Essential Seventh Grade Vocabulary: List 8

Learn these essential words that you'll encounter in literature, textbooks, class discussions, and more.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. calamity
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    Windstorms, lightning fires, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and other natural calamities knock down trees and open up the forest, or prevent open country from turning into forestland. 1491
  2. casual
    marked by a lack of concern
    Liam tried to keep his voice casual, but his eyes had darkened, obviously troubled. The Darkest Minds
  3. chortle
    laugh quietly or with restraint
    I chortled delightedly as it came back to me. Elliott, Francis Perry
  4. cower
    show submission or fear
    The tiger roared furiously and the girl cowered. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
  5. curt
    brief and to the point
    His morning announcements were short and curt, and he didn’t say anything about the scoreboard. Made You Up
  6. dormant
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
    He had planted a seed, and though I let that seed lie dormant for a long season, it eventually began to grow. Long Walk to Freedom
  7. dubious
    not convinced
    I must have looked dubious, for he said: “Really, I do.” Black Boy
  8. falter
    speak haltingly
    His voice faltered—like he wasn’t sure if he was saying it right this time. Harbor Me
  9. idle
    not in action or at work
    His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the animals were underfed. Animal Farm: A Fairy Story
  10. keen
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    But in the meantime, I employed my keen powers of observation rather than beastly force. Salt to the Sea
    not sure if this is the def you wanted
Created on Mon Jun 09 10:45:57 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Jun 09 10:46:35 EDT 2025)

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