Vocabulary Week IX

Sordid Morally vile; dirty; filthy; poor; rundown Morally vile; dirty; filthy; poor; rundown The houses that remained after the flooding had become sordid, as there were rats and dirt everywhere. The houses that remained after the flooding had become sordid, as there were rats and dirt everywhere.

Precursor A person, animal or thing that comes before another event. Ex. The first robin is a precursor to spring.

Serendipity Good luck or fortune Good luck or fortune Ex. It was serendipity that I passed by the bookstore as they were hanging up a Help Wanted sign. I now have a great job! Ex. It was serendipity that I passed by the bookstore as they were hanging up a Help Wanted sign. I now have a great job!

Precept A commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct. On the first day of the job, my boss explained the precepts of the workplace

Stigmatize To set some mark of infamy or disgrace upon Ex. The crime committed by the father stigmatized the entire Smith family.

Discreet Unobtrusive; being careful about what you say to respect someones privacy. Unobtrusive; being careful about what you say to respect someones privacy. We were very discreet when discussing Christmas shopping around my little brother so he wouldnt hear about his presents We were very discreet when discussing Christmas shopping around my little brother so he wouldnt hear about his presents

Chimera A grotesque monster having separate parts. Also, any monster of the imagination. (traditionally had the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent) A grotesque monster having separate parts. Also, any monster of the imagination. (traditionally had the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent)

Choleric Extremely irritable or easily angered The baby had a choleric disposition, he was always crying and yelling!

Mediate To settle or reconcile a disagreement or dispute. To settle or reconcile a disagreement or dispute. In middle school, I was a peer mediator, and helped the students on the playground to settle their arguments. In middle school, I was a peer mediator, and helped the students on the playground to settle their arguments.

Consecrate To make or declare something as sacred To make or declare something as sacred The Bishop of our region came to the church to consecrate it before the first service The Bishop of our region came to the church to consecrate it before the first service

Polarize To divide into two opposing groups. To divide into two opposing groups. Ex. The magnet separated the trash into metals and non-metals Ex. The magnet separated the trash into metals and non-metals

Mellifluous Sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet sounding I love to listen to the choir at church because every song that they sing sounds so mellifluous

Contingent Dependent on something for existence (i.e. plants are contingent on the sun and rain) Dependent on something for existence (i.e. plants are contingent on the sun and rain) Uncertain; possible; likely not to happen (i.e. I had a savings account set up for a contingent event like a car accident or hospital stay) Uncertain; possible; likely not to happen (i.e. I had a savings account set up for a contingent event like a car accident or hospital stay) accidental accidental

Plebian common people common people Members of a lower class; commoners Members of a lower class; commoners A freshman or first year student (particularly in the U.S. Naval Academy) A freshman or first year student (particularly in the U.S. Naval Academy)

Chasm A deep gap in the earth A deep gap in the earth A wide difference of opinions A wide difference of opinions My family and I visited the Grand Canyon, which is the biggest chasm in America. My family and I visited the Grand Canyon, which is the biggest chasm in America.

Matriculate To enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree. To enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.

Existential A philosophy based upon ones existence A philosophy based upon ones existence (Existentialism: a philosophy that focuses on uniqueness and the isolation of the individual in the universe-stresses free will and responsibility (Existentialism: a philosophy that focuses on uniqueness and the isolation of the individual in the universe-stresses free will and responsibility

Pervade To spread out throughout all parts of something Ex. Pollen pervaded the air, so I knew that spring had arrived

Destitute Deprived of, devoid of, lacking The homeless children on the street were destitute as they had rags for clothes and dirt smeared on their faces

Fatalistic The belief that all things and events are predetermined and inevitable so that they cannot be changed. The belief that all things and events are predetermined and inevitable so that they cannot be changed. Her fatalistic beliefs helped him to deal with the death of his beloved fish. Her fatalistic beliefs helped him to deal with the death of his beloved fish.