The Odyssey Vocabulary: PreAP/IB

Abominably [adverb] Doing something in a way that is worthy of or causes disgust or hatred; detestably, quite disagreeably or unpleasantly… <The student felt that he was doing abominably on the vocabulary test since he did not study.>

Adversary [noun] One that contends with, opposes, or resists ; an enemy… <The soldier shot at his adversary on the other side of enemy lines.>

Appall [verb] To overwhelm or be overwhelmed with consternation, shock, or dismay… <We were appalled by his behavior, embarrassed and dismayed.>

Ardor [noun] An often restless or transitory warmth of feeling; extreme vigor or intense energy… <The American troops saluted the flag with ardor, their stances rigid with emotion.>

Assuage [verb] To lessen the intensity of something that pains or distresses; to ease, pacify, and quiet… <In order to assuage their fear of the dark, the child slept with their favorite nightlight.>

Desolation [noun] Lonely grief; misery... <The landscape echoed a certain sense of desolation; the horizon traced a lonely curve unbroken by another person.>

Disdain [noun] A feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior; scorn… <The judgmental elderly lady looked at the teenagers with disdain.>

Entreat [verb] To make an earnest request; to plead… <The criminal entreated the jury for their mercy.>

Formidable [adjective] Causing fear, dread, or apprehension... <The research project proved a formidable task.>

Gall [noun] Scornful boldness; guts; nerve... <Kaelyn Sharpe had a lot of gall, brave enough to say what’s on her mind to anyone who will listen.>

Guile [noun] Deceitful cunning; duplicity… <The poker player looked around the table with guile, hiding his three aces behind his poker face.>

Implacable [adjective] Impossible to soothe; unforgiving… <The implacable wife kept a written record of her husband’s mistakes.>

Lurk [verb] To lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose; to move furtively or inconspicuously… <There are always suspicious students lurking in the hallways and stairwells.>

Omen [noun] A sign; an event thought to foretell good or evil… <She saw a rainbow in the sky and took it as a good omen: today was going to be a great day.>

Ponderous [adjective] Of very great weight; unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size… <The ponderous football player tripped and fell down the stairs, unable to control his oversized body.>

Profusion [noun] Great quantity; lavish display or supply; lavish expenditure… <The tree flowered in profusion, producing a multitude of white tiny blooms.>

Revelry [noun] Noisy merrymaking; festivity… <The street was impossible to get through, the lane choked with the revelry of the partiers.>

Throng [noun] A large gathering; a crowd… <The room was filled with a throng of people, all ex-girlfriends of Zachery Dominguez.>

Travail [noun] Work especially of a painful or laborious nature, toil; a physical or mental exertion or piece of work; agony, torment… <After several months of travail, the BP workers successfully cleaned up the Gulf oil spill.>

Tremulous [adjective] Characterized by or affected with trembling or tremors; affected with timidity; exceedingly sensitive; easily shaken or disordered… <The nervous speaker spoke with a tremulous voice, each word shaky and unsure.>