Third Vocabulary List for 2013/14
Week 1:
triv·i·a
ˈtrɪv i əShow Spelled[triv-ee-uh]
–plural noun
matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Pop artists deal with the lowly trivia of possessions and equipment that the present generation is lugging along with it on its safari
into the future.
tran·spire
trænˈspaɪərShow Spelled [tran-spahyuh r] verb,-spired, -spir·ing.
–verb (used without object)
1.
to occur; happen; take place.
2.
to emit or give off waste matter, watery vapor, etc., through the surface, as of the body or of leaves.
3.
to escape, as moisture or odor, through or as if through pores.
The principal tried to determine the events that transpired prior to the fight.
my·thol·o·gy
Spelled[mi-thol-uh-jee]
–noun,plural-gies.
1.
a body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person: 2.
myths collectively.
3.
the science or study of myths.
4.
a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally
or deliberately fostered
Sandy enjoyed the study of mythology.
can·tan·ker·ous
[kan-tang-ker-uh s]
–adjective
disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish:
He is a cantankerous, argumentative man.
phe·nom·e·nal
[fi-nom-uh-nl]
–adjective
1.
highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional
2.
of or pertaining to phenomena.
3.
of the nature of a phenomenon; cognizable by the senses.
She has phenomenal speed for a sixth grader.
Week 2:
spec·u·late
–verb (used without object),-lat·ed, -lat·ing.
1.
to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often fol. by on, upon, or a clause).
2.
to indulge in conjectural thought.
3.
to engage in any business transaction involving considerable risk or the chance of large gains, esp. to
buy and sell commodities, stocks, etc., in the expectation of a quick or very large profit.
About why this should be so, we can only speculate.
de·mise
noun, verb,-mised, -mis·ing.
–noun
1.
death or decease.
2.
termination of existence or operation: the demise of the empire.
3.
Law.
a.
a death or decease occasioning the transfer of an estate.
b.
a conveyance or transfer of an estate.
4.
Government. transfer of sovereignty, as by the death or deposition of the sovereign.
Eating so many hamburgers will lead to your demise.
suc·cumb
–verb (used without object)
1.
to give way to superior force; yield: to succumb to despair.
2.
to yield to disease, wounds, old age, etc.; die.
I've seen audience after audience succumb gratefully to Dean's air of superior professional authority.
whim·si·cal
–adjective
1.
given to whimsy or fanciful notions; capricious
2.
of the nature of or proceeding from whimsy, as thoughts or actions
3.
erratic; unpredictable
His whimsical personality offered a refreshing change for our school.
waive
–verb (used with object),waived, waiv·ing.
1.
to refrain from claiming or insisting on; give up; forgo
2.
Law. to relinquish (a known right, interest, etc.) intentionally.
3.
to put aside for the time; defer; postpone; dispense with
4.
to put aside or dismiss from consideration or discussion
She decided to waive her right to an attorney.
Week 3:
im·pli·ca·tion noun
1.something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood
2.the act of implying
His implication of immediate changes surprised us.
pre·sump·tion noun
1.the act of presuming.
2.assumption of something as true.
3.belief on reasonable grounds or probable evidence.
The presumption of innocence is the corner stone of our Judicial system.
prob·a·bil·i·ty noun, plural -ties.
1.the quality or fact of being probable.
2.a strong likelihood or chance of something.
3.a probable event, circumstance, etc.
Our going to China is a probability.
fea·si·ble adjective
1.capable of being done, effected, or accomplished.
2.probable; likely.
3.suitable.
The 8th grade teachers have a feasible plan for helping students avoid retention.
ac·qui·si·tion noun
1.the act of acquiring or gaining possession.
2.something acquired; addition.
The directors made a recent acquisition to the museum.
Week 4:
thought·ful adjective
1.showing consideration for others; considerate.
2.characterized by or manifesting careful thought.
3.occupied with or given to thought; contemplative; meditative; reflective.
4.careful, heedful, or mindful
It is always prudent to be thoughtful of one’s safety.
fas·ci·nate verb (used with object)
1.to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or
some other special quality; enthrall.
2.to arouse the interest or curiosity of; allure.
3.to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror.
The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.
pre·mo·ni·tion noun
1.a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event; presentiment.
2.a forewarning.
He had a vague premonition of danger.
o·men noun
1.anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or
circumstance in the future; portent.
2.a prognostic.
3.prophetic significance; presage.
The players felt the thunderstorm was an omen of bad luck.
com·ple·tion noun
1.the act of completing.
2.the state of being completed.
3.conclusion; fulfillment.
Her last novel represented the completion of her literary achievement.