Unit 3 First 10 WordsUnit Last 10 Words Acculturation Commiserate Expedited Expiate Inadvertent Noncommittal Peculate Seditious Vitriolic Wheedle Unit 3 VCB, Level F

Abominate (v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for Synonyms: Despise, Detest Ex: Abigail abominates Elizabeth Proctor.

Acculturation (n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend Synonym: Adaptation Ex: We experienced a smooth acculturation from middle school to high school.

Adventitious (adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital Synonyms: Fortuitous, Incidental Ex: It was an adventitious situation when I won at bingo!

Ascribe (v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute Synonyms: Impute, Credit Ex: I ascribed the students to an evening of intense studying.

Circuitous (adj.) roundabout, not direct Ex: The parent took the circuitous route to my friend’s house; my father wanted to spend time in the car lecturing me.

Commiserate (v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress Synonym: sympathizing Ex: The underclassmen commiserate with each other because they all must take the PSAT.

Enjoin (v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit Ex: The teacher enjoined the students to study their vocabulary!

Expedite (v.) to make easy, cause to progress faster Synonym: Accelerate Ex: Some students want to expedite their experience in high school by graduating earlier.

Expiate (v.) to make amends, make up for; to avert Synonym: redeem/make peace Ex: Guys tend to expiate conflicts with girls; they know they can’t win the argument.

Ferment (n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, turbulence; (v.) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action Ex: The students were in a wild state of ferment because it was the last day of school.

Inadvertent (adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental Synonym: accidental Ex: The inadvertent accident caused the teenager’s car insurance to increase.

Nominal (adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously Ex: The nominal gift still made the children smile.

Noncommittal (adj.) not decisive or definite Synonym: uninformative Ex: Parents are more noncommittal about allowing teenagers to be independent.

Peculate (v.) to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s own use Synonyms: defraud/misappropriate Ex:He peculated from the old women; the teenager said the money would go towards a needy family.

Proclivity (n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) Ex: Teenagers have a proclivity for sleeping on weekends; they sleep ten hours.

Sangfroid (n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances Ex: 007 exhibits sangfroid; he is composed and always cool!

Seditious (adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government Synonyms: mutinous, rebellious Ex: The seditious killing of an American ambassador in Egypt caused the United States to evacuate the country.

Tenuous (adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported Ex: The presidential debates consisted of tenuous arguments; their platforms were weakly supported.

Vitriolic (adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) Synonyms: withering, acerbic Ex: Her vitriolic attitude created enemies everywhere; she never used polite language.

Wheedle (v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end Synonyms: inveigle, sweet-talk Ex: The teenager wheedled her way into the concert. Her parents let her stay out late.