#1
Lugubrious
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Extremely mournful, sad, or gloomy.
Board Sentence: When his girlfriend dumped Joel, he was
lugubrious, or very sad and gloomy.
Synonym: Sad
#2
Abyss
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A deep, immeasurable space, gorge, or canyon.
Board Sentence: As Dina stood and looked down in to the abyss, or
very deep gorge, she suddenly felt very lugubrious, or sad and
mournful.
Synonym: Chasm
#3
Vapid
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Dull, flat, or boring.
Board Sentence: The party that Tina was at was so vapid, or dull and
boring, that she felt like she had fallen in to a bottomless abyss, or
deep canyon.
Synonym: Bland
#4
Ambush
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To unexpectedly attack from a hidden place
Board Sentence: The kids were unexpectedly attacked, or ambushed,
by the bullies, which caused them to be lugubrious, or sad and
depressed.
Synonym: Trap
#5
Squirm
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To wriggle because of discomfort or to break free
Board Sentence: The cat tried to squirm, or wiggle, out of the bush
so that he could ambush, or unexpectedly attack, the bird.
Synonym: Struggle
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#6
Stellar
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Exceptionally good
Board Sentence: Henry did a stellar job on his persuasive essay because
it was not vapid, or dull and boring, so his teacher gave him an A+.
Synonym: Superior
#7
Erudite
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Having or showing great knowledge gained from study and
reading
Board Sentence: Lorraine, the erudite girl who read often, earned a
stellar score on her book report.
Synonym: Scholarly
#8
Matriarch
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A woman who is recognized as being the head of a family,
community, or people.
Board Sentence: Helen’s grandmother was the matriarch, or female
head, of her erudite, or scholarly, family.
Synonym: Matron
#9
Patriarch
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A man who is the head of a family or group.
Board Sentence: The patriarch, or male leader, of Louie’s large, Italian
family was definitely his uncle, because he made stellar, exceptionally
good ravioli.
Synonym: Chief
#10
Garrulous
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Excessively or pointlessly talkative
Board Sentence: The garrulous, talkative girl did not realize that her
voice caused those around her to squirm, or wriggle with discomfort.
Synonym: Chatty
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#11
Obtrusive
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Pushy, obvious, and annoying
Board Sentence: Jim was extremely obtrusive, or annoying, when he
was being garrulous on the red eye flight to New York.
Synonym: Annoying
#12
Premonition
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A strong feeling that a particular thing is going to happen
Board Sentence: The small dog had a premonition, or strong feeling,
that he was going to be ambushed as he walked past the tall bushes.
Synonym: Hunch
#13
Faux Pas
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: An embarrassing social blunder
Board Sentence: When Colette was vapid, or dull and boring, in her
speech in front of the class, she knew at once she had committed a
faux pas, or embarrassing mistake.
Synonym: Blooper
#14
Gauche
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Socially awkward, lacking grace or tact
Board Sentence: When Polly, a gauche and awkward girl, danced, it
looked like she was squirming and wriggling in pain.
Synonym: Awkward
#15
Corpulent
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Large, bulky, or fat.
Board Sentence: Henry’s corpulent, or very fat, cat ambushed, or
unexpectedly attacked, the tiny mouse.
Synonym: Plump
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#16
Malignant
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Harmful, full of hate
Board Sentence: A malignant and hateful boy named Oliver liked to
hide and ambush young children after school.
Synonym: Evil
#17
Benign
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Harmless, not threatening
Board Sentence: Even though he looked harmful and malignant,
Tony was really harmless and benign.
Synonym: Kind
#18
Momentous
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Extremely important or significant
Board Sentence: On the important and momentous day of her 16th
birthday, Heather had a premonition that she might receive a car
from her parents.
Synonym: Crucial
#19
Hubris
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: Excessive pride or arrogance
Board Sentence: Juliette had much hubris, or pride and arrogance,
when she talked about her stellar, or exceptionally good, pet
Chihuahua, a show dog named Sir Puffy Pants.
Synonym: Vanity
#20
Translucent
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Allowing light to pass through, clear
Board Sentence: The clear, translucent window did a stellar job of
letting lots of bright sunshine in.
Synonym: Transparent
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#21
Taciturn
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Silent and not wanting to talk.
Board Sentence: The man was taciturn, or silent and unwilling to
talk, after his friend called him corpulent, or bulky and large.
Synonym: Reserved
#22
Omniscient
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Knowing or seeming to know everything
Board Sentence: The students said Mrs. Lewis was omniscient, or
all-knowing, because she could tell if an assignment was stellar, or
exceptionally good, without even having to read it.
Synonym: All-knowing
#23
Omnipotent
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: All-powerful, possessing unlimited power and authority
Board Sentence: The Declaration of Independence was written so
that the government would not be omnipotent, or have unlimited
power.
Synonym: Invincible
#24
Verbose
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Using too many words
Board Sentence: It is a stellar, exceptional idea to not be verbose, or
use too many words, when trying to express your opinion.
Synonym: Wordy
#25
Pulverize
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To crush or grind something into a powder or dust
Board Sentence: The matriarch, female head, of Benito’s family had
a very famous recipe for poppy seed bread that said to pulverize, or
grind to a powder, 16 almonds.
Synonym: Crush
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
(Words this week are from Tell Tale Heart)
#26
Vex
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To make somebody annoyed or upset
Board Sentence: It really vexes, or annoys, me when people have
too much hubris, or pride and arrogance.
Synonym: Annoy
#27
Crevice
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A narrow crack or opening
Board Sentence: The girl peeked out the crevice, or narrow crack,
under her door because she had a premonition that her brother was
waiting to ambush her.
Synonym: Gap
#28
Sagacity
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: Great wisdom and foresight
Board Sentence: The erudite boy proved he had much wisdom and
sagacity when he quoted Shakespeare in his speech to the class.
Synonym: Insight
#29
Acute
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Very sensitive and powerful
Board Sentence: The dog’s judgment of people was so powerful and
acute that she could tell who was benign and who was evil.
Synonym: Sharp
#30
Bellicose
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Hostile, argumentative, and confrontational
Board Sentence: Harry often vexed, or angered and irritated people
with his bellicose, or hostile and argumentative, personality.
Synonym: Aggressive
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#31
Ennui
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: Boredom from lack of interest
Board Sentence: Penelope’s yawn signaled her ennui, or boredom,
with her taciturn and silent lab partner in Science.
Synonym: Boredom
#32
Feral
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Wild and savage
Board Sentence: There is a big problem with feral, or wild, cats that
ambush and attack native squirrels.
Synonym: Untamed
#33
Dilapidated
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: In disrepair or partial decay
Board Sentence: It did not require much sagacity to realize no one
should enter the run down, dilapidated house.
Synonym: Rundown
#34
Surmount
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To deal with a difficulty successfully
Board Sentence: Down by 20 points at half-time, Yul’s team was
able to surmount, or overcome, their opponents due to his stellar
passing skills.
Synonym: Overcome
#35
Hooligan
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A young vandal or criminal
Board Sentence: The hooligans, or young criminals, spray painted
many walls at the Plaza, vexing the owners of the stores there.
Synonym: Thug
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#36
Blasé
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Not impressed by something
Board Sentence: Tricia wondered why her friends were so blasé, or
unconcerned, about the momentous, very important problem of
world hunger.
Synonym: Apathetic
#37
Redundant
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Not needed, without purpose
Board Sentence: It was redundant, or not needed, when Lily told her
mother for the 7th time why she wanted to adopt the feral cat.
Synonym: Unneeded
#38
Perilous
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Very dangerous
Board Sentence: Ignoring the fact that crossing the old bridge was
perilous, or very dangerous, the malignant villain crossed, escaping
from Indiana Jones.
Synonym: Hazardous
#39
Languish
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To be or become weak or feeble
Board Sentence: The dilapidated, run down playhouse showed signs
of languish, or neglect.
Synonym: Droop
#40
Curmudgeon
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A bad-tempered, disagreeable, or stubborn person
Board Sentence: Yvonne’s grandmother, the matriarch, or female
head, of her family, was often called a curmudgeon, or grouch.
Synonym: Grouch
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
#41
Aesthetic
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Appreciating art and beauty
Board Sentence: Lewis proved he was not aesthetic, or did not
appreciate art, when he yawned with ennui while at the museum.
Synonym: Artistic
#42
Idiosyncrasy
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: An odd or unusual way of behaving or thinking
Board Sentence: Despite her many idiosyncrasies, or quirks, Heidi
was not at all gauche or awkward.
Synonym: Quirk
#43
Bedlam
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: A scene or state of wild uproar and confusion
Board Sentence: Beatrice walked in to the classroom and discovered
it was pure bedlam, or chaos, because there was a wild, feral bird
flying around the room.
Synonym: Chaos
#44
Abhor
P.O.S. Verb
Definition: To detest, hate
Board Sentence: Albert truly hated, or abhorred, it when his friends
were bellicose, or argumentative and confrontational.
Synonym: Loathe
#45
Celestial
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Heavenly or relating to the sky or outer space
Board Sentence: The celestial, or heavenly, aromas coming from the
bakery attracted the acute noses of many children in the
neighborhood.
Synonym: Extraterrestrial
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013
(Words are from The Outsiders)
#46
Gingerly
P.O.S. Adverb
Definition: Very cautiously
Board Sentence: Flora walked very cautiously, or gingerly, across
the floor of the run down, dilapidated house.
#47
Gallantly
P.O.S. Adverb
Definition: Courteous and brave, especially toward women
Board Sentence: Without concern for his own cleanliness, Ben
gallantly, or bravely & courteously, laid his coat over the perilous,
dangerous puddle for Nina to step across.
#48
Aloof
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: To act superior or above others
Board Sentence: The girls were vexed, or annoyed, by Julia because
she often seemed to be aloof, or superior and above them.
#49
Asinine
P.O.S. Adjective
Definition: Extremely or utterly foolish.
Board Sentence: Mrs. Harris was very irritated by Jake when he was
garrulous, or excessively talkative, so she told him that he was
acting asinine, or extremely silly and foolish.
#50
Contempt
P.O.S. Noun
Definition: An attitude or feeling of utter disgust or hatred
Board Sentence: The old man had contempt, or a feeling a strong
dislike, for the young, garrulous, or talkative, child.
© Courtney Konopacky, December 2, 2013