“The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant” vocabulary

denizens Inhabitants or residents Connotatively, this word often has a “classy” meaning The denizens of the gated community did not welcome trick-or-treaters.

pensive Dreamy, lost in thought Caught in a daydream, Ms. Simmons was in a pensive mood.

dubious Doubtful I gave the student a dubious look when he informed me that his goldfish ate his Laws of Life essay.

antipathy Strong dislike Comes from the affix pathos, or feeling.

filial Of or relating to a son or daughter You have a filial responsibility to help your mom with the chores.

surreptitiously Sneakily or stealthily The child surreptitiously stole a cookie before dinner.

conspicuous Obvious; easy to see The huge stain on my shirt was unfortunately very conspicuous.

concussion Powerful shock or impact Concussions are a serious concern for young athletes.

luminous Glowing; giving off light The fancy new makeup made her skin look luminous.

quizzical Puzzled; questioning Whenever he mumbles, I always give him a quizzical look.