cease • less adj., continual; without end. The noise from the construction was ceaseless from dawn to dusk.
cov • ey n., small group. A covey of students gathered in the back of the library.
re • as • sure v., restore confidence. Part of parenting is being there to reassure your children. reassuring, adj.
wa • ver v., become unsteady; vary in brightness; flicker. Her voice didn’t waver once during her speech. wavering, adj.
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chord n., combination of three or more tones sounded together in harmony. Samsak learned to play three new chords on his guitar.
feint v., fake a blow or attack in order to take an opponent off guard. The boxer bobbed and feinted more than he jabbed.
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plain • tive adj., mournful; with sorrow. The young woman spoke in a plaintive voice about her deceased father. plaintively, adv.
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steel • y adj., severe; serious. She fixed him with a steely stare, and he knew he was in trouble.
pro • ces • sion n., number of persons moving forward in an orderly manner. Small ribbons tied on car antennas marked the funeral procession.
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con • so • la • tion n., comfort. The nurse offered consolation to the scared, sick girl.
av • a • rice n., too great a desire for wealth; greed. Her avarice left her with cars and clothes, but not many friends.
in • di • gent adj., poor, needy. Often we forget there are many indigent people who have less than we do.
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stout adj., fat; thickset. The dog was stout and cranky.
tri • fle n., small amount; bit. Add a trifle of salt, and the recipe will be perfect.
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sup • pli • ant adj., begging, beseeching. There was a suppliant tone to her request.
es • tu • ar • y n., inlet of the sea. The fishers were down at the estuary by dawn.
mi • rage n., illusion; something that falsely appears to be real. The figure was simply a mirage caused by shadow and fog.
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bul • wark n., strong defense or protection. A thick snow wall acted as a bulwark for their snow fort.
re • me • dy n., cure. Reading is a great remedy for boredom.
crease v., make a fold or wrinkle in. She creased the pants before carefully hanging them up.
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un • du • late v., move in waves. The strong wind caused the towels on the line to undulate. undulating, adj.
ob • scure v., darken, dim; make less visible. The dark clouds obscured the sun.
per • cep • ti • ble adj., able to be sensed. The rain was so light, it was barely perceptible.
hum • mock n., low, rounded hill. They spread their picnic out on the hummock under the large oak.
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spec • u • la • tive adj., thoughtful; uncertain. She presented her speculative plan with uncertainty. speculatively, adv.
sub • side v., settle; become less active. The party next door subsided, and I was able to sleep.
shrill adj., having a high-pitched tone, piercing. The oboe sometimes has a shrill sound. shrilly, adv.
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es • sence n., fundamental or most important quality. The essence of the article was how important positive thought is.
pre • cip • i • tate v., bring about. The thoughtful discussion precipitated a judicious decision.
dis • til • late n., pure form of something. The mineral was melted down into a distillate.
in • can • des • cence n., brilliance, brightness. She was dazzled by the incandescence of all the lights.
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lu • cent adj., shining. Her huge smile and lucent eyes conveyed her joy.
dis • par • age • ment n., act of lowering in esteem or discrediting something or someone. Words of disparagement are often regretted.
proph • e • cy n., prediction of the future. The fortune-teller’s prophecies rarely come true.
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trans • fig • ure v., change, transform. A little time and effort will transfigure this weed patch into a blooming garden. transfigured, adj.
ben • e • dic • tion n., blessing. The bride’s parents bestowed a benediction on their daughter and her fiancé.
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thresh v., toss about. The birds gathered at the feeder, pecking and threshing seed about.
probe v., investigate, examine. The officer asked questions to probe the witness’s story.
sub • ju • ga • tion n., state of being under control or subserviant. No person or group should have to live in subjugation.
curt adj., rude; abrupt. Her curt response got rid of the annoying salesperson. curtly, adv.
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deft adj., skillful, quick. The clown was deft at assembling balloons into hats and animals. deftly, adv.
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anx • i • e • ty n., state of being uneasy or worried. Raji experienced mild anxiety before the big test.
dis • sem • ble v., conceal; disguise. Dahlia tried to dissemble her concern by making pleasant conversation.
writhe v., make twisting or turning movement. The cat writhed on the ground as I petted him.
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clam • or v., utter noisily and insistently. Usually, when it’s bedtime, my little sister will clamor that she’s not tired.
taut adj., tight; tense. She pulled the sheets so they were taut across the bed.
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fur • tive adj., sneaky; stealthy. His approach was furtive, and she jumped when he yelled “Boo!”
in • au • di • ble adj., unable to be heard. The words of the actors were practically inaudible to the audience in the back of the theater.
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con • se • crate v., make holy or sacred. Both the priest and rabbi will consecrate their union. consecrated, adj.
croon v., sing. Every night, Lolita croons softly to her young daughter.
coz • en v., cheat; deceive. His slick manner couldn’t cozen me.
dif • fuse adj., spread out or dispersed. As the day wore on, the heavy crowd became more diffuse.
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tithe n., one-tenth of one’s income given to charity. Each year the couple pledged a tithe to the church.
coun • te • nance v., support; approve. Members of the community gathered at the theater to countenance the opening of the controversial play.
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graft v., join, attach, cause to unite. The gardener will graft the branches of the rosebush to the trunk of the tree.
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ram • part n., structure used for defense or protection. The stone wall surrounding the house and the iron front gate are both ramparts against intruders.
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stal • wart adj., strong; sturdy. The boat was stalwart and well equipped.
be • nign adj., good-natured; kindly. Salvadore has a benign and trusting nature.
midst n., middle. She was in the midst of baking when the phone and the doorbell rang.
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con • temp • tu • ous adj., scornful, sneering; arrogant. Your contemptuous remarks hurt many people’s feelings.
spurn v., refuse or reject with contempt. She spurned me when she walked by without speaking.
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col • lu • sion n., secret agreement; conspiracy. The officer carefully questioned both suspects, searching for
evidence of collusion.
co • ag • u • late v., clot; become or change into a semisolid mass. The gravy began to cool and coagulate.
mon • stros • i • ty n., abnormally large object. Their dog, a Saint Bernard, is a monstrosity.
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de • fy v., resist or oppose openly. Mindy was careful not to defy her mother, although sometimes she really wanted to.
brood v., think or ponder in a troubled way. Asya tends to brood when she is upset.
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leth • ar • gy n., great lack of energy. Regular exercise is a good way to combat lethargy.
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stead • y v., become firm or stable. Tonya grabbed the railing to steady herself.
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slug • gish (slug’ ish) adj., slow; drowsy. Brianna was sluggish in getting up from her nap. sluggishly, adv.
skirl v., sound out in shrill, piercing tones. We heard the coyotes skirl not far from our tent.
con • scious adj., aware. Peter is always conscious of the feelings of those around him.
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ed • i • fice n., building or structure. The striking edifice on the corner is the new library.
la • ment n., outward expression of grief. The young woman sobbed in lament over the loss of her grandmother.
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fore • stall v., anticipate; divert; avoid. Kay forestalled the invitation she knew was coming by immediately mentioning how busy she was.
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fon • dle v., stroke or handle in a loving way. Tricia fondled the silver candleholders, saw the price tag, and quickly put them back on the shelf.
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mo • not • o • nous adj., marked by sameness, unvarying. The man droned on in a monotonous voice about yard tools and insurance.
co • vert n., covered or protected place. The awning at the front of the building provided a covert out of the rain.
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il • lu • sion n., false idea. The small group was under the illusion that they could hand out 500 flyers in a day.
in • ter • weave v., weave together; blend. Alonzo will interweave the many colored strands to make a rug. interwoven, adj.
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gut • tur • al adj., harsh; rasping. Blackbirds are aggressive and have guttural calls.
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goad v., urge into action. His friends tried to goad him into trying out for the team.
e • ro • sion n., act of eating into or wearing away. The severe rainstorm caused erosion of the soil in the garden.
mon • o • lith • ic adj., large, solid. The tower stood monolithic in the distance.
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ir • res • o • lu • tion n., state of indecision. Mari displayed her irresolution by continually changing her mind.
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cleft n., opening; crevice. I sat and rested against the cleft in the trunk of the large tree.
fo • li • age n., leaves of a tree or plant. The dark, shiny green foliage of the plant is more attractive than the flowers.
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pet • u • lant adj., impatient; irritable. The young girl became petulant when she didn’t get her way.
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in • ter • ces • sion n., prayer. The congregation joined in the intercession for world peace.
ger • mane adj., relevant, relating to the matter at hand. Your comment is insightful, but not germane to the topic of the meeting.
knead v., rub with hands; massage. She kneaded the dough and shaped it into cookies.
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gib • ber v., speak rapidly and incoherently. Lea was so nervous on her first day of school that she either gibbered uncontrollably or said nothing at all.
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trudge v., walk as if tired or worn down. They trudged through the snow to a phone to call a tow truck.
ma • lig • nant adj., having evil influence; harmful. Her gossip and negativity began to have a malignant effect on her friendships with others.