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steep adj., mounting or falling precipitously. It took Grandma ten minutes to climb the steep steps.

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i • dle adj., useless; having no value. Marc never followed through on his idle curiosity.

com • pul • sion n., irresistible, irrational impulse. Gaisha fought the compulsion to run every time she passed a cemetery.

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daunt vt., make afraid or discouraged. The rugged terrain daunted the faint-hearted hikers.

pe • ruse vt., examine carefully. Edgar perused the map before choosing his route.

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re • dou • bled adj., twice intensified. The team redoubled its efforts in the second half and won the game.

in • con • gru • i • ty n., lack of appropriateness or fitness. I was struck by the incongruity of the band practicing in the library.

vig • i • lant adj., warchful and alert. Our vigilant dog barks when anyone approaches the house.

in • ex • pli • ca • ble adj., that cannot be explained or understood. There was an inexplicable chill as we entered the room.

a • sun • der adv., apart or separate. The torn pages were scattered asunder.

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ve • he • mence n., great force and strong feeling. Refusing to give in,Toby protested with vehemence.

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re join vi., answer. “Count me out,” I rejoined.

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de • rive vi., come from. The rustling derives from the wind in the trees.

prom • i • nent adj., noticeable; obvious. Lucia’s red hair is her most prominent feature.

ru • mi • nat • ing part., turn something over in the mind. I waited patiently while Lars continued ruminating about his old pal.

ca • la • mi • ty n., disaster. Rushville was hit by one calamity after another—flood, mudslides, and wild fire.

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a • vert vt., avoid, keep from happening. The pilot handled the tricky landing and averted disaster.

com • pose vt., calm; put in order. Deshawn took a deep breath to compose himself before his speech.

treach • er • ous adj., untrustworthy, with a false sense of safety. Many ships are stranded on the treacherous rocky shore.

ap • prise vt., inform; notify. Ms. DeLucca apprised us of the deadline for the poetry contest.