Weekly Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary #1

1.  Aspire (verb)
   
   definition: to strive for a goal; to want or desire something excellent
   synonym: aim/arise
   antonym: drift/decline
   sentence: The young government student aspired to be president of the country one day.
    
2. Deity (noun)
   
   definition: a god or goddess
   synonym: divinity/immortal
   antonym: mortal
   sentence: Samantha studied many deities in her Greek Mythology class.
    
3. Handwriting (noun)
   
   definition: character or style of a person's writing by hand; cursive writing
   synonym: longhand/calligraphy
   antonym: print/type
   sentence: After many hours of practice, his handwriting was smooth and clear.
    
4. Lapse (noun)
   
   definition: the act of falling from a righteous or just position; a slight or temporary moral failure
   synonym: mistake/failure
   antonym: steadfastness
   sentence: A lapse into the bad habit of smoking after three years clean caused Marie to mentally berate herself.
    
5. Nestle (verb)
   
   definition: to lay or be enclosed comfortably; to snuggle
   synonym: cuddle
   antonym:recoil
   sentence: The ski village was nestled in groves of pine trees at the foot of the snow-capped mountains.

Word Part for the Week:

• vita
  • definition: life
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing vita: vitamin, vital, vitality, revitalize

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #2

Name:  __________________

1. slipshod (adj.)
   
   definition: showing a lack of care or thought
   synonym: botched/sloppy
   antonym: exact/perfect
   sentence: Greedy contractors ruined my aunt's house with slipshod work.
    
2. nefarious (adj.)
   
   definition: wicked or criminal
   synonym: evil
   antonym: angelic
   sentence: The nefarious activities of the mafia family were caught on tape.
    
3. precursor (noun)
   
   definition: a person or thing that comes before another of a similar kind
   synonym: forerunner
   antonym: result
   sentence: Seedless watermelons were a precursor to a slew of new bioengineered foods.
    
4. impregnable (adj.)
   
   definition: unable to be captured or broken into
   synonym: secure
   antonym: vulnerable
   sentence: The castle was surrounded by an impregnable stone wall.
    
5. demure (adj.)
   
   definition: shy or modest
   synonym: reserved
   antonym: obnoxious
   sentence: The demure girl blushed during the health teacher's lecture.

Word Part for the Week

• anti
  • definition: against
  • origin: Greek
  • words containing anti: anti-aircraft, antibody, anticlimax, anticline, antitoxin, antithesis

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #3

Name:  __________________

1. jingoistic (adj.) (?ji?-g?-?i-stic)
   
   definition: overly patriotic
   synonym: nationalistic
   antonym: unbiased
   sentence: The jingoistic tone of the politician's speech made the audience squirm
    
2. implacable (adj.) im-?pla-k?-b?l,
   
   definition: unable to be soothed
   synonym: relentless/unyielding
   antonym: merciful/yielding
   sentence: After the dry cleaner ruined her wedding dress, my sister was filled with implacable rage.
    
3. affinity (noun) (?-?fi-n?-t?)
   
   definition: a natural skill
   synonym: talent
   antonym: weakness
   sentence: With her affinity for performing, it was no surprise that Julia won the lead in the school musical.
    
4. coquette (noun) (k?-?ket)
   
   definition: a woman who flirts to get what she wants
   synonym: tease/vamp
   antonym: prude
   sentence: The girl coquettishly batted her eyelashes and giggled as the boy told a lame story.
    
5. harangue (verb) ( h?-?rang)
   
   definition: lecture at length in an aggressive way
   synonym: accost/rant
   antonym: discuss
   sentence: My cousin is the type of guy who will harangue strangers about smoking in public.

Word Part for the Week

• bi
  • definition: two
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing bi: bilateral, bicycle, bipolar, binocular, bicuspid, bimonthly

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #4

Name:  __________________

1. bemoan (v.)
   
   definition: express discontent or sorrow over
   synonym: lament/complain
   antonym: celebrate/enjoy
   sentence: My single friends often bemoan the lack of high-quality people on the dating scene.
    
2. misogynist (n)
   
   definition: someone who hates women
   synonym: chauvinist
   antonym: feminist
   sentence: The supervisor’s misogynist attitude led to an expensive lawsuit.
    
3. abhor (v)
   
   definition: hate
   synonym: loathe
   antonym: love
   sentence: Professional tax preparers abhor a flat tax because it would dry up their business.
    
4. talisman (n)
   
   definition: an object with magical powers to bring good luck
   synonym: charm
   antonym: jinx
   sentence: In many quest stories, an unlikely hero must deliver a talisman to its rightful owner.
    
5. placid (adj)
   
   definition: not easily upset or excited
   synonym: calm
   antonym: agitated
   sentence: The yoga teacher’s placid demeanor was soothing to the class.

Word Part for the Week

• circum
  • definition: around
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing circum: circumnavigate, circumference, circumspect, circus

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #5

Name:  __________________

1. bovine (adj.)
   
   definition: in the manner of a cow
   synonym: slow/dim
   antonym: quick/bright
   sentence: He stared at me with a dull, bovine expression.
    
2. facetious (adj.)
   
   definition: treating serious issues with inappropriate humor
   synonym: flippant
   antonym: respectful
   sentence: The girl's snarky, facetious manner made her unpopular with the judge.
    
3. contrite (adj.)
   
   definition: deeply remorseful for a bad action
   synonym: apologetic
   antonym: unrepentant
   sentence: The contrite boy offered all of his birthday money to fix the broken window.
    
4. erudite (adj.)
   
   definition: showing great knowledge or learning
   synonym: intelligent
   antonym: dumb/bovine
   sentence: The erudite philosopher's lecture drew a large crowd of deep-thinking students.
    
5. anomaly (noun)
   
   definition: something that deviates from what is expected or normal
   synonym: exception/outlier
   antonym: norm
   sentence: It was a complete anomaly when Caroline, a freshman, won the title of Homecoming Queen, an honor usually reserved only for senior girls.

Word Part for the Week

• com
  • definition: together
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing com: combination, comfort, combo, commensurate

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #6

Name:  __________________

1. noxious (adj.)
   
   definition: very harmful
   synonym: poisonous/dangerous
   antonym: healthful/beneficial
   sentence: The victims were overcome by noxious fumes.
    
2. bilk (verb)
   
   definition: to cheat someone out of money
   synonym: scam
   antonym: earn
   sentence: Bernie Madoff bilked thousands of investors out of their life savings.
    
3. replete (adj.)
   
   definition: well-supplied with something
   synonym: full
   antonym: empty
   sentence: The novel, replete with humor and drama, rocketed up the best-sellers' charts.
    
4. blasphemy (noun)
   
   definition: profane talk about holy or sacred things
   synonym: heresy/sacrilege
   antonym: piety/reverence
   sentence: The protesters screamed vile blasphemies during the Pope's speech.
    
5. absolution (noun)
   
   definition: formal release from guilt or punishment
   synonym: forgiveness
   antonym: condemnation
   sentence: The priest administered absolutions to the sinners.

Word Part for the Week

• de
  • definition: down
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing de: deposit, denounce, descend, deduct

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #7

Name:  __________________

1. cantankerous (adj.)
   
   definition: argumentative and uncooperative
   synonym: bad-tempered
   antonym: kind/happy
   sentence: The crusty, cantankerous old man bellowed at the children as they walked past his house.
    
2. deride (verb)
   
   definition: to verbally rip apart
   synonym: mock/insult
   antonym: compliment
   sentence: The professor derided my essay as a clumsy attempt at literary analysis.
    
3. debacle (noun)
   
   definition: a disaster
   synonym: failure
   antonym: success
   sentence: The mortgage industry's financial debacle has wounded the entire nation's economy.
    
4. temerity (noun)
   
   definition: excessive or foolish boldness
   synonym: nerve/rashness
   antonym: caution
   sentence: She had the temerity to illegally jaywalk right in front of the police officer's car.
    
5. ennui (noun)
   
   definition: dissatisfaction or exhaustion caused by boredom
   synonym: fatigue
   antonym: enthusiasm
   sentence: Facing staggering piles of homework with no hope for relief, a heavy sense of ennui filled my  soul.

Word Part for the Week

• dis
  • definition: away
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing dis: distract, dismiss, dissuade, distort, dissonant, dispute

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #8

Name:  __________________

1. abstain (verb)
   
   definition: restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something
   synonym: refrain
   antonym: indulge
   sentence: To win a bet, he agreed to abstain from junk food for one year.
    
2. haughty (adj.)
   
   definition: arrogantly superior
   synonym: snobbish/snooty
   antonym: accepting/nonjudgmental
   sentence: When the boy belched at the dinner table, a look of haughty disdain crossed the hostess' face.
    
3. tenacious (adj.)
   
   definition: not letting go of or giving up on something one holds dear
   synonym: relentless/adamant
   antonym: weak/surrendering
   sentence: With tenacious determination, the hobbled runner crawled across the marathon's finish line.
    
4. acquiesce (verb)
   
   definition: accept something reluctantly, but without protest
   synonym: agree/cave
   antonym: disagree/refuse
   sentence: The exhausted mother acquiesced to her toddler's demands for a new toy.
    
5. lampoon (verb)
   
   definition: publicly ridicule
   synonym: mock
   antonym: revere
   sentence: Jon Stewart has made a career of lampooning politicians.

Word Part for the Week

• equi
  • definition: equal
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing equi: equitable, equilibrium, equitable, equilateral, equinox

Weekly Vocabulary: Lesson #9

Name:  __________________

1. curmudgeon (noun)
   
   definition: a bad-tempered person
   synonym: crab/grouch
   antonym: angel
   sentence: The complaining man who works in the next cubicle is nothing but a tired, old curmudgeon.
    
2. sojourn (noun)
   
   definition: a temporary stay
   synonym: journey
   antonym: relocation
   sentence: A visit to Shakespeare's Globe Theater made my sojourn to England complete.
    
3. gregarious (adj.)
   
   definition: fond of company
   synonym: outgoing/social
   antonym: shy/anti-social
   sentence: My gregarious neighbors are the most popular couple on the block.
    
4. augment (verb)
   
   definition: to increase
   synonym: add/enlarge
   antonym: reduce
   sentence: The professor augments his salary by moonlighting as a book editor.
    
5. insidious (adj.)
   
   definition: advancing in a gradual way to cause harm
   synonym: treacherous/crafty
   antonym: benign/harmless
   sentence: Bed bugs are insidious little  creatures; you don't know they're there until it's too late.

Word Part for the Week

• extra
  • definition: beyond
  • origin: Latin
  • words containing extra: extraterrestrial, extraordinary, extravagant, extrovert