VOCABULARY – UNITS 9-12

Midterm ReviewSemester II

drudgery

work that is difficult and tiresome

drugs make your body work hard

Cinderella had all of the drudgery to do around the

house. (difficult chores)

feign

to pretendto fake

horde

a vast numberhorde of peopleherd of animals

impel

to force, drive forwardcompel – drivenUnder a spell

(you may be forced to do something)

repugnant

offensive; disagreeablepug = nose = OFFENSIVE

odorthug = disagreeable = rebellious behavior

monologue

a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person

mono=onedialogue=two people

talking

adept (adj.) thoroughly skilled (n.) an expert

adapt and become “good at something”

diminutive (adj.) small, smaller than most others of

the same type diminutive = mini

erroneous (adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes erroneous = error = incorrect/mistakes

extemporaneous (adj.) made or delivered on the spur of

the moment Extemporaneous = tiempo (Spanish for

time) spur of the moment = spontaneous

No “extra time”

preamble (n.) an introduction to a speech or a piece

of writing preamble = pre = before = amble =

ramble (speech) an INTROduction to a speech

skeptical (adj.) inclined to doubt; slow to accept

something as true skeptical = a skeptic = one who doubts One who is skeptical might look more

closely through his/her spectacles (glasses).

conciseexpressing much in few wordsbrief and to the point - precise

divulgeto tell, reveal, to make publicdisclose

recoilto spring back, shrink

coil

relentlessunyielding, harsh and without pity

The landlord is relentless when collecting the rent.

rivuleta small stream or river

a small river

statutea law

the Statue of Liberty = symbol of our country’s freedom = government = LAW

autocraticDef: absolute in power or

authority

auto=self (one)A dictator rules based on

his/herself.

blasphemyDef: an act, utterance, or

writing showing contempt for something sacred

Blast something sacred

humaneDef: kind, merciful

The Humane Society is kind to animals.

illustriousvery famous, distinguished

illuminate—to light up = a movie star (very famous)

laboriousDef: not easy, requiring hard

work; hardworking labor= hard work

subversiveintended to undermine or

overthrow; one who advocates or attempts to overthrow

venomous

Def: poisonous; spiteful, mean

venom = poisonAll villains are venomous.