Unit Three Vocabulary

Grade Seven

1. animated ( adj) full of life, alive; (adj-part.) moved into action

syn: energetic, vigorousant: dull, lifeless, dead, flatEx. The kitten was animated

as it chased its own tail.

2. brood (n) a family of young animals, especially birds; any group having the same nature and origin (v) to think over in a worried, unhappy way

syn: (v) ponder, meditate, worry, agonize

Ex. The upcoming test caused the student to brood since the test would determine the outcome of the quarter grade.

3. culminate (v) to reach a high point of development; to end, climax

syn: conclude, terminate ant: begin, initiate, kick off,

commenceEx. An ending sentence in a

paragraph does culminate the writer’s point.

4. downright (adv) thoroughly (adj) absolute, complete; frank,

bluntsyn: (adj) total, out-and-out,

unqualifiedEx. She was a downright fool when she trusted someone she should not have.

5. drone (n) a loafer, idler; a buzzing or humming sound; a remote control device; a male bee

(v) to make a buzzing sound; to speak in a dull tone of voice

syn: (n) bum, do-nothing (v) hum, buzz, purr

ant: hard worker, workaholicEx. Some students long for summer

vacation when they can become drones and have to do nothing each day.

6. goad (v) to drive or urge on (n) something used to drive or urge on

syn: (v) prod, spur on, inciteant: (v) curb, check, restrainEx. Each morning the boy

had to goad the dog back into the house.

7. indulge(v) to give in to a wish or a desire, give oneself up to

syn: oblige, humor, coddle, pamper

ant: deny, refuseEx. The woman indulged in a

piece of chocolate cake even though she was on a diet.

8. ingredient (n) one of the materials in a mixture, recipe, or formula

syn: element, component, constituent, factor

Ex. I collected all of the ingredients necessary to make brownies.

9. literate (adj) able to read and write; showing an excellent educational background; having knowledge or training

syn: educated, trainedant: unlettered, unschooled, ignorant

Ex. A high school graduate must be literate if he is to obtain a job.

10. loom (v) to come into view; to appear in exaggerated form (n) a machine for weaving

syn: (v) emerge, surface, hover, tower

Ex. The nervousness loomed on the field as the last deciding pitch of the playoffs was thrown.

11. luster (n)the quality of giving off light, brightness, glitter, brilliance

syn: gloss, sheen, shine ant: tarnish, dullness

Ex. The diamond’s luster drew all eyes toward it.

12. miscellaneous (adj)mixed, of different kinds

syn: varied, assorted, motleyant: identical, uniform,

homogenousEx. The television show

Jeopardy asks miscellaneous questions.

13. oration (n) a public speech for a formal occasions

syn: address, harangueEx. Mr. Russell gives an

oration at Awards Day.

14. peevish (adj)cross, complaining, irritable; contrary

syn: crabby, cranky, testy, stubborn

ant: agreeable, amiable, even-tempered, pleasant

Ex. Since everything went wrong that day, the girl became peevish.

15. seethe (v) to boil or foam; to be excited or disturbed

syn: churn, simmer, stewEx. I just seethe when my

sister takes my clothes without asking.

16. singe (v) to burn slightly (n) a burn at the ends or

edgessyn: (v) scorch, char, sear

ant: incinerateEx. You can singe the edge of

paper to make it look antiquated.

17. unique (adj) one of a kind; unequaled; unusual; found only in a given class, place, or situation

syn: unparalleled, distinctive, singular

ant: ordinary, commonplace, run-of-the-mill

Ex. Winning the state championship was unique.

18. upright (adj) vertical, straight; good, honest

(adv) in a vertical positionsyn: (adj) perpendicular, virtuous

ant: (adj) horizontal, prone, dishonest, corrupt

Ex. The student was upright and refused to cheat even though her friends were doing such a dishonest deed.

19. verify (v) to establish the truth or accuracy of, confirm

syn: prove, validate, substantiate

ant: disprove, refute, discredit

Ex. The scientific study did verify the hypothesis.

20. yearn (v) to have a strong and earnest desire

syn: crave, long for, wantEx. Some students yearn for

new books to read; they can’t wait to finish a book so they can start another.