1. accentuate

1. accentuatetransitive verb

Past participle and past tense: accentuated

Present participle: accentuating

Third person singular present tense: accentuates

1. accentuate1. To give prominence to; emphasize or

intensify: “The sun streamed in from the windows behind him, and shadows lay over his face and accentuated the lines of his cheeks and jaw” (Chaim Potok, The Chosen).

1. accentuate2. To pronounce with stress or accent:

accentuate the second syllable in a word.

3. To mark with an accent mark: accentuate a word in a line of poetry.

Related Word:

noun- accentuation

2. alliteration

2. alliterationnounThe repetition of the same sounds, usually

consonants or consonant clusters, especially at the beginning of words. Poets and writers often employ alliteration in their writing, such as “I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet” in Robert Frost’s “Acquainted with the Night.”

Related Word: adjective- alliterative

3. analogy

3. analogyn Nounn Plural: analogiesn 1. Similarity in some respects between things that are

otherwise unlike.n 2. An explanation of something by comparing it with

something similar: The author uses the analogy of a beehive when describing a bustling city.

n Related Words: n adjective- analogousn adverb- analogously

4. antibody

4. antibodyn Nounn Plural: antibodiesn A protein produced in the blood or tissues in response

to the presence of a specific toxin, foreign blood cell, or other antigen. Antibodies provide immunity against certain microorganisms and toxins by binding with them and often by deactivating them.

n

5. aspire

5. aspiren Transitive verb n Past participle and past tense: aspiredn Present participle: aspiringn Third person singular present tense: aspires

n To have a great ambition; desire strongly: aspire to become a good soccer player; aspire to great knowledge.

n Related words: n noun- aspirationn noun- aspirern

6. bamboozle

6. bamboozlen Transitive verb n Past participle and past tense: bamboozledn Present participle: bamboozlingn Third person singular present tense: bamboozles

n Informaln To deceive by elaborate trickery; hoodwink: In The Music Man,

the con man bamboozles the citizens into believing that he can teach their children to play in a marching band.

7. bizarre

7. bizarreadjectiveVery strange or odd; a bizarre hat; a bizarre idea.

Related Word: adverb- bizarrely

8. boisterous

8. boisterousadjective1. Rough and stormy; violent: boisterous winds. 2. Noisy and lacking restraint or discipline: the boisterous

cheers of an excited crowd.

Related words: adverb- boisterously noun- boisterousness

9. boycott

9. boycottTransitive verbPast participle and past tense: boycottedPresent participle: boycottingThird person person singular present tense: boycotts To act together in refusing to use, buy from, or deal with, especially as

an expression of protest: boycott a store; boycott foreign-made goods.

9. boycottnoun1. A refusal to buy from or deal with a person, business, or nation,

especially as a form of protest. 2. A refusal to buy or use a product or service.

10. camouflage

10. camouflagenoun1. A method of concealing military troops or equipment by making

them appear to be part of the natural surroundings.2. Protective coloring or a disguise that conceals: An alligator’s

camouflage makes it look like a log floating in the water. 3. Cloth or other material used for camouflage

10. camouflageTransitive verbPast participle and past tense: camouflagedPresent participle: camouflagingThird person person singular present tense: camouflages

To conceal or hide by camouflage.

11. chronology

11. chronologynounPlural: chronologies1. The order of sequence of events: The lawyer disputed the

chronology of events preceding the murder.2. A list or table of events analyzed in order of time of occurrence: a

detailed chronology of modern history.

Related words: adjective- chronological adverb- chronologically

12. commemorate

12. commemorateTransitive verbPast participle and past tense: commemoratedPresent participle: commemoratingThird person person singular present tense: commemorates

1. To honor the memory of (someone or something), especially with a ceremony: The crowd gathered in the park to commemorate the firefighters’ sacrifice.

2. To be a memorial to, as a holiday, ceremony, or statue: Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Related Words: noun- commemoration adjective- commemorative adverb- commemoratively

13. cower

13. cowerIntransitive verbPast participle and past tense: coweredPresent participle: coweringThird person person singular present tense: cowers

To crouch or draw back, as from fear or pain; cringe: The the dwarves forgot their joy and their confident boasts of a moment before and cowered down in fright.” (JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit).

14. decorum

14. decorumnounProper behavior or conduct; propriety: “She had pull with the police

department, so the men in their flashy suits and fleshy scars sat with churchlike decorum and waited to ask favors from her” (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings).

15. deduction

15. deductionnoun1. The act of subtracting; subtraction: The sales clerk’s deduction of

the cost of installation persuaded us to buy the dishwasher. 2. An amount that is or may be subtracted: She claimed a deduction

from her taxable income for medical expenses.3. The process of reaching a conclusion by reasoning, especially from

general principles.4. A conclusion reached by this process: The article discusses the

judge’s deduction that the law violated the Fourteenth Amendment.

16. deign

16. deignVerbPast participle and past tense: deignedPresent participle: deigningThird person person singular present tense: deigns

Intransitive verbTo be willing to do something that one considers under one’s dignity; condescend: “We

better hurry or we’ll be late for dinner,’ I said…[H]is right foot flashed into the middle of my fast walk an I went pitching forward into the grass. ‘Get those one hundred and fifty pounds off me!’ I shouted, because he was sitting on my back. Finny got up, patted my head genially, and moved on across the field, not deigning to glance around for my counterattack…” (John Knowles, A Separate Peace).

Transitive verbTo condescend to give: The movie star didn’t deign so much as a nod in our direction.

17. despondent

17. despondentn adjective n Feeling depression of spirits from loss of hope, confidence, or

courage; dejected: “It rained. The procession of weary soldiers became a bedraggled train, despondent and muttering, marching with churning effort in a trough of liquid brown mud under a low, wretched sky” (Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage)

n Related words: n noun- depondence, despondencyn adverb- despondentlyn

18. dialogue

also spelled dialog

18. dialogue n noun n 1. A conversation between two or more people: a friendly

dialogue between neighbors.n 2. The words spoken by the characters of a play or a story: The

dialogue of the comedy was very witty.n 3. The literal work written in the form of a conversation: Many

students of philosophy have read the dialogues of Plato.n 4. An exchange of ideas or opinions: A lively dialogue among

members of the committee.

19. divulge

19. divulgen Transitive verb n Past participle and past tense: divulgedn Present participle: divulgingn Third person singular present tense: divulges

n To make known; reveal; tell: divulge a secret.

n Related words: n noun- divulgern n

20. eclectic

20. eclecticn adjective n Choosing or taking what appears to be the best from various

sources: an eclectic musician blending elements of classical music, jazz, and punk rock.

n Related words: n adverb- eclecticallyn

21. ellipse

21. ellipsen noun n A figure that forms a closed curve shaped like an oval with both

ends alike. An ellipse can be formed by intersecting a cone with a plane that is not parallel or perpendicular to the cone’s base. The sum of the distances or an ellipse from two fixed points (called the foci) remains constant no matter where the point is on the curve.

22. embargo

22. embargon noun n Plural: embargoesn 1. An order by a government prohibiting merchant ships from entering or leaving its

ports.n 2. A prohibitation by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation.

n Transitive verbn Past participle and past tense: embargoedn Present participle: embargoingn Third person singular present tense: embargoes

n To place an embargo on: The Union government embargoed Confederate ports during the Civil War.

n Adjectiven Having or showing great interest or excitement: The principal gave an enthusiastic

welcome to the new teachers.

n Related Word:n adverb- enthusiastically

24. exponent

24. exponentn nounn 1. A number or symbol, placed to the right of and above the expression

to which it applies, that indicates the number of times a mathematical expression is used as a factor. For example, the exponent 3 in 53 indicates 5x5x5.

n 2. A person who speaks for, represents, or advocates something: exponents of mass transit as a means of reducing pollution.

n Related Words:n adjective- exponentialn adverb- exponentially

25. exult

25. exultn intransitive verb n Past participle and past tense: exultedn Present participle: exultingn Third person singular present tense: exults

n To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant: “Laurie threw up his hat, then remembered that it wouldn’t do to exult over the defeat of his guests, and stopped in the middle of a cheer to whisper to his friend, ‘Good for you, Jo! He did cheat, I saw him’” (Louisa May Alcott, Little Women).

n n

26. fallacy

26. fallacyn nounn Plural: fallacies

n A false notion or mistaken belief: It is a fallacy that being popular always means being happy.

n Related Words:n adjective- fallaciousn adverb- fallaciously

27. flourish

27. flourishn verb n Past participle and past tense:flourishedn Present participle: flourishingn Third person singular present tense: flourishes

n Intransitive verbn 1. To grow or develop well or luxuriantly; thrive: Most flowers flourish in full sunlight.

n 2. To do well; prosper: The lawyer’s practice flourished.n 3. To be actively working, especially in a period of great accomplishment: a writer who

flourished in the later 1600s.

n Transitive verbn 1. Dramatic action or gesture: The teacher waved the report with a flourish.n 2. An added decorative touch; an embellishment: handwriting with many flourishesn 3. In music, a showy passage or a fanfare: Trumpets played a flourish before the king

entered.n n

28. formidable

28. formidablen Adjectiven 1. Arousing fear, dread, alarm, or great concern: “The men wish to

purchase straw field hats to protect themselves from your formidable Arkansas sun” (Bette Greene, The Summer of My German Soldier).

n 2. Admirable; awe-inspiring: a formidable musical talent.n 3. Difficult to surmount, defeat, or undertake: The new assignment was a

formidable challenge for the young reporter.

n Related Words:n noun- formidabilityn adverb- formidably

29. gargoyle

29. gargoylen Noun

n A waterspout or ornamental figure in the from of a grotesque animal or person projecting from the gutter of a building

30. guerrilla

also spelled guerilla

30. guerrillan Noun

n A member of a military force that is not part of a regular army and operates in small bands in occupied territory to harass the enemy, as by surprise raids.

31. guru

31. gurun Nounn Plural: gurus

n 1. A Hindu spiritual teachern 2. A person who is followed as a leader or teacher.

32. heritage

32. heritagen Noun

n 1. Something other than property passed down from preceding generations; a tradition: “We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail).

n 2. Property that is or can be inherited.

33. hieroglyphic

33. hieroglyphicn Adjective

n Of or related to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictures or symbols are used to represent words or sounds: The ancient tombs of the Pharaohs are marked with hieroglyphic writing.

n Noun

n 1. A picture of symbol used in hieroglyphic writing; a hieroglyph. 2. Often hieroglyphics Hieroglyphic writing, especially that of the ancient Egyptians.

n Related Words:n noun- hieroglyph

adverb- hieroglyphically

34. hologram

34. hologramn Nounn The photographic record of a three-dimensional image produced by recording on

a photographic plate or film the pattern of interference formed by a split laser beam. The plate or film is then illuminated with a laser of with ordinary light to form the image.

35. hypocrisy

35. hypocrisyn Noun

n The practice of showing or expressing feelings, beliefs, or virtues that one does not actually hold or possess.

n Related word:n Noun- hypocrite

36. immune

36. immunen adjectiven 1. Protected from disease naturally or by vaccination or inoculation: I’m immune to

chickenpox because I had it when I was young. 2. Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt: As a diplomat, he is immune from criminal prosecution. 3. Not affected by a given influence; unresponsive: “I am immune to emotion. I have been ever since I can remember. Which is helpful when people appeal to my sympathy. I don’t seem to have any” (Ellen Wittingler, Hard Love).

37. impertinent

37. impertinentn adjective.

n 1. Offensively bold; rude. 2. Not pertinent; irrelevant: The discussion went on for hours because of the many impertinent questions and remarks.

n Related word:n Adverb- impertinently

38. inference

38. inferencen Noun

n 1. The act or process of deciding or concluding by reasoning from evidence: arrive at a logical conclusion by inference. 2. Something that is decided or concluded by reasoning from evidence; a conclusion: The evidence is too scanty to draw any inferences from it.

n Related word: n Verb- infer

39. introspection

39. introspectionn Noun

n The examination of one’s own thoughts and feelings.

n Related words:n Adjective: introspectiven Adverb: introspectively

40. jaunty

40. jauntyn Adjective

n Comparative: jauntiern Superlative: jauntiest

n 1. Having or showing a carefree self-confident air: “A figure was approaching us over the moor, and I saw the dull red glow of a cigar. The moon shone upon him, and I could distinguish the dapper shape and jaunty walk of the naturalist.” (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles). 2. Stylish or smart in appearance: a jaunty hat.

n Related words: n adverb- jauntily n noun- jauntiness

41. jovial

41. jovialn Adjective

n Full of fun and good cheer; jolly: a jovial host.

n Related words: n noun- jovialityn adverb- jovially

42. kilometer

42. kilometern Noun

n A unit of length equal to 1000 meters or 0.62 of a mile.

43. labyrinth

43. labyrinthn Noun

n 1. A complex structure of connected passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze. 2. In Greek mythology, the maze built by Daedalus in Crete to confine the Minataur. 3. Something complicated or confusing in design or construction. 4. The system of tubes and spaces that make up the inner ear of many vertebrate animals.

44. laconic

44. laconicn Adjective

n Using few words; terse; concise: a laconic reply.

n Related Word:n adverb- laconically

45. lichen

45. lichenn Noun

n An organism that consists of a fungus and an alga growing in close association with each other. Lichens often live on rocks and tree bark and can also be found in extremely cold environments.

46. light-year

46. light-yearn Nounn n The distance that light travels in one year, about 5.88 trillion miles (9.47 trillion

kilometers).

47. marsupial

47. marsupialn noun

n Any of various mammals, such as the kangaroo, opossum, or wombat, whose young continue to develop after birth in a pouch outside of the female’s body.

48. maneuver

48. maneuvern Noun

n 1. A planned movement of troops or warships: By a series of brilliant maneuvers, the general outwitted the enemy. 2. A large-scale military exercise in which battle movements are practiced. 3. A controlled change in movement or direction of a vehicle or vessel, especially an aircraft. 4. A movement or procedure that involves skill or cunning: The gymnast made an acrobatic maneuver and landed squarely on the mat.

n Verbn Past participle and past tense: maneuveredn Present participle: maneuveringn Third person singular present tense: maneuvers

n

45. lichen

45. lichenn Noun

n An organism that consists of a fungus and an alga growing in close association with each other. Lichens often live on rocks and tree bark and can also be found in extremely cold environments.