Vocabulary Lesson 1

p. 1 in 504 Absolutely Essential Words

1. Abandon (v): to leave without planning to come back; to quit.Only a very bad mother will abandon her children.

I got angry when my daughter abandoned her homework without finishing it.

Recently, the US Navy had to abandon ship when the USS Guardian ran aground on a reef near the Philippines.

Abandonment (n): the act of abandoning

2. Keen (adj): very sharp; eager; intense; sensitive

That knife has a keen edge, so be careful with it.

Dogs have a keen sense of smell.

I love a student with a keen mind and a willingness to learn.

I am keen to hear the stories you can tell about your travels!

3. Jealous (adj): afraid that the one you love might love

someone else; wanting what someone else has.

He is so jealous she has to be very careful about who she talks to.

I love to travel, and hearing about other people’s holidays makes me feel jealous.

Envy, the green-eyed monster,

Green with jealousy

Jealousy (n): the feeling of being jealous

Jealously (adv): to do something in a jealous manner

4. Tact (n): the ability to say the right thing

You must use tact when telling someone something they do not want to hear.

Tact is a useful skill to have as a teacher.

Tactful (adj): the act of using tact

Tactfully (adv)

5. Oath (n): a promise that something is true; a curse

When she hurt her foot, she let out an oath of pain.

On Monday, President Obama took the Oath of Office, swearing he would obey all the laws of the United States, and be a good leader.

6. Vacant (adj): empty; not filled

The classroom is vacant at night.

The hotel has no vacant rooms, so we will have to go somewhere else.

Vacancy (n): the act of being vacant

7. Hardship (n): something that is hard to bear;

difficultyLosing your job can create hardship for your family.

Some students face hardship when they do not have a lot of money.

8. Gallant (adj): brave, having respect for women.

The gallant knight swore an oath to protect his lady.

Soldiers are often gallant enough to sacrifice themselves for their fellow soldiers.

9. data: facts or informationOnce we have all the data, we can write our science report.

The data shows that people who get the flu shot are unlikely to get sick.

10. Unaccustomed (adj): not used to something

New students from Saudi Arabia are unaccustomed to seeing women who do not wear an abaya.

When you are unaccustomed to exercise, it is easy to hurt yourself.

11. Bachelor (n): a man who is not married.

A man is only a bachelor until he gets married.

Many of my students are bachelors.

12. Qualify (v): become fit, show that you are able.

I hope I can qualify for a PhD program one day.

ESLI students must pass Level 4 with an 80% to qualify for graduation.