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99 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Lethargically (adverb):
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To do something in a lazy or sluggish manner
“The heat swooped low over the land clinging like an invisible shroud and through it people moved slowly, lethargically, as if under water |
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Reproachfully (adverb):
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To do something in a way that censures, blames or disapproves
“Too bad,” I sympathized Stacey glanced reproachfully at me, then lay flat upon the ground” [Stacey tries to change the subject |
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Despicable (adjective):
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Describes something or someone that deserves to be regarded with disgust or distaste
“Perhaps he felt that even a person as despicable as T.J. needed someone he could call a friend…” |
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Interminable (adjective):
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Describes having no limits; unending
"For what seemed an interminable wait, we stood watching those lights drawing nearer and nearer…” |
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Affirmation (noun):
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Confirmation of the truth of a prior decision
Little Man gave his affirmation for the revenge plot against the white bus by offering to be bait. |
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Desolate (adjective):
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Solitary (one); lonely
“I had never seen him look more desolately alone, and for a fleeting second I felt almost sorry for him” |
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Resigned (verb):
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To accept or submit to; do not resist
“‘Unable to sleep, I resigned myself to await his return by counting states” |
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Commemorate (verb)
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to mark by some ceremony or remembrance
Example) Every year, Americans commemorate Veterans Day by paying respect to our armed services. |
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Conceited (adjective )
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having or showing an excessively high opinion of ones self
Example) I always thought that people who acted conceited are really trying to hide the fact that they are self-conscious. |
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Frugal (adjective):
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Avoiding waste; thrifty
Example) By being frugal, I was finally able to purchase new furniture. |
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Hamper (verb):
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To interfere with an event, action, or idea
Example) The police hampered the efforts of the protestors by blocking off the sidewalks |
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Hasten (verb):
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To move or act quickly
Example) I hastened my pace to avoid being seen by my annoying neighbor. |
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Meager (adjective)
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lacking in quality or quantity
Example) It was heartbreaking to know the widow could only provide a meager meal for her children. |
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Permeate (verb)
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to spread through or penetrate something
Example) The feeling of dread permeated the office when their unpleasant boss arrived. |
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Ornery (adjective)
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Having an irritable mood
Example) It seemed as if the only thing my ornery sister could do was to complain about the food. |
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Piteously (adverb)
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of a kind of move to pity or compassion.
Example) The beggar piteously shook his tin can hoping for spare change. |
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Ceaseless (adjective):
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constant and unending
The roosters had been crowing for some time, and the early pigs were already beginning their ceaseless turning of twigs and bits of wood to see whether anything to eat had been overlooked” |
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Covey (noun):
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a small flock of birds
(note: figuratively, “covey” can mean a small group of people or things) Outside the brush house in the tuna clump, a covey of little birds chittered and flurried with their wings” |
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Plaintively (adverb):
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in a sad and mournful-sounding way
“In his mind a new song had come, the Song of Evil, the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody, and underneath, the Song of the Family cried plaintively” |
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Disparagement (noun):
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the act of criticizing, belittling, or degrading
And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have” |
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Plaintively (adverb):
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in a sad and mournful-sounding way
“In his mind a new song had come, the Song of Evil, the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody, and underneath, the Song of the Family cried plaintively” |
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Avarice (noun):
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extreme greed for wealth or material gain
“They knew his ignorance, his cruelty, his avarice, his appetites, his sins” |
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Indigent (adjective):
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poor; needy
And, since early Mass was over and business was slow, they followed the procession, these endless searchers after perfect knowledge of their fellow men, to see what the fat, lazy doctor would do about an indigent baby with scorpion bite” |
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Bulwark (noun):
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a defensive wall
note: figuratively, “bulwark” can mean a person or thing who acts as a defense) It is the bulwark against starvation” |
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Poultice (noun):
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A moist dressing for a wound, typically made of natural materials like plants or flour
She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat damp poultice of it, and this she applied to the baby’s swollen shoulder, which was as good a remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done” |
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Undulating (adjective):
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moving with a smooth, wavelike motion
“Above, the surface of the water was an undulating mirror of brightness, and he could see the bottoms of the canoes sticking through it” |
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Speculatively (adverb):
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in a questioning or curious manner
“He looked speculatively at the basket. Perhaps it would be better to open the oyster last” |
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Incandescence (noun):
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brightness or radiance
“It captured the light and refined it and gave it back in silver incandescence” |
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Judicious (adjective):
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having or showing good judgment; wise
“And when it was made plain who Kino was, the doctor grew stern and judicious at the same time” |
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Prophecy (noun):
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a prediction or foretelling of the future
“But Kino’s face shone with prophecy. ‘My son will read and open the books, and my son will write and know writing’” |
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Transfigured
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to change the outward appearance or form of something
“If these things came to pass, they would recount how Kino looked and what he said and how his eyes shone, and they would say, ‘He was a man transfigured" |
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Furtive (adjective):
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sneaky, stealthy, and sly
Then from the corner of the house came a sound so soft that it might have been simply a thought, a little furtive movement, a touch of a foot on earth, the almost inaudible purr of controlled breathing” |
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Countenance (verb):
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to extend approval or toleration
This was extravagant and not to be countenanced” |
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Graft (verb):
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to attach something permanently to something else
“All of the neighbors hoped that sudden wealth would not turn Kino’s head, would not make a rich man of him, would not graft onto him the evil limbs of greed and hatred and coldness” |
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Vigor (noun):
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physical strength, good health, and energy
“Kino put on his large straw hat and felt it with his hand to see that it was properly placed, not on the back or side of his head, like a rash, unmarried, irresponsible man, and not flat as an elder would wear it, but tilted a little forward to show aggressiveness and seriousness and vigor” |
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Stalwart (adjective):
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loyal, reliable, and hardworking
“So important was this day that an old man came to see, riding on the stalwart shoulders of his nephew” |
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Benign (adjective):
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gentle, kindly, or harmless
“His face was fatherly and benign, and his eyes twinkled with friendship” |
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Wane (verb)
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to become less or smaller in size, brightness, or strength
“As last, to their right, the waning moon arose, and when it came up the wind died down, and the land was still” |
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Monolithic (adjective):
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formed of a single large block of stone; very large or massive
“But ahead were the naked granite mountains, rising out of erosion rubble and standing monolithic against the sky” |
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Petulant (adjective):
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childishly moody or bad-tempered
“And the baby was weary and petulant, and he cried softly until Juana gave him her breast, and then he gurgled and clucked against her” |
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Germane (adjective):
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relevant to a subject or topic
Any sound that was not germane to the night would make them alert” |
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Immune (adjective):
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not affected by something, especially something disagreeable or harmful
“He was immune and terrible, and his song had become a battle cry” |
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Malignant (adjective):
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harmful, invasive, or evil
The malignant cells unfortunately spread through the patient’s already weak pancreas. |
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Admonish (verb):
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to warn or reprimand firmly; to advise strongly
In Vietnam, Lieutenant Dan admonished his soldiers to, “Get down…and shut up.” |
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Ardent (adjective):
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Enthusiastic or passionate
The ardent Boy Scouts assessed the equipment and broke the record for shortest amount of time to build a tent |
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Brazen (adjective):
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Shameless or bold
We couldn’t believe how brazen my sister was when she asked how much Sharon’s engagement ring cost. |
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Callous (adjective):
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Feeling no sympathy for others; hardened
Do you accuse people of being callous if they change the channel during the sad animal shelter PSAs? |
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Coerce (verb):
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To compel to an act or to achieve by force or threat
It was clear that the boss had coerced such productivity because he constantly sent scathing memos and e-mails. |
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Discord (noun):
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A lack of agreement or harmony (between persons, objects, or ideas)
Penny could sense the discord during Thanksgiving when Charlotte quickly blamed Mike for burning the ham. |
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Petulant (adjective):
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childishly moody or bad-tempered
“And the baby was weary and petulant, and he cried softly until Juana gave him her breast, and then he gurgled and clucked against her” |
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Germane (adjective):
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relevant to a subject or topic
Any sound that was not germane to the night would make them alert” |
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Immune (adjective):
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not affected by something, especially something disagreeable or harmful
“He was immune and terrible, and his song had become a battle cry” |
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Malignant (adjective):
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harmful, invasive, or evil
The malignant cells unfortunately spread through the patient’s already weak pancreas. |
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Admonish (verb):
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to warn or reprimand firmly; to advise strongly
In Vietnam, Lieutenant Dan admonished his soldiers to, “Get down…and shut up.” |
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Ardent (adjective):
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Enthusiastic or passionate
The ardent Boy Scouts assessed the equipment and broke the record for shortest amount of time to build a tent |
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Brazen (adjective):
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Shameless or bold
We couldn’t believe how brazen my sister was when she asked how much Sharon’s engagement ring cost. |
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Callous (adjective):
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Feeling no sympathy for others; hardened
Do you accuse people of being callous if they change the channel during the sad animal shelter PSAs? |
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Coerce (verb):
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To compel to an act or to achieve by force or threat
It was clear that the boss had coerced such productivity because he constantly sent scathing memos and e-mails. |
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Discord (noun):
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A lack of agreement or harmony (between persons, objects, or ideas)
Penny could sense the discord during Thanksgiving when Charlotte quickly blamed Mike for burning the ham. |
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Laudable (adjective):
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Worthy of praise
Many considered Chris’s goal to reform the understaffed and crumbling soup kitchen to be a laudable one. |
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Mollify (verb):
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To soothe in temper or disposition
The new mother mollified her infant with a bottle, but all hope was lost when the bottle slipped and smashed into pieces. |
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Paradigm (noun):
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An especially clear example, pattern, or model
Victor Cruz serves as the paradigm for rookie wide receivers who hope to break into the league and gain a following |
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Recant (verb):
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To withdraw a statement or belief
Unfortunately, it was too late for the suspect to recant her version of the crime and she was held in jail |
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Transcend (verb):
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To go beyond the limits of
Many of our immigrant stories featured characters that transcended low gender expectations and achieved success in America. |
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Usurp (verb):
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To take possession of by force or without right
The angry peasants usurped the throne by assassinating the king. |
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Allocate (verb):
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To set aside or designate for a specific purpose
I suppose we could go back to the drawing board and reallocate our square footage” |
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Apt (adj):
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likely or inclined to do something
When she heard the town was apt to fill up with new reporters, her jaw clenched” |
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Avert (verb):
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to turn away or aside
“Mrs. Weidenbach averted her eyes as we passed Pickled Products” |
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Bide (verb):
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to wait
“After a good long swig or lemonade, she observed the scene. In fact, she was biding her time” |
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Celestial (adjective):
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of or relating to the sky or heavens
The heavens opened. I thought I heard celestial music” |
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Conspire (verb):
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To work together to bring about an unlawful or harmful act
“As I passed through the kitchen, I noticed Grandma and Mary Alice had their heads together, conspiring” |
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Dainty (adjective):
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delicate, beautiful, or graceful
“When I was dainty enough for a plane to lift, they didn’t have them” |
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Prim (adjective):
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very formal; proper
“‘They’re (the business community) not acting right,’ she said, very prim” |
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Ignorant (adjective):
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showing lack of knowledge or intelligence
“Of course I’m talking about ignorant people’ (the townsfolk who never bothered to consider the true story)” Grandma said” |
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Stifle (verb):
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to hold back or to cut off
“[S]he poured a second cup of coffee and stifled a yawn like she was thinking of bed” |
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Analyze (verb):
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To examine critically
Before you can analyze the relationship between the two weather systems, you must first research them individually |
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Blithe (adjective):
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Free-spirited; carefree
She is the blithe, younger sister who always stops to smell the roses while I am the worrywart of the family. |
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Converge (verb):
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To join or come together
The guidance counselor and school psychologist converged in order to provide important information about the student. |
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Disparity (noun):
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An inequality
In Connecticut, there is such a disparity of resources between urban and suburban school districts and the urban districts often lack adequate materials. |
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Enhance (verb):
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To improve; to bring to a greater level of intensity.
Jordan’s penchant for fine-tipped paintbrushes enhances his color scheme of the painting. |
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Fortuitous (adjective):
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fortunate; happening by luck.
It was fortuitous that the off-duty police officer was near the scene of the accident; the victim was stabilized before the ambulance arrived. |
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Impetuous (adjective):
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acting without thinking
It is sometimes more engaging to read about impetuous characters that make hasty decisions versus those who plan ahead. |
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Insurgent (noun):
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a person who rebels against civil authority or government
The news channel was careful how they handled the coverage of the insurgents because the demonstrations had recently turned violent. |
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Intuitive (adjective):
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Having good instincts or readily learned or understood
Carole had an intuitive mind and was privy to his sinister motives. |
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Inquisitive (adjective):
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Curious and inclined to ask questions
The parents were proud of their inquisitive toddler who was eager to acquire new knowledge. |
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Palpable (adjective):
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Easily felt or perceived
The anger in the conference room was palpable and the lawyers advised their clients to not lose their tempers. |
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Replete (adjective):
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Filled or well supplied with something
My grandma’s cookbook is replete with decadent dessert recipes that require gobs of butter and chocolate. |
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Stagnant (adjective):
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still; not moving
I did not trust the stagnant water that filled the stream and I used my better judgment by searching for a fresh source. |
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Trite (adjective):
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Unoriginal; not fresh due to overuse
Everyone thought her acceptance speech was trite and felt some personal anecdotes would have enhanced its sincerity |
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Enhance (verb):
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To improve; to bring to a greater level of intensity.
Jordan’s penchant for fine-tipped paintbrushes enhances his color scheme of the painting. |
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Fortuitous (adjective):
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fortunate; happening by luck.
It was fortuitous that the off-duty police officer was near the scene of the accident; the victim was stabilized before the ambulance arrived. |
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Impetuous (adjective):
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acting without thinking
It is sometimes more engaging to read about impetuous characters that make hasty decisions versus those who plan ahead. |
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Insurgent (noun):
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a person who rebels against civil authority or government
The news channel was careful how they handled the coverage of the insurgents because the demonstrations had recently turned violent. |
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Intuitive (adjective):
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Having good instincts or readily learned or understood
Carole had an intuitive mind and was privy to his sinister motives. |
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Inquisitive (adjective):
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Curious and inclined to ask questions
The parents were proud of their inquisitive toddler who was eager to acquire new knowledge. |
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Palpable (adjective):
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Easily felt or perceived
The anger in the conference room was palpable and the lawyers advised their clients to not lose their tempers. |
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Replete (adjective):
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Filled or well supplied with something
My grandma’s cookbook is replete with decadent dessert recipes that require gobs of butter and chocolate. |
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Stagnant (adjective):
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still; not moving
I did not trust the stagnant water that filled the stream and I used my better judgment by searching for a fresh source. |
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Trite (adjective):
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Unoriginal; not fresh due to overuse
Everyone thought her acceptance speech was trite and felt some personal anecdotes would have enhanced its sincerity |
