Vocab Unit #1 – All Types of People
1. amateur: (n) a person who engages in some art, science, sport, etc.
for the pleasure of it rather than for money;
nonprofessional;
(adj) of or done by amateurs; amateurish
2. assassin: (n) one who kills someone of importance
3. bachelor: (n) an unmarried man
4. bursar: (n) a treasurer at a college or similar institution
5. cynic: (n) one who is critical of society; one who believes that
people are motivated in all their actions only by
selfishness; one who is sarcastic or sneering; one who
denies the sincerity of people’s motives and actions
6. dupe: (n) one who is easily fooled
(v) to deceive by trickery; to fool or cheat
7. feminist: (n) one who strives for equality for women
8. journalist: (n) one whose occupation consists of gathering,
writing, editing, and publishing the news
9. miser: (n) one who is stingy
10. nomad: (n) member of a tribe or group with no permanent home
11. orator: (n) an eloquent public speaker
12. orthodontist: (n) a dentist whose specialty is straightening teeth
13. traitor: (n) one who betrays his or her country, a cause, or friend
14. tyrant: (n) a cruel, obsessive ruler
15. virtuoso: (n) one who displays great technical skill in some fine art
H. 10th Grade Vocabulary set #2
1. altruism (n) unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness; generosity
2. clemency (n) a disposition to show mercy especially toward an offender or enemy; mercy
3. consummate (adj) complete or perfect in every respect
4. culinary (adj) of or relating to a kitchen or to cookery
5. empirical (adj) relying on or derived from observation or experiment
6. proximity (n) the state, quality, sense, or fact of being near or next to; closeness
7. incipient (adj) beginning to exist or appear
8. inexorable (adj) not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless
9. nepotism (n) favoritism shown or patronage granted to relatives or friends, as in business
10. defer (v) To submit to the opinion, wishes, or decision of another through respect or in recognition of his or her authority, knowledge, or judgment
10th Grade Vocabulary set #31. vindictive (adj) disposed to seek revenge; vengeful
2. acumen (n) quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight
3. languish (v) to be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor
4. vacillate (v) to swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another
5. eminent (adj) outstanding, as in character or performance; distinguished
6. mentor (n) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher
7. ascetic (n) a person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline; especially as an act of religious devotion; especially as an act of religious devotion
8. credence (n) acceptance as true or valid belief
9. trepidation (n) a state of alarm or dread; apprehension
10. respite (n) a usually short interval of rest or relief
10th Grade Vocabulary set #41. authentic (adj) conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance or belief
2. resolute (adj) firm or determined; unwavering
3. fervor (n) great warmth and intensity of emotion; passion
4. tenacious (adj) holding or tending to hold persistently to something such as a point of view; persistent
5. arrogant (adj) feeling superior to others
6. elaborate (adj) planned or executed with painstaking attention to detail
7. prerequisite (n) required or necessary as a prior condition
8. malignant (adj) showing great malevolence; threatening to life; deadly
9. bequeath (v) to leave or give (property) by will
10. resignation (n) unresisting acceptance of something as inescapable; submission
10th Grade Vocabulary set #5
1. spendthrift (n) a person who spends money carelessly or wastefully
2. prodigal (adj) exceedingly or recklessly wasteful
3. indiscreet (adj) unwise
4. frivolous (adj) inappropriately silly or light-minded
5. contraband (n) goods forbidden by law to be imported
6. subordinate (adj) Belonging to a lower or inferior class or rank; secondary
7. convivial (adj) fond of feasting, drinking, and good company, sociable; merry; festive
8. wistful (adj) full of wishful yearning
9. minuscule (adj) very small; tiny
10. egocentric (adj) caring only about oneself; selfish
10th Grade Vocabulary set #61. idiosyncrasy (n) a physiological or temperamental peculiarity
2. neophyte (n) a beginner or novice
3. permeate (v) to spread through or penetrate something
4. genteel (adj) refined in manner; well-bred and polite
5. mediate (v) to resolve or settle (differences) by working with all the conflicting parties
6. fetter (n) something that serves to restrict; a restraint
7. usurp (v) to seize another’s place, authority, or possession wrongfully
8. infamous (adj) having an exceedingly bad reputation; notoriously wicked
9. reclusive (adj) seeking or preferring seclusion or isolation
10. inaugurate (v) to cause to begin, especially officially or formally
10th Grade Vocabulary set #7
1. check (v) to hold in restraint; curb
2. lineage (n) ancestry
3. gratify (v) To please or satisfy
4. dirge (n) a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
5. reverence (n) attitude of respect
6. gravity (n) grave consequence, seriousness, or importance
7. largess (n) liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a loftyor condescending manner
8. contingent (adj) dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established; conditional
9. ethereal (adj) of the celestial spheres; heavenly
10. benevolent (adj) intending or showing kindness
Honors 10th Grade Vocabulary set #8
1. furtive (adj) characterized by stealth; surreptitious
2. pompous (adj) characterized by excessive self esteem of exaggerated dignity; pretentious
3. contempt (n) disparaging or haughty disdain as for something base or unworthy; scorn
4. esoteric (adj) intended for or understood by only a particular group
5. vilify (v) to make vicious and defamatory statement about
6. deplete (v) to decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out
7. clandestine (adj) kept or done in secret, often in order toconceal an illicit or improper purpose
8. insurgent (adj) rising in revolt against civil authority or a government in power; rebellious
9. egalitarian (adj) affirming; promoting or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people
10. amorous (adj) being in love; enamored
10th Grade Vocabulary set #91. covert (adj) not openly practiced; avowed, engaged in,
accumulated or shown
2. salutary (adj) favorable to health; wholesome
3. mandatory (adj) required or commanded by authority;
obligatory
4. animosity (n) bitter hostility or open enmity; active hatred
5. remorse (n) moral anguish arising from repentance for past
misdeeds; bitter regret
6. catharsis (n) a release of emotional tensions after an
overwhelming experience that restores or refreshes
the spirit
7. sensuous (adj) appealing to or gratifying the senses
8. torpor (n) a state of mental or physical inactivity or
insensibility; lethargy, apathy
9. disparage (v) to speak of in a slighting way; belittle
10. agrarian (adj) relating to or concerning the land and its
ownership; cultivation and tenure