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bleak adj., not promising or hopeful. Our future will be bleak if we do not take care of serious problems now.

di • vert v., turn aside from a course or direction. We must divert the coming disaster.

un • prec • e • dent • ed adj., unheard of; new. A seventh-grade student playing for the varsity high school team was unprecedented.

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phe • nom • e • non n., extremely unusual or extraordinary thing or occurrence. The aurora borealis is an amazing phenomenon.

in • dict • ment n., accusation of wrongdoing, criminal charge. Joe received an indictment, but he was never found guilty of the crime.

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in • ex • o • ra • ble adj., that cannot be altered or checked. Li believes we can change our fate, but I believe our fate is inexorable.

ren • dez • vous n., place designated for meeting or assembly. The rendezvous site for the student council meeting will be the library.

spec • u • la • tive adj., theoretical, not practical. Your speculative ideas are interesting, but they will not solve the problem.

billow v., surge, swell, or rise like a large wave. We had difficulty folding the blanket because it kept billowing in the wind.

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per • il n., danger, exposure to harm. Maya put herself in great peril to save her cat from the rising floodwaters.

pro • ver • bi • al adj., well known because commonly referred to. Isabelle was drawn to Walter like the proverbial moth to the flame.

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aes • thet • ic adj., referring to beauty. Although it was severely cold, Kyle chose not to wear a hat for aesthetic reasons.

trans • lu • cent adj., partially transparent. The translucent curtains allowed light into the room but blocked the view from outside.

ap • pa • ri • tion n., anything that appears unexpectedly or in an extraordinary way; ghost. Fay was startled by the apparition as she walked down the lonely street.