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com • mun • ion n., act of sharing thoughts and actions. In silent communion with the horse, the boy stared into the gray stallion’s eyes.

blight n., anything that destroys or prevents growth. Blight destroyed half of the Nelsons’ apple crop.

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in • sen • si • ble adj., lacking sensation; unaware. The marathon runners seemed insensible to pain.

clod n., lump, such as lump of earth or clay. A clod of curds floated in the butter churn.

pa • tri • arch n., father; ruler; founder. Johnny Carson, former Tonight Show host, is the patriarch of late-night talk shows.

hoar • y adj., having white or gray hair. Noah is often shown on his ark with hoary hair blowing in the salt wind.

sep • ul • cher n., vault for burial. With great ceremony, the king was laid to rest in the national sepulcher.

pen • sive adj., expressing deep thoughtfulness, often with some sadness. Rodin sculpted a pensive look on The Thinker’s face.

ven • er • a • ble adj., worthy of respect by reason of age and dignity. The young lawyer sought the counsel of venerable Judge Albert J. Cooke.

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lapse n., gliding or passing away. Failing to stop at the yellow light proved to be a lapse in judgment for Sandy.