Vocabulary: Week 8 DAYS 3 & 4

Ubiquitous PART OF SPEECH: Adjective DEFINITION: Being everywhere at the same time SENTENCE: Our camping trip was ruined because of the ubiquitous mosquitoes.

remote PART OF SPEECH: Adjective DEFINITION: Distant, hidden away SENTENCE: Odysseus had many experiences on remote islands, but his time with Polyphemus, the Cyclops, was especially memorable.

thwart PART OF SPEECH: Verb DEFINITION: To hinder or defeat SENTENCE: The Greeks were successful in their efforts to thwart the Trojans.

Harbinger PART OF SPEECH: Noun DEFINITION: A forerunner, advance notice SENTENCE: The Grim Reaper is a harbinger of death.

Malignant PART OF SPEECH: Adjective DEFINITION: Likely to cause death SENTENCE: Dermatologists warn their patients to eschew the use of tanning beds because they are linked to malignant forms of skin cancer.

excruciating PART OF SPEECH: Adjective DEFINITION: Agonizing, Torturing SENTENCE: Bitten repeatedly by ants, caused Ron to feel excruciating pain.

respite PART OF SPEECH: Noun or Adjective DEFINITION: A short period of relief or delay; a break from something unpleasant SENTENCES: After studying all evening, Brittany welcomed the respite of her bed. Respite care offers family members a break from their loved ones.

reverberating PART OF SPEECH: Verb or Adjective DEFINITION: Reechoing, resounding, vibrating SENTENCES: The sound of gun shots reverberated in my ears. The reverberant booming of thunder kept the children from sleeping.

fretful PART OF SPEECH: Adjective DEFINITION: Worried, distressed, or troubled SENTENCES: Sarah knew her mother would be angry and fretful if she did not call home after missing curfew.

succumb PART OF SPEECH: Verb DEFINITION: To submit, yield, or give in SENTENCES: Even though Mrs. L. should not drink Coke, she succumbs to those addicting cravings from time to time.

Idiom: a red herring Meaning: Something that diverts attention from the main issue Example: The police were diverted from the true culprit all because of a red herring. Situation Example: Your teacher reprimands you for unacceptable behavior, but you try to divert his/her attention by complaining that another student did exactly what you are in trouble for. You are trying to take the attention away from yourself by directing it towards your peer.  Yes, we know when you do this.

Idiom: to cool one’s heels Meaning: to be kept waiting Example: When you become angry, it is better to cool your heels until you calm down rather than say something regrettable. Situation Example: You may be cooling your heels for a long time in the emergency room while the doctor sees other patients that require immediate attention.