ALL 10th Grade English VOCABULARY QUIZ LISTS for entire FIRST SEMESTER, 2006 – Jan., 2007

REMINDER: Lists are copied EVERY Monday in class & Quizzes are completed EVERY Thursday in class.

VOCAB #1  –  List Date: Sept. 11th – Quiz Date: Sept. 14th

1. abide: (verb) to endure without yielding; withstand; to bear patiently; to tolerate.

2. baffle: (verb) bewilder; perplex; hinder; thwart; impeded; obstruct; frustrate.

3. calamity: (noun) disaster; grievous affliction; mishap; accident; misfortune; catastrophe.

4. daunting: (adjective) intimidating; frightening; disheartening; discouraging.

5. erroneous: (adjective) containing or characterized by error.   A mistake or a blunder.

6. familiarity: (noun) well-known; forward; informal; friendly; intimate; close; personal.

7. gaunt: (adjective) haggard; worn; fatigued; tired; thin; exhausted; worn-down; skinny; bony; lean; skeletal.

8. habitual (adjective) A force of routine.  Something done out of habit.

9. illustrious: (adjective) Well known and very famous; important.

10. lackadaisical: (adjective) lacking spirit or liveliness.

Extra Credit Word: misnomer: (noun) Any misnaming of a person or thing, possibly inappropriate.

VOCAB #2  –  List Date: Sept. 18th – Quiz Date: Sept. 21st

• abolish: (verb) to do away with; void; cancel; reject.

• negligence: (noun) The state or quality of being neglectful.  A careless act or a failure to act.

• obligatory: (adjective) Morally or legally constraining; binding.  Imposing or recording a required responsibility.

• philanthropic: (adjective) aid mankind; charitable group , person, or activity; generous; giving; benevolent; helpful.

• relent: (verb) soften in attitude; give in; surrender.

• scarce: (adjective) scant; slight; limited; inadequate; unusual; uncommon; rare; infrequent.

• tendency: (noun) inclination; preference; partiality.

• unaccustomed: (adjective) uncommon; unusual; unfamiliar.

• vacate: (verb) make empty; leave; go away; put an end to; depart.

• worthwhile: (adjective) Very valuable or important to be worth one's time, effort, or interest.

Extra Credit Word: bombastic: (adjective) Pretentiously and long-winded.

VOCAB #3  –  List Date: Sept. 25th – Quiz Date: Sept. 28th

• candor: (noun) frankness; honesty; bluntness; fairness; truthfulness; impartiality.

• deficiency: (noun) To be lacking; incompleteness or inadequacy.  A lack or shortage of, especially of something essential to health; an insufficiency.

• eclectic: (adjective) Selecting from various methods, beliefs, or sources.  Not following any one method, but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all ideas.

• feasible: (adjective) Capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible.  Logical; likely.

• gist: (noun) The central idea; the real meaning.

• haggard: (adjective) Appearing worn and exhausted; scrawny.  Wild or distraught in appearance.

• impede: (verb) To delay or obstruct the progress of.

• lament: (verb) mourn; grieve; regret; wail.

• magnanimous: (adjective) generous, kind, giving, and high-minded.  NOT vindictive, bitter, mean, cruel, hurtful, or nasty.

• superfluous: (adjective) more than is wanted or is sufficient.

Extra Credit Word: parsimonious: (adjective) Extremely thrifty or penny-pinching.

VOCAB #4  –  List Date: Oct. 02nd – Quiz Date: Oct. 05th

• abdicate: (verb) renounce; give up; reject; abandon; surrender.

• banter: (noun) joking; teasing; mockery.

• obstinate: (adjective) Stubbornly sticking to an attitude, opinion, or course of action; inflexible.  Difficult to manage, control, or subdue; unruly.

• quandary: (noun) A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

• rabble-rouser: (noun) A person who stirs up the passions or prejudices of the public, usually for his/her own interests; agitator.

• sacred: (adjective) consecrated; hallowed; blessed; holy; divine.

• tact: (noun) skill in saying and doing the appropriate and proper thing.

• ubiquitous: (adjective) everywhere at the same time; ever-present.

• vehemently: (adverb) emphatically; intensely; fervently.

• way-worn: (adjective) wearied by traveling.

Extra Credit Word: capricious: (adjective) Impulsive and unpredictable.

VOCAB #5 –  List Date: Oct. 09th – Quiz Date: Oct. 12th

• defiant: (adjective) challenging; resistant; opposing.

• eloquence: (noun) using language with fluency and force; persuasive discourse.

• faction: (noun) A usually controversial or self-seeking group within a larger group, party, government, etc.

• gallant: (adjective) brave; spirited; noble; showy; chivalrous; man attentive to women.

• haphazardly: (adverb) By chance; casually.  Accidentally; coincidentally; carelessly.

• imperative: (adjective) urgent; critical; obligatory; mandatory; required; commending; compelling.

• legitimate: (adjective) Being in compliance with the law; lawful.  Being in accordance with established or accepted patterns and standards.  Based on logical reasoning; reasonable.  Authentic; genuine

• magnitude: (noun) Greatness in size or extent.  Greatness in significance or influence.

• notorious: (adjective) infamous; ill-famed; tarnished reputation.

• obtain: (verb) To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor; acquire.

Extra Credit Word: pithy: (adjective) Precisely meaningful; forceful and brief.  Straight to the point.

VOCAB #6 –  List Date: Oct. 16th – Quiz Date: Oct. 19th

• abundant: (adjective) plentiful;; overflowing; bountiful; ample.

• begrudge: (verb) To envy the possession or enjoyment of.  To give or expend with reluctance.

• cagey: (adjective) Wary; careful.  Crafty; shrewd.

• delinquent: (adjective) neglectful; guilty of an offense; negligent; remiss; careless.

• relevant: (adjective) Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand.

• scruples: (noun) doubts about doing; qualms; ethical considerations; misgivings; worries; uncertainties; reservations; fears; suspicions.

• tangible: (adjective) detectable by touch; real; concrete; material; solid; physical.

• uncouth: (adjective) Rude; unrefined; vulgar; offensive.

• valid: (adjective) based on facts; legally binding; producing the desired result; effective.

• wretched: (adjective) In a terrible state of distress or misfortune; miserable.  Miserable or anguished.  Having a mean character; depressing.  Contemptible; wicked.

Extra Credit Word: enervate: (verb) to weaken.

VOCAB #7 –  List Date: Oct. 23rd – Quiz Date: Oct. 26th

• fastidious: (adjective) hard to please; very critical and judgmental; fault-finding.

• germane: (adjective) Being both relevant or applicable and appropriate.  Also, of importance to the situation or idea.

• hardship: (noun) difficult condition; something hard to bear.

• impertinence: (noun) The quality or condition of being disrespectful and impolite. 

• lethargic: (adjective) sluggish inactivity; drowsy; slow; dullness; tired.

• maliciously: (adverb) Resulting from hatred, spite, and cruelty; deliberately harmful; mean, nasty, and unpleasant.

• omission: (noun) The act of leaving out.  Having been excluded.  Something forgotten or neglected.

• plea: (noun) appeal; petition; request.

• relinquish: (verb) to give up; release; let go; free; discharge; liberate.

• sequential: (adjective) Forming a series or order.                                                     

Extra Credit Word: thwart: (verb) To prevent the occurrence, realization, or achievement of.  To oppose and defeat the efforts, plans, or goals of.

VOCAB #8 –  List Date: Oct. 30th – Quiz Date: Nov. 02nd

• accost: (verb) to boldly approach; to forcefully move toward.

• indignant: (adjective) showing displeasure at what seems unjust or unworthy; annoyance or disapproval of unfairness; irritation with unreasonableness.

• cantankerous: (adjective) ill-natured; unpleasant; disagreeable; bad-tempered; grumpy; snippy; crabby; grouchy.

• denounce: (verb) accuse publicly; condemn; criticize; attack.

• elusive: (adjective) able to escape by skill or trickery; to baffle; to cause confusion; to evade; to avoid.

• formidable: (adjective) disturbing fear; troubling fright; alarming extent; magnitude, strength, etc.

• temerity: (noun) nerve, guts, boldness, audacity, insolence.

• unequivocal: (adjective) clear; not ambiguous; plain; certain; definite; distinct.

• vengeance: (noun) retribution; revenge; payback; justice; reckoning; reprisal.

• writhe: (verb) to squirm or twist about, as in pain or with violent effort.

Extra Credit Word: gregarious: (adjective) seeking and enjoying the company of others; outgoing.

VOCAB #9 –  List Date: Nov. 13th – Quiz Date: Nov. 16th

• hierarchy: (noun) Categorization of a group of people according to ability or status.

• inadvertent: (adjective) Not properly focused.  Marked by unintentional lack of care.

• logical: (adjective) The nature of reason, judgment, and sense.  Based on earlier or otherwise known statements, events, or conditions; reasonable.  Reasoning or capable of reasoning in a clear and consistent manner.

• manipulate: (verb) work, control, handle, or use with skill; operate; run; change or falsify; fake; fix; fabricate; misrepresent.

• ominous: (adjective) threatening; sinister; evil; menacing; frightening; disturbing; creepy.

• pliant: (adjective) Easily bent or flexed; malleable.  Easily altered or modified to fit conditions; adaptable.

• reluctant: (adjective) not willing; unenthusiastic.

• sardonic: (adjective) Cynical, mocking, scornful, or bitterly sarcastic.

• tenacious: (adjective) stubborn; obstinate; inflexible; willful; persistent; unrelenting; determined.

• unabashed: (adjective) Not confused, flustered, or embarrassed; self-assured and self-confident.  Not concealed or disguised; obvious.

EXTRA-CREDIT TERM: pestiferous: (adjective) Bearing or bringing disease; Infected with or contaminated by a pestilential disease; Morally evil or dangerous to society; destructive and harmful; Bothersome; troublesome; annoying.

VOCAB #10 –  List Date: Nov. 27th – Quiz Date: Nov. 30th

1. acquiesce: (verb) To consent or comply without protest.

2. berate: (verb) To scold severely or angrily.

3. cavalcade: (noun) a procession.

4. deprive: (verb) take or keep something away from.

5. emaciate: (verb) lose flesh gradually; waste away physically.

6. fiasco: (noun) A complete failure.  A disaster.

7. glibly: (adverb) fluently; confidently; nonchalantly; casually; coolly; dispassionately; slickly.

8. indigenous: (adjective) native; original.

9. plausible: (adjective) apparently true; believable.

10. truculent: (adjective) savage; cruel; unkind; mean.

Extra-Credit Word: menagerie: (noun) A collection of wild or unusual animals, especially for exhibition; A diverse or varied group.

VOCAB #11 –  List Date: Dec. 04th – Quiz Date: Dec. 07th

• acquire: (verb) to gain possession of; to get, secure, or obtain.

• beseech: (verb) To deliver a serious and sincere or urgent request; to beg.

• ostracize: (verb) To expel from a community or group.

• palindrome: (noun) a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward.

• quid pro quo: (noun) something equivalent; equal substitute; even exchange or swap.

• remiss: (adjective) Lax in attending to duty; negligent.  Exhibiting carelessness or sloppiness.

• secluded: (adjective) To set or keep apart, as from social contact with others.  To screen from view; make private.

• tepid: (adjective) lukewarm; temperate.

• unanimous: (adjective) showing complete accord; total harmony, concurrence, or unity; full agreement.

• verify: (verb) to confirm; substantiate; prove; validate; back up; authenticate.

Extra-Credit Word: cavort: (verb) bound about; frolic; jump about; leap about; dance; play around.

VOCAB #12 –  List Date: Dec. 11th – Quiz Date: Dec. 14th

• descend: (verb) to go from a higher to a lower place.

• embellish: (verb) To make beautiful, as by ornamentation; decorate.  To add ornamental or fictitious details to.

• flabbergasted: (adjective) as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise; astounded; amazed.

• graciousness: (noun) marked by kindness, sympathy, and unaffected politeness.

• hypocrisy: (noun) The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.  An act or instance of dishonesty or deceit.

• inclination: (noun) leaning toward; receptiveness; slope; slant; liking; partiality.

• loathe: (verb) detest; hate; despise; abhor; dislike intensely.

• masticate: (verb) to chew.

• overt: (adjective) open; direct; candid; not hidden; obvious; noticeable; apparent; evident.

• paradigm: (noun) model; replica; pattern; example; sample.

Extra-Credit Word: nepotism: (noun) favoritism shown to members of one's family.

VOCAB #13 –  List Date: Jan. 08th – Quiz Date: Jan. 11th, 2007

• adamant: (adjective) Resistant to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly uncompromising.

• bewilder: (verb) perplex; baffle; confuse; mystify.

• ceaselessly: (adverb) Without stop or pause; constant.

• deterrence: (noun) The act of discouraging, preventing, or frightening.  Measures taken to stop hostile action by another.

• embrace: (verb) To clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection.  To surround; enclose.  To coil or twist around.

• renowned: (adjective) famous; well-known; prominent; illustrious; legendary; recognized.

• seize: (verb) to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp; clutch; grip; clasp; clench; capture; catch; trap.

• triskaidekaphobia: (noun) a morbid fear of the number 13 or the date Friday the 13th.

• unruly: (adjective) violent; rowdy; restless; wild; unstable; disorderly; uncontrollable; unmanageable; out of control; irrepressible; disobedient.

• veritable: (adjective) genuine; true; authentic.

Extra-Credit Word: fugacious: (adjective) lasting but a short time.

VOCAB #14  –  List Date: Jan. 15th – Quiz Date: Jan 18th, 2007

• grudgingly: (adverb) To be reluctant to give or admit.  To resent for having; envy.

• inclusive: (adjective) Taking a great deal or everything within its scope; comprehensive.  Including the specified extremes or limits as well as the area between them.

• matriculate: (verb) enroll as a member of an academic or educational institution of learning.

• overwhelmed: (adjective) To be affected deeply in mind or emotion.  To be presented with an excessive amount.

• paradox: (noun) A seemingly conflicting statement that may, however, be true.  Exhibiting mysterious or contradictory views.

• reprisal: (noun) Retaliation for an injury with the intent of inflicting at least as much injury in return.  Forcible capture of an opponent's possessions in revenge for injuries caused.

• sinister: (adjective) malevolent; malicious; spiteful; evil; wicked; nasty; mean; immoral; unpleasant.

• therapeutic: (adjective) Having healing powers.  The ability to cure.

• utilize: (verb) make use of.   

• versatile: (adjective) having many uses, talents, skills, aptitudes, abilities, etc.

• Extra-Credit Term: ameliorate: (verb) to make or grow better.

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