sparse adj., thin; not dense. After the long drought, much of the thickly forested area had become sparse with trees. sparsely, adv.

thread • bare adj., worn down so that the threads show. The jeans were threadbare because she washed them and wore them every weekend.

PAGE 705

ca • pit • u • la • tion n., conditional surrender, act of giving up under prearranged terms. The victorious general accepted the capitulation of the defeated armies.

PAGE 706

port • ly adj., large and heavy in a dignified way. Jack Sprat was slender, and his wife was portly.

con • spic • u • ous adj., obvious; attracting attention by being unusual or unexpected. Lisette's jeans were conspicuous at the semiformal dance.

PAGE 707

mer • cu • ri • al adj., volatile; frequently and unexpectedly changing. Jemma is so mercurial that I never know what she'll do from one minute to the next.

lei • sure n., free, unoccupied time. Alan likes to listen to music during his leisure time.

PAGE 712

pan • to • mime n., dramatic presentation given without words, using only action and gestures. When Yumiko lost her voice, she tried to pantomine in order to communicate.

PAGE 715

ex • trav • a • gant adj., excessive; beyond reasonable limits. The ten-course dinner was extravagant, but Marcella likes to do things bigger and better than everyone else.

PAGE 716

in • tol • er • a • ble adj., unbearable, insufferable. When the heat became intolerable, we jumped into the pool to cool off.

PAGE 717

vile adj., disgusting; repulsive. The smell of the food was so vile, we didn't dare to taste it.

PAGE 718

mim • ic v., imitate in speech or action. Beth and Pedro sometimes mimic their older brother to tease him.

PAGE 719

co • ed • u • ca • tion • al adj., having students of both sexes attend classes together. Thomas attended an all-boys' high school, but he went to a coeducational college.

quar • rel v., fight; dispute heatedly. The two brothers are competitive and quarrel often.

in • dig • nant adj., angry; scornful. Malik's response to the accusation was indignant. indignantly, adv.

PAGE 720

scoff • ing adj., mocking, taunting. The other students chanted her name in a scoffing manner. scoffingly, adv.

PAGE 722

grave adj., somber; serious. The doctor's face was grave when she gave Gordon the results of his test.

PAGE 724

bus • tle n., noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity. Kari was intimidated by the bustle and confusion in the lunchroom.

PAGE 726

grat • i • tude n., feeling of appreciation; thankfulness. I don't know how to express my gratitude for all you've done for me.

PAGE 731

fa • tal • ist n., one who believes all events are determined by fate and are therefore inevitable. "Whatever will be, will be," said Leon, the fatalist.

PAGE 733

im • pro • vise v., make with the materials at hand, usually to fill an unforeseen need. We did not have enough chairs for everyone, so we improvised a bench with boxes and planks.

satch • el n., small bag for carrying clothes, books, etc. Kayla packed her school books in her satchel.

PAGE 735

os • ten • ta • tious adj., showy; obviously proud or boastful. Milo was ostentatious in parading the trophy around the field. ostentatiously, adv.

PAGE 738

fal • ter • ing adj., wavering, hesitating. She could hear her voice faltering during her first lines, but by the end of the play her words were loud and clear. falteringly, adv.