"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 5

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 1725 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
    She does not seem particularly ebullient, Simon decided.
  2. acerbic
    harsh or corrosive in tone
    Though she could sometimes be quite acerbic, his girlfriend seldom resorted to sarcasm.
  3. volatile
    liable to lead to sudden change or violence
    When she did, it meant she was volatile and might become bellicose at any moment.
  4. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
    When she did, it meant she was volatile and might become bellicose at any moment.
  5. mollify
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    He had to mollify her—and quickly!
  6. ravine
    a deep narrow steep-sided valley
    He felt like he was standing on the edge of a very deep ravine, and he was about to fall into it.
  7. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
    Yes, he had to act with alacrity.
  8. query
    an instance of questioning
    “I was just answering some queries this scholarly young woman had about what courses she should take next semester,” Simon said.
  9. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    He glanced at the girl, who remained impassive, except for the slightest trace of a smile on her face.
  10. appease
    make peace with
    This should appease Jaz, he thought.
  11. pedagogical
    relating to the study of teaching
    Jaz never tired of discussing pedagogical topics.
  12. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
    His tastes are so eclectic and his research so scrupulous that he knows all the gut courses on campus.
  13. scrupulous
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
    His tastes are so eclectic and his research so scrupulous that he knows all the gut courses on campus.
  14. scathing
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    She gave him a scathing look.
  15. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
    He’s a science major, but basically he’s an all-round genius. Even professors come over to get his assessment of their ideas.
  16. Renaissance
    the revival of learning and culture
    “Yeah,” Simon said, “he’s our little Renaissance dude.”
  17. perspective
    a way of regarding situations or topics
    I’ve got this paper on Chagall due at the end of next week and I’ve been doing all this research, but I’ve kind of reached a dead end. I really need someone with a different perspective.
  18. savant
    a learned person
    I can’t wait to meet this guy! He sounds like a real savant.
  19. reclusive
    withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
    “Axel is really brilliant, but he’s a pretty reclusive guy,” said Simon.
  20. piquant
    engagingly stimulating or provocative
    “And make sure you bring what you’ve done on your paper so far—and all your research notes. That kind of stuff always helps to pique Axel’s interest.”
Created on Mon Aug 18 17:52:04 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 12:45:40 EDT 2014)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.