Word
Definition
Accentuate
VERB: to stress or emphasize (Her new haircut really
accentuated her cheekbones)
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds (Peter Piper
picked a pack of pickled peppers.)
Analogy
A comparison between two things that are similar in
some ways (Her hair glistened like the sun. –
compares her hair to the sun)
Antibody
Protein that fights infections (His body didn’t have
enough antibodies to fight the cold.)
Aspire
To seek to attain a goal (Justin Bieber once aspired to
be a performer.)
Word
Definition
Bamboozle
1. To cheat or trick someone
2. To leave someone confused (Tim Tebow was bamboozled to
find that he was cut from the Patriot’s roster.)
Bizarre
Strikingly out of the ordinary (Many people thought that it was
bizarre that Bill Belichick asked Tebow to join the team.)
Boisterous
Noisy, energetic, and rowdy
(Mrs. Nicholson’s most boisterous class is her fifth period.)
Boycott
To act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with
as an expression of protest or disfavor (This summer, some
people boycotted all of Paula Dean’s restaurants.
Camouflage
Behavior designed to deceive or hide (His tough attitude served
as a camouflage for the pain he was hiding.)
Word
Definition
Chronology
the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their
occurrence (I organized my scrapbook in chronological
order.)
commemorate
recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a
ceremony (There was a ceremony to commemorate the fallen
soldiers.)
cower
To crouch down in fear (The bully yelled insults as the victim
cowered in the corner.)
decorum
Proper and polite behavior (Belching in front of the queen does
not demonstrate much decorum.)
deduction
The action of deducting or subtracting something (Late work
will receive a deduction in points.)
Word
Definition
deign
to do something that you think you should not have to do
because you are too important (He would not deign to
discuss the matter with us.)
despondent
extremely unhappy and discouraged (Until yesterday, I had not
seen Redskins fans look so despondent.)
dialogue
Talk of any kind between two people (In order for discussion to
work, there must be some dialogue between classmates.)
divulge
to reveal information, especially information that was
previously secret (It’s always interesting when celebrities
divulge their greatest secrets.)
electric
Thrilling or exciting (The atmosphere at the concert was
electric.)
Word
Definition
elevate
To raise something up to a higher level or position (The talent
of the other dancers elevated Emma to a level she had
never been before the competition. )
embargo
A government order restricting or prohibiting commerce (The
U.S. has decided to place an embargo on all trade coming from
Syria.)
Enthusiastic
Showing excited interest (Students are most enthusiastic to
come school during homecoming week.)
Exponentially
rapidly increasing (My joy for teaching increases exponentially
as the school year goes on.)
Extradite
to give up an alleged fugitive or criminal to another state or
nation at its request. (The criminal was extradited back to his
home state.)
Word
Definition
Fallacy
A mistaken belief based on an unsound argument (The notion
that the camera never lies is a fallacy.)
Flourish
To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way (Wild plants
flourish on the banks of the lake.)
Formidable
Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large,
powerful, intense, or capable (The football team from
Maryland proved to be a formidable force at the game this
weekend.)
Gallant
Unflinching in battle or action (The fearless and gallant young
knight rode boldly through the night.)
Guerrilla
A member of a small independent group taking part in irregular
fighting, typically against larger, regular forces (The small town
was forced into guerrilla style warfare.)
Word
Definition
Guru
Influential expert; someone who has a reputation as an expert
leader/teacher in a particular field
Heritage
1. Property that descends to an heir
2. Practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
Hieroglyphic
Ancient Egyptian writing in which pictorial symbols are used to
represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and
sound.
Hone
To make perfect or complete, especially in regards to a skill
Hypocrisy
the behavior of people who do things that they tell other
people not to do
Word
Definition
Immune
Not affected by a given influence (Hurt too many times before,
Haley was now immune to his charm.)
Impertinent
not showing proper respect; rude (The inconsiderate man
interrupted the counselor’s speech to ask an impertinent
question.)
Inference
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence (Based on the
smears of peanut butter on the counter and bread crumbs on
the kitchen floor, I can make the inference that someone ate a
peanut butter sandwich.)
Introspection
An examination of one’s own thoughts (Sometimes, quiet
introspection can lead to clarity about the most complex
dilemmas.)
Jaunty
Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident
manner ( The newly-adopted puppy jauntily skipped around his
new home.)
Word
Definition
Jovial
Cheerful in mood or disposition (The king proved to be a jovial
host who greeted each guest with a smile and a
handshake.)
Juncture
A crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must
be made (Having just graduated high school, Melody was at
a critical juncture in her life. )
Labyrinth
Something that is made up of many different parts that is
complicated and hard to understand; A MAZE (There was a
labyrinth of underground tunnels connecting the two houses.)
Laconic
Using few words in speech or writing (The laconic message left
by the secret admirer left Chris confused and intrigued.)
Languid
Lacking spirit or liveliness (After watching hours of Awkward
reruns, I felt languid and lifeless.)
Word
Definition
latter
referring to the second of two things or
persons mentioned (or the last one or
ones of several)
lavish
Characterized by extravagance
Malevolent
Wishing or appearing to wish evil on
others; arising from intense ill will or
hatred
Maneuver
A movement or action that requires skill
Martyr
One who suffers for the sake of principle
Word
Definition
Mutation
An alteration or change, as in nature,
form, or quality
Naïve
Showing unaffected simplicity and lack
of worldly experience
Narcissist
Someone who is in love with him/herself
Nefarious
Extremely wicked
Oblivious
Lacking conscious awareness of
Word
Definition
Obtuse
Slow to learn or understand; lacking
intellectual acuity
Omen
A sign of something about to happen
Omnipotent
Having unlimited power
Omnipresent
Being present everywhere at once
Omniscient
Infinitely wise
Word
Definition
Pacifist
Someone opposed to violence as a means of settling dispute
Perpetuate
To cause to continue or prevail
philanthropist
Someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase
human well-being
Plausible
Apparently reasonable and valid
Quandary
a difficult or trying situation (EX: colleges and universities are in
a quandary; spending cuts, combined with a freeze on tuition,
mean fewer teachers and the closing of certain programs.)