Wordly Wise Lesson 3

Front 1

Anonymous

Back 1

adj. Of an unknown soures or unrevealed name
It is frustratin to be inable to thank the person who gave this anonymous donation to our library fund

Front 2

Anthology

Back 2

n. A collection of various writings, such as songs, stories, or poems
This anthology of science-fiction stories includes some by Ray Bradbury, Julian May, and Ursula Le Guin

Front 3

conjecture

Back 3

n.A conclusion based on guesswork or insufficient evidence
Dad's conjecture that the derelict buliding would be a problem proved to be correct wen it caught on fire
v. To form an opinion while lacking sufficient evidence
The fire chief conjectured that oily rags may have been the cause of the fire

Front 4

disposition

Back 4

n.1. A person's usual mood;temperament
People enjoy Alice's company because of her sunny disposition
2. A regular tendency or inclination
Roberto's dispostion to argue about everything can sometimes get him into trouble

Front 5

encompass

Back 5

v.1. To enclose or encircle
Except for one narrow pass, mountains encompass the village of Neudorf on all sides.
2. to include
This year's report on available housing encompasses the results of seventy-five surveys

Front 6

extricate

Back 6

v. To free from a difficult or tangled situation.
Extricating our bags from the bus's crowded storage area was much simpler than we thought it would be

Front 7

generation

Back 7

n. One step in the line of descent of a family
Four generations were represented at Norma's family reunion last summer.
2.All the people born and living about the same time
My father's generation lived throughthe Civil RIghts Movement and the Vietnam war.
3. The average span of time between the birth of parents and their children
Within one generation this town became a city

Front 8

guile

Back 8

n. Cunning or deceit in dealing with other; trickery
The Grimm brothers vivdly described the wolf's gulie toward Little Red Riding Hood.

Front 9

imperative

Back 9

adj.1. Urgent; pressing
The lawyer made us understand why it is imperative that we find the missing papers before tomorrow
2.Having the power or authority to command.
Because of the imperative tone of the letter. Ida began immediately to search for the facts she needed for a reply

Front 10

instill or instil

Back 10

v. To introduce gradually in order to establish securely
Juanita's love of animals was instilled during the summer vacations spent at her uncles farm as a child

Front 11

Modify

Back 11

v. To make less extreme or severe
COngress may modify some portopns of the welfare reform law they just approved
2.To make changes in
The teenagers modified their language when they tutored young children after school.
3. In grammer, to limit or restrict in meaing
Most of us know that in the phrase "the black chair," the adjective "black" modifies the noun "chair"

Front 12

Pivot

Back 12

n.1. A small bar or rod on which someting else turns.
The gate swung shut easily on its well-oiled pivot
2. A person or thing on which others depend.
The quarterback is the pivot of a team's offense
v.To turn on or as if on a pivot
A weathervane pivots when the wind changes direction pivotal adj. Vitally important; significant.
The first human landing on Mars will be a pivotal event in the history of space exploration

Front 13

Prevalent

Back 13

adj. Commomly occuring; widely accepted or practiced
Both chicken pox and the flu were prevalent in the Edison Middle School last winter

Front 14

Recur

Back 14

v.1. To come up again or to happen again
Throughtout Mozart's The magic flute, certain musical themes recur each time a particular characters appears on stage
2. To come to mind again
The events on the night of the robery recurred to Hank several times in the following weeks. recurrence n. The act of recurring.
Engineers hope that the new dam will prevent a recurrence of flooding

Front 15

Spontaneous

Back 15

adj.1. Voluntary and unplanned.
The crowd burst into a spontaneous chant of "Go! Go! Go!" as the first two runners neared the finish line.
2. Occurring or produced without human labor.
The spontaneous growth on the forest floor provided a haitat for a great number of creatures
spontaneity n. the quality or condititon of occurring in an nplanned way. With an unexpected spontaneity, Isabelle rose to embrace her friend