Cummings
2nd Nine Weeks Vocabulary
Set One
1. chattel—an item of personal, movable property; a slave
2. austere—stern; severely plain and simple
3. lament—to express sorrow or regret
4. aloof—distant or reserved in manner
5. cerebral—relating to the brain; intellectual
6. bulwark—a defensive wall
7. connoisseur—an expert in matters of art or personal taste
8. incongruous—not appropriate or suited to its surroundings
9. encroach—to intrude gradually upon the rights or property of others
10. belittle—to put someone down
11. trenchant—having a sharp point; sarcastic
12. procrastinate—to put off until a later time
13. roster—a list of names
14. impede—to obstruct or interfere with
15. forbear—to refrain or abstain from doing something
16. delectable—pleasant, delightful, or delicious
17. evade—to flee or get away from
18. efface—to rub away
19. asunder—in separate parts; away from
20. incite—to arouse to action
Set Two
1. aghast—shocked or frightened
2. beleaguer—to surround or harass
3. milieu—one’s environment or surroundings
4. histrionic—overly dramatic
5. bludgeon—to hit or bash repeatedly
6. reminisce—to recall from the past
7. entrap—to catch as if in a trap
8. dulcet—melodious, soft, soothing
9. porcine—pertaining to or relating to a pig
10. lassitude—weariness
11. coterie—a circle of one’s close friends
12. erode—to wear away or become worn
13. ambiance—mood, feeling, general atmosphere
14. girth—distance around something
15. askew—to one side; crooked
16. cranny—a small opening
17. enrage—to anger or infuriate
18. propulsive—act of propelling or moving something
19. unwieldy—hard to manage or clumsy
20. mutiny—a willful refusal to obey
Cummings
2nd Nine Weeks Vocabulary
Set Three
1. harrowing—distressed, disturbing, frightening
2. aptitude—natural capacity of ability for learning
3. endure—to put up with or carry on
4. chronic—continuing for a long time
5. giddy—light-headed sensation; silly
6. irascible—easily angered or irritated
7. cower—to cringe from fear or shrink away from
8. queue—to form a line
9. noxious—physically or mentally destructive
10. harangue—a long lecture
11. atrophy—to wither away
12. catapult—a slingshot
13. glutton—one who eats excessively
14. muster—to collect or gather
15. beget—to give birth to
16. craven—cowardly
17. mode—way of doing something
18. alienate—to cause one to feel unwelcome because of hostility
19. obtuse—insensitive; slow in comprehending
20. martyr—one willing to sacrifice one’s life for a cause
Set Four
1. doldrums—period of depression or inactivity
2. consensus—general agreement
3. blather—to talk nonsensically
4. defame—to slander; take away someone’s good name
5. elapse—to pass or go by, usually related to time
6. veer—to change in direction
7. karma—fate or destiny
8. astute—clever or quick-witted
9. draconian—severely cruel
10. precarious—unsafe or unsteady
11. criterion—standard by which something is judged
12. forage—to hunt or search for food
13. denounce—to condemn or talk about critically
14. badger—to annoy or tease persistently
15. wane—to decrease gradually
16. entice—to attract or to tempt
17. hoard—to accumulate for future use
18. languish—to become weak or feeble
19. oust—to force out or banish
20. pillage—to rob by violent seizure
Cummings
2nd Nine Weeks Vocabulary
Set Five
1. verbatim—using exactly the same words
2. truncate—to shorten by cutting off
3. prowess—exceptional skill or bravery
4. phobia—a persistent, illogical fear
5. somber—depressing, gloomy, or dark
6. amble—to walk slowly
7. muse—to meditate or think about something at great length
8. gloat—to brag excessively
9. callow—immature and inexperienced
10. quirk—a peculiarity in one’s behavior
11. vocation—one’s occupation or job
12. prevail—to be victorious
13. vertigo—a sensation of dizziness
14. intervene—to come between or mediate
15. ajar—partially open
16. zany—silly or funny
17. inveigle—to tempt by using deception
18. lax—careless or negligent
19. circa—an estimated time period
20. detract—to take away from or diminish
Set Six
1. melancholy—a depressed, gloomy feeling
2. tyro—a beginner or novice
3. ostracize—to exclude from a group
4. fickle—not loyal or constant
5. marauder—an intruder
6. encumber—to weigh down unnecessarily
7. altercation—a heated argument
8. debase—to lower in character, quality, or value
9. chide—to scold or reprimand
10. scapegoat—one who is made an object of blame
11. duress—hardship, restraint, confinement
12. volition—the act of choosing or using one’s own free will
13. swelter—oppressed by heat
14. dormant—asleep or inactive
15. nondescript—plain; not belonging to any particular group; not easily described
16. laconic—brief or concise
17. salient—leaping, jumping, or bounding
18. euphemism—substitution of an inoffensive term for one that may be offensive
19. ominous—foreshadowing evil
20. probable—presumably true
Cummings
2nd Nine Weeks Vocabulary
Set Seven
1. prodigal—wastefully extravagant
2. impeccable—flawless; entirely without sin or fault
3. banal—unoriginal or ordinary
4. assiduous—hardworking, busy, diligent
5. remonstrate—to argue against or to protest
6. kinetic—having to do with motion; lively or active
7. turpitude—shameful wickedness
8. tenet—a shared principle or belief
9. stringent—strict or restrictive
10. invective—insulting or abusive speech
11. imminent—just about to happen
12. ethereal—heavenly
13. amoral—lacking a sense of right and wrong
14. protagonist—lead character in a novel or some other work
15. myopia—nearsightedness; lack of foresight
16. repercussion—a consequence or indirect effect
17. insurgent—a rebel; one who revolts against the government
18. bemused—confused or bewildered
19. altruism—generosity; devoted to the interests of others
20. maxim—a fundamental principle or old saying
Set Eight
1. prodigy—extremely talented child or a great accomplishment
2. wistful—yearning; sadly longing
3. vex—to annoy or pester
4. taciturn—untalkative by nature
5. flagrant—glaringly bad; notorious; scandalous
6. extrovert—an open, outgoing person whose attention is focused on others
7. genre—a type or category, especially in art or writing
8. abysmal—extremely hopeless or wretched
9. magnate—a rich, powerful businessperson
10. supercilious—haughty; patronizing
11. vernacular—everyday speech or slang
12. introvert—one whose attention is focused inward; concerned little with others
13. extol—to praise highly
14. abdicate—to step down from a position of power or authority
15. polarize—to break down into opposing groupings
16. nebulous—vague, hazy, or indistinct
17. manifesto—a public declaration of one’s beliefs or principles
18. nefarious—evil or flagrantly wicked
19. abash—to make ashamed or to embarrass
20. trepidation—fear or apprehension