ALGERNON VOCABULARY 1

1. Apparent  Context: It is apparent to me that you lack the skills to succeed in this class because you lack organization, preparedness, and intelligence.  What does it mean  What gives it away?  Definition: visible

2. Sullen  Context: The student was very sullen after he got his test paper back with a failing grade on it because he had studied for it for three days.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: grumpy; resentful

3. Impulse  Context: I had an impulse the other day to do a cartwheel in the middle of the hallway, but luckily I resisted that urge.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: urge

4. Retrieved  Context: I retrieved my coat from my friend’s closet myself because I knew she would never return it to me on her own.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: got back

5. Emerged  Context: The ground hog emerged from its hole only to fall back in immediately because he’s afraid of his own shadow.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: came out

6. Misled  Context: The student misled the teacher by telling him that she left her homework on the bus when the student’s unfinished worksheet was hidden in her folder.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: fooled; led to believe something wrong

7. Tangible  Context: Love is not a tangible object that we can see and touch.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: capable of being seen or felt

8. Refute  Context: The student refuted cheating on his test by providing a video from the testing session.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: prove wrong using evidence

9. Invariably  Context: Amy invariably always forgets to do her homework because she never writes down any of her assignments.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: always

10. Regression  Context: Many adults go into a regression when they hit their 40s because they want to be young, free teenagers again.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: return to an earlier state or less advanced condition

11. Verified  Context: The teacher verified the answers to the test by checking some online sources.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: confirmed

12. Obscure  Context: The trees obscured my hiding spot which helped me to win the game.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: hide

13. Deterioration  Context: The deterioration of the building led to it being demolished.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: worsen; declining

14. Hypothesis  Context: The scientist’s hypothesis took years to prove.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: theory to be proved

15. Introspective  Context: The introspective girl kept a journal to analyze her thoughts and feelings.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: looking inward to one’s own thoughts and feelings

16. Congenial  Context: Santa Clause is a very congenial person that all children love.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: pleasant, agreeable

17. Facades  Context: The facades of the buildings helped us to tell one store from the other.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: fronts of buildings

18. Rapacious  Context: The rapacious child grabbed as much candy from the piñata as he could so that he had more candy than any of the other kids.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: greedy

19. Dithering  Context: The dithering old man was so confused that he needed constant help.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: acting nervous and confused

20. Tantalizing  Context: The tantalizing smell of the turkey cooking in the oven made my mouth water.  What does it mean?  What gives it away?  Definition: teasing by remaining unavailable or by withholding something desired by someone; tempting