Set 5 Vocabulary By: Shaalini Desai Block 6

Counter POS: verb Synonym: backtalk Antonym: agree Definition: to say or do something in opposition to something else My brother will always counter me and not my parents; he always agrees with my mom and dad.

Cunning POS: adjective Synonym: devious Antonym: naïve, shy Definition: sly, crafty, or clever As cunning as he is, he also apologizes to the gullible victims he fools.

Debris POS: noun Synonym: waste Antonym: purity Definition: remains of destroyed or discarded material; wreckage The dilapidated house was surrounded with debris left from the large and challenging tornado, but neighbors helped clean up the remains of the habitation.

Defiance POS: noun Synonym: audacity Antonym: submission Definition: an act of refusal or resistance to an opposing force or authority Bob was in defiance of Jo because of the competitive game on Friday; they were versing each other and have been adversaries for 4 years.

Jut POS: verb Synonym: bulge Antonym: recede Definition: to extend sharply outward; to project or stick out Sarah tripped over the jacket that was jutting out of a locker and realized that it was her own coat that was sticking out of her locker.

Kindle POS: verb Synonym: illuminate Antonym: extinguish Definition: to build or start a fire; to excite a feeling or idea Suddenly, after cogitating for quite a while, a thought kindled in Bob’s mind after staying on a cold isolated island for a year. He could kindle a fire with the bark he found on shore!

Knoll POS: noun Synonym: mount Antonym: flatland Definition: a small, rounded hill In a small home on a knoll lived an old, somber, reclusive man and whenever someone knocks on his door, all he replies is “Go to your home and never come back on this hill.”

Luminous POS: adjective Synonym: bright Antonym: dim Definition: giving off light; shining The delicate and intricate ice sculptures were luminous in the moonlight, glistening beautifully.

Specimen POS: noun Synonym: case Antonym: N/A Definition: something studied by scientists or doctors as an example of a set of things or systems Gingerly, Bob the scientist lifted the specimen used for studying the human brain.

Stamina POS: noun Synonym: energy Antonym: lethargy Definition: the ability to resist fatigue or illness; endurance My coach says that to be a healthy and strong basketball player, I have to have stamina and perseverance.

Subside POS: verb Synonym: decrease Antonym: rise Definition: to become less active or intense or agitated Large waves on the beach washed away all of my beach toys, but as soon as the waves subsided, I was able to retrieve the toys.

Swagger POS: verb Synonym: saunter, strut Antonym: loiter Definition: to walk in a way that makes it look as if you think you’re important or confident; strut Just to impress his friends, Jo walked with a swagger thinking that he can be as cool as them.

Honors

Saturnine POS: adjective Synonym: somber Antonym: cheerful Definition: of gloomy or surly disposition Marty the Mountain Lion became saturnine after no one showed up to his Mercer family reunion; he never came back to Mercer and everyone was worried about where Marty disappeared.

Caduceus POS: noun Synonym: staff Antonym: stick Definition: a staff with two snakes twined around it and two wings at its top Some people ask what the staff is called that Hermes always carries as the messenger of the Greek gods and goddesses. It is known as the caduceus.

Lethargy POS: noun Synonym: laziness Antonym: liveliness Definition: abnormal drowsiness My brother shows lethargy when he doesn’t want to do what I tell him to; he always acts like he’s sick or his stomach is aching.

Draconian POS: adjective Synonym: brutal Antonym: kind, congenial Definition: cruel, harsh, severe The Draconian professor forced his students to do a 5000 word essay about him in two days. All of the students were horrified and complained to the Principal about the professor’s harshness.

Mercurial POS: adjective Synonym: temperamental Antonym: unchangeable Definition: characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood I dislike the way that my friend is mercurial. At one point she talks about her annoying puppy, and then she suddenly starts talking about what she loves to eat for dinner.