Level B Unit 4

Alliance (n)  The United States formed an alliance with England to fight terrorists.  North Korea and South Korea do not have an alliance.  Have you formed an alliance with someone to reach a common goal?

Bewilder (v)  The teacher bewildered us with unclear test directions.  I was bewildered when the old man tried to give me directions to the mall.  What bewilders you?

Buffoon (n)  Don’t act like such a buffoon! Behave yourself in class!  Can you name a buffoon from TV or the movies?

Controversial (adj)  A controversial subject is one that people have strong opinions and disagreements about.  I do not like to discuss abortion rights with people because it is such a controversial topic.  List 3 controversial topics/subjects.

Dishearten (v) : to discourage  I was so disheartened when I learned I could not afford to go to college, so I stopped trying to get good grades.

Fruitless (adj)  My efforts to find my lost ring were fruitless. I cannot find it anywhere!  It is fruitless to drink salt water if you are lost at sea because_______________.  What is something you attempted, but were unsuccessful? Use fruitless to describe your attempt.

Hostile (adj): unfriendly  If you are a hostile person that means you are not nice and want to fight with people.  I feel hostility toward people who abuse animals.  Name a nation that is hostile to your country.

Inflammable (adj): easily set on fire or angered  A hostile person is inflammable—they will easily get angry.  What kind of house is more inflammable: a wooden house or a brick house?

Inflict (v): to give or cause something bad to happen to someone  A bee can inflict a painful sting.  Please do not inflict a harsh punishment. I did not mean to break the lamp!  What is something you have inflicted upon someone?

Malignant (adj): deadly or evil  People with cancer have malignant tumors.  Opposite: harmless, benign  Adolf Hitler was a malignant person.

Mortify (v): to hurt someone’s feelings or embarrass them  The child was mortified when his pants fell down in front of the class!  Mort= death  Mortal, mortuary  What kind of situation would mortify you?

Orthodox (adj): very traditional; following rules strictly  People who are orthodox about their religion follow it very closely.  Detentions are an orthodox punishment.  Making naughty children stand on their heads is a very unorthodox punishment!

Procure (v): to get, or achieve through a special effort  Luckily, I was able to procure 2 plane tickets at the last moment!  How can you procure a good grade in your most difficult class?

Scurry (v); to run quickly  The mouse scurried across the floor.  The children scurried up the stairs.

Sodden (adj): soaked with liquid; dull or lifeless  After a hard rain, the fields are sodden.  In court, the criminal had a sodden face in front of the judge.  If my fish tank breaks, what will happen? Use the word sodden.

Spirited (adj): full of life  We had a spirited football game against Souderton last week.  Synonyms: vibrant, animated  Who is a spirited person?

Virtual: (adj) almost the real thing, but not  Guitar Hero is a virtual game. You are pretending to play a guitar, but aren’t really playing.  Virtual reality games make you feel like you are really experiencing something.

Void  Noun: empty place “There is a void in my heart now that my husband is gone.”  Verb: to cancel “I need to void my appointment”  Adj: empty or having no legal effect  “A buffoon is completely void of good ideas.”

Wayward (adj): disobedient, not following the rules  The mother could not control her wayward children. They never listened to her!  I have one wayward hair that keeps sticking up!  What is something that is wayward?

Wince: (v) (n): to pull back because you are in pain  When I get a vaccination, I wince because of the pain.  My friend winced when I told her how I broke my arm.