More Vocabra

Lesson 7

decisiveAdele won the student council election by a decisive margin.The school principal gives no second chances. She takes decisive action against all students who break the rules.Definition: firm; clear; unmistakable

apatheticThe teacher sighed at the apathetic students who were yawning, doodling on their notepads and staring out the window.The voters were so apathetic about the candidates that only 10 percent of them voted in the election.Definition: uninterested; lacking in strong feeling.

manipulateDori can manipulate almost anyone. All she has to do is cry and she usually gets what she wants.By picking and choosing which facts he presented, the speaker was able to manipulate the audience members into agreeing with him.Definition: to manage or control shrewdly or unfairly; to act a certain way to get others to behave in ways that are beneficial to you.

exemptMrs. Ramsey didn’t have to pay taxes on the paper plates because the church she was buying them for was exempt from paying taxes.Just because Priscilla is the principal’s daughter doesn’t mean she is exempt from the rules.Definition: excused; not subject to the rules

revokeBoyd’s parents revoked his driving privileges when he ran their car into a telephone pole.When the teacher found out Gordon cheated on the exam, she revoked the “A” she had given him.Definition: to take back

deferThe president had to defer the scheduled meeting because of a family emergency.Luke and Holly deferred the announcement of their engagement until Holly’s father returned from his business trip.Definition: to postpone or delay

literally“When I said ‘Go jump in a lake,’ I didn’t mean it literally,” Kyle said to her little brother, who was soaking wet.When Kelly said the grass was greener on the other side, she meant it literally. On this side, the grass was brown and dying.Definition: really; actually; word for word

capacityBecause the room soon filled to capacity, some people had to be turned away.Since Ms. Thurman’s class was at capacity, the new student had to be assigned to Mr. Hanson’s class.Definition: volume; the amount of space that can be filled

fundamentalOne of the fundamental rules of this school is that you respect other people.Gabriella didn’t want any really hard classes, so she took “Fundamentals of Basket Weaving” instead of “Acid Solutions and Organic Chemical Compounds.”Definition: basic

psychosomaticJohn’s illness was diagnosed as psychosomatic response to the stress of losing his job.Melissa’s nervousness about first dates always gave her a psychosomatic fit of vomiting right before her dates picked her up.Definition: having to do with physical symptoms caused by a person’s thoughts or emotions.

***semblanceThe principal had a hard time regaining some semblance of order after the demonstrators left the auditorium.There wasn’t even a semblance of understanding on the faces of the puzzled students as the teacher went on and on about participial phrases.Definition: outward appearance

***hierarchyIn the hierarchy of the feudal system, noblemen ranked higher than serfs.High school seniors usually receive more privileges than freshmen because they are at the top of the student hierarchy.Definition: a group arranged in order of rank from highest in power to lowest in power