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cal • low adj., lacking adult sophistication. Not appreciating her children’s callow tastes in videocassettes, Mrs. Bratton went to the video rental store alone.

in • fat • u • a • tion n., foolish or shallow love or affection. Justin’s infatuation with the movie star ended when he met Beth.

re • vert vi., return to a former practice or state. Some young children revert to baby talk when they want attention.

rev • er • en • tial adj., showing a feeling of deep respect, love, and awe. Julia’s reverential feelings for the pastor stemmed from the fact that he had baptized, confirmed, and married her.

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trem • u • lous • ly adv., in a trembling or quivering manner. Lou’s voice wavers tremulously whenever he gives a speech.

re • spec • tive adj., as relates individually to each of two or more persons or things. The boxers returned to their respective corners of the ring.

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hag • gard adj., having a worn or emaciated appearance. Years of working the third shift had left Mr. Tufone with a haggard expression that showed his fatigue.

o • ver • ture n., musical introduction to an opera or other long musical work. The overture introduced the themes of the opera.

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pre • lude n., first movement of an opera; introduction. The prelude of the opera preceded the famous soprano solo.

im • mo • bil • i • ty n., state of being fixed or unmovable. The immobility of the house owners in Western Springs to decide on a price resulted in Mary and Ted buying a different house.

ex • cru • ci • at • ing • ly adv., in a painful or agonizing manner. Physical therapy was excruciatingly painful, and Joyce wondered if she would ever again walk without pain.

in • ter • mi • na • bly adv., endlessly. The lecture went on interminably; we thought it would never end.

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joc • u • lar • i • ty n., humor, joking. My uncle’s jocularity was contagious, and soon everyone was laughing.

re • proach n., blaming or reproving; rebuke. Our science teacher thought no one was above reproach when a Bunsen burner started a fire.