Romiette and Julio

Ms. Dietz (United States of America)
Words students should be familiar with before reading Romiette and Juilo.
55 words 304 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. commencement
    the act of starting something
    University of Washington's commencement ceremony is at the stadium on June 15. Seattle Times (Feb 11, 2013)
  2. ebb
    a gradual decline in size or strength or power
    With demand for seafood rising as fish stocks ebb, chefs world-wide are searching for new ways to satisfy diners' hunger for things aquatic. Wall Street Journal (Apr 26, 2013)
  3. flounder
    have difficulties; behave awkwardly
    Around this time, my spirits were seriously floundering, too. Salon (Mar 3, 2013)
  4. dignitary
    an important or influential person
    You are surrounded by dignitaries and people who have done incredible things.
  5. boutique
    a shop that sells women's clothes and jewelry
    Penney’s bargain bazaars started to become glamorous “speciality department stores”, housing boutiques for famous brands.
  6. jostle
    make one's way by pushing or shoving
    A crowd of young men jostle by, dressed as jockeys.
  7. monotonous
    tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
    At first glance the results are slightly nondescript: a 250m-high concrete office building punctuated by a monotonous grid of square windows.
  8. enhance
    increase
    The league enacted enhanced security guidelines for fans attending the draft this week; backpacks were prohibited. Seattle Times (Apr 26, 2013)
  9. terminal
    occurring at or forming an end
    A respected New York string quartet is struck by an excess of issues here: terminal illness, infidelity, professional jealousy, you name it.
  10. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    He acknowledged that, initially, Church leaders had been incredulous about the claims.
  11. stagnant
    not growing or changing; without force or vitality
    However, the economy has been stagnant over the past two years.
  12. unison
    the state of corresponding exactly
    It’s all these things working together in unison.  Forbes (Apr 26, 2013)
  13. bilingual
    using or knowing two languages
    Earlier this year, psychologists at Concordia University in Montreal studied 168 children ages 1 and 2 years old being raised by bilingual parents.
  14. extrasensory
    seemingly outside normal sensory channels
    He even did some unsuccessful research on extrasensory perception, citing in an autobiographical statement “a soft spot in my heart for exciting but unlikely hypotheses.” New York Times (Feb 25, 2012)
  15. incompatible
    not in harmonious or agreeable combination
    But its cross-platform nature makes it hugely useful for people using otherwise incompatible mobile operating systems.
  16. podium
    a platform raised above the surrounding level
    Tulips, roses and carnations adorned the podium where friends and public servants spoke.
  17. lumbering
    slow and laborious because of weight
    The Japanese economy is expected to move at a lumbering pace over the next two years. Chicago Tribune (Nov 27, 2012)
  18. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    Embarrassed, sheepish and maybe even a little frightened, he managed a quick hello before dashing to his car.
  19. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    Josh reluctantly pulled his lanky frame up and sauntered across the room. Salon (Feb 24, 2013)
  20. hassle
    annoy continually or chronically
    Alternatively, think about what an incredible hassle driving would be if we tried to make it as safe as air travel. Slate (Apr 16, 2013)
  21. demented
    affected with madness or insanity
    It was like exploring some demented far-future haunted house, with a new trick ready to pop out around every blind corner.
  22. muse
    the source of an artist's inspiration
    The song began, Mr. Rosler said, when he turned to a traditional writer’s muse of opening and closing the refrigerator door.
  23. disperse
    move away from each other
    Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for restraint after a demonstration last week in Paris's Latin Quarter where riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters.
  24. allotted
    given as a task or a portion
    Given the difficulty of moving beyond predictable scenarios within the allotted four minutes, few of these plays manage to be formally inventive.
  25. grimace
    contort the face to indicate a certain mental state
    An intense grimace, as if one has endured excruciating pain by passing a kidney stone or seeing a field-goal attempt miss wide left.
  26. philosophical
    relating to the investigation of existence and knowledge
    There's a new philosophical current saying: 'Let's stop considering animals as just machines with no feelings, no emotion and no potential thinking process.'
  27. metropolitan
    relating to or characteristic of a large urban area
    The tone is English and metropolitan, the mood sombre but enthralling, even intimidating.
  28. seared
    having the surface burned quickly with intense heat
    Additionally, laser cutting material results in perfectly seared edges to prevent fabric from unraveling.’ Forbes (Mar 11, 2013)
  29. sojourn
    a temporary stay
    An inveterate traveller, Simon also sojourned in Australia, Mexico, India and Iceland.
  30. defiance
    a hostile challenge
    In oppressive environments, artists are intimidated and live in fear of censorship or consequences of defiance.
  31. bigot
    a prejudiced person who is intolerant of differing opinions
    Ever get tired of defending bigots and criminals?
  32. essence
    the choicest or most vital part of some idea or experience
    In essence these devices offer a very convenient personal storage cloud. Forbes (Jan 11, 2013)
  33. lure
    provoke someone to do something through persuasion
    Microsoft may try to lure back consumers by offering less expensive devices. Salon (Apr 11, 2013)
  34. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    Westerners have returned the favor by collecting Western art with unusual fervor. Forbes (Mar 18, 2013)
  35. guerilla
    one who fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
    In this situation, guerilla marketing is a great strategy.
  36. plume
    anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
    He had engine trouble late in practice, sending a plume of white smoke out of the back of his car. Seattle Times (Apr 20, 2013)
  37. illuminate
    make free from confusion or ambiguity
    Her early life is illuminated in much greater detail than before.
  38. intuition
    instinctive knowing, without the use of rational processes
    Intuition counts for a lot under pressure, nowhere more so than in a boxing ring.
  39. flinch
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    Caught by surprise, Simpson flinched and heard a pop in his right ankle.
  40. palatable
    acceptable to the taste or mind
    But to make them palatable, they added sugar, causing much greater problems.
  41. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    White House science adviser John Holdren gingerly supported geoengineering research in the past. Scientific American (Mar 18, 2013)
  42. exhilarating
    making lively and joyful
    The effect is simultaneously magical, exhilarating, funny and profoundly moving.
  43. derision
    the act of treating with contempt
    Earlier this week, talk of a temporary delay in the spending cuts was met with derision by some congressional aides.
  44. quaver
    give off unsteady sounds
    His voice quavered as his words picked up speed.
  45. consternation
    sudden shock or dismay that causes confusion
    Use of cell phones, however, has caused some consternation among educators.
  46. distraught
    deeply agitated especially from emotion
    Looking distraught and anxious, she spoke loudly and nervously, insisting on his innocence.
  47. pelt
    attack and bombard with or as if with missiles
    He opens his umbrella and the raindrops pelt down on it like deafening bullets.
  48. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    The years of court struggles ahead would likely be an emotional ordeal for victims, he said. Salon (Mar 29, 2013)
  49. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    His impassive features grow stern, as though to reprimand me. Bartlett, Paul Alexander
  50. probation
    a trial period during which one's abilities are tested
    The university was also placed on probation for five years. Seattle Times (Jul 23, 2012)
  51. anguish
    extreme distress of body or mind
    All authors of these manuscripts are anguished to have made this mistake and publishing incorrect information. Forbes (Apr 16, 2013)
  52. mutilate
    destroy or injure severely
    On the other hand, elephants can survive with mutilated trunks. Scientific American (Feb 4, 2013)
  53. flamboyant
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
    I see colourful trousers, flamboyant jackets, wacky shoes, trendy haircuts, an increasing willingness to experiment with new styles.
  54. confide
    reveal in private
    He first confided in his mother just a few years ago. New York Times (Feb 2, 2012)
  55. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    So yes, he really is incredibly boring and that intrigued me.
Created on Sat Apr 27 19:22:10 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Apr 29 19:44:48 EDT 2013)

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