ELA 9th grade Vocab Final(Semester 2)

Talon (n.)

A Bird's Claw. The eagle gripped its prey in its extremely strong ___. Hook, nail.

Bouquet (n.)

A bunch of arranged flowers. Our local florist created a lovely bridal ___ of red and white flowers for my daughter's wedding. Wreath.

Dialogue (n.)

A conversation between two or more people; If you have a problem with someone, it's important to have a ___ with them.; Communication, discussion

Thicket (n.)

A dense growth of shrubbery or trees. The police arrested the suspect, who was hiding in the ___ at the entrance to the park. Bush, underbrush.

Constellation (N.)

A group of stars that make a pattern in the sky. The ___ Orion is made up of stars that, if you really use your imagination, are in the shape of a hunter and his belt. Configuration, system.

Premises (n.)

A house or building and its property - Because we didn't pay our rent for three months, the landlord told us that we has to leave the ___. - Territory and area.

Cordon (n.)

A protective line or circle. The police formed a ___ to block the protesters from entering the museum. Barrier, row.

Ululation (n.)

A rhythmical howling or wailing sound. Eric raised his head and achieved a paint ___ by beating his open mouth. Clamor, yelp.

Incantation (n.)

A series of words used in a chant or to cast a spell. Any spell with an ___ has the ability to backfire if even one word in the chant is pronounced wrong. Enchantment, chant.

Privilege (n.)

A special right or benefit. Having a driver's license is a ___ that can be taken away if a driver is not responsible. Entitlement.

Anxiety (n.)

A state of being worried or uneasy - When I take tests, I often have considerable ___ because I am worried I might fail. - Stress and Concern.

Bedlam (n.)

A state of chaos and confusion; After the earthquake, there was ___ as people tried to find their families.; Uproar, commotion

Platitude (n.)

A statement used too often to be interesting or thoughtful; Politicians use the same ___ all the time about equality, so at this point, it means nothing to me.; Cliche, overused saying

Talisman (n.)

An object such as a ring or stone, that is thought to have magical powers. The gambler would not play a single game unless his ___ was in his pocket. Charm, amulet.

Arbitrary (adj.)

Based on random choice, and not any reason or system; Not all the swimmers chosen for the competition were the best, which made the decision process seem ___.; Random, inconsistent.

Subliminal (adj.)

Below the Level of Awareness. By showing brief flashes of carefully placed products in movies, which most people wouldn't even notice, companies are able to use ___ advertising to great effect. Mental, subconscious.

Placid (adj.)

Calm and peaceful - The sea is really ___ today; the waves are small and it's not a good time to surf. - Tranquil and quiet.

Tangible (adj.)

Clear and definite; Your promises to turn in the work are appreciated, but I would prefer to see more ___ proof.; Real, touchable.

Synthesis (n.)

Combining two or more ideas into one complex idea; The essay needed to be a ___ of two separate articles: what ideas did they both emphasize?; Fusion, integration

Consoling (adj.)

Comforting or soothing - I gave my friend a ___ hug because she was upset and I wanted to make her feel better. - Encouraging and helping.

Miscellaneous (adj.)

Composed of or containing a variety of things. Her purse held a strange assortment of ___ items. Mixed.

Chagrin (n.)

Disappointed to having been humiliated; After finishing the race in last place, I ignored my ___ and congratulated the winner.; Embarrassment, awkwardness

Egregious (adj.)

Extraordinary in some bad way. After cheating on the exam, Sarah was warned that further ___ violations would have her expelled from school. Awful.

Delirium (n.)

Extreme Mental Disturbance, Often Accompanied by Hallucinations. After the team's first championship in over twenty years, the fans were so excited that they seemed to be in a ___. Madness, fever.

Posterity (n.)

Future generations or descendants. Before printing became possible, history was shared through stories that were passed along for ___. Offspring.

Haughty (adj.)

Having or showing a lot of pride or arrogance. Derrick's ___ attitude made him an undesirable friend; he thought he was better than everyone else. Snobbish.

Ambiguous (adj.)

Having several possible meanings. Based on your ___ look, I cannot tell if you found my joke funny or offensive. Unclear.

Vile (adj.)

Highly offensive or disgusting. In the fairy tale, the ___ queen tried to kill her stepdaughter. Foul.

Repressive (adj.)

Holding back or holding down.; People in North Korea live under an extremely ___ government.; Restrictive, constraining.

Unquenchable (adj.)

Inability to satisfy one's thirst. Sometimes people have dry skin and ___ thirst even though they drink lots of water. Insatiable, insistent.

Conscience (n.)

Inner Sense of Right and Wrong. I didn't need my friend to tell me that copying his homework was wrong; my ___ did it for me. Morals, principles.

Excruciating (adj.)

Intensely painful. Summer knew something was terribly wrong the moment she landed and felt an ___pain shoot up her leg. Severe, intense.

Myopia (n.)

Lack of vision or imagination or short-sightedness. Do not let your ___ prevent you from taking risks that could be beneficial to you in the long run. Nearsightedness, narrowmindedness.

Ignorant (adj.)

Lacking knowledge or awareness; You should read the news each day so you are not ___ to the problems in the world.; Uneducated, oblivious.

Corpulent (adj.)

Large, fat, or obese. The doctor suggested that the___ woman begin an exercise program.

Desolate (adj.)

Lonely or deserted - After the fire, the burnt landscape was ___; there were hardly any plants or trees left and there was no-one around. - Barren and devastated.

Phosphorescence (n.)

Luminous light that does not produce flame or heat. We used to have to wait for the moon to come up in order to be able to find the fish by their ___. Brightness, glowing.

Insufficient (adj.)

Not enough - There was an ___ amount of food at the picnic, so some people were not able to eat. - Inadequate and scarce.

Irrelevant (adj.)

Not related or connected; I consider my friends' opinions ___ when they judge other people based on how they dress or look.; Unimportant, pointless

Impudence (n.)

Not showing respect; If the criminal hadn't shown the judge so much ___, he may not have received such a harsh sentence.; Disrespect, arrogance

Momentous (adj.)

Of great significance or importance - It would be a ___ occasion if the San Diego Padres won the World Series. - Historic and memorable.

Interspersed ( adj.)

Placed at intervals. The student opened her Google Doc and read through the teacher's comments that were ___ throughout her essay. Sprinkled, distributed.

Primeval (adj.)

Primitive; Relating to the Earliest of Times. Europe contains some of the most ___ forests in the world, and scientists find them essential for studying long-term trends in biology. Ancient, prehistoric.

Truculent (adj.)

Quick to argue or fight. Why are you in such a ___ mood that you want to argue with everyone today? Aggressive, belligerent.

Intuition (n.)

Quick understanding without using reasoning or thought; My friend never told me about her depression, but thanks to my ___, I could just tell that she was going through a hard time.; Instinct, hunch.

Secular (adj.)

Related to things that are not religious; "Happy Holidays" is a ___ way to greet each other during the winter season.; Worldly, non-religious.

Emancipation (n.)

Release from someone else's control; The ___ of the prisoners was a joyous moment for all who witnessed it.; Liberation, freedom.

Derision (n.)

Ridicule or laughter at something considered unintelligent or of no value. By no means should we make others the object of ___ and scornful laughter. Mockery, contempt.

Tremulous (adj.)

Shaking or quivering slightly. For a few moments Annie wasn't sure that her ___ fingers would be able to open the letter. Shaky, fearful.

Acrid (adj.)

Sharp, bitter, or irritating (can be a smell or taste). He rubbed his cheek along his forearm, smelling the ___ scent of salt and sweat and staleness of the dirt. Stinging, harsh.

paradox (n.)

Something that has or Seem to Have Contradictory Qualities. There is a famous ___ that states that the more you know, the less you know. How can this be true? Puzzle, oddity.

Obligation (n.)

Something that is done out of a sense of duty - Do we have an ___ to help people who are less fortunate than we are? I think we do. - Responsibility and burden.

Antiphonal (adj.)

Sung or played by two groups in turn. The choir's ___ music was beautiful; their voices echoed back and forth with various melodies that were never sung at the same time. Responsive, alternation.

Pinnacle (n.)

Tall, pointed formations. Joey was making twenty million dollars a year when he reached the ___ of his golf career. Peak, summit.

Cessation (n.)

The process of being brought to an end. The arrival of several police cruisers brought a quick ___ to the fight. Termination, closure.

Revoke (v.)

To Cancel or Withdraw. The offer of free smoothies for students was ___ after 800 teenagers showed up at once. It was chaos! Take back, repeal.

Annihilate (v.)

To Destroy or Wipe Out. Genghis Khan was the military leader of the Mongols; his armies would ___ their opposition with no mercy. Crush, demolish.

Undulate (v.)

To Move with Wave-like Motions. The flag ___ in the breeze. Rise and fall, ripple.

Allocate (v.)

To assign or set aside for a particular purpose; The principal has to decide on the best way to ___ money to the different programs on campus.; Give, designate

Essay (v.)

To attempt. The procedure was first ___ed in 1945; it wasn't until 1975 that it was done successfully. Strive, try.

Segregate (v.)

To cause people to be separated based on gender, race, and other factors; The essay needed to be a ___ of two separate articles: what ideas did they both emphasize?; Split, divide

Deceive (v.)

To cause some to believe an untruth; I'd rather people be honest with me about their problems than try to ___ me into helping them.; Betray, trick.

Convert (v.)

To change one'es system of beliefs; Cassius Clay, the boxer, ___ed to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.; Alter, transform

snivel (v.)

To cry and sniff weakened or feeble manner. The little boy was ___ing as he begged his mom not to punish him for taking all the cookies. Weep, whimper.

Default (v.)

To fail to make payments on a loan - Because Mr. St. John ___ on his car payments, the bank repossessed his car. - Lapse and miss.

Loathe (v.)

To feel disgusted or intense hatred for. Jack and Ralph start off the novel as friends; by the end, however, they ___ each other. Abhor.

Cascade (v.)

To flow down or hang in large amounts. During the downpour, water ___d from the rooftops, down the gutters, and into the street. Gush, pour.

Buffet (v.)

To keep hitting against something with a lot of force. The little boat was ___ed mercilessly by the wind and the waves. Assault, pummel.

Eclipse (v.)

To make less bright in comparison. Isaac ran 6:00 in the mile but the following week he ___d the effort with a 5:49. Exeed, outshine.

Diminish (v.)

To make or become less; Do not ___ the value you bring to the world each day. You are a good person.; Reduce, decrease.

Teem (v.)

To pour or Produce in Great Quantities. When we left the food out in the kitchen, we woke in the morning to find the plate ___ing with ants. Swarm, overrun.

Goad (v.)

To provoke or annoy. After several hours of being ___ed by his little brother, he finally gave in and showed him just how far he could throw the tennis ball. Provoke, incite.

Peruse (v.)

To read thoroughly or examine in detail. Many employers will ___ an employee's social media profile to what he or she does online. Study.

Quaver (v.)

To shake or tremble in speaking through nervousness or emotion. When the teenager was pulled over by police, he was scared, and his voice ___ed. Sway, quake.

Galvanize (v.)

To stimulate into action; In order to ___ the team into action, the coach gave a rousing pep talk.; Energize, excite.

Balk (v.)

To stop and refuse to proceed. Although we enjoyed the Biology class, we ___ed when the teacher asked us to write a 27-page research paper for our final. Hestitate, recoil.

Saunter (v.)

To stroll or walk slowly. Since our plane does not leave for six hours, we have plenty of time to ___ through the airport. Meander, amble.

Congeal (v.)

To thicken and become solid - When the meat sauce was left out on the kitchen table for two hours, it ___, and no-one wanted to eat it. - Harden and clot.

Parry (v.)

To ward off (a weapon or attack) with a countermove. Before Mary walked away, she tried to ___Ann's insult with one of her own. Block, deflect.

Unendurable (adj.)

Unpleasant painful. At every jolt he again felt ___ pain; his feverishness increased and he grew delirious. Excessive, unbearable.