Y: ________________________
M: _______________________
C: ________________________
A: ________________________
Vocabulary #1
Context Clues: In the following sentences CIRCLE the context clues for each
vocabulary word and then choose which choice best suits the correct definition.
Word Bank
abjure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
abrogate
auspicious belie
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
abjure: verb
 In order to marry the peasant he loved, the prince made the decision to abjure
his title
a. accept
b. abandon
c. compliment
abrogate: verb
 A good father would never abrogate his parental responsibilities
a. abjure
b. accept
c. fix
abstemious: adjective
 The best way of becoming obese is by not being abstemious and only eating
what is necessary to survive
a. greedy
b. moderate
c. overzealous
acumen: noun
 Although Sarah wants to become a state senator, she lacks the political acumen
to win enough votes
 disbelief
b. stupidity
c expertise
antebellum: noun
 During the antebellum period before the Civil War in America, African
Americans were seen merely as property.
a. post-Civil War
b. apocalypse
c. pre-Civil War
auspicious: adjective
 His brilliant acceptance speech was an auspicious start to his political career.
a. promising
b. downfall
c. unlucky
belie: verb
 The woman hoped her excessive shopping would fool her friends and belie the
truth about her empty bank account.
a. to deny
b. to approve
c. to accept
bellicose: adjective
 John had a bellicose personality which made him a fierce competitor during
wrestling competitions.
 peaceful
b. happy
c. antagonistic
9.
bowdlerize: verb
 If students do not bowdlerize their first drafts, they will not get better grades
on their final drafts.
a. To unalter
b. to approve
c. to alter
10. chicanery: verb
 That republican is up to his old chicanery, blaming all democrats for the
recession.
a. trickery
b. gratitude
c. honesty
Definitions: Using your vocabulary words and a dictionary find the correct
definition for each word.
abjure
abrogate
auspicious
belie
Word Bank
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
bellicose bowdlerize
chicanery
1. _____________ fortunate; lucky; promising
2. _____________ belonging to a period of time before the Civil War
3. _____________ to contradict; to deny
4. _____________ expert knowledge;
5. _____________ always ready to fight; antagonistic
6. _____________ holding back; being reserved
7. _____________ to edit or omit parts considered unnecessary
8. _____________ to revoke
9. _____________ the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually for
money or political reasons)
10. _____________to formally reject a formerly held belief
Y: ________________________
M: _______________________
C: ________________________
A: ________________________
Synonyms and Antonyms: In the spaces below write a synonym for the
vocabulary words under the synonym column and do the same in the antonym
column.
Synonym (same)
Vocab. Word
Antonym (different)
abjure
abrogate
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
auspicious
belie
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
Vocabulary #1
Sentences: Write sentences with context clues. YOU MUST CIRCLE
YOUR CONTEXT CLUES! Use each word once and number your
sentences.
abjure
abrogate
auspicious
belie
Word Bank
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery