Vocabulary 8
Grade 8
Word: Admonish (verb)
Definition: To express warning or disapproval
Sentence: Admonish your friends privately, but praise them
openly. Publilius Syrus
Word: Diffident (adjective)
Definition: Lack of self-confidence
Sentence: Flowers have an expression of countenance as
much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad
expression; some are pensive and diffident. Henry Ward Beecher
Word: Befuddled (verb)
Definition: Confused, Perplexed
Sentence: “One of the problems with computers,
particularly for the older people, is they were befuddled
by them. Steve Case
Word: Compliant (adjective)
Definition: To willing to do what others want
Sentence: The rising power of the United States in world
affairs requires, not a more compliant press, but a
relentless barrage of facts and criticism.
Word: Tentative (adjective)
Definition: Not certain, likely to change, especially
meeting times or dates
Sentence: Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes.
Therefore, give yourself fully to your endeavors. Epicetus
Word: Servile (adjective)/Servility (noun)
Definition: Slave-like, submissive
Sentence: The intellectual tradition is one of servility to
power, and if I didn’t betray it I’d be ashamed of myself.
Noam Chomsky
Word: Squander (verb)
Definition: To use wastefully like time or money
Sentence: All human beings are born with the same creative
potential. Most people squander theirs away on a million
superfluous things. Pablo Picasso
Word: Cajole (verb)
Definition: To try to persuade someone to do something
by pleading, flattery and being nice
Sentence: I beg. I badger. I cajole. Part of my secret is
everyone has fun and that’s really motivating. Katie Couric
Word: Fleeting (adjective)
Definition: Passing swiftly
Sentence: Life is short, the art long, opportunity fleeting,
experiment treacherous, judgment difficult. Hippocrates
Word: Cryptic (adjective)
Definition: Having a mysterious and hidden meaning
Sentence: We didn't want to add to the negative noise
pollution, but we did want to do something. It's just not the
time to be cryptic. Eddie Vedder