“The Root –spec–” Vocabulary Lesson 22

English 11 Homework: 3-Column Chart WORD ALL DEFINITIONS (COPY FROM THE SHEET!) YOUR OWN SENTENCE (THIS WEEK: Hyphens) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Auspices DEF: Sponsorship, support, or protection POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe an event in which you would want the auspices of a particular group of people (such as the police) EXAMPLE: At a large-scale music festival, it is good to have the auspices of the local police.

Auspicious DEF: A. Favorable, promising success B. Marked by success; prosperous POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a person who made an auspicious decision. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) boy/girl/etc. made the auspicious decision to _______________.

Circumspect DEF: Cautious; prudent; mindful of circumstances and potential consequences POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe something that a circumspect teenager would think about. EXAMPLE: The circumspect teenager thought long and hard about the consequences of throwing a(n) (hyphenated-word) party.

Despicable DEF: Deserving of scorn, contempt, or a low opinion POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a man or woman who is despicable. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) (wo)man was despicable.

Introspective DEF: Contemplating one’s own thoughts and feelings; self-examining POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a person who is introspective. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) teen/ man/woman/etc. was introspective.

Perspicuous DEF: Clearly expressed; easy to understand POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a teacher who teaches a certain subject in a perspicuous way. EXAMPLE: My (hyphenated-word) ___________ teacher taught about __________________ in a very perspicuous way.

Specious DEF: Seemingly true, but actually false POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Describe a person who has told you a specious story. EXAMPLE: My (hyphenated-word) friend/sister/classmate/etc. told me a specious story about _________________.

Spectacle DEF: A. An impressive public performance or display B. A public display of bad behavior POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe someone who might create a spectacle. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) man/ woman/group/etc. created a spectacle by…

Specter DEF: A. A ghost or spirit B. A haunting or disturbing image or possibility POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a child who saw a specter. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) child saw a specter.

Spectrum DEF: A. A band showing different wavelengths of color or sound, arranged in order B. A broad range of related qualities or ideas POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a class with a spectrum of opinions. EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) class had a spectrum of opinions.