Level FVocabulary Unit #10

vocabulary word

Definition

“Link” word

Or

Synonym

Sentence Picture

accrue(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result

•accumulate

•acquire

•collect

When I was in 6th grade, I accrued enough allowance money to buy my NSYNC concert tickets!

annotation(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

•add notes

It is important to pay attention to the annotations from the teacher on your rough draft, and make the necessary revisions.

bedlam

(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion

•chaos

If the Astros won the World Series this year, there would be complete bedlam in Houston (at least at my home).

covert(adj.) hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded

(n.) a sheltered place, a hiding place

•covered

•clandestine

•undercover

•CIA

In the show “Covert Affairs” the main character is a CIA operative, who works for the Domestic Protection Division, whose operations must be kept secret.

debonair(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

•Bond, James Bond

The James Bond character is known to be very debonair and popular with the ladies.

dun(v.) to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt;

(n.) a creditor

(adj.) dark, dull, drab, dingy

•demand

•a dungeon (is dark and dull)

•debt collector

I will be dunned if I miss any of my school loan payments, and my credit score will go down.

efficacious(adj.) effective, producing results

•effective

•efficient

Although many infomercials try to sell silly and useless items, the P90X and Insanity workout videos appear to be very efficacious.

The treatments have been efficacious in her recovery.

equanimity(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

•tranquility

When working at Starbucks, I usually had equanimity dealing with customers; although, I occasionally lost my temper.

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance

• unintentional

I chose a fortuitous time to meet with the owner; he had just lost two employees and needed to hire someone ASAP.

gist

(n.) the essential part, main point, or essence

•“just get to the point”

•core

Before seeing a movie at Silverado, I read the summary to get the gist of the story.

The picture showed the gist of Newton’s Law of Gravity.

gratuitous(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

•gratitude

•gratuity

•given

My friend so gratuitously offered to fix my car for free, but he ended up hurting more than helping. Many people on Tumblr tag posts

with the tag GPOY (Gratuitous Picture Of Yourself) when they post pictures of how they are feeling.

imperious(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

•imperative

•pressing

I had such an imperious tone while talking to my little cousins that they hated when I had to babysit them.

The character King Joffrey from “Game of Thrones” is an imperious leader.

invective(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language

(adj.) abusive, vituperative

•abusive

In the heat of the moment, people sometimes use invective comments that they regret later on.

motley(adj.) showing great variety; composed of different elements or many colors

(n.) a jester’s costume; a jester

•many

•miscellaneous

The camp was filled with a motley of kids from all walks of life.

munificent(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

•If money is sufficient, then you can be generous

They nicknamed her “Munificent Molly” because of her generosity and charitable spirit.

procrastinate

(v.) to delay, put off until later

•stall

I don’t procrastinate completing my vocabulary extra credit; as a matter of fact, I usually turn it in on early.

provocative(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

•provoke feelings

Many people try to ban provocative books from schools, such as To Kill a Mockingbird for its use of racial slurs and offensive language.

You have to be careful what you say when you’re talking about a provocative topic because you might offend someone.

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

•really complex

In the movie “Good Will Hunting”, Matt Damon’s character is a janitor who is able to solve recondite math problems easily.

reprobate(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel

(adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled

(v.) to disapprove of, condemn

•depraved

•probation

A famous actor once stated that it was always far more interesting to play the role of the reprobate than that of the saint.

sedentary(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

•seated

John decided to go to the gym every day after work because of how restless he got at his sedentary job.