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ven • ti • la • tor n., device used to bring in fresh air and drive out foul air; fan. The ventilator in the factory removed the fumes from the air and allowed fresh air to circulate.

shud • der v., shake or tremble suddenly. When the young boy thought about going into the dark cellar alone, he shuddered.

vi • gil n., watchful staying awake during the usual hours of sleep. Unlike creatures that sleep at night, the owl keeps a watchful vigil during the nighttime hours.

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wan adj., pale; sickly. His wan face revealed that he had been sick all winter.

re • pul • sive adj., disgusting, offensive. Many people find taking out the garbage to be a repulsive task.

fe • ro • cious adj., fierce. The pride of ferocious lions descended upon the helpless gazelle.

des • cent n., sudden attack or raid. My younger sister often makes a sudden descent upon my closet and raids it for clothing.

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gau • dy adj., bright and showy, but lacking in good taste. The gaudy colors of the advertisement caught my eye.

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ob • tain v., get possession of. During the nineteenth century many Americans headed west, hoping to obtain good farmland.

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ag • grieved adj., troubled or distressed. The aggrieved hostess cried over the broken dishes. aggrievedly, adv.

boo • ty n., any gain, prize, or gift. The pirates hid their stolen booty in a chest and buried it.

dog • ged adj., stubborn; persistent. Although the celebrity refused to be interviewed, the dogged reporters followed her around. doggedly, adv.

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tan • ta • liz • ing adj., tempting. Liz knew she shouldn’t eat her sister’s chocolate, but it looked so tantalizing she had to take a bite.

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hau • teur n., disdainful pride; snobbery. The king was so full of hauteur that he refused to speak with anyone of low rank.

vul • gar adj., crude; distasteful. Today we think it vulgar to eat with our hands, but that was common practice during medieval banquets.

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proph • e • sy v., predict. I prophesied that the class play would be a failure, but instead it was a great success.

ob • lige v., do a favor for. Because Jorge had done a favor for me, I gladly obliged him when he needed help with his homework.

grot • to n., cavelike house or shrine. Ancient peoples built grottoes where they would worship their gods.

in • can • ta • tion n., magic spell. The magician sang an incantation and then pulled a rabbit out of his hat.

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sus • cep • ti • ble adj., easily affected or influenced. Once you have had chicken pox, you are no longer susceptible to the disease.

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in • cal • cu • la • ble adj., uncertain. I spent incalculable hours looking for my diary.

bid • da • ble adj., obedient. The biddable dog followed all of his master’s commands. biddably, adv.

for • age v., rummage; browse for food. The horse forages in the pasture all summer.

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et • i • quette n., social rules; manners. It is proper etiquette in Japan to remove one’s shoes when entering a home.

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noi • some adj., offensive to the sense of smell. The noisome garbage cans made taking out the trash the worst chore of all.