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circumvent
- Definition: 1. To make a circuit around 2.
To manage to get around, especially by clever means 3. to check
or defeat, especially by strategem.
- Examples: (a) We circumvented the traffic
jam on the highway by using the back roads. (b) The students'
circumvention of the school rules was punishable by detention.
barbaric - adjective
- Definition: 1. brutal, cruel 2. rough, uncultured,
unrestrained 3. of or like barbarians in their art or taste;
primitive.
- Example: Flogging is a barbaric punishment.
agitate - verb
- Definition: 1.disturb
or excite (a person or feelings) 2. stir up interest or concern 3.
shake or move briskly.
- Example: Sudden
changes often agitate people.
quibble - verb
- Definition: To
evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial
distinctions and objections.
- Example: Quibbling
only delays the search for truth.
admonition - noun
- Definition:
Gentle or friendly reproof; counseling against a fault or error;
expression of authoritative advice; friendly caution or warning.
- Example: "Let
he who is without sin cast the first stone," is a biblical
admonition.
rudimentary -
adjective
- Definition:
Rudimentary means very basic or not developed to a satisfactory
degree.
- Example: He
had nothing more than a rudimentary knowledge of banking.
jaded - adjective
- Definition: If
you are jaded, you have no enthusiasm because you are tired and
bored.
- Example: A
month into the school year and I was already jaded.
deplorable -
adjective
- Definition: If
you say that something is deplorable, you mean that it is extremely
bad or unpleasant.
- Example:
Deplorable working and living conditions.
aspiration - noun
- Definition:
Someone's aspirations are their ambitions to achieve something.
- Example: The
girl had aspirations to a movie career.
scrutinize
- verb
-
Definition:
If you scrutinize something, you examine it very carefully.
-
Example:
The police officer scrutinized the evidence.
allude -- verb
- Definition: to make
references to something but never quite say it; usually describes a
"hidden" plot or theme in a short story, poem, or novel.
Should be followed with the word "to". This word is good
to use in school assignments.
- Example: The article
about alcoholism alluded to the mayor's previous arrest.
prose -- noun
- Definition: written
word (ie. stories, letters, essays) that is not poetry. often called
"writings". This word is good to use if you've already
overused variations of the word "write".
- Example: Although
poetry was not Emme's strong point, she wrote wonderful prose.
naive -- adjective
- Definition: unaware of
reality, often used in a good sense
(usually used to describe a child or teen that doesn't quite
"get" the joke)
- Example: The other
children teased her, saying she was naive, and she didn't
even know what that meant.
melancholy -- adjective
- Definition: very sad,
miserable; nearly depressing or in a depressed state
- Example: Lilah was a melancholy
girl; it was obvious in her voice and posture.
spoon·er·ism -- noun
- Definition: a phrase
where the first letters or syllables have been switched around
(sorry about unclear definition!)
- Example: The Young
Writers Club is a plate grace to be!
plate grace -- great place
miscellaneous
- Definition: Of various
kinds.
- Example: Umbrellas,
bags, books, clothes, keys and miscellaneous items are lost on
trains and buses.
optimist
- Definition: Someone
who looks on the bright side of life.
- Example: I am
confident that it will be sunny tomorrow, since I'm an optimist.
ambiguous
- Definition: Having more
than one meaning.
- Example: The word 'cool' is
ambiguous : it can mean quite cold or good.
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