"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 4

Philip Geer's "Simon's Saga" includes 820 SAT-level words and gives students an entertaining glimpse into college life.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 11, Episode 12, Episode 13, Episode 14, Episode 15, Episode 16, Episode 17, Episode 18, Episode 19, Episode 20, Episode 21, Episode 22, Episode 23, Episode 24, Episode 25, Episode 26, Episode 27, Episode 28, Episode 29, Episode 30, Episode 31, Episode 32, Episode 33, Episode 34, Episode 35, Episode 36, Episode 37
20 words 1529 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sarcasm
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    Sarcasm, he knew, was a hazard of the battlefield.
  2. legitimate
    in accordance with accepted standards or principles
    Ridicule was a harsh weapon, but a legitimate one that a girl could deploy if some jerk was trying to bug her.
  3. deploy
    use or distribute systematically or strategically
    Ridicule was a harsh weapon, but a legitimate one that a girl could deploy if some jerk was trying to bug her.
  4. prerogative
    a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
    It was a female prerogative.
  5. countenance
    the appearance conveyed by a person's face
    Suddenly, the girl’s countenance was transformed. The most glorious smile Simon had ever seen illuminated her face.
  6. incandescent
    characterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance
    Simon saw beams of light streaming from her eyes. She was incandescent, radiating love.
  7. clemency
    leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
    Surely, he thought, this was an angel come to show me clemency in the middle of battle.
  8. supernal
    of heaven or the spirit
    For a moment, Simon was transported into some supernal realm far from Earth.
  9. benign
    pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence
    He recalled Axel helping him with his last political science paper—“Globalization: Benign Trend or Malignant Growth in the Body Politic?”
  10. malignant
    dangerous to health
    He recalled Axel helping him with his last political science paper—“Globalization: Benign Trend or Malignant Growth in the Body Politic?”
  11. comprehensive
    broad in scope
    It amazed Simon how comprehensive Axel’s knowledge was.
  12. engender
    call forth
    What a debate that paper had engendered after he had given a summary of it to the class!
  13. charismatic
    possessing an extraordinary ability to attract
    Either this girl finds me completely charismatic or she is filled with disdain for me.
  14. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Either this girl finds me completely charismatic or she is filled with disdain for me.
  15. verdict
    findings of a jury on issues submitted to it for decision
    Once again, he waited for the girl to pass her verdict on him.
  16. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    Simon looked a bit sheepish.
  17. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
    The girl was now becoming quite animated.
  18. alluring
    highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
    She was totally alluring and she talked football like the defensive coordinator at Miami.
  19. enigmatic
    not clear to the understanding
    On her face was an enigmatic expression.
  20. furtive
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    Slowly, almost furtively, Simon turned his head.
Created on Mon Aug 18 17:47:32 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 12:34:15 EDT 2014)

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