Vocabulary Unit 1P. 2 Happiness

Assert (v): to state an opinion or belief very clearly and firmly. Assertive (adj) Assertion (n) Assertively (adv)

She asserted her views about cheating very clearly.

Astonishing (adj): so surprising that it is difficult to believe. Astonish (v) You astonished me when you arrived without

calling first. Astonishment (n) His astonishment was obvious. Astonished (adj) We all laughed when the astonished cat

ran away.

Boost (n): something that helps someone to be happier or more successful; A lift up.boost (v): to increase something like sales or production because they are not as high as you want them to be.To lift someone up higher

The new, fairer office policy gave all the employees a real boost.

Can you give me a boost? I can’t reach the top shelf!

Christmas always boosts sales for stores. Boost me up so I can reach the top shelf.

Cheerful (adj): happy and feeling good; something that makes you feel happy Cheer (n): Her good cheer is always

pleasant. Cheerfully (adv): She agreed cheerfully to

his request. Cheer (v): The crowd cheered wildly when

the football team scored the winning goal. A cheerful manner can help you feel happier

all the time.

Deed (n): something someone does, especially something that is very good or very bad;an official paper that is a record of an agreement, especially an agreement concerning who owns property

Heroes are known to do good deeds. The deed to the house is in my desk drawer.

Good deeds, bad deeds, evil deeds, heroic deeds

Devote (v): to give your time or money to something; (to devote yourself to ___) to do everything you can to achieve a goal or help someone.

She has devoted her life to ending childhood hunger. Devotion (n): Her devotion to God is well known. Devoted (adj): He is a devoted believer in washing

behind his ears every morning. Devotedly (adv): She feeds the neighborhood cats

devotedly every day.

Discipline (n): a way of training your mind and body so that you control your actions and obey rules.

Good discipline is necessary in every classroom.

Discipline (v): You must discipline your mind so you can make the best use of your time.

Disciplined (adj): He is so disciplined about his studies I wonder if he ever does anything fun.

Esteem (n): a feeling of respect or admiration for someone or for yourself (self-esteem)

I have great esteem for my students. Esteem (v): It is important to esteem yourself

as highly as you esteem others. Esteemed (adj): The esteemed professor’s

classes are always full.

Esteemed colleague, poor self-esteem, high self-esteem

Graft (v): to join a part of a flower, plant, or tree onto another flower, plant, or tree* In context: to join one idea to another to create something new.to remove a piece of skin, bone etc from part of someone's body and put it onto or into a part of their body that has been damaged

The apple farmer grafted two kinds of trees together to create a new apple.

Doctors had to graft some new skin over the burn on his leg.

Inherit (v): to receive something from someone after they have died; to get a quality, type of behavior, appearance etc from one of your parents

I inherited my father’s brown hair and blue eyes.

Inheritance (n): My inheritance from my grandmother includes a necklace and two teapots.

Inherited (adj): Blue eyes are an inherited trait.

Instinctively (adv): reacting to something because of instinct (a natural tendency or ability to behave or react a particular way without having to learn it or think about it.

When the truck turned into traffic, I turned the wheel instinctively so I wouldn’t get into a crash.

Instinctive (adj): It is instinctive for birds to fly south in winter.

Instinct (n): Animals have all kinds of instincts that help them survive.

Intervention (n): the act of intervening

His quick intervention stopped the fight before anyone got hurt.

intervene (v): to do something to try to stop a problem, argument, war, etc; to happen between two events in a way that interrupts or prevents something.

Longing (n): a strong feeling of wanting someone or something very much Her longing for him was not a bit obscure.

Longing (adj) She gave him a longing glance, but he did not see her.

Long (v): He longed for a piece of chocolate cake.

Longingly (adv): The child looked longingly in the window of the candy store.

Manner (n): the way in which something is done; the way in which someone talks or behaves with other people.

Having a cheerful manner can really boost everyone’s day.

Monk (n): a man who is a member of a group of religious men who live together in a monastery (a special building or community)

Some types of Catholic monks take a vow of silence and never speak a word out loud, except in prayer.

Mystery (n): something that is difficult to explain or understand.

Many TV shows feature people solving mysteries.

Mysterious (adj): Why is he being so mysterious? Mysteriously (adv): He is behaving mysteriously. Mystical (adj): involving religious, spiritual, or

magical powers that people cannot understand Mysticism (n): the belief in mystical things. Mystic (n): one who practices mysticism.

Obscure (adj): unclear or difficult to understandobscure (v): to prevent something from being seen

That mystery is so obscure I don’t know if we can ever solve it.

The criminal tried to obscure the evidence of his crime to boost his chances of escape.

Obscurity (n): For ESL students, English texts often have many obscurities.

Pace (n): the speed at which something happens or at which you do something such as move, work, etc.Pace (v): to walk backward and forward when you are waiting or worried about something.

He works at a good pace and does not easily get tired.

He paced back and forth whenever he was worried.

Philosophy (n): the study of what it means to exist, what good and evil are, what knowledge is, or how people should live; a set of ideas about these subjects; a set of beliefs about how you live your life, do your job, etc.

He lives his life devoted to an obscure philosophy of kindness to insects.

Philosophical (adj): She was philosophical about the rejection, and used it as therapy to start over.

Philosopher (n): one who studies or engages in philosophy

Restaurant (n): a place where you can buy and eat a meal Let’s go out to the new steak restaurant that

is getting such good reviews!

Review (n): An act of carefully examining, considering, and judging a situation or processin context: a careful examination of research and scholarship.

The new steak restaurant got a good review in the newspaper.

Review (v): Let’s review the vocabulary words together.

Steak (n): a thick, flat piece of meat or fish. That old steak restaurant gets terrible

reviews!

Therapy (n): the treatment of an illness or injury, or of a mental or emotional problem, especially without using drugs or surgery.

My husband will need physical therapy after his surgery.

It’s smart to get therapy if you are feeling depressed.

Therapist (n): My therapist says I should devote myself to being cheerful at least one hour every day.

Thrill (n): a strong feeling of excitement or pleasure, or something that makes you feel this

I feel a thrill whenever I get a new book.

Thrilled (adj): She was just thrilled to be invited out to the restaurant.

Thrill (v): Scary movies thrill people. Thrilling (adj): It’s thrilling to ride a roller

coaster!