Creative Writing

Vocab Lesson Four

Prof. Stravernizinziski’s Mistake

Helter-skelterHelter-skelter

• The children ran helter-skelter through the school. The rushed and ran here and there, everywhere! They had no destination, but they kept running and shouting!

• N or Adj, (depending on usage) done in haste, chaos, or confusion, tumult or tumultuous

• The children ran helter-skelter through the school. The rushed and ran here and there, everywhere! They had no destination, but they kept running and shouting!

• N or Adj, (depending on usage) done in haste, chaos, or confusion, tumult or tumultuous

castigatecastigate

• The teachers threatened to castigate the kids, but they were free, free! And no warnings of lectures or punishments would stop their running about!

• V. To chastise; to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism

• The teachers threatened to castigate the kids, but they were free, free! And no warnings of lectures or punishments would stop their running about!

• V. To chastise; to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism

highfalutinhighfalutin• Prof. Stravernizinziski thought he

could test his highfalutin new invention on the kids. His Shush-O-Ray would instantly shut off their vocal cords, but the overly-fancy device, with its chrome barrel and corduroy handle, did not work.

• Adj. very fancy; overly fancy; pretentious

• Prof. Stravernizinziski thought he could test his highfalutin new invention on the kids. His Shush-O-Ray would instantly shut off their vocal cords, but the overly-fancy device, with its chrome barrel and corduroy handle, did not work.

• Adj. very fancy; overly fancy; pretentious

bogusbogus

• The school hired Prof. Stravernizinziski thinking he was an awarding-winning scientist from Latvia; however, his resume was bogus, and he was actually a wacky inventor from Kalamazoo.

• Adj. False, pretend

• The school hired Prof. Stravernizinziski thinking he was an awarding-winning scientist from Latvia; however, his resume was bogus, and he was actually a wacky inventor from Kalamazoo.

• Adj. False, pretend

hobgoblinhobgoblin• Prof. Stravernizinziski’s worst

nightmare is that he might get caught in his false pretense. This hobgoblin wouldn’t be a problem if he hadn’t forged his resume. And he could talk his way out of it anyway. What a foolish fear.

• N. a mischievous goblin; something or someone that cause fear or dread, especially without reason

• Prof. Stravernizinziski’s worst nightmare is that he might get caught in his false pretense. This hobgoblin wouldn’t be a problem if he hadn’t forged his resume. And he could talk his way out of it anyway. What a foolish fear.

• N. a mischievous goblin; something or someone that cause fear or dread, especially without reason

meleemelee

• He aimed his Shush-O-Ray at the melee. The tumult had transformed into an all-out brawl! Fists and feet flew as the kids battled it out in a close and confused battle.

• N. A confued fight

• He aimed his Shush-O-Ray at the melee. The tumult had transformed into an all-out brawl! Fists and feet flew as the kids battled it out in a close and confused battle.

• N. A confued fight

apexapex

• As the battle reached the apex of tension, Prof. Stravernizinziski aimed his Shush-O-Ray and fired! The melee came to halt, right at the climax!

• N. The top, summit or climax; a pinnacle

• As the battle reached the apex of tension, Prof. Stravernizinziski aimed his Shush-O-Ray and fired! The melee came to halt, right at the climax!

• N. The top, summit or climax; a pinnacle

mercurialmercurial

• Alas, Prof. Stravernizinziski is a very mercurial guy. He was about to blast them, but then changed his mind. Then he figured, “What the heck,” and aimed to fire. But he changed his mind once again.

• Adj. capricious, quick to change one’s mind. (Know the etymology?)

• Alas, Prof. Stravernizinziski is a very mercurial guy. He was about to blast them, but then changed his mind. Then he figured, “What the heck,” and aimed to fire. But he changed his mind once again.

• Adj. capricious, quick to change one’s mind. (Know the etymology?)

zenithzenith

• The students had quieted, watching the Prof and his quirky gun. But the fight broke out again, a crescendo into a second zenith, this apex louder than the first

• N. Summit, apex, climax, peak

• The students had quieted, watching the Prof and his quirky gun. But the fight broke out again, a crescendo into a second zenith, this apex louder than the first

• N. Summit, apex, climax, peak

doughtydoughty

• The doughty Prof. Stravernizinziski raised the Sush-O-Ray again, and with the courage of a lion, fired.

• Adj. with courage or bravery; courageous.

• The doughty Prof. Stravernizinziski raised the Sush-O-Ray again, and with the courage of a lion, fired.

• Adj. with courage or bravery; courageous.

pestiferouspestiferous

• The kids became quiet. Alas, Prof. Stravernizinziski turned them into maggots that wiggled and squirmed. Like kids turning into adults, these would eventually turn into pestiferous flies and become troublesome with the diseases flies carry.

• Adj. dangerous to society; carrying infection or disease; troublesome

• The kids became quiet. Alas, Prof. Stravernizinziski turned them into maggots that wiggled and squirmed. Like kids turning into adults, these would eventually turn into pestiferous flies and become troublesome with the diseases flies carry.

• Adj. dangerous to society; carrying infection or disease; troublesome

cantankerouscantankerous

• The dean of the school saw what happened. The cantankerous old man yelled and screamed at Prof. Stravernizinziski. Sure he’s an angry guy all the time, but this time he was right to yell.

• Adj. difficult or irritating to deal with; cranky

• The dean of the school saw what happened. The cantankerous old man yelled and screamed at Prof. Stravernizinziski. Sure he’s an angry guy all the time, but this time he was right to yell.

• Adj. difficult or irritating to deal with; cranky

flatulenceflatulence

• Prof. Stravernizinziski’s mind shut down to a most basic level. He responded with loud flatulence that stunk up the hallways.

• N. gaseous discharge from the bum; a fart, a toot.

• V=flatulate

• Prof. Stravernizinziski’s mind shut down to a most basic level. He responded with loud flatulence that stunk up the hallways.

• N. gaseous discharge from the bum; a fart, a toot.

• V=flatulate