All of the vocab words...

1. archaic adjective a. Referring to words and language that were once common but are now rarely used. b. Ancient. c. No longer applicable.
2. argot noun The informal language used by a particular group, such as criminals; a secret language.
3. connotation noun The mental connections or associations of a word that go beyond its literal or dictionary definition.
4. denotation noun The exact meaning of a word.
5. idiom noun An expression having a special meaning that is not clear from the usual meaning of the individual words of the phrase.
6. jargon noun a. The specialized technical vocabulary used by people in the same profession or field. b. Confusing, meaningless talk.
7. semantics noun a. The study of historical changes in the meaning of words. b. The study of the relation of words to the objects they stand for.
8. slang noun Highly informal language that occurs most often in casual conversation.
9. standard adjective a. Conforming to established usage in speech or writing. b. Commonly used and accepted as an authority. Noun a. A rule or model used to judge the quality or correctness of something; criterion. b. A level of requirement, excellence, or attainment.
10. vernacular noun The normal spoken language of a country or region as distinct from the literary or learned language; everyday speech. adjective Native to or commonly spoken by residents of a particular country or region.
11. boycott trans. verb To take part in an organized group refusal to use a product or service as a means of protest. noun An organized group refusal.
12. galvanize trans. verb a. To stir to action or awareness. b. To stimulate or shock with an electric current. c. To put a coating of zinc on iron or steel as protection against rust.
13. jovial adjective Full of fun and good cheer; sociable.
14. macadam noun a. A paving material made of layers of small stones that are packed together with asphalt or tar. b A road surface that has been paved with layers of small stones.
15. maverick noun a. A person who refuses to go along with the polices or views of his or her group; someone who is independent-minded; a nonconformist. b. An unbranded calf or colt. c. A horse or steer that has escaped from the herd.
16. mentor noun A person depended upon for wise advice and guidance; a trusted counselor
17. nemesis noun a. Someone or something that is the source of just punishment. b. Just punishment for wrongdoing. c. An unbeateable rival.
18. odyssey noun a. A long, adventurous, wandering journey. b. An intellectual or spiritual quest.
19. quixotic adjective a. Full of impractical ideas; idealistic.
20. tantalize trans. verb To tease or torment by presenting something desirable while it is just out of reach.
21. bland adjective a. Mild; soothing; not irritating. b. Dull; lacking in interest.
22. culinary adjective Pertaining to cooking or the kitchen.
23. delectable adjective Greatly pleasing, especially to the sense of taste; delicious; delightful.
24. devour trans. verb a. To eat up greedily; swallow; engulf.. b. To consume enthusiastically.
25. edible adjective Suitable for eating; capable of being eaten.
26. epicure noun A person with refined tastes in food and drink; a gourmet.
27. morsel noun a. A bite or small amount of food. b. A small piece; a tidbit.
28. pungent adjective Sharp; strong; penetrating; producing a sharp sensation, usually of taste or smell.
29. quaff trans. verb To drink heartily and deeply of.
30. ravenous adjective Extremely hungry.
31. devious adjective a. Done in an underhanded manner; tricky; shifty. b. Straying from a straight or direct course. c. Departing from the correct or proper way; erring.
32. duplicity noun Deliberate deception or trickery by speaking or acting in two different ways concerning the same manner.
33. fictitious adjective a. Adopted or assumed in order to deceive; false. b. Of fiction; imaginary; unreal.
34. guileless adjective Free of slyness or craftiness; simple and innocent.
35. gullible adjective Easily deceived or fooled.
36. hypocritical adjective Pretending to have some desirable or publicy approved attitude; insincere.
37. masquerade intrans. verb To have or put on a deceptive appearance; to wear a mask or disguise. noun a. A dance or party at which masks and fancy costumes are worn. b. A disguise or false outward show; pretense. c. An involved scheme.
38. overt adjective Open and observable; apparent.
39. reputable adjective Having a good name; well thought of; honorable.
40. veracity noun a. Devotion to the truth; honesty. b. Conformity to truth or fact; accuracy and precision.
41. behold trans. verb To gaze at; look upon.
42. discernment noun Keenness or sharpness in detecting, distinguishing, or selecting.
43. envision trans. verb To picture in the mind.
44. foresee trans. verb To see or to know beforehand
45. gape intrans. verb a. To stare in amazement with the mouth open. b. To open the mouth wide; yawn. c. To open wide.
46. impressionistic adjective a. Of or pertaining to a highly personalized response to art or experience as opposed to a response based on reason or fact. b. Reflecting a style of painting of the late nineteenth century that is marked by concentration on the impression created by the subject.
47. insight noun a. The ability to see and understand the true nature of something. b. An idea of the true nature of something.
48. myopia noun a. Shortsightedness or lack of good judgment in thinking or planning. b. Nearsightedness.
49. perceptive adjective a. Having the ability to be keenly aware of things and situations; knowing. b. Marked by understanding.
50. survey trans. verb a. To examine or look at broadly. b. To inspecit carefully; scrutinize. c. To determine the measures, boundaries, or elevation of land or features of earth’s surface. intrans. verb to make a survey of land. noun a. A broad view. b. A detailed inspection or investigation. c. The act or process of surveying land.
51. cosmopolitan adjective Sophisticated in an international way.
52. geopolitics noun The study of the relationship between geography and politics
53. impolitic adjective Unwise; not exhibiting good judgment.
54. megalopolis noun A unified urban region comprising several large cities and their surrounding areas.
55. metropolitan adjective Pertaining to a major city. noun A high-ranking bishop.
56. policy- noun A general plan, principle, or course of action followed by an organization or an individual.
57. politico noun An informal or journalistic term for a politician
58. suburban adjective Characteristic of the suburbs, mainly the residential areas surrounding large cities
59. urban adjective Like a city; characteristic of cities.
60. urbane adjective elegantly polite and sophisticated
61. comprehensive adjective a. Covering completely or broadly; inclusive. b. Having or exhibiting wide mental grasp.
62. dearth noun A scarcity or lack.
63. deficient adjective a. Lacking an essential quality or element; insufficient. b. Not up to normal standards.
64. deficit noun An amount by which something falls short of the required or expected amount; a shortage.
65. exhaustive adjective Testing all possibilities or considering all elements; thorough.
66. integral adjective a. Essential or necessary for completeness. b. In mathematics, formed of parts tht together make a whole; not fractional.
67. paltry adjective a. Meager; insignificant. b. Worthless; lowly; contemptible.
68. plethora noun Superabundance; excess.
69. replenish trans. verb To fill or make complete again; add a new stock or supply to.
70. scant adjective a. Being just short of full measure. b. Lacking in amount or quantity; inadequate trans. verb a. To provide with an inadequate share; skimp. b. To deal with or treat inadequate
71. abnormal adjective Not normal.
72. conventional adjective Customary; conforming to most standards.
73. idiosyncrasy noun An unusual habit or mannerism of one particular person.
74. orthodox adjective a. Adhering to commonly accepted tradition. b. Adhering to an established religious faith. c. Sound; true; authoritative.
75. precedent noun An action that can be used as an example for subsequent similar cases.
76. prevalent adjective Widespread; commonly occurring; generally accepted or practiced.
77. prosaic adjective Ordinary; lacking in imagination; commonplace.
78. quaint adjective Charmingly old-fashioned.


79. rarity noun a. Something special or uncommon, usually valued. b. The state or condition of being uncommon.
80. singular adjective a. Out of the ordinary; particular. b. Peculiar; eccentric.
81. ambiguous adjective Having two or more possible meanings or interpretations; unclear; vague.
82. baffle trans. verb To cause uncertainty in; puzzle.
83. convoluted adjective a. Coiled or twisted. b. Complicated; intricate.
84. dilemma noun A situation forcing a choice between two alternatives that are often difficult or unpleasant.
85. enigma noun Someone or something that is hard to figure out; a puzzle.
86. intricate adjective a. having a complicated structure or pattern; complex. b. Hard to understand.
87. labyrinth noun A network of winding, connected passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way without help; a maze.
88. quandary noun A state of uncertainty or doubt.
89. soluble adjective a. Capable of being solved or explained. b. Capable of being easily dissolved.
90. tactic noun A method of achieving a goal; a strategy.
91. broach trans. verb To talk or write about for the first time; to bring up
92. convene intrans. verb To assemble, usually for an official or public purpose; meet formallytrans. verb To cause to assemble.
93. debut noun a. The beginning of a career or other course of action. b. A first public appearance, as of an actor on stage. c. The formal presentation of a young woman to society.
94. embark intrans. verb a. To set out on a venture; commence. b. To board a vessel, especially at the start of a journey.
95. generate trans. verb To cause or create.
96. incipient adjective In an early stage; just beginning to exist or appear.
97. initiative noun a. The power, ability, or instinct to begin or follow through with a plan or task; enterprise. b. A first step or opening move. c. The procedure by which citizens can propose a new law by petition and have it voted on.
98. innovation noun a. A creative act. b. Something begun or introduced; something that represents a change.
99. novice noun a. A person new to a field or activity; a beginner. b. A person who has entered a religious order but has not yet taken final vows.
100. overture noun a. An act, offer, or proposal that indicates readiness to undertake a course of action. b. An instrumental composition that introduces an extended musical work.
101. cessation noun The act of ceasing or stopping; a halt.
102. commence trans. verb To begin; start. intrans. verb To come into existence; have a beginning.
103. deter trans. verb To prevent or discourage from acting, as by means of fear or doubt.
104. hamper trans. verb To prevent the free movement, action, or progress of; limit. noun A large basket, usually with a cover.
105. obstruction noun An obstacle; something that blocks or gets in the way.
106. preclude trans. verb To make impossible or unlikely.
107. procrastinate intrans. verb To put off doing something until a future time. trans. verb To postpone or delay needlessly.
108. scuttle intrans. verb To run hastily; scurry. trans. verb To sink (a ship) by cutting or opening a hole in (its hull).
109. subside intrans. verb a. To sink to a lower or more normal level. b. To become less active.
110. thwart trans. verb To prevent from takin place; frustrate; block.
111. composite adjective a. Put together from various parts: a composite photograph. b. In mathematics, having factors: a composite number. noun Something made up of various parts; a combination.
112. disposition noun a. One’s usual mood or temperament. b. Arrangement.
113. exponent noun a. A person who speaks for something; a representative or interpreter of. b. A superscript number indicating how many times a given number is multiplied by itself.
114. impostor noun A person who assumes a false identity for the purpose of deceiving others.
115. juxtaposition noun Placement side by side or close together, often producing an unusual effect.
116. opposition noun a. The condition of being against, contrary to, or in conflict with. b. A rival.
117. proposition noun a. A statement or plan suggested for acceptance; a proposal. b. An issue put before voters.
118. propound trans. verb To offer or set forth for consideration.
119. repository noun a. A place for safe storage; a storehouse. b. A source.
120. supposition noun An assumption.
121. appreciable adjective able to be estimated or measured; noticeable.
122. breadth noun a. The distance or dimension from side to side of something, as distinguished from length or thickness; width. b. Wide extent or scope. c. Freedom from narrowness of views, interests, or attitudes.
123. copious adjective a. Large in quantity; abundant; containing an ample supply. b. Filled with matter, thoughts, or words; wordy.
124. gargantuan adjective Of immense size or volume; colossal; huge.
125. innumerable adjective Too many to be counted or numbered.
126. inordinate adjective Exceeding reasonable limits; excessive.
127. negligible adjective Amounting to very little; not important enough to be worth considering; trifling.
128. paucity noun A short supply; smallness of quantity; scarcity.
129. pittance noun a. A small salary or amount of money. b. A small amount or portion.
130. proliferate intrans. verb a. To multiply, increase, or spread rapidly. b. To produce new growth or offspring rapidly and repeatedly. trans verb. To cause to grow or increase rapidly.
131. capillary noun Any of the tiny blood vessels that connect the smallest arteries to the smallest veins. adjective Of or like a capillary.
132. enervate trans. verb To deprive someone of strength or vitality; weaken; sap.
133. epidemic noun a. An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly. b. A rapid spread, growth, or development. adjective a. Spreading rapidly and widely by infection among many individuals in an area. b. Widespread.
134. epidermis noun a. The outer protective layer of skin. b. The outer layer of cells or the protective covering of a plant.
135. infirmity noun a. A physical disability. b. A lack of power; frailty.
136. malady noun a. A disease, ailment, or disorder. b. An unwholesome condition.
137. nutrient noun Something that nourishes, especially an ingredient in food.
138. pallor noun Extreme or unnatural paleness.
139. susceptible adjective a. Likely to be stricken or infected with or by. b. Easily influenced or affected; sensitive.
140. virulent adjective a. Having a strong tendency to cause harm; very severe; poisonous. b. Intensely irritating, hostile, obnoxious, or harsh.
141. blight trans. verb a. To cause a decline or decay; to ruin or destroy. b. To cause a plant to be affected with disease. noun a. Any of several diseases that cause plants to wither and deteriorate. b. Unfavorable environmental conditions.
142. cataclysm noun a. A violent upheaval; a disaster. b. A violent, sudden change in the earth’s crust. c. A destructive flood.
143. decimate trans. verb To destroy or kill a large part.
144. decomposition noun The process of decaying, rotting, or breaking down.
145. eradication noun Elimination, as if by tearing out by the roots; ridding.
146. havoc noun a. Widespread destruction b. Confusion; disorder.
147. mar trans. verb To damage; spoil the beauty of.
148. obliterate trans. verb To do away with completely; to wipe out.
149. pulverize trans. verb a. To pound, crush, or grind into a powder. b. To destroy, as if by crushing into powder.
150. stagnant adjective a. Foul from standing still; stale. b. Lacking in freshness, liveliness, or originality.
151. adept adjective Very skilled or capable.
152. aptitude noun a. A talent or natural ability. b. Ease in learning; intelligence
153. astute adjective Shrewd in judgment; possessing a keen mind.
154. dexterity noun Skill in the use of the hands, the body, or the mind; adroitness.
155. finesse noun Delicacy and refinement of performance, execution, or workmanship.
156. inspiration noun a. A creative stimulus for the mind or the emotions. b. A sudden insight or creative idea.
157. precocious adjective Having unusual mental development at an early age.
158. prodigy noun A person who is exceptionally gifted, usually at a young age.
159. resourceful adjective Capable; effective; able to meet most situations effectively.
160. virtuoso noun One skilled in the technique of an art, especially music.
161. arrogant adjective Excessively and unpleasantly convinced of one’s own importance; overbearingly proud; superior; vain.
162. diffident adjective Hesitant through lack of self-confidence; timid.
163. egocentric adjective Limited in outlook or concern to one’s own activities or needs; self-centered; selfish.
164. esteem noun Favorable regard; respect. trans. verb a. To regard with respect; admire; honor. b. To judge or consider to be.
165. gloat intrans. verb To feel or display triumphant, and often spiteful, satisfaction or delight.
166. humility noun The quality of being humble; freedom from false pride.
167. modest adjective a. Having or showing a moderate estimation of one’s own talents, abilities, or accomplishments; lacking in vanity. b. Not elaborate or showy; unpretentious. c. Moderate in size or amount.
168. pompous adjective a. Characterized by an exaggerated show of dignity or self-importance. b. Excessively ornate.
169. swagger intrans. verb To walk or conduct oneself in a conceited or boastful manner; strut.
170. vaunt trans. verb To call attention to, often proudly or boastfully. intrans. verb To boast or brag.
171. appraisal noun a. An evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or worth of something; a judgment. b. An expert or official evaluation of something, as for taxation.
172. base adjective a. Mean or contemptible; shameful b. Inferior in quality; containing inferior substances.
173. candid adjective a. Without pretense or reserve; straightforward; honest b. Free of prejudice; impartial c. Not posed or rehearsed noun An unposed photograph.
174. criterion noun A standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based .
175. legitimate adjective a. Authentic; genuine; real. b. Being or acting in accordance with the law; lawful c. In accordance with established or accepted patterns and standards.
176. mediocre adjective Of moderate to low quality; ordinary; average.
177. meritorious adjective Having superior value; deserving praise
178. subtle adjective a. Not immediately obvious; so slight as to be difficult to detect or analyze. b. Able to make precise distinctions; keen. c. Characterized by slyness or deviousness.
179. truism noun A statement of obvious or self-evident truth.
180. validate trans. verb To confirm or support on a sound basis or authority; verify; substantiate.
181. circumlocution noun a. The use of roundabout expressions or wordy and indirect language. b. Speech or writing that is wordy or evasive.
182. discourse noun a. Verbal expression in the form of speech or writing. b. The formal and lengthy discussion of a subject, either written or spoken. intrans. verb a. To speak or write formally and at length b. To engage in conversation or discussion.
183. euphemism noun The act or an example of the substitution of an inoffensive term for one that is considered offensive, unpleasant, or too direct.
184. falter intrans. verb a. To speak hesitatingly; stammer. b. To waver in confidence
185. literate adjective a. Able to read and write; knowledgeable; educated b. Well-written; polished. noun a. Someone who can read and write. b. A well-informed, educated person.
186. prattle intrans. verb To talk idly or meaninglessly; babble. trans. verb To utter in a childish or silly way. noun Childish or meaningless sounds; babble.
187. raconteur noun A person who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.
188. reiterate trans. verb To say over again; repeat.
189. utterance noun a. The act of expressing vocally. b. Something that is expressed.
190. verbose adjective Using or containing an excessive number of words.
191. ascribe trans. verb To regard as caused by; assign; attribute.
192. circumscribe trans. verb a. To draw a line around; encircle b. To confine within or as if within bounds; limit or restrict c. To construct or be constructed around a geometrical figure so as to touch as many points as possible.
193. inscribe trans. verb a. To write, print, carve, or engrave words or letters on a surface b. To sign or write a brief message in or on a book or picture when giving it as a gift; dedicate to someone c. To enter a name on a list or in a register; enroll d. To draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible.
194. nondescript adjective Lacking in distinctive or interesting qualities and therefore difficult to describe; dull; drab.
195. prescribe trans. verb a. To order or recommend the use of a remedy or treatment b. To set down as a rule or guide; dictate c. To state or indicate specifically; specify.
196. proscribe trans. verb a. To prohibit; forbid as harmful or unlawful b. To denounce or condemn.
197. scripture noun a. A sacred writing or book b. A statement regarded as authoritative.
198. subscribe trans. verb a. To contract to receive and pay in advance for something, such as a magazine, concert tickets, etc b. To agree or approve.
199. subscript noun A distinguishing symbol, such as a letter or numeral, written below and to the right of a letter or number, as in a mathematical expression or chemical formula.
200. transcribe trans. verb a. To make a written or typewritten copy of, as from notes b. To adapt or arrange a musical composition for a voice or instrument other than the original.
201. aficionado noun A fan; an enthusiastic admirer.
202. bonanza noun a. A source of wealth or luck. b. A rich mine.
203. bravado noun False bravery; swaggering courage.
204. embargo noun a. A government order preventing or prohibiting trade with a given nation. b. A prohibition. trans. verb To impose an embargo upon.
205. flotilla noun a. A small fleet. b. A small group resembling a small fleet of ships.
206. hacienda noun a. A large estate, ranch, or plantation. b. The main house of such an estate.
207. junta noun A group of rulers, particularly one seizing power after the overthrow of a government.
208. peccadillo noun A small fault or transgression.
209. peon noun An unskilled laborer; a farm worker.
210. renegade noun A traitor or outlaw; a rebel.
211. assert trans. verb To state or express positively, forcefully, or boldly; affirm.
212. dauntless adjective Not able to be discouraged or threatened; bold; audacious.
213. ferocity noun Savagery; fierceness; barbarity.
214. flout trans. verb To show scorn or contempt for; show defiance.
215. headstrong adjective Determined to have one’s own way and to do as one pleases; obstinate.
216. incisive adjective a. Sharp; keen; perceptive. b. Able to analyze in depth.The quality of being humble; freedom from false pride.
217. outspoken adjective Spoken without reserve; frank; unrestrained in speech; forthright.
218. temerity noun Foolish or heedless disregard of danger; rash boldness; impudence.
219. vehement adjective Showing intense emotion or passion; forceful.
220. vibrant adjective Pulsing with energy; vigorous; lively.
221. arbitrary adjective a. Based on whim or impulse rather than reason or law. b. Subject to individual judgment.
222. coincidental adjective a. Occurring as a combination of circumstances that, although accidental, is so remarkable that it seems to have been planned or arranged. b. Resulting from the condition of occupying the same point in space or time.
223. contrive trans. verb a. To plan cleverly; invent, especially without preparation. b. To plot or scheme with evil intent. intrans. verb To plot or scheme.
224. deliberation noun a. Careful thought in decision-making or action. b. Slowness of motion or manner.
225. fortuitous adjective a. Occurring unexpectedly or without any known cause; happening by accident or chance; unplanned. b. Lucky.
226. haphazard adjective a. Lacking any definite plan or order; random. b. Dependent upon chance.
227. intent noun a. An aim or purpose. b. The state of mind at the time of an action. c. meaning or connotation. adjective Firmly fixed; determined; intense.
228. premeditated adjective Planned arranged or plotted in advance.
229. spontaneous adjective a. Happening without external cause; self-generated. b. Impulsive.
230. unwitting adjective Not knowing; unaware.
231. affectation noun Artificial behavior adopted to impress others; pretense; a pose.
232. beneficiary noun a. A person who receives funds from an insurance policy or will upon another’s death. b. Anyone who receives help or advantage from something.
233. defect noun a. A flaw or imperfection. b. A deficiency. intrans. verb To depart one’s country or party in order to adopt or join another.
234. efficacy noun The power or capacity to produce the desired effect; effectiveness.
235. faction noun A group of persons forming a united but sometimes discontented and troublesome minority within a larger group.
236. factor noun a. Something that helps bring about a certain result; an ingredient. b. One of two or more numbers or expressions that have a given product. trans. verb To find the factors of.
237. officiate intrans. verb a. To serve in a position of authority; to preside. b. To serve as a referee or an umpire in sports.
238. officious adjective Excessively forward in offering one’s services or advice to others; meddlesome.
239. prolific adjective a. Causing or maintaining abundant growth. b. Producing numerous works.
240. suffice intrans. verb To meet present needs; be adequate.
241. accolade noun An expression of strong approval or praise.
242. adulation noun Enthusiastic or even excessive praise; fawning admiration.
243. anathema noun a. A strong denunciation b. A formal religious condemnation c. Anything or anyone condemned.
244. commend trans. verb To mention approvingly; praise.
245. eulogy noun A speech or written tribute of praise, most often one delivered at a memorial service in honor of the deceased.
246. extol trans. verb To praise highly.
247. homage noun Particular respect or honor.
248. laudable adjective Worthy of praise.
249. reproach trans. verb To blame or criticize for something noun Blame; discredit; an act of criticism.
250. reverence noun a. A feeling of great respect, even of awe or love; veneration b. An act of showing respect, such as a bow or curtsy trans. verb. To venerate; show respect toward.
251. assess trans. verb a. To determine the significance or importance of; evaluate; appraise b. To estimate the value of property for taxation; set the amount of tax, fine, or other payment.
252. disregard trans. verb a. To pay little or no attention to; ignore or neglect b. To treat as unworthy of notice noun Lack of thoughtful attention or proper respect.
253. enthrall trans. verb To captivate; hold spellbound; charm.
254. heedless adjective a. Unmindful; inattentive; unobservant b. Careless.
255. indifferent adjective a. Marked by a lack of interest in or concern about something; uninvolved b. Showing no preference; impartial; unbiased c. Neither good nor bad; mediocre.
256. oblivious adjective a. Lacking conscious awareness b. Forgetful.
257. preoccupy trans. verb To hold the attention or interest of; engross.
258. receptive adjective Ready or willing to receive something favorably.
259. scrutinize trans. verb To pay close attention to minute detail; examine something carefully, critically, or searchingly.
260. vigilant adjective Watchful; on the alert; wary.
261. contract noun a. A formal agreement between two or more parties, particularly one enforceable by law. b. The document containing such an agreement. trans. verb To enter into a formal agreement. intrans. verb To grow smaller.
262. detract intrans. verb To take away something desirable; diminish the value of.
263. distraction noun Something that draws the mind away from the original direction of attention or interest; a diversion of attention.
264. entreaty noun An earnest request or plea.
265. extract trans. verb To pull or draw out forcibly. noun a. A passage from a literary work; an excerpt. b. A concentrated substance, such as a food flavoring.
266. portray trans. verb a. To make a likeness or representation. b. To describe in words. c. To play the part of in a movie or play.
267. protracted adjective Drawn out or lengthened in time; prolonged.
268. retract trans. verb To draw back; withdraw.
269. tract noun a. A stretch of land. b. A system of related organs. c. A leaflet or pamphlet, particularly one on a religious or political theme.
270. trait noun A distinguishing quality or feature.
271. dogmatic adjective Expressing a belief or opinion as if it were fact; excessively positive or emphatic.
272. pensive adjective Dreamily, and often sadly, thoughtful.
273. philosophy noun a. The study of reality based on logical reasoning rather than factual observation b. A personal set of opinions and values by which one lives c. A basic, practical rule or set of rules.
274. plausible adjective a. Appearing true or reasonable b. Giving a deceptive impression of truth, acceptability, or reliability.
275. ponder trans. verb To think about something carefully and at length; weigh an idea in the mind intrans. verb To consider seriously and deeply.
276. postulate trans. verb To assume the truth of something without proof, especially as the basis for study or argument; take something for granted noun A theory proposed as the basis of a chain of reasoning; a basic principle.
277. rational adjective a. Consistent with or based on reason; logical b. Of sound mind; sane.
278. reverie noun a. The condition of being lost in thought b. A daydream.
279. skeptical adjective Doubting; questioning.
280. speculation noun a. An idea based on incomplete evidence; guessing b. A conclusion, idea, or opinion reached through reasoning; a theory c. Business dealings that involve risk but offer the chance for a quick profit.
281. apologist noun A person who argues in defense or justification of an idea or cause.
282. contend trans. verb To maintain or assert; argue (for) a point of view. intrans. verb a. To strive or struggle in controversy or debate; dispute. b. To strive, as in battle; fight. c. To compete, as in race.
283. dissuade trans. verb To discourage or keep (someone) from a purpose or course of action.
284. fallacy noun a. An opinion based on mistaken assumptions or logic; a false notion. b. False reasoning, belief, or argument.
285. hypothesis noun a. A statement that accounts for a set of facts but cannot be proved by direct supporting evidence; a theory. b. Something that is assumed as a basis for action or discussion.
286. indisputable adjective Undeniable; true beyond all doubt.
287. inference noun a. A conclusion based on evidence. b. The act or process of concluding something from evidence; a deduction.
288. red herring noun Something that draws attention away from the matter or issue at hand.
289. refute trans. verb To prove a person or idea to be wrong.
290. substantiate trans. verb To support with proof or evidence; verify.
291. cognizant adjective Aware; fully informed.
292. connoisseur noun One knowledgeable in any area, but especially in the arts or in matters of taste and discernment.
293. conscientious adjective Thorough and attentive; careful; painstaking.
294. consciousness noun a. Awareness of one’s thoughts and perceptions. b. The totality of attitudes or feelings held by a group.
295. diagnosis noun A critical analysis of the nature of something, particularly disease.
296. notoriety noun Fame of an unfavorable kind.
297. omniscient adjective Knowing all things; having total knowledge.
298. prognosis noun a. A forecast of a probable result. b. The likelihood of recovery from a disease.
299. recognition noun a. Acknowledgement or attention; favorable notice. b. Awareness that something perceived has been perceived previously.
300. unconscionable adjective Unrestrained by conscience; unreasonable; unjust.

HONORS WRITING INSTRUCTIONS

The writing assignment on page 755 asks you to write an internal dialogue, but I think the assignment might be easier to picture as a dialogue between authors or characters from stories that we've read. Can you imagine Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe debating why you should give a presentation on "The Musgrave Ritual" versus "The Cask of Amontillado"? Imagine, they might even talk to you.

"But Mr. Swaney loves my stories," Mr. Poe stated emphatically.

"No, no, no," interrupted Sir Doyle, "You have no evidence, my dear Mr. Poe, that Mr. Swaney loves anything you have written!"

"That's just not true," Edgar responded. "Each day after school you can hear Mr. Swaney listening to book-on-tape versions of my most popular stories. Of course he would look favorably on a presentation on 'The Cask of Amontillado'."

"Guys, relax!" I exclaimed.

5/7 and 5/10

Attendance
Prayer
collect grammar HW
collect MLA bibliography
R&J Test
new vocab
review grammar HW

Homework:

New bibliography due next class
Create a ten (10) item works cited page in MLA format on ONE (1) of the following topics: H.G. Wells, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, George Orwell, or mythology.
1. You may use books from the Crespi library including works by each author and encyclopedias.
2. You may use sources you find through Crespi’s database subscriptions.
3. You may not use internet sources.

Vocab worksheets due and vocab quiz next class

Bring The War of the Worlds study guide next class; it can be downloaded from NetClassroom. Try to complete as many of the questions as possible.

Chapter 24 Chapter Review #1-35 on pages 753-755 in EofL; TYPED; Type all sentences out completely.

HONORS: Please complete the writing assignment on page 755 of EofL
You may feel free to be creative with your interpretation of the instructions, but be sure to include dialogue between somebody: characters, authors themselves, you...

Romeo and Juliet summary

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon in 1564. As a young man, he attended school, and during his early education, he was able to see many plays and drama troupes as they toured the English countryside. This early education probably helped him in his path to become arguably the most famous playwright in history. At the age of eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than him, and the two of them had three children. Not much is known about certain portions of his life, but Shakespeare is thought to have worked as a teacher for a few years before he surfaced in the London theater scene.

Shakespeare became a shareholder in a theater company called Lord Chamberlain’s Men, and while he was with this company he wrote Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s audience would have already been familiar with the story of the two star-crossed lovers, but it is Shakespeare’s adaptation that has survived into the modern age. In the Globe Theater, Shakespeare would not have had the advantages of sophisticated lighting and mise-en-scene; in fact, his stage would have been considerably void of props in comparison to what we think of today when we think of a play. Still, audiences would have delighted at the opportunity to stand in the pit that surrounded the open stage. The audience members who paid one penny to stand on the three sides of the peninsula stage were known as groundlings. Women were not a fixture in the theater scene in Shakespeare’s time, and the roles of women would have been played by young men; that includes the role of Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet takes place in Verona, Italy in the fourteenth century. In Shakespeare’s time, the actors portraying the play would not have tried to recreate the costumes of the time and location. Instead, they would have worn clothes of contemporary English citizens. The prologue at the beginning of the play, written as a Shakespearian sonnet, pretty much gives away the ending. Audience members who paid close attention would have known to expect the tale of two lovers from feuding families, and audience members would have known that the story, in the tradition of tragedy, ends in the death of the young lovers.

The first scene of the play confirms the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and although nobody can be sure why the families don’t get along, Prince Escalus decrees that any further disputes between the families would result in the execution of the participating parties. With that in mind, it is important that you know who belongs to which family. For instance, Romeo is a Montague, as is Benvolio, but Tybalt is a Capulet. Although Mercutio and Romeo spend a lot of time together, Mercutio is, in fact, related to the prince.

At the beginning of the play, Romeo is hopelessly in love with Rosaline, but because she has taken steps to become a nun, Romeo cannot be with her. Depressed and down, Romeo avoids his friends and his family, but at last, Benvolio and Mercutio convince Romeo to go to a party at the house of the Capulets. At that party, Romeo lays eyes on and falls in love with the thirteen-year-old Juliet. As we learn from the Nurse, Juliet is not quite fourteen; her birthday would have been within about two weeks of the action of the play.

Once at the party, however, Romeo also catches the eye of Tybalt, and with his fiery temper, Tybalt swears that Romeo’s appearance at the party will not go without punishment. Romeo goes on courting Juliet, however, and late in the evening, the two declare their love for one another. The haste and impetuousness with which they decide to be wed the next day sets the stage for some of the wild decisions that the teenagers make later in the play.

After convincing Friar Laurence to perform the marriage rite, Romeo and Juliet still keep their wedding a secret, and the only people who know of the nuptials are Romeo, Juliet, Friar Laurence, and Nurse. As a priest, Friar Laurence is Romeo’s ghostly father in the sense that he is a spiritual father, and Juliet’s relationship with Nurse goes back for Juliet’s entire life. In Shakespeare’s time, aristocratic families would hire peasants who had recently given birth to breastfeed their children. Nurse was hired around the time of Juliet’s birth; Susan, the daughter of the Nurse, had died as a baby. The Capulets kept Nurse around as a nanny for Juliet, and Juliet has a very close relationship with Nurse.

Later in the day after the wedding, Romeo stumbles upon Tybalt as he is picking a fight with Benvolio and Mercutio. Related to Tybalt through marriage, Romeo does not want to fight, but Tybalt, with his fiery temper, manages to engage Mercutio in a sword fight during which Tybalt slays Mercutio. Moved to vengeance, Romeo then kills Tybalt, and Prince Escalus at first vows to have Romeo executed. After hearing an appeal from Montague, however, Prince Escalus reduces the punishment to banishment.

At first, Romeo is unable to see the mercy in the Prince’s decision, but Friar Laurence manages to convince him of a rational plan. Romeo was to visit Mantua and stay outside the city limits of Verona until Friar Laurence can figure out a way to make the marriage of the teenagers public. In the meantime, however, Capulet determines that Paris should finally marry Juliet. Desperate for a way to avoid that fate, Juliet agrees to take potion that will make her family think she is dead. Friar Laurence gives her a poison that will make her appear dead for forty-two hours, and while she is resting in the Capulet tomb, Friar Laurence planned to have Friar John take word of the new secret plan to Romeo.

On his way to Mantua, however, Friar John gets locked up in a house because he is suspected of coming in contact with a pestilence, or plague. With his delay, Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, manages to bring false news of Juliet’s death to the young lover. Romeo, desperate and hasty, decides to kill himself by means of a poison, but because poison is illegal to sell in Mantua, Romeo has to bribe a poor apothecary to acquire the potion. Romeo returns to Verona, and in the graveyard, Romeo encounters Paris who was there to pay respect to his dead “fiancée.” Romeo and Paris fight, and Romeo slays Paris. In a moment of terrible irony, Romeo enters the tomb and comments that Juliet doesn’t look dead. Impatient and determined to die, Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Juliet wakes up moments later, and despite Friar Laurence’s desperate pleading for her to leave the tomb, Juliet buries Romeo’s knife in her own body; she dies with her lover.

Upon the conclusion of the play, Prince Escalus blames Capulet and Montague for the death of his own cousins, Mercutio and Paris. Capulet and Montague, seeing the evil that came of their feud, agree to put an end to the bad blood between the families, and Montague promises to erect a statue of pure gold in Verona to honor Juliet.

Shakespeare’s version of the play has survived because of his realistic portrayal of the characters and his expert use of language. Writing primarily in Blank Verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter, Shakespeare’s poetic language draws the reader or audience member in with an intoxicating rhythm. In fact, using a poetic technique called “enjambment,” Shakespeare makes the idea of a sentence cross over several lines of poetry. Enjambment uses the natural rhythm of the poem to make the reader move on to the next line. Through monologues and soliloquies, characters deliver speeches that inform the other characters and the audience members, and in Shakespeare’s moving dialogue, the characters interact in engaging and entertaining ways. Although Shakespeare uses minimal stage direction to indicate what the actors should be doing, the action of the play is clear.

Following in the Greek tradition of plays like those by Euripedes, Aeschylus, and Sophocles, Shakespeare is known as a Renaissance writer. He adheres to the ideal drama as outlined by Aristotle in his work Poetics. By including thought, language, character, spectacle, song and dance, and action, Shakespeare makes the play appealing to a wide audience, thus the relationship of script->actor->audience results in a successful performance each time Romeo and Juliet is portrayed on the stage.

In his five acts and scenes, Shakespeare employs puns, jokes that rely on multiple meanings of words, that would have delighted his audience, and Shakespeare’s use of poetic devices such as oxymorons, which are seemingly contradictory combinations of words that result in a new meaning, make the play rich with meaning and double meanings. With the power of language, Shakespeare can personify things like night and day by having Friar Laurence say things like, “The gray eyed morn smiles on the frowning night.” In other examples, Shakespeare has characters speak directly to inanimate objects or abstract concepts in examples of apostrophe. Apostrophe is a specific kind of personification in which a character or speaker personifies an inanimate object or abstract concept by speaking directly to it.

5/5 and 5/6

Attendance
Prayer
Collect HW
Review Vocab
Vocab Quiz
New Vocab
Romeo and Juliet Review
Review Homework

Homework:

Exercise 4 in Elements of Language Chapter 24

Read Chapters 9 and 10 in The War of the Worlds

MLA assignment due 5/7 for odds, 5/10 for evens

Romeo and Juliet Test on 5/7 for odds, 5/10 for evens

5/3 and 5/4

Attendance
Prayer
Collect Ex 1 and 2 of Chapter 24
return things and in-class reading of WofW
Return homework and review answers
Grammar Quiz
New Vocab
MLA check for a test grade and MLA assignment discussion
Review Romeo and Juliet study guide

Homework:

Ex.3 and Reviews A and B in Chapter 24 of Elements of Language

Read Chapters 7 and 8 in Book 2 of The War of the Worlds

Vocab Worksheets due next class

Vocab Quiz next class

MLA assignment due 5/7 for odds; 5/10 for evens

Romeo and Juliet Test 5/7 for odds; 5/10 for evens

MLA Book

You are to present your MLA book for credit tomorrow. Be sure to put your name in it in several places; since other students may not be prepared, they may try to receive credit for presenting your book.

If you have not picked up a book yet, the Barnes and Noble on Ventura Boulevard less than three miles from the school has copies. Don't believe me? That's were this picture came from!