Freshman English Vocabulary Units #8-11
Name:
Hour:
Unit 8 LR23 vocabulary
36. peruse
verb
to study; to read, usually quickly
synonyms: check, inspect, survey, view
When waiting in the doctor’s office, you usually peruse through the magazines to pass the time.
37. placate
verb
to soothe; to pacify
synonyms: calm, soften, appease
After the fight, the friends tried to placate the combatants into “forgetting it”.
38. placid
adjective
outwardly calm or composed; self satisfied; peaceful synonyms: serene, quiet, untroubled
You would have to have a placid demeanor to be a principal of a junior high so that your
outward appearance would reassure others in any crisis.
39. plagiarized
verb
to claim writing/ideas from someone else
synonyms: copy, pirate, lift, steal
Since he copied the homework from someone else, he plagiarized.
40. pompous
adjective
self important; excessively ornate
synonyms: arrogant, showy, haughty, pretentious,
snobbish
She put on such pompous airs that all of her friends felt put down and left her.
Unit 9 LR22 vocabulary
41. opulent
adjective
wealthy; abundant
synonyms: lavish, luxuriant, rich, extravagant
She showed her opulent stature by bragging about her expensive one hundred dollar belt.
42. overt
adjective
not hidden; open
synonyms: apparent, clear, obvious, public
His affection for her was overt, so everyone knew he had a crush on her.
43. parsimonious
adjective
too thrifty, stingy
synonyms: cheap, mean, petty, penny-pinching
Scrooge was so parsimonious that he only allowed Bob Crachit to have one piece of coal to keep
him warm all day long.
44. partisan
adjective/noun
showing strong support for a party or cause
synonyms: prejudiced, partial, one-sided
In partisan politics, you hear some rather sad and close-minded things such as, “I won’t work
with that person because he/she is a republican/democrat.”
45. perceptive
adjective
discerning; observant; sensitive
synonyms: sharp, acute, astute, aware
An artist is usually very perceptive; he or she helps the rest of us “see” things in a different,
better, or newer light.
Unit 10 LR21 vocabulary
46. nonchalance
noun
carelessness, lack of interest/concern
synonyms: casual manner, disinterest,
dispassion
Edward’s nonchalance about his studies made it difficult for him to ever pass a class.
47. obliterate
verb
to destroy with no lasting trace
synonyms: wipe out, demolish, eliminate,
eradicate
One ill-spoken word can obliterate a carefully built up friendship.
48. obscure
adjective
not clear, distinct, hidden
synonyms: vague, unclear, incomprehensible,
murky
Far from the well-traveled highway was an obscure village that seemed to belong to another age.
49. obsolete
adjective
out-of-date
synonyms: archaic, old-fashioned
Dr. Johnson once remarked that he had kept clothing over the years which had become obsolete
and later returned to fashion.
50. officious
adjective
meddling, giving unnecessary/unwanted advice
synonyms: bossy, interfering,
overbearing, intrusive
Mr. Klar’s officious manner helped him gain friends easily, but he lost them as soon as they tired
of the pushiness.
Unit 11 LR20 vocabulary
51. levity
adjective/noun
lightness, lack of seriousness
synonyms: lightheartedness, humor, flippancy
Humans need laughter, so a little levity may ease a tense situation.
52. malicious
adjective
spiteful, intentionally harmful
synonyms: hateful, mean, nasty, cruel, malevolent
The widespread and pointless destruction in the house left no doubt as to the malicious intent of
the burglar.
53. marred
adjective
injured; spoiled, damaged
synonyms: disfigured, blemished, flawed
The fight in the hall marred Lorna’s otherwise perfect record as a model student.
54. meager
adjective
thin, lean, poor quality/amount
synonyms: paltry, skimpy, measly, inadequate
The survivors of the shipwreck clung to the desperate hope that their meager rations would last
till they were rescued.
55. meandering
adjective
winding back and forth, rambling
synonyms: roundabout, winding, twisty
Dr. Feller had a habit of meandering from one subject to another until his conversation became
totally irrelevant.