Page 782

pro • lif • ic adj., causing abundant growth, generation or reproduction. A prolific artist, he creates several new paintings and sculptures each year.

dis • sem • i • nate v., spread about. She walked through the crowd disseminating flyers about the upcoming concert.

rel • a • tive adj., comparative, not independent. The size of your salary increase is relative to your current salary.

moot adj., insignificant; closed to debate. “Your curfew is a moot point; you’re grounded,” said my mother.

Page 783

e • ma • ci • ate v., cause to become very thin. When Hannah returned from her four-month hiking trek, she was emaciated and dehydrated. emaciated, adj.

de • hyd • rate v., lose water or body fluids. It’s important to drink water when you’re active so you don’t dehydrate.

Page 784

vir • tu • al • ly adv., almost entirely. The house is virtually empty now, except for some boxes and old curtains.

com • pressed adj., reduced in size or volume. The compressed ball took a long time to inflate.

syn • thet • ic adj., produced artificially. The wig was made of synthetic hair, not natural hair.

Page 785

mon • o • syl • lab • ic adj., consisting of one syllable. When conducting an interview, use questions that can’t be answered by monosyllabic responses.

quail v., recoil or cower. The bully paraded and threatened but couldn’t get the young boy to quail.

Page 786

lope v., move with a bounding gait. The puppy excitedly loped over to every newcomer.

du • pli • cate v., repeat, copy. The young dance students carefully duplicated their teacher’s steps.

ag • gres • sive adj., forceful; dominating; marked by readiness to attack. The football team often wins because of their aggressive defense.

Page 787

com • mo • tion n., noisy confusion. Someone at the party saw a mouse, and that started a commotion.