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100 Words Every Middle School Student Should Know

Terms in this set (100)

adversary
an enemy, opponent
aplomb
poise, assurance, great self-confidence
apprehensive
fearful or anxious, especially about the future
aptitude
a natural talent or ability; quickness in learning
attentive
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention;
banish
to drive away; to force to leave a place by official decree
barricade
a barrier set up by police to stop traffic on a street or road in order to catch a fugitive or inspect traffic etc.
bluff
to mislead or deceive; to fake
brackish
slightly salty
brandish
to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion
circumference
the outer boundary of a circle; the perimeter
commotion
the act of making a noisy disturbance
concoction
the act of creating something (a medicine or drink or soup etc.) by compounding or mixing a variety of components
conspicuous
easy to notice; obvious
contortion
the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)
counter
indicating opposition or resistance
cunning
Cleverness; slyness
debris
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
defiance
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
deft
quick and skillful in movement
destination
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
diminish
to make smaller or less
disdain
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
dismal
Causing gloom or depression
dispel
to cause to separate and go in different directions
eavesdrop
listen without the speaker's knowledge
egregious
outrageously bad; clearly wrong or illegal
ember
a hot glowing or smouldering fragment of wood or coal left from a fire
emerge
become known or apparent
engross
to occupy the complete attention, absorb fully
exasperation
actions that cause great irritation (or even anger)
exhilerate
to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to syn- stimulate, excite, gladden ant- discourage, dispirit, dishearten, inhibit
falter
to hesitate, stumble, lose courage; to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future
fragrance
a pleasingly sweet olfactory property
furtive
done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
grueling
very tiring, calling for an extreme effort
gusto
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
habitation
the act of dwelling in or living permanently in a place (said of both animals and men)
hasten
act or move at high speed
havoc
very great destruction, ruin; great confusion and disorder
headway
progress toward a destination or a goal
ignite
cause to start burning
illuminate
make lighter or brighter
impending
about to happen
imperious
overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling
jabber
talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
jargon
specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject
jostle
the act of forcing your way by pushing
jut
to stick out, to project
kindle
to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire
knoll
a small rounded hill
luminous
emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
malleable
capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
materialize
to become real or actual; to appear in physical form, especially suddenly
meander
to wander about, wind about; a sharp turn or twist
meticulous
extremely careful; particular about details
misgivings
feelings of uncertainty, apprehension
momentum
the force or speed with which something moves
monotonous
continuing in an unchanging tone; wearying
multitude
a large indefinite number
muster
gather or bring together,
narrate
to tell a story or describe a series of events
obscure
difficult to understand; partially hidden
ominous
threatening or suggesting something bad is on the way
outlandish
unconventional; strange
persistent
refusing to give up or stop; continuing despite difficulties
pertinent
related to the matter at hand
potential
the ability to grow, develop, or improve
precipice
very steep or overhanging place; cliff
pristine
remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization
quell
to calm down; to put down or suppress; to put an end to
recluse
A person who lives apart from society and often alone
recuperate
to return to normal health or strength; recover
replenish
to fill or make complete again, add a new stock or supply to.
repugnant
causing disgust or hatred; repulsive
restitution
the act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state or position; making good on a loss or damage
sabotage
(n) a deliberate act of destruction or disruption where equipment is damaged
scarcity
an insufficient amount or supply; a shortage
scurry
to run hurriedly w/ quick, short steps
serenity
the quality of being calm, peaceful, or untroubled
sociable
Enjoying the company of others; Friendly
somber
very serious or sad
specimen
item that is studied by scientists as an example of an entire set of things
stamina
the power to resist fatigue or illness while working hard; endurance
subside
to become less active or violent
swagger
to walk in a way that makes it look as if you think you are important; strut
swarm
a large number of bees; a large number of moving people, animals, or insects
tactic
an action that is planned to achieve a goal
terse
brief and to the point; concise
translucent
allowing light to shine through
uncanny
arousing wonder and fear, as if supernatural; eerie
unsightly
not pleasant to look at; unattractive
versatile
having varied uses or functions
vigilant
watchful, careful
vulnerable
capable of being harmed, damaged, or injured
waft
to float easily and gently on the air; drift
waver
to move back and forth or to be unsure or weak
weather
to wear away or change, as in color or surface texture, by exposure to the wind, rain, and other conditions of the atmosphere
zeal
great enthusiasm for or devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...