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con • vul • sive adj., producing an uncontrolled fit. The frightened chickens sounded a convulsive uproar when the fox appeared. convulsively, adv.

sun • der v., break apart or sever. Mr. Harris sundered his ties to the company when he sold company secrets to a competitor and got caught.

fore • bod • ing n., omen or prediction of coming evil. A sense of foreboding overtook Pompeii before the volcano erupted.

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lam • bent adj., softly bright or radiant. The restaurant’s lambent lighting created a romantic atmosphere.

ob • scu • ri • ty n., state of being shrouded or hidden in darkness. My neighbor followed the backyard path into the obscurity of the woods.

cre • scen • do n., gradual increase in volume. The baby’s cries rose to a crescendo when it had to wait for me.

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er • ra • tic adj., with lack of consistency or regularity. Martha’s erratic behavior included wild mood swings.

com • pla • cent adj., self-satisfied; unconcerned. Greg seemed complacent in math after getting an A on the test. complacently, adv.

fur • tive adj., secret; stolen. The furtive cat hid daily in the rafters.

en • vis • age v., have a mental picture of. I could not envisage a mall where the park is now.

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in • dom • i • ta • ble adj., unconquerable. The army was unable to subdue the indomitable protesters.

lithe adj., characterized by flexibility and grace. The lithe gymnast showed great skill on the uneven bars.

for • sake v., give up or abandon. I would forsake everything for a chance to follow my dreams.

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ab • hor • rent adj., repulsive. Jessica finds abhorrent the smell of chopped liver.

re • buff v., reject or criticize sharply. Dad rebuffed my pleas with a firm “No.”

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per • vade v., spread through every part of. A feeling of excitement pervaded the holiday party.

pro • pri • e • tar • y adj., relating to or characteristic of an owner. Richie had proprietary feelings about the treehouse he always played in.

void n., emptiness. After their children had moved away, the Johnsons felt a void in their home.

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throng v., crowd or pack. The meeting participants thronged the hall, waiting to enter the auditorium. thronged, adj.

a • loof adj., indifferent. Sandra looked aloof whenever the rest of us discussed our problems. aloofly, adv.

ar • dent adj., very eager. Ian has an ardent desire to go to the amusement park.

va • grant adj., wandering about; random. A vagrant skunk wandered up to our camper.

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pal • lid adj., dull, lacking color. Marion’s pallid face showed that she wasn’t feeling well.

on • slaught n., especially fierce attack. The king’s army led the onslaught against the enemy.

stri • dent adj., loud, harsh, and insistent. Rover’s strident barking alerted me to the burglar.