Unit One

Unit OneGrade Seven

1. adjacent ( adj) near, next to, adjoiningsyn: alongside, nearby, neighboring ant: faraway, distant, remoteEx. We had adjacent seats in the movie theatre and could easily share a tub of popcorn.

2. alight( v) to get down from, step down from; to come down from the air, land (adj) lighted upsyn: (v) dismount, descend, land, touch down ant: (v) mount, ascend, board, take offEx. The butterfly alighted onto the flower so that it might feed.

3. barren ( adj) not productive; baresyn: unproductive, sterile, desolate, arid ant: fertile, productive, fruitfulEx. Since the land was barren, the farm failed.

4. disrupt (v) to break up, disturbsyn: upset, displace, disorder ant: organize, arrangeEx. During eighth period, the announcement for the transfer bus disrupts class.

5. dynasty (n) a powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position or power for some time.syn: ruling house, regimeEx. Since an American president may not hold more than two consecutive terms, there can be no dynasty in the United States.

6. foretaste (n) an advance indication, sample, or warningsyn: preview, anticipationEx. Everyone wanted to see the movie after watching the preview. The foretaste of the thrilling action-packed film made us all want to see it as soon as it came out.

7. germinate (v) to begin to grow, come into beingsyn: sprout, shoot up, grow, burgeonant: wither, die, stagnate, shrivel upEx. The idea for the story germinated quickly and soon the author had written ten pages.

8. humdrum (adj) ordinary, dull, routine, without variationsyn: monotonous, uneventful, prosaic, boringant: lively, exciting, thrilling, exhilaratingEx. A vacation at the beach is never humdrum since there is always something exciting to do!

9. hurtle (v) to rush violently, dash headlong; to fling or hurl forcefullysyn: speed, fly, race, catapult, flingant: crawl, creepEx. The runner hurtled toward the finish line.

10. insinuate (v) to suggest or hint slyly; to edge into something indirectlysyn: imply, intimateant: barge in, broadcastEx. When the teacher made comments such as Id study this if I were you and Knowing this information would be wise, she was insinuating that a pop quiz was coming soon.

11. interminable (adj)endless, so long as to seem endlesssyn: never-ending, ceaselessant: brief, short, fleetingEx. Eighth period seems interminable when you have plans after school.

12. interrogate (v) to ask questions, examine by questioningsyn: question, queryEx. The prosecutor interrogated the witness on the stand.

13. recompense (v) to pay back, to give as a reward (n) a payment for loss, service, or injurysyn: (v) repay (n) compensationEx. As recompense, military personnel who have served their country may receive partial tuition to a state university through the G.I. Bill.

14. renovate (v) to repair, restore to good condition; make new againsyn: repair, fix up, reconditionEx. The 1960s kitchen was renovated to include modern appliances like a dish washer.

15. rsum (n) a brief summary; a short written account of ones education, working experience, or qualifications for a jobsyn: synopsis, job historyEx. Her detailed rsum earned her the job.

16. sullen (adj) silent or brooding because of ill humor, anger, or resentment; slow moving, sluggishsyn: grumpy, surly, peevish, moroseant: cheerful blithe, sociable, vivaciousEx. After being grounded, the girl stomped sullenly to her room.

17. trickle (v) to flow or fall by drops or in a small stream (n) a small, irregular quantity of anythingsyn: (v) dribble, drizzle, drip (n) small amountant: (v) gush, pour, flood (n) delugeEx. The drought caused the river to dwindle to a mere trickle of water.

18. trivial (adj) not important, minor; ordinary, commonplacesyn: insignificant, petty, triflingant: important, weighty, momentousEx. Keep trivial details out of a paragraph.

19. truce (n) a pause in fighting, temporary peacesyn: cease-fire, armisticeant: war, warfare, fightingEx. The parents insisted that there be a truce between the constantly battling siblings.

20. vicious (adj) evil, bad; spiteful; having bad habits or an ugly disposition; painfully severe or extremesyn: wicked, malicious, savageant: good, kind, kindly, mild, harmlessEx. The vicious ruler kept his people in poverty.