"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 11

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 760 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. expostulation
    an exclamation of protest, opposition, or criticism
    Axel was startled by the force of his friend’s expostulation.
  2. coerce
    cause to do through pressure or necessity
    And who always introduces you to these girls and coerces you to date them?
  3. manifestation
    a clear appearance
    “Ideas ... philosophy ... the mind in all its glorious manifestations.”
  4. congruent
    corresponding in character or kind
    “Perhaps my perception of my social life has not been entirely congruent with reality.”
  5. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    Axel hated these trite “Good news, bad news” formulations.
  6. formulation
    the style of expressing yourself
    Axel hated these trite “Good news, bad news” formulations.
  7. presume
    take to be the case or to be true
    Axel waited for what must, he presumed, be the good news.
  8. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
    How very droll.
  9. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
    Upon what paradigm am I to be modeled? Exactly whom am I to emulate?
  10. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
    “So, may I inquire as to what the ramifications of your plans are for my immediate future?”
  11. cliche
    a trite or obvious remark
    Another cliche.
  12. aptly
    in a competent capable manner
    But he simply replied, “Yes, the bottom line, as you so aptly put it.”
  13. interminable
    tiresomely long; seemingly without end
    The idea of some interminable motion picture with an implausible plot, insipid acting, and ridiculous special effects that lacked all verisimilitude, horrified him.
  14. implausible
    having a quality that provokes disbelief
    The idea of some interminable motion picture with an implausible plot, insipid acting, and ridiculous special effects that lacked all verisimilitude, horrified him.
  15. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
    The idea of some interminable motion picture with an implausible plot, insipid acting, and ridiculous special effects that lacked all verisimilitude, horrified him.
  16. verisimilitude
    the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
    The idea of some interminable motion picture with an implausible plot, insipid acting, and ridiculous special effects that lacked all verisimilitude, horrified him.
  17. incessantly
    without interruption
    Also, the thought of the effort it would take to make himself socially presentable and the willpower it would require to endure two hours of listening to the sound of other patrons munching, incessantly, on apparently bottomless buckets of popcorn and gigantic bags of candy, depressed him.
  18. trivial
    (informal) small and of little importance
    And, to top off the evening, he would no doubt be expected to engage in trivial small talk about the inane motion picture.
  19. inane
    devoid of intelligence
    And, to top off the evening, he would no doubt be expected to engage in trivial small talk about the inane motion picture.
  20. ornithology
    the branch of zoology that studies birds
    “There’s a great feature on ornithology at the West End.”
Created on Mon Aug 18 20:19:56 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 14:22:25 EDT 2014)

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