Vocabulary List A

repertoire

repertoire

• Noun – a list pertaining to the arts

Examples:

1. Do you have the band’s repertoire so that we’ll know the order of the songs?

2. Her dance repertoire consists of classic, ballet, jazz, and tap.

3. That quarterback has pulled out his whole repertoire of tricks tonight.

auspicious

• Originally offered by the Indian gods to Buddha Sakyamuni at the time of his enlightenment, these symbols bring luck,

wealth, health and harmony.

auspicious

• Adjective – a favorable or good beginning

Examples:1. The team has gotten off to an auspicious start

of the game.2. Your essay, Susan, has an auspicious

beginning, but now you’ll need to expand your thoughts.

3. Clyde, you’ve gotten off to an inauspicious start this year, you’ll need to work harder.

furtive

furtive

• Adjective – apparently hiding something; secretive.

• Adverb – furtively Examples:

1. His furtive manner suggested he was hiding something from the teacher.

2. She furtively sneaked into the room so that no one could see her.

malevolent

malevolent

• Adjective – having a mean personality or always doing mean things.

Examples:

1. His malevolent attitude is going to have to change, or he’s going to get fired.

2. I’m sorry to say this malevolent child is going to need a lot of counseling.

apathy

apathy

• Noun – having little to no interest• Adjective – apathetic• Adverb – apatheticallyExamples:1. The apathy at the election polls was most evident in

the lower-middle class sections of the city.2. Her apathetic attitude is not helping her get ahead in

this company.3. Johnny apathetically took the test because he hadn’t

studied, and he had no clue how to do it.

ignominy

ignominy

• Noun – dishonored and/or disgraced• Adjective – ignominious• Adverb – ignominiouslyExamples:1. The ignominy of the loss had bothered the team

throughout the entire off-season.2. The ignominious feelings she felt after getting caught

cheating was obvious to everyone.3. The boy walked ignominiously through the halls on his

way to the vice-principal’s for fighting.

melancholy

melancholy

• Noun – a long period of sadness

• Adjective – melancholicExamples:

1. The girl’s melancholy was obvious to anyone who knew her.

2. Susan’s melancholic behavior is beginning to effect everyone else around her.

myopic

myopia

• Noun – narrow vision (also a clinical term)

• Adjective – myopicExamples:

1. Because of their narrow-minded attitudes, the myopia of the panel is beginning to anger the crowd.

2. He’s being myopic about this decision, and he needs to look at all sides of the issue.

tacit

tacit

• Adjective – being very quiet

• Noun – taciturn

• Adverb – tacitlyExamples:

1. The tacit, young man in the corner of the room rarely says anything to anyone.

2. The old man is a taciturn, and so most people don’t bother him when he walks in the park.

3. She was late, so she tacitly walked into the room.

benevolent

benevolent

• Adjective – kind, nice, caring, giving

• Adverb – benevolently

• Noun - benevolence Examples:

1. She is such a benevolent person. She’s always offering her help for any project.

2. He benevolently put presents under the tree for the family’s children.

Homework Assignment

• You are to write ten sentences using one of each of the vocabulary words. Be sure to cleverly put some of the meaning of the word into the sentence.

Examples:

1. The tacit, young man was as quiet as a mouse.

2. Her apathetic attitude was bugging everyone because her “I could care less” manner is hurting the team.

3. His furtive manner suggested that he was hiding something from the teacher.