"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 16

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 793 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. reverie
    an abstracted state of absorption
    Jaz opened the door, breaking in on Christine’s reverie.
  2. loathsome
    highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
    How loathsome.
  3. anachronism
    a person who seems to be displaced in time
    She felt like an anachronism—a throwback to a time when women were wily, scheming creatures, using every ploy in the book, stopping at nothing to get the man they wanted.
  4. wily
    marked by skill in deception
    She felt like an anachronism—a throwback to a time when women were wily, scheming creatures, using every ploy in the book, stopping at nothing to get the man they wanted.
  5. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
    She felt like an anachronism—a throwback to a time when women were wily, scheming creatures, using every ploy in the book, stopping at nothing to get the man they wanted.
  6. covet
    wish, long, or crave for
    Coveting another woman’s boyfriend.
  7. exercise
    put to use
    For several painful moments these thoughts exercised her conscience.
  8. escapade
    a wild and exciting undertaking
    She’d hardly met them and already she was involved in one of their escapades.
  9. surreptitious
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    We’ll surreptitiously break into one of the small exhibition rooms at the back of the museum. We can get in through the back door so Simon and Axel won’t see us.
  10. discreet
    marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
    Don’t worry, nobody will know. We’ll be discreet.
  11. curator
    the custodian of a collection, as a museum or library
    “You see, Axel suddenly really wanted to go, so Simon called a pal of his who happens to be the curator over there.”
  12. credible
    capable of being believed
    She just couldn’t come up with a scenario that was credible.
  13. plausible
    apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful
    Finally, she came up with one that seemed plausible
  14. martinet
    someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
    It’s great fun working for her—she’s a real slave driver—a regular martinet.
  15. narcissistic
    having an inflated idea of one's own importance
    “It sounds to me like the woman has some seriously narcissistic tendencies,” Jaz said.
  16. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    And, she’s really condescending.
  17. provincial
    a country person
    She seems to regard herself as French culture’s gift to us poor provincial Americans.
  18. facet
    a distinct feature or element in a problem
    She’s improved every facet of the museum.
  19. acquiesce
    agree or express agreement
    He had acquiesced almost instantly.
  20. inveigle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    “How Simon ever inveigled that woman into this, I can’t imagine.”
Created on Mon Aug 18 21:01:51 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 15:03:42 EDT 2014)

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