2018 BUTTE COUNTY SPELLING BEES

PRACTICE LIST

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1. abacus A calculating instrument for performing arithmetical processes by sliding counters by hand on rods or in grooves. “The grocer used an abacus instead of a modern cash register.”

2. acquaintance Familiarity, experience. “Ruth developed an acquaintance with Tibetan musical tradition.”

3. acre Any of various units of land area. "Miriam had to cross a 10-acre field to get to her favorite swimming hole.”

4. acrobat One who performs gymnastic feats or exercises. “Paul is developing the skills of a first-rate acrobat.”

5. activity Something somebody does; physical exercise “Which physical education activity did you like the best?”

6. acuate Having a sharp point: shaped like a needle: sharpened. “Cobb's beagle was distinctive because of its acuate tail.”

7. addition The act of adding something onto or into something else “Our next test in math will be on addition.”

8. adjacent Living nearby or sitting or standing relatively near or close together. “Citizens of Centerville and its adjacent communities banded together to form a volunteer fire department.”

9. adversaries Ones that contend with oppose or resist. “Cynthia’s adversaries in the tennis tournament were not easily defeated.”

10. aerobatics Spectacular flying feats and maneuvers (as rolls and dives). “Brian enjoyed the exhibition of aerobatics at the Labor Day festival.”

11. affliction A state of pain, distress, or grief. “John Addison wrote that some virtues are seen only in affliction.”

12. alphanumerical Consisting, of both letters and numbers and often other symbols as well. “Because she used two separate alphanumerical codes, Georgia made many mistakes.”

13. amendment The process of changing or modifying in any way for the better (as a motion, bill, act, or constitution). “A well-drafted constitution will provide for its own amendment.”

14. amnesia Loss of memory, forgetfulness. “Alice suffered from amnesia as the result of a head injury.”

15. ample Marked by extensive or more than adequate size. “Wilma enjoyed her walks in the estate’s ample gardens.”

16. amplitude The extent of a vibratory movement or of an oscillation. “Titus carefully noted any variations in the amplitude of the sine waves.”

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17. analogy A figure of speech involving an extended or elaborate comparison between two things or situations. “Hugo used an analogy to illustrate his point, but no one understood the analogy either.”

18. analyze Weigh or study (various aspects, factors, or elements) in order to arrive at an answer, result, or solution. “Deanne needed more information before she could analyze the lab report.”

19. anoint Bless somebody with oil; ordain somebody “The knight will anoint the pheasant at a special ceremony.”

20. antelope Any of various ruminant mammals of Africa and southwest Asia. “The bounding antelope managed to outdistance the pursuing lion.”

21. anthology A usually representative collection of selected literary pieces or passages. “John hopes to find ‘The Raven’ in his mom's anthology of American literature.”

22. apex The point of the heavens toward which a celestial body is moving at a given time. “Helga tracked the planet’s movement towards the apex.”

23. apologetic Regretfully excusing or acknowledging. “Segal's face was so apologetic that his teacher could not be angry at him.”

24. appalling Inspiring dismay: shocking. “There was something about the night that was mysterious and appalling.”

25. apple Firm round fruit with central core “Did you bring an apple for the new teacher?”

26. appliance Domestic electrical machine “Our new stove came from the appliance store.”

27. aquatic Living wholly or chiefly in or on water. “The oil spill caused the deaths of many aquatic animals and plants.”

28. ardent Extremely loyal: devoted, faithful. “Bickford was an ardent supporter of environmental causes.”

29. argue To express disagreement with somebody, especially continuously or angrily “I hate it when my brother and sister argue.”

30. assess Determine the rate or amount of. “Joyce's job with the insurance company was to assess damages.”

31. assimilate Receive into the mind and consider and thoroughly comprehend. “Sandy needs time to sort things out and assimilate them properly.”

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32. astronomy The science that treats of the celestial bodies. “Astronomy is a popular topic for science writers.”

33. asunder Into parts: into different pieces. “The wind was so violent that Justin feared his tent would be torn asunder.”

34. attack Harm; criticize somebody or something “I didn't understand why the class wanted to attack my poem.”

35. audiometer An instrument used in measuring the acuity of hearing in the individual ear for sounds of various frequencies. “At the local schools, students’ hearing is tested annually by a specialist using an audiometer.”

36. audition Give a trial performance. “Cornelius decided to audition for the part of Romeo.”

37. authoritarianism A political system that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or a small autocratic elite not constitutionally responsible to the people. “Sergei said that despite all its democratic rhetoric, the system was authoritarianism, pure and simple.”

38. avenue A wide street or road in a town; a course of action “Is there another avenue to the state capital?”

39. avocado The pulpy green or purple pear-shaped edible fruit of various tropical American trees. “Dennis poured lemon juice over the sliced avocado.”

40. aware Having knowledge of something; realize that something is happening “He became aware of a pain in his left side.”

41. badgers Any of certain strong sturdily-built carnivorous mammals. “Ivar always said that the badgers had cleaner houses than people, and that when he hired a housekeeper her name would be Mrs. Badger.”

42. balloonist One that ascends in a balloon (as for exhibition purposes). “The aerial photograph of Leadville was taken by a balloonist more than a hundred years ago.”

43. bantam Small: easily handled. "Accustomed to bantam automobiles in Europe, Jacqui regarded American cars as too large and unwieldy.”

44. baronial Splendid, stately, spacious, ample. “The baronial fireplace had enough room to hold six-foot logs.”

45. beet large swollen root, eaten cooked, yields sugar “Natives used the broth of a cooked beet as a dye.”

46. bevy An usually large group or collection. “A bevy of reporters crowded around the gold medal winner.”

47. bewildering Causing to lose one’s bearings.

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“The town’s maze of streets was bewildering even to its own inhabitants.”

48. bewitched Cast a spell over. “Some say a sorceress bewitched the valley during the early days of settlement.”

49. binoculars A handheld optical instrument composed of two telescopes and a focusing device and usually having prisms to increase magnifying ability. “Binoculars have proved to be a great benefit to bird-watching.”

50. biscuit A quick bread made in a small shape from dough that has been rolled and cut or dropped and that rises in baking. “A hot biscuit with butter and honey was the best part of the lunch.”

51. blather Voluble, foolish, or nonsensical talk. "Matt's announcement consisted of 10 percent information and 90 percent blather.”

52. blemish Defect, flaw. “A skilled watercolorist can render a blemish invisible.”

53. blizzard A severe and prolonged snow storm. “Last winter many cattle perished in a blizzard.”

54. blossoming Flowering. “Between the blossoming branches of the canopy, bits of blue sky looked down like wonderful eyes.”

55. board Flat piece of wood “We needed one more board to finish our float.”

56. bomb A missile containing explosive or other destructive material “We used a bug bomb to get rid of the fleas in the house.”

57. boniface The proprietor of a hotel, nightclub, or restaurant. “The boniface of the Red Horse Inn loves to have his picture taken with visiting celebrities.”

58. boundary Border; limit “My mom set a two block boundary for bike riding.”

59. brain Organ of thought and feeling “You have to use your brain to win the spelling bee.”

60. brandishing Shaking or waving a weapon menacingly. "‘That's why I drove him off,’ cried the Humbug fiercely brandishing his cane.”

61. breath Air breathed in and out “Take a deep breath before you spell the word.”

62. bribery The act of influencing the action of another by a reward, gift or favor bestowed or promised. “Though they might not admit it, most parents occasionally use bribery to make their young children behave.”

63. bronchitis Acute or chronic inflammation in the lungs. “Because of his bronchitis, Sam had given up jogging.”

64. bulbous Resembling or suggesting a bulb especially in roundness or

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in the gross enlargement of a part. “Rudolph is well known as the lead reindeer because of his large red fluorscent bulbous nose.”

65. burly Strongly built: stout, sturdy. “The director chose Harry for the part of the construction worker because of his burly appearance.”

66. bursitis Inflammation of a fluid-filled cavity in a joint of the body. “Pain during the tennis game was Brett’s first symptom of bursitis.”

67. burst To split or break apart suddenly and violently because of excess internal pressure “The suitcase had burst open.”

68. bustling Given to or full of noisy or energetic activity. “As they strolled along the bustling and busy avenue, he began.”

69. butterscotch A hard candy made by boiling together brown sugar, corn syrup, and water. “Butterscotch has a deep golden color and a delicious rich taste.”

70. cable Strong thick rope or steel wire used for lifting, pulling, towing, or securing things “Bridges are made of many yards of cable.”

71. cactus A plant found in dry desert regions many varieties produce brightly colored flowers. “If you live in Arizona, you probably have a cactus plant in your yard.”

72. calico Any of various cheap cotton fabrics with figured patterns. “Molly's dress was made of a bold orange and yellow checked calico.”

73. calligrapher One who writes with a beautiful, ornamental, or stylized hand. “Joni and William had their wedding invitations inscribed by a calligrapher.”

74. candlelight The light of a candle. “C. J. sat by candlelight in his study and thought about the last eight years of his life.”

75. caramel A firm chewy candy often containing fruits and nuts and typically cut into small blocks. “Ida’s mother warned her not to eat a caramel before she went to the orthodontist.”

76. caramelize Change sugar or the sugar content of a food into caramel. “Kara is going to caramelize some sugar to make peanut brittle.”

77. careen Cause a boat to lean over on one side as on a beach making the other side accessible for repairs below the waterline. “The crew decided to haul the boat onto the beach and careen it so that they could repair the hull.”

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78. cataract A clouding of the lens of the eye obstructing the passage of light. “Grandpa’s cataract necessitated surgical replacement of the lens in his eye.”

79. cavalcade A procession of riders or carriages. “The king headed up the cavalcade proceeding toward the Duke of Parma.”

80. cellar A room wholly or partly below ground level that is not suitable as living space; usually used for storage “Mom kept our baby shoes in a box in the cellar.”

81. chancellor A university officer of high rank. “Professor Burns has all the requirements to be the next chancellor of Highland College.”

82. characteristic Belonging to or especially typical of the essential nature of. “Wiggling your nose is a characteristic gesture of a bunny.”

83. charades A game in which a group is divided into two sides each alternately devising words represented in riddling verse or by pictures or dramatic action to be guessed by the other. “The dinner party was complemented by a most animated evening of charades.”

84. chilblains Instances of redness and swelling of toes, fingers, nose or ears or sometimes cheeks in cold weather accompanied by itching and burning of skin. “Mrs. Goddard let her students run about a great deal in the summer, and in winter she dressed their chilblains with her own hands.”

85. chimpanzee An anthropoid ape of equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla. “The chimpanzee shows inventiveness in making and using tools.”

86. circus Traveling show “My parents promised to take me to the circus.”

87. clothe Provide clothing for somebody or something “We couldn't find enough old clothes to clothe the scarecrow.”

88. coach Horse drawn carriage; leader of a team “The baseball coach was proud of our teamwork.”

89. colony Country ruled by another country “Which colony was the first to become a state?”

90. commute Travel back and forth regularly or frequently. “For his work Horst must commute daily between Philadelphia and New York.”

91. compact Suggesting firmness, soundness, and a degree of strength. “The bulldog’s compact frame contrasts sharply with the greyhound’s lanky build.”

92. competency The quality or state of being functionally adequate. “The prospective student questioned the competency of

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the professor.” 93. competitive Of or relating to a contest between rivals.

“The competitive spirit of the two musicians rings loud and clear when they play the tune ‘Dueling Banjos.’”

94. complex Having many varied interrelated parts, patterns, or elements and consequently hard to understand. “Caroline brought an unbelievably complex camera on the trip and was forever changing lenses.”

95. comprehend See the nature, significance, or meaning of. “Although he had read every word of ‘Moby Dick,’ Stu failed to comprehend it.”

96. condescended Stooped or bent to action or speech less formal or dignified than is customary in one's social rank “If Mark Twain had condescended, to read the works of others, his tales may have been delivered in a much different manner.”

97. conflagration A large disastrous fire involving numerous buildings. “Sixty fire trucks were called in to battle the conflagration.”

98. conjunctivitis Inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids. “In common parlance, conjunctivitis is known as “pinkeye.”

99. conscious Awake and responsive to stimuli “He's been seriously injured, but he's still conscious.”

100. constabulary A body of policemen as of a particular town, district, country. “The local constabulary was out in force at the Halloween celebration.”

101. constant Ever present; happening or done repeatedly “My mother couldn't stand our constant whining.”

102. corona Something suggesting a crown. “Perhaps the lampshade’s gold color and frilly edges made Ronald imagine that it was a corona.

103. cost Be priced at “A misspelled word will cost you the spelling bee.”

104. cough Expel air from lungs noisily “With my cold, it was hard not to cough during the play.”

105. court Meeting where legal judgments are made “If you get a ticket, you may have to go to court.”

106. crate A large open sturdy box; an old rickety airplane or automobile “Please put my books in that old crate.”

107. craze A fashion that is extremely popular for a short time “Bell bottom jeans were once the craze.”

108. crescent The shape or figure defined by a convex and a concave edge. “The moon’s silvery crescent disappeared as the eclipse

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reached totality.” 109. cried To have shed tears

“When I saw my bad grade I cried.” 110. cruel Stern, rigorous, and grim.

“The cruel reality is that Justin will be expelled for his wrongdoing regardless of how remorseful he is.”

111. cumbersome Of an excessive size, shape, or length: unwieldy. “Emrick dragged his cumbersome duffel bag by its strap.”

112. curiosity A desire to know. “The locked box aroused immense curiosity in Maxine.”

113. currency Money “We checked the currency rate before traveling overseas.”

114. cycle Repeated sequence of events; time between repeated events “We studied the life cycle of the butterfly in science class.”

115. daffodils Plants having flowers that have a large corona elongated into a trumpet. “These flowers blooming in the snow are daffodils and snowdrops.”

116. daily Done or occurring every day “Our principal broadcasts the daily news.”

117. dainty Delicate and pretty “My grandma had a pair of dainty slippers.”

118. decay Become rotten or deteriorate “Your teeth will decay if you do not brush them twice a day.”

119. deciphered Made out, read or interpreted despite obscuration. “When one considers the variety of handwriting, and of bad handwriting, too, that must be deciphered, it increases the wonder that so seldom a letter is carried wrong.”

120. decorator Somebody who decorates; painter or wallpaperer “The decorator suggested yellow paint for the kitchen.”

121. decorum Propriety and good taste especially in conduct, manners or appearance: correctness. “Alison's behavior did not reflect the decorum expected of someone with her aristocratic upbringing.”

122. deem Come to view, judge, or classify after some consideration. “Robert was frustrated that his trainer did not deem him ready for the fight.”

123. delicacy Something pleasing to eat that is accounted rare or luxurious. “Caviar is considered a delicacy.”

124. delinquent A transgressor against duty or law. “The police referred to Harold as a delinquent when he was found on the street after curfew.”

125. demure Marked by quiet modesty, sedate reserve, restraint, or

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sobriety: retiring, shy. “Sondra's classmates mistook her demure conduct for standoffishness.”

126. demurs Difficulties in making up one’s mind: indecisions. “Emma told Harriet that the message in her letter must be unequivocal — containing no doubts or demurs.”

127. desolate Characterized by abandonment, isolation, or barrenness. “The irrigation project revived the once desolate farming community.”

128. despair Utter loss of hope. “Despair overcame Gerald as he stared at his French exam.”

129. destroy Demolish; ruin; abolish “If you run through the garden, you may destroy the flowers.”

130. deters Turns aside, discourages, or prevents from acting by fear or consideration of dangerous circumstances. “Nothing deters a good man from doing what is honorable.”

131. detrimental Causing harm or damage “Smoking is detrimental to your health.”

132. dewfall The amount of moisture deposited as dew during one period. “The dewfall quickly evaporated as the Sun rose.”

133. diffuser A device to distribute the light from a concentrated source uniformly. “To replace the burnt-out bulb, Adam had to remove the diffuser from the light.”

134. dimension A measurable aspect such as length or width. "Height is one dimension of a cube.”

135. dingo A wild dog of Australia. "Many Australian farmers erect high fences to protect their sheep against the dingo.”

136. disagreeable Causing discomfort, displeasure, or repugnance. "Mary was so disagreeable that after the first day or two nobody would play with her."

137. disappearance Removal from sight: vanishing. “With the disappearance of the snow, the sleds and skates were replaced with bicycles.”

138. dismal Marked by gloom, dejection, somberness, or depression of spirits. "The children who forgot their gloves spent a dismal recess looking out the window at the snow.”

139. distal Located away from the center of the body. “The professor asked the students to identify the distal and proximal ends of several bones.”

140. distressing Subjecting to great strain or difficulties. "Ulrich had a distressing day at the office."

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141. diverting Turning or drawing as the mind or attention from one concern to another: distracting. “The program on television was diverting Vera’s attention from her homework.”

142. dollar unit of currency used in the United States “The dance will cost a dollar on Friday night.”

143. dominant In control or command over others “His dominant behavior was an asset to the basketball team.”

144. domineering Disposed to exercise or to flaunt dictatorial authority in a way to override any protestation. “Craig protested his brother’s domineering behavior.”

145. doughiness The quality or state of being not thoroughly baked. “The doughiness of the cake mortified the judges at the fair.”

146. durable Able to exist for along time: lasting. "Jimmy brought along a pair of durable hiking boots for his trek through the mountainous terrain.”

147. earnestly With intent and serious manner. “Gerald performed his job so earnestly that his co-workers teased him by asking if he thought he was saving the world.”

148. eclipse The obscuration of one celestial body by another. “Susan and Stuart flew to Mexico to view a total eclipse of the sun.”

149. ecologist A specialist in the branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment. “Kimberly will work as a summer intern for an ecologist in the Everglades.”

150. economist A specialist in or student of the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities. “Adam Smith was the most influential economist of the 18th

century.” 151. effulgent Marked by or as if by brightly shining light.

“Her effulgent beauty quite took the audience’s breath away.”

152. eighth One of 8 parts of something “There was on eighth of a piece of the pizza left after the party.”

153. emit Send out: discharge, release. “When disturbed, the stink bug will emit an odor to repel other animals.”

154. endurance An instance of long-suffering (as hardship or tribulation). “On his sad face was an expression of suffering and endurance.”

155. enormous Marked by extraordinarily great size.

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“No one warned Margaret that the little puppy she wanted would be an enormous dog in one year’s time.”

156. enough As much as is needed “Dad said ‘two hours was enough time to go shopping.’”

157. equivalent Corresponding or virtually identical especially in effect or function. “Butter and margarine are equivalent in most recipes.”

158. esoteric Difficult to understand. “Phil found the article on metaphysics too esoteric.”

159. espionage The practice of spying: the systematic secret observation of words and conduct. “The author based his novel on his personal experiences in espionage during World War II.”

160. estate A large farm. “The estate included two ponds, several barns, an orchard, and 48 acres of farm fields.”

161. evaluate Examine and judge concerning the worth, quality, significance, amount, degree, or condition of. “The company sent Chris to evaluate the project’s potential for profit.”

162. excavator A worker who digs out material or digs cavities (as in quarrying or for building construction). “The excavator gasped when the side of the pit gave way to reveal a dark chamber.”

163. exception The act of excluding or omitting. “They're usually open to the public only on Mondays from two to four, but since you've traveled so far, we'll have to make an exception.”

164. excise Any of various taxes on privileges, as of engaging in a particular trade or sport that are often assessed in the form of a license or other fee. “An excise is included in the cost of a fishing license.”

165. excuse To release somebody from blame or criticism for a mistake or wrongdoing “Please excuse their tardiness.”

166. exercise Physical activity; intended to keep a person fit and healthy “Regular exercise is important to remain healthy.”

167. exhaustion Weariness following overstrain or overexertion. “Vance collapsed from exhaustion after running the marathon.”

168. exploit Deed, act. “Sarah’s first exploit in baking resulted in a burned pie and charred juice in the oven.”

169. exterminated Gotten rid of. “The Grubes have exterminated the rats in the cellar with rat poison.”

170. extinguish Cause as a fire or light to cease burning.

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“Procedure dictated that Lenny extinguish his car’s headlights before approaching the guardhouse.”

171. faucet Water valve “Grandpa could not figure out why the faucet always leaked.”

172. feather Part of bird's plumage; something resembling feather “There is nothing softer than a feather pillow.”

173. feud A relationship of aggressive hostility: quarrel. “A feud over the property boundaries developed between the two families.”

174. feverishly In an agitated manner. “Jay lay sleepless and feverishly went over the day’s events.”

175. fiends Infernal beings: demons. “After a pleasant chat with the princesses, all that remains is a leisurely ride back through those chaotic crags whose frightening fiends have sworn to tear any intruder limb from limb and devour him down to his belt buckle.”

176. filibuster The use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly. “The Senate effectively killed the bill with a filibuster.”

177. finger Digit of the hand “Use your finger to click the mouse.”

178. flaunting Seeking to attract attention especially by appearing or acting brash and brazen. “During the party Terry seemed to be flaunting his ability to play piano.”

179. flour Powder made by grinding the edible parts of cereal grains “The bread recipe called for two cups of flour.”

180. flourishes Ostentations in the performance of something often intended to call forth or fix attention or admiration. “The five cabinet members then rolled up the large parchment and, with many bows and flourishes, retired.”

181. forecaster One who predicts weather conditions on the basis of correlated meteorological observations. “When the forecaster predicted freezing rain, the highway department loaded up its trucks with sand and salt.”

182. forensics The art or study of argumentative discourse: debate. “Tara is captain of the forensics team at her high school.”

183. formulate Plan out in an orderly fashion. “The board decided to call in a consultant to help formulate plans for the new factory.”

184. forth Forward in time, place, degree, or order “She ventured forth to seek her fortune.”

185. fraction Number or something that is not whole “After lunch, only a fraction of pizza was left.”

186. fracture The breaking of hard tissue (as bone). “Mike’s fall off the

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ladder resulted in the fracture of his thighbone.” 187. frame Supporting structure

“We want to frame my grandparent's picture.” 188. fraudulent Characterized by or based on trickery or deceit especially

when involving misrepresentation. “The manufacturer was charged with fraudulent advertising.”

189. frugal Thrifty; meager “I don't want my Grandma to be frugal with my graduation gift.”

190. funeral A rite held to mark the burial to something's existence “We have witnessed the funeral of the amateur game.”

191. furiously In an impassioned manner: angrily. “The soldiers furiously pursued the raiders but could not catch them.”

192. furtive Done by stealth: secret. “Wendy’s furtive attempt to sneak a cookie was interrupted by the appearance of her little brother.”

193. fury Violent anger: rage. “Now his sadness had changed to fury and he stalked about the room adding up anger and multiplying wrath.”

194. gallant Marked by a blend of the high spirited, brave, dashing and chivalrous. “Following the meal came songs, epic poems and speeches in praise of the princesses and the three gallant adventurers who had rescued them.”

195. garbage Discarded waste or useless material; nonsense “Please put your empty lunch bags in the garbage.”

196. gaunt Thin and angular. “On a high podium in front stood the conductor, a tall, gaunt man with dark deep-set eyes.”

197. generator A machine by which mechanical energy is changed into electrical energy. “The generator at the cabin ran on gasoline.”

198. geography The descriptive science that deals with the surface of the Earth and its features. “Chelsea was surprised by how much she learned about geography in her history class.”

199. geologist A specialist in the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks. “The geologist conducted a survey of the rock masses and

mineral resources of the area.” 200. ghastly Giving rise to terror: frightening.

"The gnarled trees appeared ghastly in the moonlight.” 201. gigantic Greater in size than the usual or expected.

"The American flag flying over the service station is so gigantic that it can be seen from a mile away.”

202. giraffe A large fleet African ruminant mammal.

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“Each giraffe has its own unique pattern of coat markings which distinguish it from all other giraffes.”

203. goal Target area; score “The kick landed just to the left of the goal.”

204. gorilla An anthropoid ape of the forest region of equatorial West Africa. “The behavior of the gorilla has been extensively studied by anthropologists and zoologists.”

205. governor An appointed or elected official who governs a state, for a specified term “Who will be the next governor of California?”

206. guide To lead somebody in the right direction “We had a very funny guide on our field trip.”

207. habitat The place where a plant or animal species naturally lives and grows. “The government appropriated money to preserve the natural habitat of the endangered species.”

208. haiku An unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables, respectively. “Compressing an image or idea into only 17 syllables is what makes a haiku most challenging to compose.”

209. happen To take place; do something by chance “How did this happen?”

210. haunted Inhabited by or as if by apparitions: frequented by ghosts. “The deserted Victorian house outside town is said to be haunted.”

211. health Presence or absence of well-being “If you have your health, you have everything.”

212. hearsay Something heard from another: report, rumor. "Jody's elaborate account of the argument was based purely on hearsay.”

213. heather A common evergreen low-growing shrubby plant. “The true heather of Scotland is also called ling or common heath.”

214. heifer A young cow. “This year's blue-ribbon heifer belongs to Mrs. Cates.”

215. hemisphere A half of the celestial sphere. “Vince’s star chart depicts all visible heavenly objects in the hemisphere.”

216. hepatitis Inflammation of the liver. “Serum hepatitis can be transmitted through blood transfusions and unsterilized hypodermic needles.”

217. hibernal Of or relating to winter: wintry. “Horace admired the hibernal scene depicted in the painting.”

218. Himalayan Any of a breed of domestic cats developed by crossing the

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Persian and Siamese. “A Himalayan won ‘Best of Show’ in the local cat competition this winter.”

219. hoarseness The quality or state of having a rough-sounding voice. “Paul's remedy for hoarseness is hot water with lemon.”

220. horizon The point where the Earth appears to meet the sky. “Stan thought he saw an airplane on the horizon.”

221. horizontal Placed or operating in a plane parallel to the horizon. “Lori wore a sweater with red and blue horizontal stripes.”

222. hue Gradation of color. “An inspired painter reveals mood through the use of hue and shade.”

223. hulking Of great size or powerful build. "One look at the hulking guard would cause anyone to think twice about making him angry.”

224. humane Marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for other human beings or animals. "Sharon received an award for her humane treatment of stray pets.”

225. humus The organic portion of soil. “Mario's compost heap provides an annual supply of humus for his garden.”

226. hung Past tense of hang “The teacher hung his hat by the classroom door.”

227. hurling Impelling with great vigor. "For lack of something better to do, Simon spent the afternoon hurling stones into the creek.”

228. hybrid An offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species or genera. “A hybrid often has increased vigor and strength.”

229. hysteria Conduct or an outbreak of conduct exhibiting unmanageable fear or emotional excess. “Hysteria overcame the defendant when the guilty verdict was announced.”

230. icicle A pendent, usually conical mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water. “By evening, the longest icicle hanging from the eaves had grown to about two feet.”

231. ignite Set afire: kindle. “Alejandro used a lighter to ignite the pile of kindling.”

232. ignore Refuse to notice “Your teacher will ignore any late assignments.”

233. illumination A giving of physical light or the state of being lighted up. "Because of its many windows, Sarah's office always has ample illumination.”

234. immune Protected, guarded. “Wearing her heavy parka made Judith immune to the cold

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wind.” 235. impromptu Without previous study, preparation or consideration: on

the spur of the moment. “Leah is able to speak impromptu and at length on countless subjects.”

236. inclement Unmerciful, rigorous. “The harsh sentence of an inclement judge took 30 years of Sam’s life.”

237. inclusion The act of taking in as a part of a larger group, class, or principle. "The inclusion of females in the traditionally male school's freshman class caused an uproar.”

238. indelible That cannot be removed, washed away, or erased: permanent. “Lily’s narrow escape from drowning left an indelible mark on her personality.”

239. inflammable Capable of being easily set on fire. “Inflammable hair products carry a warning label.”

240. inflexible Rigid. “Nature’s laws are more inflexible than iron.”

241. infuriated Enraged, maddened. “The traffic jam infuriated those drivers with little or no patience.”

242. insensitive Lacking feeling. “Only a thoroughly insensitive person would not respond to a child’s cry for help.”

243. insignificant Of little size or importance. “Marcella told her brother not to let an insignificant quarrel with his best friend spoil the friendship.”

244. intensity Extreme or very high degree : extreme strength, force, or energy. “Gino was astonished at the intensity of the mini-flashlight.”

245. intricate Having many complexly interrelating parts or elements: complicated. “The intricate mechanism of the clock can only be described as awesome."

246. invention Created thing; act of creating “Our scientific invention won a blue ribbon.”

247. invisible Of such small size as to be hardly noticeable. "Isaiah felt invisible sitting in the back of the lecture hall.”

248. ivory The tusks of animals such as the elephant, walrus, and sperm whale; creamy white “The elephant figurine was made of ivory.”

249. jaundice Yellowish pigmentation of the skin, tissues, and body fluids caused by the deposition of bile pigments. “David’s jaundice was brought on by a liver problem.”

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250. jauntily In a light or carefree manner. “Steve's hat was perched jauntily on the side of his head.”

251. jeopardize Expose to danger: imperil. “Mr. Turner refuses to jeopardize his family by driving at high speed.”

252. judge Form an authoritative opinion about. “An experienced editor can judge the quality of a manuscript from a few sample pages.”

253. kielbasa A smoked sausage. “Adria ordered a half-pound of potato salad and a kielbasa from the deli.”

254. keepsake something kept or given to be kept as a memento “On my sixteenth birthday my parents gave me a beautiful keepsake pendant.”

255. knapsack A bag or case often of canvas supported on the back by a strap over each shoulder and used especially for carrying supplies while on a march or hike. “The next morning, Boris found a young snapping turtle in his knapsack.”

256. lamp Device producing light “We turn the lamp on to read when it starts to get dark.”

257. laser A device that utilizes the natural oscillations of atoms or molecules between energy levels for generating, coherent electromagnetic radiation. “The surgeon used a laser to make the incision.”

258. laugh Make sounds expressing amusement “We had to laugh when we saw our teacher's Halloween mask.”

259. leather Tanned and dressed hide “Our luggage was made of leather.”

260. lecture An educational speech on a particular subject made before an audience “I missed the lecture on Shakespeare.”

261. ledge Narrow shelf against wall; flat surface projecting from rock face “Please place the books on the ledge.”

262. leopard A large strong cat of southern Asia and Africa that is adept at climbing and is usually tawny or buff with black spots. "The so-called 'black panther' is actually a black-coated

form of the leopard.” 263. levy Impose or collect by legal process or by authority.

“The political candidate promised to levy no new taxes if he were elected.”

264. limerick A light verse form of five anapestic lines. “Noel composed a funny limerick about his teacher.”

265. little Small or young; existing in small “I'll bring my little sister with me.”

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266. loitering Frittering away time in the course of doing something or proceeding somewhere. “Amanda would have been ready to meet the bus if she hadn't been loitering in front of the TV.”

267. luminary One that is an inspiration to others. “Frank Sinatra was introduced as a luminary in the entertainment field of ballads and blues.”

268. lunar Of, taking place on, or relating to the moon. “The Babylonian calendar was based on the lunar cycle.”

269. lyric Characterized by or expressive of direct, usually intense personal emotion. “The lyric quality of Sue-Lynn's poetry was tremendously powerful.”

270. magnitude Greatness of size or extent: vastness. “The magnitude of the shift from previous policies left all members of the organization unsure of their roles.”

271. malady A disease, distemper, disorder, or indisposition of the body proceeding from impaired or defective functions. “In the 14th century, the malady known as The Black Death swept across Europe, leaving about 25 million people dead.”

272. male Relating to men or boys “Our male math teacher gave an exam on division.”

273. mammoth Gigantic. "Clarence specialized in growing mammoth vegetables and held several records for his specimens.”

274. management Administration of business; managers as a group “The management asked us to report all absences.”

275. manuscript Not printed. “Rob bought an 18th-century manuscript map from the bookshop as a gift to his father.”

276. marble Dense crystallized rock “Our marble mascot sits in the front of the school.”

277. measles A very contagious acute viral disease “I couldn't go to school because I had the measles.”

278. melba Fruit served with ice cream, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream. “The peach melba was served in a crystal goblet.”

279. melon Round edible fruit of vines belonging to the gourd family “The melon was so sweet he ate it for dessert.”

280. memorable Worth remembering; easily remembered “My parents made my graduation a memorable experience.”

281. mend Restore something to satisfactory condition “Could you please mend my favorite shirt?”

282. menthol An alcohol that occurs naturally in peppermint oil and Japanese mint oil and can be made synthetically. “Menthol

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is used in medicines to relieve pain, itching, and nasal congestion.”

283. meringue A mixture of beaten egg whites and powdered sugar baked at a low temperature and used as a topping (as on pies, puddings). “Thelma scraped the meringue off her pie.”

284. mind The center of consciousness; thinking capacity “In my mind, I knew it wasn't right to skip school.”

285. miniature Being or represented on a small scale. “The miniature productions of architects’ dream houses were all made out of children’s building blocks.”

286. minstrels Professional musical entertainers of a kind originating in medieval times. “Off to one side a group of minstrels sang songs to the delight of those either too young or too old to engage in trade.”

287. mischief Action or conduct that annoys or irritates without causing or meaning to cause serious harm. “Hearing the puppy's thumping and barking, Erica went to investigate the mischief he was creating.”

288. moderate Neither small nor large. “Sally’s room was of moderate size, but her sister’s was quite small.”

289. molasses The thick dark to light brown syrup that is separated from raw sugar in sugar manufacture. “Mollie always adds molasses to beans before baking them.”

290. molecule A tiny bit: fragment, fraction. “Every tone is a molecule of music.”

291. monkey A medium sized primate found in tropical areas; a child, who behaves badly, annoyingly, or high spiritedly “I took a picture of the monkey at the zoo.”

292. monolith Something resembling a single great stone. “Sir Larry is considered a pillar of strength by his friends and a hulking obstinate monolith by his enemies.”

293. monsoon A periodic wind especially in the Indian Ocean and in southern Asia. “The monsoon brought thunderstorms that blanketed the city with a dust cloud and then flooding rains.”

294. morbid Abnormally susceptible to or characterized by gloomy or unwholesome feelings. “Unfortunately, some inventors are haunted by an almost morbid sense of guilt about the uses to which their inventions have been put.”

295. mosquito Any of numerous two-winged flies that have a rather narrow abdomen and usually a long slender rigid proboscis with which they puncture the skin of animals to suck the blood.

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"Matthew continued to scratch the red bump on his arm from a mosquito bite.”

296. motor Machine that creates motion; engine “The motor on the lawnmower was out of oil.”

297. mourning Feeling sorrow or grief for. “Jacob was mourning the loss of his turtle until a neighbor found it and returned it to him.”

298. muse Become absorbed in thought. "When he was a boy, Howard used to sit on the porch and muse on what he would do with his life.”

299. myth A traditional story that is usually of unknown origin and that serves to explain some practice, belief, institution, or natural phenomenon. “The Greek myth about Persephone explains the coming of winter weather.”

300. narrate Be the teller of a story, give an account of something “The teacher asked if I would narrate my poem.”

301. nectarine A peach that has a smooth-skinned fruit. “Jason prefers a nectarine to a common peach.”

302. neutralize Destroy the peculiar properties or effect of. “Some people keep an air freshener in their car to neutralize any odors.”

303. newspaper Printed account of news “Our homework included reading a newspaper article.”

304. nodosity A protuberance or swelling. “Artie felt a slight nodosity on the cat’s back.”

305. noisy Making noise; containing much noise “Our classroom is always noisy.”

306. nostril Either of the outer openings of the nose. “In some cultures, a pierced nostril adorned with a ring is considered attractive.”

307. noticeable Likely to attract attention: conspicuous. “The only really noticeable things about him were his tiny mustache and his enormous ears, each of which was fully as large as his head.”

308. nugget A lump; especially: a lump of gold. “Adrian kept a gold nugget as a good-luck charm.”

309. oasis A small isolated fertile area that is surrounded by general barrenness and typically marked by trees or other greenery and that has a water supply. “The caravan rested for two days in the oasis.”

310. obscure Not readily understood. “The idea the paragraph was trying to convey was expressed in an unnecessarily obscure way.”

311. obstinate Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course: not yielding to reason, arguments or other means. “The poet Samuel Butler wrote that ‘the obstinate man

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does not hold opinions, but they hold him.’” 312. obvious Readily and easily perceived by the sensibilities or mind.

"It was obvious Marsha had studied when she won the mathathon.”

313. occasionally Now and then: here and there. “Occasionally Mrs. Potter would take her favorite book from the shelf and read to us.”

314. occultation The shutting off of the light of a celestial body by the intervention of some other celestial body. “A solar eclipse is the occultation of the sun by the moon.”

315. opposition A configuration in which one celestial body is opposite another in the sky. “The moon, when full, is said to be in opposition to the Sun.”

316. oppressive Overpowering or depressing to the spirit or senses. “The troops battled the oppressive heat by drinking large amounts of water.”

317. orchid A distinctive and often brightly colored tropical flower with three petals. “Many varieties of the orchid can be found in Hawaii.”

318. overrule To rule authoritatively that somebody's argument is unsound; objection “The judges can overrule a spelling bee argument.”

319. overwrought Suffering from or revealing nervous strain: agitated. “Lock became so overwrought at work, that he quit his job and devoted his life to doing good work among the poor and hungry.”

320. palm Inner surface of the hand; a tropical plant “Since they don’t grow well in cold weather, we put a fake palm tree on our back patio.”

321. pampero A strong cold wind from the west or southwest that sweeps over the pampas of South America from the Andes. “The cattle were huddled together with their backs turned into the pampero.”

322. parable A usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle. “Ella's Sunday school teacher began every class with a parable.”

323. partner Somebody who shares activity with somebody else “My square dancing partner wore cowboy boots.”

324. partridge Any of several game birds belonging to the same subfamily as the bobwhite. “A partridge fluttered out of the tall grass and startled Katrina.”

325. pathetic Evoking tenderness, pity, sympathy, or sorrow: affecting, pitiable. “Riding on the back of anyone who'd carry him was the

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Threadbare Excuse, a small pathetic figure whose clothes were worn and tattered and who mumbled the same things again and again.”

326. peak The pointed summit of a mountain “We biked to the peak of the mountain.”

327. peerless Matchless, incomparable. “Randy wondered how he could compete against the peerless defending champion.”

328. pensive Absorbed or engrossed in or given to sober thoughtfulness. “Lori appeared pensive on the last day of vacation.”

329. pentacle A five-pointed star producible by one continuous line. “The man who came to the door wore a necklace with a bronze pentacle on it.”

330. peony Any of a genus of perennial often double-flowered plants with large pink, white, red, or yellow showy flowers. “Ben placed a brightly colored peony in a tall vase.”

331. perceived Became aware of through the senses. “Through the mist, Steve perceived the shape of a house.”

332. perilous Full of, attended with or involving danger. “From there it's a simple matter of entering the Mountains of Ignorance, full of perilous pitfalls and ominous overtones.”

333. perjury The voluntary violation of an oath. “One thing is certain after the testimony: Either Mr. Jakes or Mr. Cleveland has committed perjury.”

334. permeate Spread or diffuse through. “Mom wiped up the spill immediately, lest the smell of sour milk permeate the room.”

335. perplexing That causes an agitated or confused mental condition. “Sylvia found English grammar terribly perplexing.”

336. personify Be the embodiment of. “Zoltan strove to personify the perfect Boy Scout.”

337. phase A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form of illuminated disk. “Roberto insists there is a correlation between the moon’s phase and criminal activity.”

338. physically In respect to the body. “It was physically impossible for the campers to hike another mile.”

339. picture Something drawn or painted; a photograph “We put the picture in an oval frame.”

340. pillow Soft support for the head; fabric bag stuffed with filling “Mom doesn't like us to have a pillow fight before bed.”

341. pitiless Devoid of or unmoved by compassion. “The pitiless tornado bore onward, ripping up everything in its path.”

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342. plateau Land area having a relatively level surface raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side. “The Columbia lava plateau is located in eastern Washington and Oregon.”

343. platypus A small egg-laying aquatic mammal having a fleshy bill resembling that of a duck, dense blackish brown fur, five-toed webbed feet, and a broad flattened tail. “Cindy has asked for a platypus for her birthday.”

344. pleasurable Proceeding deliberately without haste. “The bikers made a pleasurable tour of the campus.”

345. plenilune The time of full Moon. “Zeke will begin planting after the plenilune.”

346. plumber One who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures that are involved in the distribution and use of water in a building. “The plumber replaced the lead pipes in the Davidsons' house with copper ones.”

347. poise Calm self-assured dignity; a graceful controlled way of standing, moving, or performing an action “A ballerina's first lesson is in poise.”

348. poised Marked by easy composure of manner or bearing. “The poised skater performed her routine with great precision and self-assurance.”

349. polarize Cause as light waves to vibrate in a definite pattern. “Sunglasses that polarize light reflected off water help the wearer see into the water.”

350. pollutant Any substance that makes the air or water impure or unclean. “Ethylene gas is a pollutant associated with industrial manufacturing and automobile exhaust.”

351. ponderous Unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size. “Roy could barely lift the ponderous ancient weapon.”

352. popular Appealing to the general public: well liked “Gertrude was the most popular female name for babies this year.”

353. porcupine Any of various relatively large rodents having stiff sharp erectile bristles mingled with the hair. “The yelping dog's snout was covered with quills from a porcupine.”

354. position The place where somebody or something is; the posture that somebody's body is in “I came in fifth position at the spelling bee.”

355. possessed Influenced or controlled by something (as an evil spirit or a passion). “During the race the winning horse ran as if he were possessed by a demon.”

356. praline A round patty of creamy brown sugar containing pecan

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meats. “The praline is a favorite candy of the southern United States.”

357. precipice A very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place (as the face of a cliff). “Just looking down from the precipice made Gloria dizzy.”

358. precipitation A deposit on the Earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet or snow; also: the quantity of water deposited. “Low-pressure areas normally bring clouds and precipitation.”

359. preface The author's introduction to a book usually explaining the object and scope of what follows : a foreword. “In her preface, the author explained how she got involved in the study of gorillas.”

360. prejudice Opinion based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes “A judge will come to a fair decision without any prejudice.”

361. prey Make raids for the sake of booty. “Pirates prey on the coastal shipping off the coast.”

362. profuse Overly plentiful: bountiful. “Buttons on the entertainer's suit were so profuse that not another one could be placed anywhere.”

363. prognosis The prospect of survival and recovery from a disease. “Dr. Kidwell gave Ann an encouraging prognosis.”

364. prolonger One who lengthens in time, extends in duration, or draws out. “Dr. Murphy kept his remarks short because he did not want to be the prolonger of the meeting.”

365. prompter One who reminds actors during a performance of the words to be spoken next. “In addition to helping with lines, the prompter indicated when the players should start singing.”

366. proposition A project, plan, undertaking, or situation requiring some action. “The highway superintendent presented his proposition for spring street repair to the mayor.”

367. provost A high-ranking administrative officer of an American university. “Professor Myers met with the provost to discuss the new curriculum.”

368. proximity The quality or state of being close. “The Fletchers bought the house on Vine Street because of its proximity to neighborhood schools.”

369. pungent Causing a sharp sensation: pricking, irritating, acrid. “The pungent odor of wet dog sent the guests out for fresh air.”

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370. puny Slight or inferior in size. “No one would ever guess that the strong and stocky wrestler was puny as a child.”

371. puritanical Morally rigorous, strict. “Mrs. Langley is a puritanical woman who tolerates no nonsense from her students.”

372. pyramid An ancient massive structure of huge stone blocks found especially in Egypt having typically a square ground plan, outside walls in the form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top, and inner sepulchral chambers. “The sight of a pyramid on the desert horizon took Rico’s breath away.”

373. quadrilateral A plane figure of four sides and consequently four angles. “The perimeter of a baseball diamond forms a quadrilateral.”

374. quartet A group of four singers or musicians; group of four “The quartet performed a magnificent number at the concert.”

375. quench Put out as a fire or a light. “For three days the firefighters tried to quench the blaze.”

376. quest An act or instance of searching expedition, pursuit, venture. "In 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' the horseman rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.”

377. rampage Act, rush, or storm wildly or excitedly. “Crazed fans began to rampage in the streets after their team won the championship.”

378. ranch A farm where livestock is raised on large tracts of open land “We love visiting my Grandpa's ranch.”

379. range Number of similar things “The range of her interests is extraordinary.”

380. raspberry Any of various usually black or red sweet juicy edible berries. “The raspberry is highly prized for making jams and preserves.”

381. rattlesnake Any of numerous pit vipers that have a series of interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated. “Mr. Bergson’s valuable stallion died last summer after being bitten by a rattlesnake.”

382. ravenous Craving for satisfaction or gratification. “The children tore into the meal with a ravenous hunger.”

383. rebuttal The act of contradicting. “Dennis's convincing rebuttal sent Oscar home in a huff.”

384. recitation Material read aloud or from memory in public, especially poetry “Part of our grade depended on the recitation of our poems.”

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385. recover Regain something “Will I ever recover from this flu bug?”

386. recyclable Capable of being processed in order to regain material for human use. “Each office in the building has its own receptacle for recyclable paper.”

387. repetition The act or instance of repeating something that one has already said. “The repetition in the epic poem was anything but boring.”

388. report To give information about something that has happened “My parents will receive a progress report in October.”

389. reputed Held in estimation. “Frans hails from one of the most reputed lawfirms in the state.”

390. reservoir A place where water is collected and kept in quantity for use when wanted. “Because of the dry spell, our reservoir was only half full, and water restrictions had to be imposed.”

391. resilience An act of springing back: rebound, recoil. “Vera showed her resilience by recovering so quickly from her skiing accident.”

392. retrieve Get something back; save something “Our dog will never learn to retrieve his toy.”

393. retrograde Moving, directed, or tending in a backward direction. “The soldiers fought a retrograde action.”

394. revelry Boisterous merrymaking. “The revelry at campaign headquarters began after the arrival of the winning candidate.”

395. ricotta A white unripened whey cheese of Italian origin that resembles cottage cheese. “Angela's favorite Italian recipe calls for ravioli stuffed

with ricotta.” 396. rough Not smooth or flat; not soft

“Sand the rough edges until they are smooth”. 397. royal Relating to a king, queen, or other member of a monarch's

“The hotel gave us the royal treatment when we arrived.” 398. rugged Harsh, ungentle.

“The welder’s rugged demeanor was contradictory of his warm heart.”

399. saga An episodic story centering about a usually heroic figure of earlier ages. “Rubin traced the motif to a 13th century Icelandic saga.”

400. sagely In a wise or prudent manner. “Vera invested her savings sagely.”

401. sardine Any of several small or immature fishes preserved for food. “The only way to entice the frightened cat from under the porch was to offer him a sardine.”

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402. scentless Emitting no odor. “Gerald prefers scentless soap.”

403. scowl An expression of anger; a frown “My teacher had a scowl on her face when I didn't have my homework.”

404. searingly In a manner causing withering or drying. “The noonday sun blazed searingly on the withered corn.”

405. secrecy The habit or practice of maintaining privacy or concealment. “Secrecy seems to be inherent in government administration.”

406. sediment Material deposited as by water, wind, or glaciers. “The layers of sediment were evident in the shades of color on the rocky hillside.”

407. seizure A sudden attack as of a disease or sickness. “A seizure of hay fever ruined the picnic for Tom.”

408. sensibility Awareness of and responsive feeling toward something (as emotion in another). “Joanne's natural sensibility plus her trustworthiness make her the perfect confidante.”

409. shave Remove hair with razor; reduce amount slightly “If we shave the door bottom, it will stop scraping the ground.”

410. shear To remove something; cut hair, wool, or foliage “The farmer will shear his sheep next Friday.”

411. shoulder Place where an arm attaches to the trunk body “I will need a shoulder to cry on when I misspell a word.”

412. sideways To or toward one side “Please place the table sideways.”

413. simile A figure of speech comparing two essentially unlike things and often introduced by "like" or "as." “Kermit has a pet chicken and knows firsthand what the simile ‘as scarce as hens' teeth’ means.”

414. skewer A metal or wood pin used for holding meat while roasting. “Maggie put pieces of steak and vegetables on the skewer.”

415. skimpiness The quality or state of being deficient in supply or execution. “The skimpiness of Eunice's budget did not allow for many luxuries.”

416. slavish Requiring hard work: laborious. "‘A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect,’ roared the Humbug, waving his cane furiously.”

417. slovenly Negligent of neatness and order, especially in dress or person. “He that is born under Capricorn shall incline to the slovenly.”

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418. sociable Enjoying companionship. “The dolphin is one of the most sociable creatures known to man.”

419. solarium A glass-enclosed porch or living room. “Lacey moved her sunlight-starved fern from her bedroom to the solarium.”

420. solemn Marked by full realization and acceptance of all that is involved. “Donald took a solemn oath on the Bible.”

421. sonnet A fixed verse form of Italian origin consisting of 14 lines. “Thomas remembered memorizing in high school a sonnet about Triton and a wreathed horn.”

422. sorbet A frozen dessert made with a mixture of fruits. “Wylie ate sorbet between courses to cleanse his palate.”

423. spaghetti A pasta made in solid strings of small diameter but larger than vermicelli. “The specialty of the restaurant was spaghetti with meat sauce.”

424. spherical Like a sphere: globular. “Linda suspected that the spherical rock she found was a geode.”

425. spontaneous Proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint. “His employee’s spontaneous obedience made Tim’s job pleasant.”

426. sprawling Lying or sitting with arms and legs stretched out carelessly or awkwardly. "The bucking of the horse sent the cowboy sprawling on

the ground.” 427. squeamish Inclined to become nauseated: queasy.

“Pat is squeamish when it comes to rides at the fair.” 428. squirrel Small bushytailed rodent

“By the end of summer, the neighborhood squirrel leaves very few nuts on our almond tree.”

429. stalwart Brave, valiant, resolute. “The stalwart defenders of the Alamo held their positions until the inevitable end.”

430. starboard The right side of a ship or airplane looking forward. “Steve noticed an island to starboard.”

431. station Stop on railroad or bus route; local branch of organization “What station does your bus stop at?”

432. statue Three dimensional image “The statue is made of marble and brass.”

433. statuesque Having a massive dignity or impressiveness: majestic. “A statuesque sculpture stood in the town square.”

434. stellar Of, relating to, or derived from the stars. “Rapid stellar rotation can modify the structure of a star’s

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atmosphere.” 435. stethoscope An instrument used for the detection and study of sounds

within the body. “Heard through a stethoscope, the rumbling of the stomach can sound like a storm at sea.”

436. stifling Producing suffocation or repression. “The stifling smell of cigar smoke killed Ashley’s appetite.”

437. stupendous Of amazing size or greatness. “The construction of Khufu's pyramid was a stupendous accomplishment for the ancient Egyptians.”

438. substantiate Prove, confirm, verify. “If three witnesses would substantiate Henry’s own testimony, his alibi would be hard to disprove.”

439. sullen Ill-humoredly unsociable: gloomily or resentfully silent. “When her name was called, Judy looked up in sullen resentment.”

440. superb Stately, lordly. “The statue of the king conveyed his superb demeanor well.”

441. swagger Conduct oneself in an arrogant manner. “Dave seemed to swagger slightly as he got up from his final exam.”

442. sweater A warm knitted piece of clothing “Her favorite sweater was purple.”

443. sweltering Oppressively hot: causing or marked by excessive sweating or faintness. “Despite the sweltering heat, thousands of people lined the streets to watch the Fourth of July parade.”

444. tame No longer wild; friendly toward people “I wish I could tame our dog.”

445. tangy Having a particularly pungent odor. “The burning pile of old tires will leave the air tangy for several days.”

446. tattletale One that blabs or tells secrets. “Erica's official title is ‘social reporter,’ but Will considers her a plain old tattletale.”

447. tautology Redundancy. “Harriet’s detail contained, when separated from all the feebleness and tautology of the narration, a substance that sank Emma’s spirit.”

448. teachable Willing to learn; able to be taught “Although he was old, our dog was still teachable.”

449. telescope An optical instrument for viewing distant objects by means of the refraction of light rays through a lens. “Through the telescope Jorge watched the lunar eclipse.”

450. tempestuous Of, involving, or resembling a furious storm. “The tempestuous action of wind and waves imperiled the

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ships.” 451. tenebrism A style of painting typically associated with the painter

Caravaggio that submerges most of the forms depicted in shadow but dramatically illuminates the remaining forms by a beam of light. “The photographer created a photographic sort of tenebrism.”

452. tenement A single room or set of rooms for use by one tenant or family: apartment, flat. “Polly grew up in a tenement on the west side of the city.”

453. tenth One of ten equal parts of something; ordinal number corresponding to 10 “I came in tenth place in the science fair.”

454. terrarium A usually transparent enclosure for keeping or raising plants or usually small animals as turtles indoors “Mosses and other small woodland plants thrive in a terrarium.”

455. testimony A solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official. “According to Victoria’s testimony, she had just returned from vacation when she discovered that the statue was missing.”

456. tetanus An acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles and especially of the jaw muscles. “Puncture wounds are dangerous because they allow the bacteria that cause tetanus to enter the body.”

457. themselves Their real or normal self “They haven't been themselves since they began studying for the spelling bee.”

458. thermometer An instrument for determining temperature. “The thermometer that takes a temperature reading from one's ear is now used widely.”

459. thistle A plant with prickly leaves having a head with white, purple, pink, or yellow flowers. “Dean plucked a thistle from the lawn of the middle school.”

460. thrill Be or make somebody very excited “The thrill of winning the spelling bee was spectacular.”

461. titanic Colossal, gigantic. “World War Il brought political change on a titanic scale to Europe.”

462. tobacco The leaves of a plant of the genus Nicotiana prepared and processed for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff. “At an early age, Amy vowed never to use tobacco.”

463. toil Hard work; strife “My father's toil in the garden produced a feast for

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dinner.” 464. torch A burning stick

“We lit a torch to begin the festivities.” 465. totality The phase of an eclipse during which it is total state of total

eclipse. “An eerie silence crept over the crowd as the eclipse reached totality.”

466. tough Extremely difficult to cope with or comprehend. “The questions on the final exam were so tough that only the well-prepared students got a passing grade.”

467. traversed Moved to and fro over or along. “Zane serenely traversed the frozen pond in his new ice skates.”

468. treatment Provision of medical care “The physical therapy treatment helped sprained wrist.”

469. trespass Make an unwarranted or uninvited incursion. “The rock salt from farmer Brown’s shotgun taught Wally a painful lesson: don’t trespass.”

470. triple Having 3 parts; 3 times as much “If I hit a triple, our team will win the game.”

471. triumphant Conquering, victorious. “The triumphant general was given a parade when he returned.”

472. tundra A treeless plain characteristic of arctic and subarctic regions with a permanently frozen subsoil. “Do reindeer graze on the moss of the tundra?”

473. turbulence Highly irregular atmospheric motion characterized by rapid changes in wind speed and direction and the presence of up and down currents. “The captain warned the plane’s passengers to brace themselves for a patch of turbulence.”

474. turkey Large North American bird “We always have a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.”

475. undiscerned Unseen. “Many circumstances had passed undiscerned, but the two latest occurrences were not without some degree of witness from Emma herself.”

476. unfavorable Opposed, contrary. “Willa decided the time was unfavorable for her to tell her mother the news.”

477. univalve Having or consisting in one valve. “The aquatic univalve will usually attach its eggs to leaves or sticks.”

478. universe The entire celestial cosmos. “Many a philosopher has pondered the question “Are we alone in the universe?”

479. unlock Open or become open after locking

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“Please unlock the door for me.” 480. unusual Rare; remarkable

“What an unusual word for the spelling bee word list.” 481. valedictory A speech or farewell usually given at the commencement

exercises of a school or college. “Alice’s valedictory at graduation brought the entire senior class to its feet.”

482. valiantly In a brave or bold manner courageously. “Deidre tried valiantly to swim the English Channel.”

483. ventilate Cause fresh air to circulate through and contaminated air to be simultaneously withdrawn from. “To ventilate her kitchen, Margo set a fan in the doorway and opened the windows.”

484. victory Defeat of an enemy or opponent; success “The victory was only a game away.”

485. visual Of vision; visible “Story problems sometimes require visual aides.”

486. visualize See a mental image of. “Arthur could still visualize the accident down to the smallest detail.”

487. vocal Spoken; of the voice “I failed the vocal portion of the exam.”

488. vulgar Lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste. “Harriet vowed that she would not visit Mr. Martin’s wife if he married an ignorant vulgar woman.”

489. waft Bear along on or as if on a buoyant medium. “As the aroma of coffee started to waft into the room, Mary woke up.”

490. wander Travel without a destination “It is fun to wander through the booths at the fair.”

491. weasel Any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals that are mostly reddish brown with white or yellowish underparts and in northern forms turn white in winter. “In the snow the white fur of the weasel camouflages it against attacks by hawks or owls.”

492. weather State of the atmosphere with regard to temperature, cloudiness, rainfall, wind, and other meteorological conditions “If the weather is bad, we will not go on the field trip.”

493. weird Odd: strange or unusual “Everything seems weird on Halloween night.”

494. whether Used as a function word followed usually by correlative “or” or by “or whether” to indicate alternative conditions or possibilities. “I do so hate to make up my mind about anything, whether it’s good or bad, up or down, in or out, rain or shine.”

495. whip To strike repeatedly

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“Can I help whip the eggs for the scrambled eggs.” 496. whisk Transport swiftly: hurry, speed.

“The celebrity had his bodyguards whisk him past the crowd.”

497. whole Entire; complete; undivided “I know the whole list of spelling words.”

498. wreckage Something that has been reduced to a ruinous state by violence: the remains of a wreck. “’But how will we get down?’ groaned Billy, looking at the wreckage below.”

499. yeast A substance used in baking and the fermentation of alcoholic beverages: leaven. “The sourdough bread recipe called for two packages of yeast.”

500. zeal Impassioned eagerness. “Russell entered into his new job with great zeal.”