abhorred | Definition: Verb- To regard with disgust and hatredStudy Tip: This word comes from the Latin word abhorrere, which means to shudder away from, like you would from an abomination, which starts with the same syllable as abhorred.Sentence: Since it was Christmas, and I didn’t care to emotionally devastate my grandmother, I wore the hideous sweater that she had made me, even though I completely abhorred the monstrosity. |
Allay | Definition: Verb- To relieve, diminish, alleviate, or to put to rest or put away things like fear, pain, etc. To put at ease.Study Tip: Allay has lay in it. You lay down to cure a headache sometimes. It also sounds vaguely like delay so like delaying the fear or putting it away. Sentence: Please child, allay your fears for this performance of yours. |
Chide | Definition: Verb- to express disapproval of; to scold; rebukeStudy Tip: Chide the child.Sentence: The principal had to chide the child throwing his lunch across the cafeteria. |
Fen | Definition: A low area of land that frequently becomes flooded; also known as a marshStudy Tip: You will not find a HEN in a FENSentence: During our tour of the fen, we saw many types of animals, including frogs of all sizes and colors. |
Fortitude | Definition: Noun- Courage when facing pain or difficulty.Study Tip: Think of the word fortress, it takes courage to guard a fortress. Or this word comes from the Latin word “fortitudo”, meaning strength.Sentence: She showed fortitude when asked to take a plunge into the deep, dark depths of the ocean. |
Homage | Definition: Noun- A formal reverence or respect paid publicly to honor someone or somethingStudy Tip: Homage comes from the Latin words homo- and -age, which could mean tribute to manSentence: The memorial paid homage to the tragic events of that historical day many years ago. |
Perfidious | Definition: Adj- not able to be trusted; often deceitful and treacherousStudy Tip: per-FID-ious, Fid stands for fidelity (loyalty) and perfidious is its oppositeSentence The perfidious soldier led his troops into the castle, knowing full well the enemy was armed behind the door. |
Precursors | Definition: Noun- a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunnerStudy Tip: “Pre-” means “before”, and a precursor comes before something else.Sentence: The cheerful tulips popping up all over the garden where a precursor to the beautiful spring weather to come in future months. |
Prerogative | Definition: Noun- a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or groupStudy Tip: Prerogative sounds like privilege and both words share multiple letters.Sentence: In the past, voting was a prerogative of rich white men who owned land. |
Enmity | Definition: Noun- the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.Study Tip: enmity is similar to enemy, who one is normally hostile towards.Sentence: There was great enmity between the Montagues and the Capulets. |
Prate | Definition: Verb- Talk tediously or foolishly about somethingStudy Tip: You don’t need to PRy some one’s mouth open to talk who PRatesSentence: He prate about his beet farm for several hours before I left saying I needed some air.. |
Spendthrift | Definition: Noun- A person who spends money extravagantly and excessively.Study Tip: A spendthrift would never shop at a THRIFT storeSentence: The wealthy man was a spendthrift–if he kept spending money at his current rate, he would be broke in a matter of days. |
Trifle | Definition: Noun- an article or thing of very little value.Study tip: it’s a trifle to learn this wordSentence: All 5 of his iPhones were of little importance, but His 6th one was a real trifle to him; he threw it away and bought a Rolex |
Brine | Definition: Noun- water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.Study Tip: Pickles are made with brine, which is literally just vinegar and salt.Sentence: The boy wanted to make pickles, so he placed the freshly picked cucumbers into his homemade brine to soak for a while. |
Jocund | Definition: Adj- cheerful or lightheartedStudy Tip: jocund, joycundSentence: The jocund little family rejoiced at the news of another baby. |
Odious | Definition: Adj- extremely unpleasant, repulsiveStudy Tip: Odious and Hideous rhyme, and mean similar things. Sentence: As I took my dog out for the last time tonight, I heard a whimper, and an odious smell reached my nostril and I knew immediately a skunk had ruined my night. |
Surfeited | Definition: Verb- To cause someone to not want to do something anymore, simply because they have already done so much of it.Study Tip: Your stomach will “sure-fight (fit)” you if you are surfeited with food.Sentence: After that Mexican buffet, I am surfeited with tacos right now; I couldn’t bear to have another. |
Vigilance | Definition: Noun- The action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficultiesStudy Tip: Vigilance and vulture both start with V. Vultures keep a watchful eye out for prey.Sentence: The vigilance of the security guard helped him catch the thief before he could steal the priceless diamond. |
Abstemious | Definition: Not self-indulgent, refraining from indulgence, especially concerning food or drink (adj.)Study Tip: Practicing abstinence is very abstemious.Sentence: Conner is very abstemious; he hasn’t had a bite of any dessert food in months. |
Disdain | Definition: Noun- The feeling that someone is undeserving of your respect or considerationStudy Tip: To diss (disdain) someone is to not treat them with respectSentence: My disregard of the five second rule earned a look of disdain from my peers. |
Oracle | Definition: Noun- a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.Study Tip. Oracles interpret and prophesize Omens.Sentence: If football was a diety, then the coach was an oracle as his team muscled their way to victory. |
Rabble | Definition: a disorderly crowd; a mob Study Tip: A rabble is a mob and the mob robs.Sentence: : A rabble of people scrambled out of New York City in the midst of the 9/11 attack, terrified of what would happen next. |
Vexed | Definition: Adj- Irritated; annoyingStudy Tip: Isn’t it irritating how there is a v and an x in vexed?Sentence: She was so vexed at the rudeness of the stranger, she decided to not go out of her way to help people anymore. |
Auspicious | Definition” Adj- Promising success, favored by fortuneStudy Tip: Since I have pretty bad luck, I would be pretty suspicious if my luck turned auspiciousSentence: She was not a very auspicious person as she rarely ever found success and seemed to be plagued with bad luck. |
Chastise | Definition: Verb- to rebuke or reprimand severelyStudy Tip: If you’re being chastised, people are probably going to “cast eyes” at you.Sentence: She was advised to chastise her daughter during the embarrassing incident at the grocery store. |
Discourse | Definition: a written or spoken communication or debate. It is usually formal and orderly and an extended expression of thought on a subject. Verb: to speak or write authoritatively about a topic.Study Tip: Dis- like discussion. -course like lengthy pathSentence: During my rebuttal in the debate, I was very nervous as I was not prepared for nature of Sarah’s argument. While I crafted my rebuttal with mean-spirited jabs at her argument, she retained a formal discourse in refuting my stance. |
Promontory | Definition: a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water; a headland.Study Tip: mont- sounds like mountain and thats a high piece of landSentence: The little mermaid swam up to the promontory, and flung herself onto it so she could see where she was at on her adventure |
Rapier | Definition: Noun- a thin, light sword used for thrusting. Can also be used to describe quick and incisive speech or intellect.Study Tip: Both definitions imply sharpness and being to the point.Sentence: With his rapier wit, the comedian on the club’s stage proved to be a much preferable alternative to the drunken piano player. |
Score | Definition: noun- a period of twenty years.Study Tip: Four score and seven years ago = 87 years.Sentence: For scores of years, scientists have known that the earth revolves around the sun. |
Upbraid | Definition: find fault with (someone); scold.Study Tip: You can scold someone by yanking on their braids.Sentence: A great deal of upbraiding occurred when my mother discovered that her favorite vase had been broken. |
The Tempest Vocabulary: Set One
July 27, 2019