8Th Grade English Vocab - Lesson 1

Front 1

aberration

Back 1

n. a deviation from what is normal or proper
syn. irregularity; abnormality
ant. regularity; normality

Hint 1

The restaurant's food is usually excellent, so the overcooked dinner was an aberration.

Front 2

bequeath

Back 2

v. to leave to another by will after one's death (law usage);
to hand down
syn. leave; bestow

Hint 2

Joe bequeathed the estate to the only remaining members of his family.

Front 3

capitulate

Back 3

v. to surrender
syn. cede; yield
ant. endure; resist

Hint 3

After realizing that there was no change to win, the general capitulated.

Front 4

debilitate

Back 4

v. to make feeble; to weaken
syn. devitalize; incapacitate
ant. energize; strengthen

Hint 4

A high fever debilitated him for a week.

Front 5

ensconce

Back 5

v. to settle in a safe, snug, or hidden place
syn. entrench; nestle
ant. reveal

Hint 5

Needing to rest for the night, she ensconced herself in a tiny cave and nodded off.

Front 6

felicity

Back 6

n1 a great happiness
syn 1. cheerfulness; delight
ant 1. grief; misery
n2 a pleasing style or manner
syn 2. gentility
ant 2 rudeness; offensiveness

Hint 6

1. Gail enjoyed a day of felicity when she received an unexpected pay raise.
2. The felicity of the popular columnist's writing appealed to most readers.

Front 7

glutton

Back 7

n. a person who eats or consumes to excess; a person who engages in a particular activity to excess

Hint 7

Jerry does not care for burgers, but he is a real glutton for barbecued ribs.

Front 8

hamlet

Back 8

n. a small village

Hint 8

Wendy was eager to leave her tiny hamlet and venture into the world

Front 9

implausible

Back 9

adj. difficult to believe; unlikely
syn. doubtful; improbable
ant. credible; likely

Hint 9

No one on the jury believed the defendant's implausible alibi.

Front 10

loathe

Back 10

v. to dislike intensely
syn. detest; abhor
ant. adore; lobe

Hint 10

Max loathed waking up so early to do a job that he did not enjoy.

Front 11

malice

Back 11

n. a desire to cause harm to others
syn. ill-will; hatred; spite
ant. benevolence; gentleness

Hint 11

His malice endured for seven years as he plotted his revenge.

Front 12

nostalgia

Back 12

n. a sentimental longing for things of the past
syn. reminiscence

Hint 12

The antique car show is a source of nostalgia for many people.

Front 13

pilfer

Back 13

v. to steal, especially in small amounts
syn. filch; purloin; rob
ant. return; replace

Hint 13

The archaeologist hopes to find the ancient treasure room before thieves pilfer all the artifacts.

Front 14

recompense

Back 14

n. payment in return for something, especially damages
n syn compensation; renumeration
n ant:
v. to pay or to pay for
v. syn reward; compensate
v. ant: penalize

Hint 14

n. The victim of the hit-and-run driver received no recompense for her injuries.
v. The king recompensed the victorious knights with many acres of land.

Front 15

volition

Back 15

n1. the ability to choose willfully
n1 syn: discretion; will; option
n1 ant: coercion
n2. a choice; the act of making a choice
n1 syn: decision
n2 ant:

Hint 15

n1. Her grades were excellent; she left the university on her own volition.
n2. The type of career he pursues is not his parents' volition.