100 Words A - J (49 words)

Ms. Wyatt (United States of America)
American Heritage Dictionaries normally feature about 70,000 entries. From that multitude, the editors have chosen 100 words that are neither obscure nor outlandish that could give middle schoolers more aplomb and aptitude in their verbal encounters. If you're not sure whether that is something you need, study this list.Words selected by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionaries. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
    The students are united by shared suffering, and by a common adversary. New York Times (Nov 10, 2014)
  2. aplomb
    great coolness and composure under strain
    I wish I had handled it with aplomb. New York Times (May 18, 2014)
  3. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    Virga still feels apprehensive when visiting an unfamiliar zoo. New York Times (Jul 3, 2014)
  4. aptitude
    inherent ability
    I was recently asked in an interview, what is more valued by companies – aptitude or attitude?  Forbes (Sep 12, 2014)
  5. attentive
    taking heed
    You make sure to be extra attentive to your friend. Time (Oct 2, 2014)
  6. banish
    send away from a place of residence, as for punishment
    Napoleon loses so big that he is banished to an island. New York Times (Dec 5, 2014)
  7. barricade
    block off with barriers
    The Secret Service ordered nearby streets and parking lots barricaded for security. Washington Times (Dec 1, 2014)
  8. bluff
    deceive someone about your strength or intentions
    Sporting a pith helmet, Nixon observed that “whoever is talking the loudest is pretty sure to be bluffing.” New York Times (Sep 19, 2014)
  9. brackish
    slightly salty
    Brackish water can be used, but freshwater is easier and less costly. New York Times (May 14, 2014)
  10. brandish
    move or swing back and forth
    Hart brandished a “Free Hugs” sign as he stood alone in front of a police barricade. MSNBC (Nov 30, 2014)
  11. circumference
    the size of something as given by the distance around it
    That's almost 10 times the circumference of the Earth, which is a surprisingly small 24,859.82 miles. BBC (Dec 1, 2014)
  12. commotion
    confused movement
    Moments later came commotion, followed by shouts of “Stop pushing me!” MSNBC (Sep 26, 2014)
  13. concoction
    any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients
    There are some food combos that blend beautifully with each other to create truly tasty concoctions. US News (Sep 4, 2014)
  14. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
    Today, the link is more conspicuous: highlighted in blue, it appears directly beneath the site’s login form. New York Times (Oct 23, 2014)
  15. contortion
    a tortuous and twisted shape or position
    There was tumbling, human pyramids and bodies stretched into extraordinary contortions. BBC (Aug 25, 2013)
  16. counter
    speak in response
    The seller can then accept, counter or reject the offer. US News (Dec 9, 2014)
  17. cunning
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
    Moreover, it was no secret that Cleopatra had ruthless cunning and superior intelligence. Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen
  18. debris
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    The blast rattled their homes and sent debris flying onto nearby properties, they said. Washington Times (Dec 4, 2014)
  19. defiance
    a hostile challenge
    Schools still could expel students for violating school rules or laws and could suspend students for willful defiance of authorities in grades 4 through 12. Washington Times (Sep 27, 2014)
  20. deft
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
    To make it work requires a deft hand. Forbes (Sep 25, 2014)
  21. destination
    the place designated as the end, as of a race or journey
    Airports get stacked up with planes that can’t take off for their destinations. Forbes (Dec 9, 2014)
  22. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
    By Friday morning, most of the heavy rain is expected to diminish. Los Angeles Times (Dec 10, 2014)
  23. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    In the visage of Grumpy Cat, it seems, her fans found the perfect holy expression of indifferent disdain for all things. Washington Post
  24. dismal
    causing dejection
    It’s been a pretty dismal month, as far as world events go, but the news wasn’t all bad thanks to some very entertaining on-air mishaps. Time (Aug 28, 2014)
  25. dispel
    force to go away
    For most of us, dispelling the darkness is as simple as turning on a light. Time (Oct 23, 2014)
  26. eavesdrop
    listen without the speaker's knowledge
    They eavesdrop on the noises that other birds make while hiding food in order to steal the stash later, new research shows. Science Magazine (Nov 21, 2014)
  27. egregious
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
    Prosecutors questioned him about killings and other egregious human rights abuses perpetrated by his regime. Los Angeles Times (Oct 4, 2014)
  28. ember
    a hot, smoldering fragment of wood left from a fire
    “Every hot spot is an ember that, if not contained, can become a new fire,” Obama said. Los Angeles Times (Dec 2, 2014)
  29. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
    They say that program has helped them emerge from the shadows, making possible a work permit, a Social Security number and enhanced self-respect. Washington Post
  30. engross
    consume all of one's attention or time
    I don’t know how long I was reading; I was so engrossed in the paper that I did not hear any footsteps. Long Walk to Freedom
  31. exasperation
    a feeling of annoyance
    Like many a teenager on his school holidays, Parys is in bed, his mother explains with exasperation. The Guardian (Aug 2, 2014)
  32. exhilarate
    fill with sublime emotion
    “To see Yosemite Falls coming to life this morning is truly exhilarating,” Park Superintendent Don Neubacher said in a statement.  Los Angeles Times (Dec 3, 2014)
  33. falter
    move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
    “The rocket has faltered, but it won’t crash,” he said. New York Times (Nov 20, 2014)
  34. foresight
    seeing ahead; knowing in advance; foreseeing
    But nobody had the wherewithal or foresight to think that day would actually happen. MSNBC (Jul 3, 2014)
  35. fragrance
    a distinctive odor that is pleasant
    After 30 minutes in the oven, what hits you first is the enticing, warm fragrance that fills your kitchen. Washington Post
  36. furtive
    secret and sly
    What muffled whispers do they share, what furtive games are they playing? The Guardian (Dec 18, 2012)
  37. grueling
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
    As of Dec. 19, 22 students will have made it through a grueling curriculum that requires about 700 hours of computer code. Washington Times (Dec 10, 2014)
  38. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    They each approach their tasks with gusto that can only be admired, even if the results can’t. Washington Times (Aug 21, 2014)
  39. habitation
    the act of dwelling in or living permanently in a place
    Although the area is not fit for human habitation, many poor people who work in the coal mines live here. BBC (Aug 13, 2013)
  40. hasten
    speed up the progress of; facilitate
    Rather than wait for that day, he set out to hasten its arrival. Scientific American (Sep 3, 2014)
  41. headway
    forward movement
    At times, you feel like you’re struggling to run forward, going through the motions but making no headway, frozen in place. Washington Post
  42. ignite
    cause to start burning
    Firefighters say the blaze started when stain-soaked rags ignited on the front porch. Washington Times (Dec 10, 2014)
  43. illuminate
    make free from confusion or ambiguity
    The problem is that for illuminating answers, you need to ask the right questions. New York Times (Dec 6, 2014)
  44. impending
    close in time; about to occur
    First, he gives the enemy 12 days of warning about impending air attacks. Washington Post
  45. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    It was a little scary how quickly he flipped from friendly to imperious. New York Times (Sep 4, 2013)
  46. jabber
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
    A parrot jabbered atop its cage and a monkey squealed and battered at its bronze ring, until its owner brought bananas. Bartlett, Paul Alexander
  47. jargon
    technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject
    Steer clear of jargon, me-too claims, and statements without substance. Forbes (Dec 5, 2014)
  48. jostle
    make one's way by pushing or shoving
    In Jerusalem, great religions have crowded and jostled their way down through millenniums. Los Angeles Times (Nov 21, 2014)
  49. jut
    extend out or project in space
    From its long beak juts a fearsome tooth. New York Times (Nov 10, 2014)
Created on Fri Oct 28 09:09:40 EDT 2016

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