"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 19

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 564 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. inkling
    a slight suggestion or vague understanding
    AN INKLING OF ANOTHER REALM
  2. metamorphose
    change in outward structure or looks
    Xela smiled, in the process metamorphosing from an angel into something like a goddess.
  3. depiction
    representation by drawing, painting, etc.
    Simon recalled how in art history class Professor Walters had been so enthusiastic in describing Renoir’s depiction of girls and women.
  4. quintessence
    the most typical example or representative of a type
    Professor Walters said he believed that Renoir had portrayed the quintessence of femininity and of female beauty better than any other artist.
  5. untainted
    (of reputation) free from blemishes
    And yet Xela’s beauty transcended even that; it was, as he had felt before, untainted—pure, noble, and sublime.
  6. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Simon sat in awe, transfixed by the celestial being before him.
  7. celestial
    relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
    Simon sat in awe, transfixed by the celestial being before him.
  8. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
    He felt that she was almost luminous.
  9. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
    I mean, I like to enjoy, to live; I’m not into vicarious experience.
  10. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    So, sometimes I’m a little cavalier about the, uhh ... academic side of things. Serendipitously...
  11. serendipitous
    lucky in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
    So, sometimes I’m a little cavalier about the, uhh ... academic side of things. Serendipitously...
  12. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
    Well, Axel and Jasmine are, fortuitously, both eggheads.
  13. inert
    unable to move or resist motion
    “They don’t just want inert facts. They want the truth. They really want to find out.”
  14. cosmology
    metaphysical study of the origin and nature of the universe
    Yeah, they’re always discussing physics, cosmology, evolution, the place of consciousness in the universe.
  15. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
    Pretty esoteric areas.
  16. eon
    the longest unit of geological time
    And the way she had said it made it sound to him that she had known him for eons.
  17. riposte
    a quick reply to a question or remark
    It was a rare occasion on which he did not have a humorous riposte ready.
  18. turbulence
    a state of violent disturbance and disorder
    He felt a purity that made him forget all turbulence in his soul.
  19. ephemeral
    lasting a very short time
    His world was, for one ephemeral moment, transmogrified.
  20. transmogrify
    change completely the nature or appearance of
    His world was, for one ephemeral moment, transmogrified.
Created on Mon Aug 18 21:21:19 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 15:26:50 EDT 2014)

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