K's Holt Lit & Language Vocab (Ch 1)

Front 1

carnage. (noun).

Back 1

means: a bloody killing, slaughter.

The Battle of the Somme was a scene of dreadful carnage.

Front 2

dilapidated. (adjective).

Back 2

means: In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.

The dilapidated house had a leaky roof, no windows and large holes in the walls.

Front 3

disarming. (adjective).

Back 3

means: overcoming or reducing suspicions or fear.

he gave her a disarming smile.

Front 4

disposition. (noun).

Back 4

means: the particular type of character which a person naturally has.

She is of a nervous, or cheerful, or sunny disposition.

Front 5

divert. (verb).

Back 5

means: to cause something or someone to change direction.

Front 6

exhilarate. (verb).

Back 6

means: to give someone strong feelings of happiness and excitement.

the children were exhilarated by a sense of purpose.
all this hustle and bustle makes me feel exhilarated.

Front 7

imprudent. (adjective).

Back 7

means: unwise, by failing to consider the likely results of your actions.


The report criticizes the banks for being imprudent in their lending.

Front 8

impulse. (noun).

Back 8

means: a sudden strong wish to do something.


I had this sudden impulse to shout out "Rubbish!" in the middle of her speech.

Front 9

inaugurate. ( verb).

Back 9

means: Admit (someone) formally to public office.

American presidents are always inaugurated on January 20th.

Front 10

invariably. (adverb).

Back 10

means: constantly, always, permanently.

the meals here are invariably big and hearty.

Front 11

noncommittal. (adjective).

Back 11

means: not expressing an opinion or decision


her tone was noncommittal, and her face gave nothing away.

Front 12

paraphernalia. ( noun).

Back 12

means: a collection of equipment or gear.

Wanda packed all of her mountain-climbing paraphernalia the night before her expedition.

Front 13

prolong. (verb).

Back 13

means: to make something last a longer time.

We were having such a good time that we decided to prolong our stay by another week.

Front 14

prosaic. (adjective).

Back 14

means: without interest, imagination and variety; boring.


If only she'd been called 'Camilla' or 'Flavia' instead of the prosaic 'Jane'.

Front 15

protruding. (adjective).

Back 15

means: to stick out from or through something.


A rotting branch protruded from the swamp like a ghostly arm.
protruding ears or teeth.

Front 16

recede. (verb).

Back 16

means: Go or move back or further away from a previous position. retreat, withdraw.

the flood waters had receded.
his footsteps receded down the corridor.

Front 17

sacrilegious. (noun).

Back 17

means: treating something holy or important without respect.

Muslims consider it sacrilege to wear shoes inside a mosque.
It would be a sacrilege to put a neon sign on that beautiful old building.

Front 18

suffuse. ( verb).

Back 18

means: to spread through or over something completely.


His voice was low and suffused with passion.

Front 19

surmount. ( verb).

Back 19

means: Overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).

They managed to surmount all opposition and objections to their plans.

Front 20

unruffled. ( adjective).

Back 20

means: calm; not nervous or worried, usually despite a difficult situation.

For a man in danger of losing his job, he appeared quite unruffled.

Front 21

stagnation. (noun).

Back 21

means: to stay the same and not grow or develop.

Front 22

unprecedented. (adjective).

Back 22

means: never having happened or existed in the past.

Front 23

prosperity. (noun).

Back 23

means: the state of being successful and having a lot of money.

Front 24

indisputable. (adjective).

Back 24

means: true, and impossible to doubt.

Front 25

sullenness. (noun).

Back 25

means: angry and unwilling to smile or be pleasant to people.

Front 26

inadequate. (adjective).

Back 26

means: not good enough or too low in quality. too small in amount. not confident enough to deal with a situation.

Front 27

semblance. (noun).

Back 27

means: Resemblance; similarity. a situation or condition which is similar to what is wanted or expected, but is not exactly as hoped for.

Front 28

squalor. (adjective).

Back 28

means: extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money.

Front 29

heralded. (verb).

Back 29

means: a sign that (something) is about to happen. to be a sign that something important, and often good.

Front 30

Livelihoods. (noun).

Back 30

means: the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc.

Front 31

bankruptcy. (noun)

Back 31

means: unable to pay what you owe, and having control of your financial matters given, by a court of law, to a person who sells your property to pay your debts.

Front 32

mecca. (noun).

Back 32

means: a place to which many people are attracted.

Front 33

migrant. (noun).

Back 33

means: a person who leaves their home country to live in another country with better work or living conditions.