Lesson
Word Up!
dictum (n.)
neologism (n.)
etymology (n.)
philologist (n.)
eulogize (v.)
utterance (n.)
euphemism (n.)
verbatim (adv.)
logomachy (n.)
verbose (adj.)
1
Instructions: Look up each word in the dictionary. On a separate sheet of paper, write the definitions down.
Then use each word in a sentence. Use your definitions and sentences to complete the following exercises.
Exercise 1.1. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
____   1. dictum
A. to praise highly; speak or write a eulogy about
____   2. etymology
B.in exactly the same words; word for word; the way in which something
is worded
____   3. eulogize
C.a dispute about words; a contention or debate marked by the reckless or
incorrect use of words; a meaningless battle of words
____   4. euphemism
D. an authoritative pronouncement; edict; judicial assertion; a saying; a maxim
____   5. logomachy
E.vocal expression; manner of speaking; power of speaking; word or words
uttered; a cry, an animal’s call, or the like
____   6. neologism
F.the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for the one thought to
be offensively harsh or blunt
____   7. philologist
G. characterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy
____   8. utterance
H. a person who loves words; fond of learning or of words
____   9. verbatim
I. a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase
____ 10. verbose
J.the study of the history of words; an account of the history of a
particular word
Exercise 1.2. Synonyms.
Match the word in the left column with word(s) of the same or similar meaning in the right column.
____   1. dictum
A. prolix; wordy; talkative
____   2. etymology
B. substitution; indirectness
____   3. eulogize
C. sound; speech; declaration
____   4. euphemism
D. extol; laud; commend
____   5. logomachy
E. maxim; motto; saying; edict
____   6. neologism
F. literally; exactly; directly
____   7. philologist
G. coinage; jargon
____  8.utterance
____  9.verbatim
____ 10.verbose
1
Antonyms and
synonyms in every
lesson.
Exercise 1.3. Antonyms.
Match the word in the left column with the opposite meaning(s) in the right column.
____   1. dictum
A. dysphemism
____   2. etymology
B. taciturn; laconic
____   3. eulogize
C. archaic word, meaning, or expression; cliché
____  4.euphemism
D.denigrate
____   5. logomachy
E. approximately; inexactly; loosely, i.e. a paraphrase
____   6. neologism
F. silence; mumbling
____  7.philologist
____  8.utterance
Lexical approach -every lesson has a fillin-the-blank exercise
on a teen-relevant
topic.
____  9.verbatim
____ 10.verbose
Exercise 1.4. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
RECENTLY, one of my father’s oldest friends passed away. Actually, he died, but the commonly used
(substitution)
would
is the
(commend)
(declaration)
my father made after receiving the phone call. My father asked me if I
his friend at the upcoming memorial service. I asked my father what he remembered
most about his friend. He told me that the man had been a/n
so I looked the word up in the dictionary. The
honor, I coined a/n
(new word)
(word history)
(battles of words)
. I didn’t know what that meant,
of that word is fascinating! So, in the man’s
that I hoped would become a/n
man’s characteristics. I read my remarks to my father
(talkative)
(word lover)
(word for word)
(motto)
to neatly sum up the
, and then we began a series of
, debating the true meaning of the word I invented. In the end, my father
conceded that the tribute to his friend is just what his friend would have wanted.
Exercise 1.5. On a separate sheet, write an original paragraph of your own using all ten words correctly.
WORD UP!
Each lesson requires
students to use the
words in their own
writing.
2
Every lesson comes
with a quiz. Some
quizzes are multiple
choice, some are
matching and fill-inthe-blank and
some,
Name:________________________________________________ Date:_________________
Score:__________
like this one, are
crossword puzzles!
Word Up! Quiz!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
9
11
12
13
14
Across:
Down:
3. Vocal expression; a cry; manner of
speaking
1. An action word or state of being
6. Word for word, literally
4. A linking word; word used to link phrases
8. A person, place, or thing
5. A motto or an edict
9. A descriptive word used to modify a noun
7. To praise highly
11. An indirect expression substituted for a
harsh one
8. A new word; a coined word
12. A dispute about words
14. A person who loves words
2. Wordy; talkative; using too many words
10. The history of a particular word
13. A unit of language composed of one or
more sounds
3
Captivating lesson
titles
Wild Things
carnal (adj.)
gestation (n.)
emancipate (v.)
libertine (n.)
fecundity (n.)
natal (adj.)
feral (adj.)
prurient (adj.)
fetter (v.)
unbridled (adj.)
Lesson
8
Imaginative
illustrations
Instructions: Look up each word in the dictionary. On a separate sheet of paper, write the definitions down.
Then use each word in a sentence. Use your definitions and sentences to complete the following exercises.
Exercise 8.1. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
____   1. carnal
A. existing in a natural state; plants/animals not domesticated or cultivated
____   2. emancipate
B. inclined to have, or characterized by lustful thoughts, desires
____   3. fecundity
C.the process, state, or period of gestating; carry in the womb from conception to
delivery; think of and develop an idea
____   4. feral
D.the quality of being fecund; capacity of producing young in great numbers;
fruitfulness or fertility, as of the earth
____   5. fetter
E. to free from restraint, influence, or the like; to free from bondage
____   6. gestation
F.not spiritual; merely human; temporal, worldly; pertaining to or characterized
by the flesh or the body
____   7. libertine
G. one who is morally unrestrained; a freethinker in religious matters
____   8. natal
H. unrestrained; to free from restraint; to remove the bridle from a horse
____   9. prurient
I. of or pertaining to one’s birth
____ 10. unbridled
J. to confine, restrain; to put fetters or chains upon
Exercise 8.2. Synonyms.
Match the word in the left column with word(s) of the same or similar meaning in the right column.
____   1. carnal
A. fertility; abundance; fruitfulness
____   2. emancipate
B. tie; chain; restrain; shackle
____   3. fecundity
C. development; growth
____   4. feral
D. bodily; fleshly
____   5. fetter
E. wild; untamed
____   6. gestation
F. dissolute; immoral; “player”
____   7. libertine
G. liberate; set free
____   8. natal
H. lascivious; lustful; smutty
____   9. prurient
I. unrestrained; uninhibited; rampant; wild
____ 10.unbridled
J. birth
Synonyms and
antonyms in every
lesson.
29
Exercise 8.3. Antonyms.
Match the word in the left column with the opposite meaning(s) in the right column.
____   1. carnal
A. fatal; mortal; lethal
____   2. emancipate
B. tame; domesticated
____   3. fecundity
C. resolute; virtuous; celibate
____   4. feral
D. ascetic; pure; chaste
____   5. fetter
E. enslave; imprison
____   6. gestation
F. free; let go; release; unchain
____  7.libertine
G.spiritual
____   8. natal
H. infertility; sterility; barrenness
____   9. prurient
I. contained; orderly
____ 10.unbridled
Exercise 8.4. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
SITTING IN MY ROOM, strumming on my guitar, I try my hand at writing a song: “Oh, baby, baby,
what’s your
(birth)
astrological sign? Are you just another
cross that out and hope for the
(uninhibited)
(smutty)
instincts that somehow seem
(development)
of another idea. Most of the songs I hear today are full of
sentimentality. I’m hoping to
(chained)
?” Nope. Too cheesy. I
(player)
(free/liberate)
in my unconscious. The
my more
(abundance)
(wild/natural)
of my creativity will
know no bounds! I just want to hear something a bit more profound and meaningful for a change, instead of
such
(fleshly)
lyrics all the time! I mean, really! Don’t you agree? Maybe you can help me come up
with some fresh song lyrics — what do you think?
Exercise 8.5. On a separate sheet, write an untamed paragraph of your own, using all ten “wild”
words correctly.
30
Wild Quiz
Name:________________________________________________ Date:_________________ Score:__________
Multiple choice.
Select the best possible answer for each question.
_____   1. A carnal weakness is one that is:
a. back-breaking
b. all in your mind
c. in a traveling amusement show
d. human; of the flesh; bodily
_____   2. To emancipate someone means to:
a. restrain him/her
b. free him/her
c. reach the age of majority
d. reason with him/her
_____   3. The fecundity of something means it is:
a. green and overgrown
b. waterless
c. fertile and abundant
d. sterile and impotent
_____   4. A feral cat is one that is:
a. in its natural, wild state
b. in captivity
c. in your house
d. not yet trained
_____   5. To fetter means to:
a. liberate
b. chain
c. untie
d. control
_____  6. Gestation means a period of:
a. waiting
b. birth
c. growth and development
d. mourning
_____   7. A libertine usually refers to a man who is:
a. a big spender
b. liberal in his politics
c. very conservative
d. morally unrestrained
_____  8. Natal pertains to one’s:
a. birth
b. death
c. ethnic origin
d. astrological sign
_____   9. A prurient person is characterized by:
a. lustful thoughts
b. feelings of purity
c. religious fervor
d. hatred of others
_____ 10. Unbridled joy is:
a. out of control
b. uncharacteristic
c. unrestrained
d. reined in
_____ 11. The opposite of carnal is:
a. disembodied
b. bodily
c. fleshly
d. spiritual
_____ 12. The opposite of emancipate is:
a. restrict
b. enslave
c. liberate
d. contain
_____ 13. The opposite of fecundity is:
a. naivety
b. barrenness
c. fertility
d. powerlessness
_____ 14. The opposite of feral is:
a. domesticated
b. wild
c. ancestral
d. free
_____ 15. The opposite of fetter is:
a. restrict
b. grow
c. disconnect
d. unchain
_____ 16. The opposite of libertine is:
a. immoral
b. conservative
c. celibate
d. liberal
_____ 17. The gestation of an idea is in its:
a. manifestation
b. fruition
c. development
d. infancy
_____ 18. The opposite of natal is:
a. fatal
b. mortality
c. birth
d. biological
_____ 19. The opposite of prurient is:
a. impure; immoral
b. pure; chaste
c. clean; tidy
d. tangible; concrete
_____ 20. The opposite of unbridled is:
a. restrained; captive
b. uncontrolled; rowdy
c. civilized; erudite
d. contained; orderly
31
Lesson
Bent!
adroit (adj.)
nimble (adj.)
agility (n.)
pliant (adj.)
convoluted (adj.)
propensity (n.)
curvaceous (adj.)
supple (adj.)
lithe (adj.)
supplicate (v.)
32
Words are
grouped together
into topical,
themed lessons,
which provides a
"hook" that makes
them easier to
remember.
Instructions: Look up each word in the dictionary. On a separate sheet of paper, write the definitions down.
Then use each word in a sentence. Use your definitions and sentences to complete the following exercises.
Exercise 32.1. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
____   1. adroit
A. twisted; complicated; intricately involved
____   2. agility
B. limber; flexible; bending readily
____   3. convoluted
E. easily bent; easily influenced or persuaded
____   4. curvaceous
N. a natural inclination or tendency
____   5. lithe
T. characterized by ease in bending, or responsiveness and adaptability; yielding
____   6. nimble
C. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious
____   7. pliant
D. (of a woman) having a well-shaped figure
____   8. propensity
F. to beg, pray, beseech, entreat, appeal
____   9. supple
G. the power of moving quickly and easily
____ 10. supplicate
H. agile, swift, quick, or clever
Exercise 32.2. Antonyms.
Match the word in the left column with the opposite meaning(s) in the right column.
____   1. adroit
A. simple; plain; easy
____   2. agility
B. slow; dull; heavy
____  3.convoluted
E. disinclination
____  4.curvaceous
N.inflexible
____  5.lithe
T. demand
____   6. nimble
C. clumsy; unskillful; inept
____  7.pliant
D.shapeless
____  8.propensity
F. rigid
____   9. supple
G. non-compliant; unyielding
____ 10. supplicate
H. inactivity; stiff; sluggish
131
Exercise 32.3. Synonyms.
Match the word in the left column with word(s) of the same or similar meaning in the right column.
____  1.adroit
A.elastic
____  2.agility
B.limber
____  3.convoluted
E. yielding
____  4.curvaceous
N.implore
____   5. lithe
T. inclination; tendency
____   6. nimble
C. complicated; twisted
____  7.pliant
D.dexterous
____   8. propensity
F. voluptuous; shapely
____   9. supple
G. spry; sprightly
____ 10. supplicate
H. quickness; nimbleness
Exercise 32.4. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
WHEN I WAS OUT meandering along a/n
(twisted)
route home, I observed a fine,
lady walking my way on the other side of the street. Right away, I dropped to my knees and
her to give me her phone number. I was very
(quickness)
have a/n
(skillful)
to be pleasing to women, but she was too
I even tried to do a cartwheel to show her how
embarrassed myself. I guess I’m not as
(limber)
(flexible)
(begged)
with my pick-up lines; however, her mental
was much better than mine. I tried to explain to her that I could be
(tendency)
(spry)
(yielding)
and I
to fall for that old line!
and athletic I am, but I just fell down and
as I used to be. But hey! I got her number — she
said I was goofy, but cute!
Exercise 32.5. On a separate sheet, use all ten words correctly in a nimble paragraph of your own.
132
young
(shapely)
Bent On Having a Quiz!
Name:________________________________________________ Date:_________________ Score:__________
I. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
____   1. adroit
A. agile, swift, quick, or clever
____   2. agility
B. to beg, pray, beseech, entreat, appeal
____   3. convoluted
E. easily bent; easily influenced or persuaded
____   4. curvaceous
N. characterized by ease in bending, or responsiveness and adaptability; yielding
____   5. lithe
T. a natural inclination or tendency
____   6. nimble
C. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious
____   7. pliant
D. (of a woman) having a well-shaped figure
____   8. propensity
F. limber; flexible; bending readily
____   9. supple
G. the power of moving quickly and easily
____ 10. supplicate
H. twisted; complicated; intricately involved
II. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s.) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
ANTOINETTE, a vivacious young lady, gets home from school and immediately calls her best friend to report
the news: “Hello, Shannon? This is Antoinette. Girl, you’ll never guess what happened to me on the way home
from school! I’m walking on the bike path, minding my own business, when this fool comes up to me and says,
‘Baby, you are so fine! Is it hot out here, ‘cuz you are on fire! Your body is so
seen a more
(shapely)
— I’ve never
(responsive/yielding) young lady! You gotta give me your number!’ So I’m like, ‘No, I don’t have to
give you my number ‘cuz I already got yours!’ So then he’s all, ‘Girl what do you mean you already got
my number? I’ve never even met you before!’ And I go, ‘Oh, I got your number, alright. You’re a player!’
So this fool drops to his knees and
(twisted/complicated)
me to give him my number! I’ve never heard such a/n
(begs)
excuse for a pick-up line in my life! He has a/n
clown tries to prove his
(quickness/flexibility)
all over himself! He didn’t look too
or something! I mean, I’m more
to be annoying. Then this
to me by doing a cartwheel! Girl, I almost died laughing! He fell
(agile/quick)
(limber)
(tendency)
if you know what I mean! He better go take a yoga class
than that joker” Listening intently, Shannon interrupts her
friend: “So, Antoinette, did you give him your number?” To which she replies, “Oh, no, girl of course not! I’m
not that
(easily persuaded)
, if you know what I mean! I’m more
(clever/skillful)
than that! I didn’t give him
my number — I gave him yours!”
133
WHAT’S THAT WORD?
WHAT’S THAT WORD?
WHAT’S THAT WORD?
...
xi
Lesson
Bad Words!
base (adj.)
nefarious (adj.)
heinous (adj.)
nemesis (n.)
malediction (n.)
nether (adj.)
maleficent (adj.)
noxious (adj.)
malicious (adj.)
odious (adj.)
22
Instructions: Look up each word in the dictionary. On a separate sheet of paper, write the definitions down.
Then use each word in a sentence. Use your definitions and sentences to complete the following exercises.
Exercise 22.1. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
H   1. base
____
A. doing evil or harm
F   2. heinous
____
B. extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous
J   3. malediction
____
C. harmful to health or physical well-being; injurious
A   4. maleficent
____
D. an unconquerable rival or opponent
I   5. malicious
____
E. lower; under; beneath; believed to be dwelling below the surface of the earth
B   6. nefarious
____
F. hateful; abominable; totally reprehensible
D   7. nemesis
____
G. deserving or causing hatred; highly offensive, repugnant, disgusting
E   8. nether
____
H. morally low; mean-spirited; selfish; worthless
C   9. noxious
____
I. characterized by malice; spiteful; intending harm
G 10. odious
____
J. a curse; the utterance of a curse; slander
Exercise 22.2. Antonyms.
Match the word in the left column with the opposite meaning(s) in the right column.
B  1.base
____
A.admirable
A  2.heinous
____
B.virtuous
D   3. malediction
____
C. upper; higher; above
F   4. maleficent
____
D. plaudit; blessing
I  5.malicious
____
E. salubrious
H  6.nefarious
____
F. beneficent
J  7.nemesis
____
G.meritorious
C   8. nether
____
H. upright; reputable
E  9.noxious
____
I. benevolent
G 10.odious
____
J. friend
89
Exercise 22.3. Synonyms.
Match the word in the left column with word(s) of the same or similar meaning in the right column.
E   1. base
____
A. lower; under; beneath
H   2. heinous
____
B. reprehensible; evil; wicked; infamous
I  3.malediction
____
C. spiteful
G  4.maleficent
____
D.unhealthful
C  5.malicious
____
E. vile
B   6. nefarious
____
J  7.nemesis
____
A  8.nether
____
D  9.noxious
____
F 10.odious
____
F. offensive; repulsive
The Teacher's Edition
contains all of the
answers to the
student exercises,
plus tips and
suggestions for
classroom use.
G.evil-doing
H.atrocious
I. curse
J. enemy
Exercise 22.4. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
HOLY PUTREFACTION! Suddenly, the
NOXIOUS
(injurious)
smell of rotting eggs and fetid carcasses fills the
air, threatening to overwhelm the residents of our fair metropolis! This can only be the work of that
MALEFICENT anti-hero, Doc Nuisance! Left to his own devices for far too long, Nuisance must be up to
(evil-doing)
his usual tricks: test-marketing his malodorous weapons on innocent bystanders — what a/n
thing to do to our commonwealth! Phew! And what a/n
most
BASE
(vile, low)
ODIOUS
(repugnant)
HEINOUS
(atrocious)
fragrance, I must say! This is his
act yet! He must be stopped! Covering my nose and throat with my cape, I’m off to
hunt Nuisance down and do him in once and for all.
(Later that same day) When I finally catch up to my
NEFARIOUS
NEMESIS
(wicked)
(rival)
, he’s muttering
inaudible comments under his breath. Just as I’m about to grab him, he launches another
MALICIOUS
(spiteful)
MALEDICTION in my direction. UGH! Skunked again! Waving away the stench, I watch as a fissure opens up
(curse)
in the ground and Doc Nuisance flees back to his putrefied lair in a musty,
NETHER
(lower)
dimension.
Tune in again next week for another adventure of Captain Lexicon!
Exercise 22.5. On a separate sheet, write an original paragraph using all ten “bad” words righteously.
90
Malicious maledictions! Get students excited about
using "Bad Words" in class! Don't let vocabulary be
your nefarious nemesis.
Bad Words Quiz!
Name:________________________________________________ Date:_________________ Score:__________
I. Choose a definition.
Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
G   1. base
____
A. extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous
E   2. heinous
____
B. harmful to health or physical well-being; injurious
J   3. malediction
____
C. lower or underworld; hell; believed to lie beneath the earth’s surface
D   4. maleficent
____
D. doing evil or harm
H   5. malicious
____
E. hateful; abominable; totally reprehensible
A   6. nefarious
____
F. deserving or causing hatred; highly offensive, repugnant, disgusting
I   7. nemesis
____
G. morally low; mean-spirited; selfish; worthless
C   8. nether
____
H. characterized by malice; spiteful; intending harm
B   9. noxious
____
I. an unconquerable rival or opponent
F 10. odious
____
J. a curse; the utterance of a curse; slander
II. Fill in the blank.
Substitute the word(s) beneath each blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
MALEDICTIONS
(Curses!)
NOXIOUS
(injurious)
! My
NEMESIS
, Doc Nuisance, is up to his usual tricks once again. As if lobbing
(arch-enemy)
stink bombs up from some
plastered our fair metropolis with all sorts of
ing his trite phrasing and
ODIOUS
(repugnant)
NETHER
dimension wasn’t enough, now he’s gone and
(lower)
HEINOUS
(atrocious)
posters, placards, handbills, and signs display-
features for all our citizens to see — as
over-familiarity in advertising as I’ve ever seen. His
BASE
(vile, low)
NEFARIOUS
(wicked)
an act of
plans for our complete and utter destruc-
tion must include boring us to death. Why else would he assault us with such MALEFICENT insults to our
(evil-doing)
intelligence? The only way we can overcome such
MALICIOUS smatterings of drab prose is to take all of
(spiteful)
Doc Nuisance’s advertisements down, re-write them (minus the offending banalities, of course) and replace
them with punched-up prose! Oh! The irony!
91