Vocabulary
(adj.) Kind, tender, affectionate
On this occasion the teacher
seemed more kind and
sympathetic than usual.
(v.) to impede respiration; to
discomfort by lack of fresh air
In “The Tell-Tale Heart” the
narrator suffocates the old man
with a bed.
(adj.) not able to comprehend
It is unfathomable to me how
anyone could hurt an innocent
child.
(n.) practical understanding,
shrewdness, or intelligence
The savvy businessman made
one million dollars on his first
real estate deal.
(v.) to draw back or tense the
body as from pain or a blow;
flinch
The young man winced in pain
when he broke his leg running
through the woods.
(adj.) not clearly stated; not
definite
Her directions were so vague
that I got lost as soon as I was
back on the road.
(adj.) skeptical; not showing
belief
The teacher looked at the
student with an incredulous
smile when he said the dog ate
his homework.
(adv.) dishonestly;
unprincipled
The killer looked roguishly at
her victim, which let the victim
know the end was near.
(adj.) easily angered or provoked
The new student’s fiery temper
got him suspended his first
week of school because he could
not control his anger.
 (adj.) unconcerned; casual;
unexcited
 Even though the narrator would
look in the old man every night,
he would act nonchalant every
morning so the old man would
non become suspicious.
(adj.) brave; stately; grand
He was a gallant knight and
saved all the women from the
angry dragon.
(adj.) made speechless with
amazement; astonished
Dr. Clark was dumbfounded
when she saw the student trip
another kid right in front of her.
(adj.) disinterested
Although the other students
tried to be friends with James,
he remained aloof and
uninterested.
(adj.) stubborn; low or vile;
unpleasant in temper
His cheery disposition made
him the exact opposite of his
ornery neighbor.
(adj.) of the highest class
Only the most elite group of
students will be able to
participate in the Most Valuable
Student Program.
(adv) showing or expressing
disdain or scorn
She looked at me
contemptuously when I showed
up at the party with her exboyfriend.
(n) an institution for reforming
young offenders or minors
The judge hoped that a stint at
the reformatory would
rehabilitate the young man and
set him on a straight path.
 (n) a forewarning; a feeling or
anticipation or anxiety over a
future event
 A chill went up my spine as I felt a
premonition that something bad
was about to happen.
(adv) continuous; not stopping
The traffic jam seemed to
continue unceasingly without
an end in sight.
(n) a bold or daring resistance
to authority
The antagonistic teen kept
running in defiance of the
police officer who was ordering
him to stop.
(adj) extremely confusing
The vague instructions made
the test bewildering to the
confused students.
(adj) expressing strong
displeasure over something
unjust or offensive
Joe and Frank were indignant
when the “new guy” made fun
of Charlie.
(adj) gloomy or dismal
Mrs. Pittard felt sullen when she
found out her sister could not
come to Tennessee for
Thanksgiving.
(n) a person who is extremely
addicted to a harmful habit
The drug fiend sought
rehabilitation for her dangerous
addiction.
(v) to beg for mercy
The criminal’s mother implored
the judge to show compassion
for her son.
(v) to avoid or escape using
trickery or cleverness
The thief was able to cunningly
elude the police by posing as a
reporter at the scene of the
crime.
(v) to give testimony under
oath, usually in court
The witness was subpoenaed by
the defense to testify in court
and refute the evidence
presented by the prosecution.
(n) uncontrollable laughter or
weeping
The mom was in hysterics when
her son was rushed to the
hospital.
(n) the proving of guilt
The accused received a
conviction when his lawyer
failed to prove his alibi.
(n) the liquid part of blood
The blood bank preserved the
donated plasma until it was
needed for a blood transfusion.