religious offerings, such as sacrifices
Odoriferous (Adj) yielding a fragrance; full of a scent
Pressgang (Noun) a band of military men who boarded ships during the Seven Years War' to force able
British men to fight for the Crown against the French; the process was called impressment
Sable (Noun) the color black
Sagacious (Adj) wise
Supplications (Noun) humble entreaties; sincere begging
Unfeigned (Adj) genuine; authentic; sincere
“Flowers for Algernon” Vocabulary
1. analysis - N. close study of the parts of something
2. subconscious - N. not of the conscious mind, underneath awareness
3. adversity - N. unfavorable circumstances, misfortune
4. equivalent - N. equal amount
5. acquire - V. to get or obtain
6. refute - V. show to be false or incorrect
7. principles - N. belief or rule to live by
8. misled - V. led astray, fooled
9. motivation - N. reason for doing something, causes action
10. psychology - N. study of the mind
11. validated - V. proved true, real
12. convoluted - V. curved, folded, twisted
13. nonchalant - ADJ. without enthusiasm, indifferent
14. verified - V. proved true, real
15. regression - N. a return to a less developed condition
16. naivete - N. a lack of sophistication; simplicity
17. proportional - ADJ. proper amount in relation to another amount
18. opportunist - N. a person who takes advantage of opportunities at the expense of others with little
regard for moral principles
19. shrew - N, a mean, nagging woman
20. hypothesis - N. a theory used as a basis for research: educated guess
21. absurd – ADJ. not true, logical or sensible; ridiculous
22. specialization – N. a special branch of study or work [a pediatrician’s specialization is (medical service
for) children]
23. syndrome – N. pattern of signs characteristic of a certain illness
24. sensation – N. strong or excited feeling
25. statistically – ADV. collecting and using facts to show their significance
Extra Credit:
1. vacuous - ADJ. showing a lack of intelligence or thought
2. immoral - going against what is considered right behavior
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Spelling/Vocab Lists
Roll of Thunder Week 1
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intriguing – (v) exciting one’s curiosity
mortgage – (n) a pledge of specific
property as security for a loan; if the loan is not paid the property is taken
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amiably – (adv) friendly, good-natured
temerity – (n) extreme recklessness
traverse – (v) to go across, over, through, up or down
admonish – (v) to warn or notify of wrong doing
trudge – (v) walk wearily
ornate – (adj) decorated richly
loitering – (v) to linger idly, hang around
resiliency – (n) ability to rebound, spring back to original shape
meticulous (adj) exceedingly careful
concession – (n) yielding to another; that which is conceded
pensive – (adj) deep in thought or reflection
outwit – (v) to outsmart or trick
tormentor - (n) one who causes extreme pain of the body or mind
Roll of Thunder Week 2
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lynched – (v) put to death without a trial
stealth – (adj) secret or sly
aloof- (adj) apart, not interested, reserved
feign- (v) pretend
nauseous- (adj) sickening
malevolently- (adv) wishing evil to others
falter- (v) hesitate, draw back
emphatic- (adj) speaking with force
envision- (v) picture in one’s mind
discourse- (n) formal speech or piece of writing
engross- (v) occupy wholly, take up all attentions
vaguely- (adv) not precisely expressed
subdue- (v) overcome by force
interjected- (v) interrupt
subtle- (adj) delicate, fine
proprietor- (n) owner
audible- (adj) able to be heard
apprehensive- (adj) afraid that something bad will happen
placid- (adj) pleasantly calm
condone – (v) forgive, overlook
Roll of Thunder Week 3
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languid – (adj) without energy, drooping, weary
goad – (v) drive or urge on
boycott – (v) refuse to buy or use something
sulked – (v) silent and bad-humored due to resentment
interminable – (adj) never ending
sauntered - (v) walked along slowly and happily
comprehending – (v) understanding
indignant – (adj) angry at something unjust or unfair
generate – (v) produce
pneumonia – (n) an infection causing lung inflamation
scowl – (v) look angry, frowning
suspiciously – (adv) suspecting something; questioning bad behavior or event
rile – (v) disturb, anger
despondently (adv) – lost heartedly, dejected, discouraged
scheme – (n) a plan, a plot
urgency – (n) need for immediate action or attention
crescendo – (n) increase in force or loudness
reproachfully – (adv) expressing blame or disapproval
desolate – (adj) barren, isolated
acrid - (adj) sharp, bitter or stinging
Roll of Thunder Week 4
1. Beacon – N. a light used as a signal to warn or guide
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Beckoned – V. to signal (usually by motion of hand or head)
Cautiously – ADV. very carefully
Contagious – ADJ. spread by contact, catching
Dejected – V. very sad or discouraged
Emitted – E. give off or send out
Humiliation – N. feeling of shame or loss of pride
Inaccessible – ABJ. hard to reach or get at
Kerosene – N. oily fuel, very flammable
Maneuvered – V. to plan skillfully or scheme
Plaguing - V. to cause to suffer, to annoy
Resolved – V. to decide, to make up one’s mind
Sodden – ADJ. soaked through, soggy
Triumphantly – ADV. victoriously or successfully
Veered – V. to change in direction, shift
Roll of Thunder Week 5
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hover (v) - hang or suspended in air
denote (v) - be the sign of something else, indicate
huskily (adv) – 1) hoarse 2)strong build
impale (v) - pierce through
careen (v) - move fast and out of control
jovial (adj) - good hearted, full of fun
lethargic (adj) - sluggish and drowsy, slow moving
flinch (v) - withdraw or hold back
barren (adj) - not producing much, unproductive
morose (adj) - gloomy, sullen
prophesize (v) - tell what will happen in the future
frenzied (v) - greatly excited, frantic
testy (adj) - easily irritated
amenities (n) - polite acts, something which makes life more pleasant
lilting (adj) - light sing-song manner
Roll of Thunder Week 6
1. mutter (v) - grumble, murmur, utter words with a low voice and almost closed lips
2. commence (v) – to begin, to start
3. pointedly (adv) – aimed at or expressly referring to some particular person
4. condescending (v) – to put down or talk down to someone who is considered inferior
5. grimaced (v) – to have distorted your face with emotion of pain, joy
6. hesitate (v) – stop or pause
7. recitation (n) – the act of repeating something (literature) from memory
8. persistent (adj) – to be insistent, continue in the face of difficulty or opposition
9. en masse (adv) – as a whole, all together
10. suspicious (adj) – arousing guilt of something
11. reel (v) – to whirl, swing, sway or stagger from giddiness or drunkenness
12. huffily (adv) – easily offended; touchy
13. sweltering (v) – overcome with heat
14. compound (v) – to combine or increase by adding something new
15. throng (n) – a crowd
Esperanza Rising Vocabulary
1. scythe - noun a tool with a curved, single-edged blade
2. arbor - noun a shelter of vines or branches
3. court - verb to pay respectful attention to
4. vicious -adjective characterized by vice or evil; corrupt or depraved
5. premonition - noun a warning in advance
6. serenade - verb/noun to perform a vocal or instrumental piece of music
7. congregate - verb to assemble or collect
8. capricious - adjective tending to change abruptly and without reason
9. anguish - noun great mental suffering
10. condolence - noun an expression of sympathy with another in grief
11. indignation - noun anger or scorn resulting from injustice
12. enveloped - verb to wrap up or cover completely
13. deliberate - adjective/verb carefully thought out and performed
14. trance - noun a state of altered consciousness resembling sleep
15. smoldering - adjective burning or smoking without flame
16. mortar - noun a very hard bowl in which substances are ground
17. phoenix - noun a bird that symbolizes immortality
18. persistent - adjective refusing to relent
19. doting - adjective foolishly or excessively fond of
20. thicket - noun a thick growth of shrubs
21. reek - verb/noun to have a strong, unpleasant smell
22. undulate - verb to cause to move in waves
23. stagnant - adjective without motion or current, not moving
24. demeanor - noun outward behavior or conduct
25. frail - adjective easily shattered, broken or damaged
26. accost - verb to approach and speak to in an aggressive way
27. gingerly - adverb very carefully or cautiously
28. unrelenting - adjective not yielding, determined
29. hull - noun the frame or body of a boat or a ship
30. extravagant - adjective excessive, unduly lavish
31. amber - adjective yellowish or brownish fossil resin
32. tumbleweeds - noun a plant, broken away from roots, carried by wind
33. encrusted - adjective covered as with a crust
34. immunize - verb to create resistance in the body
35. cavernous - adjective of large or unknown size
36. bereft - adjective deprived of or lacking something
37. musty - adjective tasting or smelling of dampness or decay
38. supple - adjective capable of bending without breaking
39. menace - noun a threat or danger
40. asylum - noun a place of refuge or protection
Taking Sides
Vocabulary
1. amid - in the middle of
2. barrio - a neighborhood in a U.S.city made up of shiefly Spanish-speaking people
3. basking - warming oneself pleasantly
4. bicker - to quarrel
5. contort - to twist into a strained shape or expression
6. dank - damp and chilly
7. drone - to speak with a low, monotonous tone
8. execute - to perform or carry out
9. exotic - strikingly unfamiliar or different
10. grimacing - making a sharp twisting of the face, as in pain
11. harangue - to scold
12. hobble - to limp; walk with difficulty
13. horde - swarm of animals
14. hovering - lingering in the air over something
15. import - to bring goods from a foreign country to sell or trade
16. incense - substance that produces a pleasant smell when burned
17. incredulous - disbelieving; skeptical
18. maneuver - to make controlled changes in direction
19. muse - to think about; to ponder
20. oblivious - unaware of unmindful
21. opt - to choose; to decide
22. poised - hovering or suspended
23. prompting - moving to act
(over)
24. relish - to enjoy
25. saliva - the watery, tasteless liquid of the mouth
26. saunter - to walk at a leisurely pace
27. savory - appetizing; tasteful
28. scrawny - thin; skinny
29. scuttle - to move hastily; scurry
30. shuffling - shifting about from one place to another
31. sneer - to show scorn by curling the upper lip
32. synthetic - made artificial
33. trudge - to plod; walk in a heavy-footed, slow way
34. unison - the act of two or more people speaking the same words at the same time
35. venison - meat from a deer
36. wince - to flinch as in pain or embarrassment
37. wrenched - twisted and sprained
Night Spelling/Vocab Lists
Night - List 1
1. allies –(n) people or groups united together
2. infernal - (adj) having to do with or resembling hell
3. petrified - (v) paralyzed with fear or horror
4. decree - (n) something ordered or settled by authority
5. disheartened – (v) cause to lose hope
6. anecdotes – (n) short accounts of funny or interesting stories
7. Holocaust - (n) systematic killing of Jews and others from 1933-45
8. abominable – (adj) causing hatred or disgust; loathsome
9. semblance – (n) an outward appearance
10. melancholy - (adj) sad, bittersweet
11. refuge – (n) protection or shelter from danger
12. truncheon - (n) stick shaped into a weapon; a club
13. Fascist - (n) government where a dictator rules and restricts freedom
14. lucid – (adj) clear, rational, sane
15. crematory - (n) furnace for burning dead bodies
Night - List 2
1. convoy – (v) To go with to protect.
2. congeal – (v) To change from a fluid to a solid state by temperature
3. profound - (adj) Having or showing great knowledge or understanding.
4. allege – (v) To state as a fact but without proof.
5. muster – (v) To assemble (as troops) for roll call or inspection.
6. massacre – (n) The violent or cruel killing of a number of persons.
7. humiliate – (v) To cause a loss of pride or self respect.
8. humane – (adj) Marked by sympathy or consideration for others.
9. extraction – (n)The act to remove by pulling.
10. afflicted – (v) To have caused suffering or unhappiness to.
11. pious – (adj) Having or showing love to God; religious
12. avid – (adj) Extremely eager or enthusiastic about something
13. rampage – (n) To rush wildly about.
14. contagion – (n)The passing of a disease from one individual to another.
15. relentless – (adj) Not lessening in harshness or sternness.
Night - List 3
1. reprieve – V. To delay the punishment of.
2. loathe – V. To feel extreme disgust for something.
3. slacken – V. To make or become slower or less energetic.
4. imperceptible – ADV. Not noticeable.
5. sanctity – ADJ. The quality or state of being holy or sacred.
6. livid – ADJ. Discolored by bruising.
7. embark – V. To go or put on board a ship or airplane.
8. beseeching – V. To ask earnestly.
9. famished – V. Starved.
10. plaintive – ADJ. Showing or expressing sorrow; mournful.
11. deprive – V. To take something away from.
12. accumulate – V. To gather or pile up, especially little by little.
13. fortnight – N. A period of 14 days, 2 weeks.
14. annihilate – V. To destroy completely.
15. caldron – N. A large kettle.
Night - List 4
1. garbed – (v) To be clothed.
2. charred – (v) burned.
3. epiphany – (n) A sudden, striking understanding of something.
4. vigilance- (n) Quality or state of being alert to signs of danger.
5. encumbrance – (n) Something that places an excessive burden on.
6. legacy – (n) Something left to a person by or as if by will.
7. quarantined – (v) forbidding of movements of people to prevent the spread of disease.
8. falter – (v) To move unsteadily; waver.
9. vitality – (n) The property by which the living can be separated from the nonliving; life.
10. dregs – (n) Sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated from it.
11. contingent – (n) a number of persons representing an area or group.
12. nocturnal – (adj) occurring in the night.
13. liquidate – (v) To put an end to; do away with.
14. disengage – (v) To free or release from an engagement, entanglement or burden.
15. indeterminate – (adj) Not clearly or exactly decided; vague.
Declaration of Independence
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Acquiesce – (verb) to submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent:
Annihilation
Consanguinity
Despotism
Jurisdiction
Magnanimity
Perfidy
Rectitude
Unalienable
Usurpations
Gettysburg Address
1. Consecrate
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Dedicate
Detract
Hallow
Perish
Proposition
Resolve
“The Pied Piper of Hamelin”
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Consternation
Mutinous
Paunch
Piebald
Pied
Pottage
Subterranean
Vermin
“I Have a Dream”
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Manacle
Proclamation
Redemptive
Segregation
“The Case for Public Schools”
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Factitious
Feudalism
Inestimable
Prerogative
“The Velvet Hangover”
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August
Catastrophe
Egocentrism
Paradox
Totalitarian
Ubiquitous
The Valiant
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Autobiography
Dubiously
Felonious
Indulgent
Insouciant
Malice
Martyr
Metropolitan
Sovereign
Vacuity
valiant