English 9A
Word Wall #1
discreet -adj- showing good sense in behavior; cautious, careful, judicious, circumspect; not
drawing attention to oneself indiscreet -adj
discretion -n- caution, prudence, wariness
tedious -adj- tiresome, monotonous, boring, fatiguing
tedium -n- boredom, sameness, monotony
bewilder -v- to confuse hopelessly; to confound, perplex, mystify, befuddle, puzzle, daze
bewilderment -n- a chaotic mental state; perplexity, confusion
daunt -v- to make afraid; intimidate, terrify, frighten; to dismay or dishearten
dauntless -adj- bold, fearless, courageous undaunted -adj
appall -v- to horrify, shock, alarm, or dismay with something bad
ecstasy -n-an incredible feeling of joy or delight; rapture, bliss ecstatic-adj
Word Wall #2
gauge (gage) -v- to estimate, measure, appraise, or judge (as in a
person’s character, a distance, an amount of time, etc.) -n- a measuring device or meter
appeal -v- to make an urgent request (followed by “to”); to find attractive or interesting; to arouse
a favorable response -n- a call for help or sympathy
appealing -adj- attractive, interesting unappealing
acknowledge -v- to admit as true to recognize with an act (such as a bow,nod, smile, etc.)
acknowledgment -n- recognition; an admission of truth
diligent -adj- steady and constant in effort to accomplish something; careful, persevering, untiring
diligence -n- constant effort, perseverance
naive -adj- foolishly simple or innocent (like a child); unsophisticated
naiveté -n- innocence; lack of sophistication about life
loathe -v- to hate, detest, abhor, despise
Word Wall # 3
loathing -n-extreme hatred, abhorrence
loathsome -adj- hateful, detestable, abhorrent, despicable
appease -v- to calm, pacify, or soothe; to satisfy or relieve a need (as in a hunger or thirst) or
concern
appeasement -n-the giving in to another’s demands in order to maintain peace
articulate -v- to express clearly; to pronounce carefully; to enunciate
articulate -adj- expressing oneself clearly; lucid; eloquent;
expressive;persuasive inarticulate -adj
grimace -v- to distort or screw up the face with dissatisfaction -n- a distorted or ugly smile or
facial expression of pain or contempt (sometimes intended to amuse)
apt -adj- fitting, suitable, opportune, appropriate (an apt example)
aptness-n having a usual tendency; inclined or likely (apt to attack) quick to learn; quick of
perception (an apt pupil)
aptitude -n- a natural ability or talent; a natural tendency or disposition
tentative -adj- hesitant, unsure, uncertain;temporary, makeshift, experimental
Word Wall #4
concise -adj- brief and to the point; using as few words as possible while
being
comprehensive: succinct; terse; condensed
ordeal -n- a difficult or painful experience, esp. one that severely tests character or endurance; a
trial, a tribulation
formidable -adj- inspiring fear, awe, or respect; impressive, intimidating
scapegoat -n- a person, group, or thing that bears the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others
or for some misfortune
meticulous -adj- extremely careful, particularly in regard to small details; fussy, fastidious
aviary -n- a large cage or enclosure for the breeding, rearing, and keeping of birds
avian -adj- relating or pertaining to birds
crypt -n- a subterranean cell or cave for burial purposes
cryptic -adj- having a mysterious and uncertain meaning; obscure
Word Wall # 5
nostalgia -n- a sentimental longing for a past time or state; homesickness nostalgic -adj
attribute -n- a quality, characteristic, or trait that can be assigned to a
person or thing
attribute -v- to assign credit or blame for something
listless -adj- lacking energy or enthusiasm; sluggish, lazy, sleepy, lethargic
listlessness -n - sluggishness, lethargy
ostracize -v- to cast out or banish; to exclude from a group
ostracism -n- a rejection or exclusion by general consent, as from a group
or
society
origin -n- a coming into existence; the beginning; the source or cause
originate -v- to begin, to start; to create, produce, or cause to be
imply -v- to mean or indicate without saying directly; to suggest or insinuate
Word Wall # 6
implicit -adj- suggested but unsaid
infer -v- to conclude or decide from something known or assumed; to draw
as a conclusion; to deduce by reasoning
inference -n- deduction
dismal -adj- miserable, gloomy, dreary, depressing, sorrowful, sad
prosper -v- to succeed, grow well, thrive, flourish
prosperity -n- success, good fortune, wealth
prosperous -adj- successful, fortunate, wealthy, thriving
grave -adj- very serious, solemn, important, weighty
gravity -n- seriousness, importance, weight
contempt -n- disrespect, scorn, disdain; the feeling that something is
unworthy of your respect and beneath you
Word Wall #7
contemptible -adj- despicable, vile, worthless (describes a thing)
contemptuous - adj- filled with disrespect toward something; scornful (describes a feeling toward
someone or something)
taint -v- to affect with something injurious or unpleasant; to infect, spoil
-n- contamination; a trace of corruption, evil, disgrace, etc.
apathy -n- a lack of interest or emotion; indifference
apathetic -adj- feeling no emotion or interest; unmoved, indifferent
improvise -v- to make do with what you have at hand in order to meet some unforeseen
challenge; to perform on the spur of the moment with no preparation improvisation -n
upheaval -n- a sudden, violent change or disturbance in affairs;
a heaving up, as by volcanic force
cower -v- to shrink and tremble (from someone’s anger, threats or blows); to cringe; to crouch
wrench -v- to twist, pull, or jerk suddenly and violently; to strain
resolute -adj- firmly determined; steady; faithful; unwavering irresolute-adj
Word Wall #8
resolution -n- courage, determination, resolve; the final result; a serious
promise to change resolve -v- to make a firm decision about; to decide
assail -v- to assault; to attack suddenly with physical or verbal force; to invade or storm
assailant -n- one who assaults or attacks
unassailable -adj- invincible, unconquerable; above reproach or question
prodigy -n- a person, thing, or act so extraordinary as to inspire wonder or marvel; a genius, a
marvel
prodigious -adj- enormous, immense, bountiful; extraordinary
quarrel -n- a dispute, disagreement, feud, argument
quarrelsome -adj- inclined to argue; irritable, argumentative, hot-tempered
attain -v- to achieve, accomplish, obtain; to arrive at or reach something difficult attainable /
unattainable -adj
bestow -v- to give or grant as a gift (followed by “upon” or “to”)
Word Wall #9
redeem -v- to recover or rescue something (like a reputation, promise)
-to deliver from sin; to trade or get back
redemption -n- rescue, salvation, deliverance
rebuff -n- an abrupt, blunt refusal of offered advise, help, etc. -v- to refuse or reject bluntly; to
repulse; to snub
squander -v- to spend, use or waste without economy or judgment
notorious -adj- widely known in an unfavorable way; infamous
notoriety -n- fame, publicity, renown (may be for something positive or negative)
wary -adj- cautious, on one’s guard, suspicious, guarded, leery
wariness -n- caution, suspicion
arid -adj- very dry, parched, barren
essence -n- that which makes something what it is;
the most important or necessary part; a fragrance
Word Wall #10
essential -adj- extremely important; necessary, vital
apprehend -v- to take by force or seize; to arrest;
to understand or comprehend; to fear or dread
apprehensive -adj- fearful, timid, afraid
apprehension -n- fear, timidity; the expectation of doom or evil
haphazard -adj- without plan, order, or direction; aimless, random, arbitrary
recede -v- to move back or away; to withdraw; to grow less, contract
recession -n- a withdrawal or going backward; in economics, a temporary period when business
activity decreases
tumult -n- a noisy disturbance; an uproar or commotion; turbulence
tumultuous -adj- violent, disorderly, noisy, turbulent
domestic -adj- relating to the home or family; relating to one’s country;
tame, not wild