Vocabulary Unit 6B

Incessant (adj.) never stopping; going on all the time Hint: prefix IN means not, think “Not Ceasing”

Sentence The lecturer’s incessant chatter caused many to wonder if he ever paused for a breath.

Intricate (adj.) complicated; difficult to understand Hint: intrICATE and complICATE

Sentence The sailor tied a very intricate knot that must have taken him years to perfect.

Lucid (adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane Hint: root word Luc means light as in translucent (can see light through). Think of lucid as someone turning on the imaginary light-bulb

Sentence We knew that he had possibly suffered a concussion when his responses following the blow were not lucid.

Posthumous (adj.) occurring or published after death Hint: the prefix POST means after and the root means man as in human

Sentence Many of our military heroes receive posthumous awards for bravery that are treasured by their families.

Prim (adj.) overly neat, precise, proper or formal; prudish Hint: remember the expression “Prim and Proper”

Sentence Alicia Bartlett was a very prim young girl who preferred dresses and jigsaw puzzles instead of jeans and the internet.

Sardonic (adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic Hint: SARcastIC

Sentence The teen’s sardonic responses to his mother resulted in a two week grounding.

Superfluous (adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess Hint: SUPER means above or more than expected

Sentence When the older couple was moving into a smaller home, it was necessary for them to dispose of all superfluous items.

Supplant (v.) to take the place of, supersede Hint: SUP as in super means above or over, so supplant is to put one thing in another’s place. Try remembering “the rosebush supplanted the lilies”

Sentence In many homes the cell phone has supplanted the land line as a more convenient way to talk, receive and send messages.

Taunt (v.) to jeer, mock; an insulting or mocking remark Hint: “ a ghost haunts, a bully taunts”

Sentence Taunting can be a form of bullying that goes unreported because the injury is not physical.

Tenacious (adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent Hint: TEN fingers help you to hold tight

Sentence Despite the numerous setbacks the tenacious climber was able to reach the peak of Mt. Everest.