Wordly Wise Unit 9

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

abet

to encourage or assist in some activity, especially a questionable one

agile

able to move quickly and easily; nimble

able to think quickly

agility � quickness of mind or body

allot

to assign or distribute as a portion or share

balmy

soothing, mild

congregate

to come together in a group, assemble

divert

verb:

1. to turn aside
2. to entertain or amuse

diversion

1. the act of turning from a course or concern
2. something that amuses or entertains

humdrum

lacking excitement; boring or monotonous

influx

a flowing or pouring in; arrival in massive numbers

intricate

complicated; having many related details or parts

memento

something kept as a reminder of a past event; a souvenir

query

a question

to ask or ask about

sporadic

happening occasionally; not regularly

staple

noun:

1. a basic food that is used frequently and in large amount
2. a U shaped fastener with sharp ends

to attach with staples

most important, principal

tumult

noisy excitement; an uproar or disturbance

tumultuous � marked by uproar or excitement; turbulent

unseemly

not suitable; inappropriate or improper

Wordly Wise Unit 10

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

abject

most miserable; wretched

advocate

to plead in favor of; to defend

one who argues for or defends a person, group, or idea

atrocity

an act of great cruelty and wickedness

atrocious

1. very brutal, wicked, cruel
2. appallingly bad; outrageous

commemorate

to serve as a memorial to; to remember in a solemn manner

dialect

a form of a language spoken in a certain geographical region that has its own grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary

dire

having terrible consequences; urgent or desperate

elite

a group that enjoys superior status to others

considered superior to others

enhance

to make greater or better

flagrant

clearly offensive or bad; conspicuously acting against what is right

languish

to lose hope, strength, or vitality because of neglect or bad conditions

mute

to soften or tone down the sound of

not speaking or not able to speak; silent

raze

to level to the ground, destroy completely

reprisal

a retaliation for an injury

turmoil

a state of confusion or agitation; tumult

wreak

to bring about or inflict

to express or vent

Wordly Wise Unit 11

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

augment

to increase in size, amount, or degree

benign

adjective:

1. kind; gracious; gentle
2. favorable; not threatening

connoisseur

a person with extensive knowledge, especially of the fine arts; a person of refined taste

discern

verb:

1. to detect with the eyes
2. to understand or comprehend
3. to recognize a separate or different

discerning � having good judgment; perceptive

embellish

 to add fictitious details to

to make beautiful b adding decorative elements

execute

to carry out; to perform

to create, as a work of art

to put to death as a legal penalty

exemplify

to illustrate by being an example of

grotesque

so distorted or strange as to appear bizarre or comical

hallowed

greatly respected; holy; sacred

impersonate

to assume the character or appearance of

to mimic

malevolent

showing ill will or hatred; producing harm or evil

malevolence � a feeling or expression of ill will

ornate

heavily and elaborately decorated

pastoral

having to do with shepards and herders

relating to country life, and often presented a charmingly simple

precarious

not safe or secure; dangerously uncertain

renown

fame, honor

renowned � famous, honored

Wordly Wise Unit 12

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2

accede

to agree to; to consent to, often after urging from another

affluent

generously supplied with money or possession; wealthy

affluence � wealth

arbitrary

determined by chance or whim rather than by reason or necessity

artisan

one able to do skilled work with the hand; a craftsperson

dismantle

to take apart

immerse

to cover with liquid

to completely engage the attention of

irksome

annoying; tedious

legacy

money or property left to another in a will

something passed on to those who come after

ostentatious

extravagantly showy or ornate

panorama

a complete view of a surrounding area

a thorough presenting of a subject

philanthropy

the attempt to improve the well-being of those in need by donating money or aid

philanthropist � one who makes substantial contributions to those in need

prestige

high standing; respect earned by accomplishments

prestigious � honored, esteemed

prolific

abundantly productive

reticent

inclined to keep one�s thoughts and feelings to oneself; quiet and reserved

reticence � silence or reserve

tycoon

a wealthy and powerful businessperson

Wordly Wise 13

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Words

agenda

a list of things to be done or considered

ardent

intensely eager; passionate

ardor � passionate intensity of feeling

brevity

conciseness of expression; shortness of duration

chaperone

a person who accompanies younger people to see that they behave properly

to be a chaperone to

contemplate

to give careful though to; to ponder

to have plant to; to intend

deter

to discourage r prevent from taking action

deterrent � anything that prevents or discourages

flair

a natural skill or ability; a talent

innovation

something new; a new way of doing something

innovative � marked by freshness or originality; willing to try new things

integral

necessary to complete something; essential

intellect

the ability to think and understand

a person with great intelligence

ogle

to stare at, often in a flirtatious and bold manner

risqu�

bordering on being indecent or improper

stymie

to thwart or make difficulties for

vivacity

liveliness of manner or appearance

vivacious � full of spirit

wrangle

to quarrel in a noisy or angry way

to win or obtain by argument

Wordly Wise Unit 14

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

congenial

getting along well with others; affable

suited to one�s needs or tastes; agreeable

decipher

to convert from a code or secret writing into ordinary language; to decode

to interpret the meaning of something puzzling; to solve

dissect

to cut into in order to study

to study closely; to analyze

enigma

anything that is puzzling, mysterious, or hard to figure out

enigmatic � puzzling; mysterious

ineffectual

not bringing about the desired result, futile

infallible

incapable of making an error; never wrong

unlikely to fail or go wrong

irrepressible

incapable of being controlled or held back

luminous

giving off light

clear; easy to understand

millennium

a period of one thousand years

mire

an area of wet, swampy ground; deep mud

to get stuck as if in a mire; unable to make progress

pestilence

a rapidly spreading and usually fatal disease

stagnate

to fail to develop, change, or move

stagnant � not moving, changing, or developing

sublime

great or noble in expression, though, or manner; splendid

vie

to compete for, as in a contest

voluminous

having great bulk or volume; ample

Wordly Wise Unit 15

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

ascertain

to find out for certain

chastise

to punish by beating

to rebuke or criticize severely

cull

to select and remove weak or inferior members from

defer

verb:

1. to put off or postpone
2. to yield to out of respect for the knowledge or authority of another

deference � submitting to the wishes of another because of respect

desist

to refrain from continuing something

discredit

to hurt the reputation of

to destroy confidence or trust in

encroach

to advance little by little beyond the usual limit or boundaries

foreboding

a strong feeling that something bad is about to happen

humane

compassionate, kind to other human beings or to animals

irrational

lacking

lacking sound judgment; not government by reason

lurid

causing horror; extremely gruesome

glowing with the redness of flames seen through a haze

perpetuate

to cause to continue indefinitely

restive

showing impatience because of restrictions or delays

stamina

physical strength or courage to resist hardship, illness, or fatigue

surveillance

close observation of a person or area

Wordly Wise Unit 16

Word

Definition 1

Definition 2 / Related Word

alleviate

to relieve or make more bearable

antidote

a remedy that relieves the effects of a poison

anything that offers relief from an undesirable condition

bedlam

a very confused and noisy scene

cajole

to urge with gentle and repeated requests; to coax

glib

marked by an ease in speaking or writing that often shows lack of concern or sincerity

haggard

having a tired look; worn out

immaculate

perfectly clean; spotless

without a flaw, faultless

incessant

going on without interruption; continual

indulgent

inclined to give in easily; lenient

indulge:

1. to give in too easily to the wishes of
2. to yield to

loll

to sit back in a relaxed way; to sprawl

to hang loosely; to droop

pittance

a very small amount especially of money

pungent

having a sharp taste or smell

sharply critical; painfully direct

rue

to feel regret or sorrow over

strident

harsh and grating; loud and shrill

vehement

expressing strong feeling; intense