1. Describing Youth and Old Age
Chapter 17
Describing Youth and Old Age

2. 1. dotage noun
The deterioration of mental faculties that comes with aging
In his dotage, Paul no
longer had the attention
span to read long novels.

3. 2. venerable -adj Commanding respect because of old age or dignity
The mayor, a venerable
man in his late seventies, was
respected for his generous nature.

4. 3. puerile -adj Acting childish or juvenile
Larkin glared at his neighbor and shouted, “Don’t be so puerile by spitting at me.” Then he did the same thing back.

5. 4. Wizened -adj Withered or wrinkled with age
Maggie finally took the wizened flower out of the vase and put it in her scrapbook to keep so she could always remember her friend’s caring gesture.

6. 5. pubescent -adj Having reached puberty The pubescent young girl
was not happy with
the new pimples
she was getting
all over her face.

7. 6. dowager -noun An old woman of high social standing.
Mrs. Kingston, a wealthy old dowager, was asked to pitch the first ball in the new Kingston ballpark, named after her because of her generous donation.

8. 7. senescence -noun Old age Having reached senescence, the
Johnsons decided to take up mountain climbing as a way to stay young.

9. 8. callow -adj Immature, lacking adult experience “Ah, callow youth,”
reflected the old man
as he watched the kids learning to play his favorite sport as a young man.

10. 9. superannuated -adj Ineffective or outmoded because of advanced age.
Because I have a
superannuated computer, I
am not able to do a power point for my report.

11. 10. ingénue -noun naïve or innocent young woman
Being an ingénue, Jenny thought the world revolved around her.

12. Chapter 18
Words About
Commitment

13. 1. ardor -noun Burning passion
Romeo’s ardor for Juliet was so overwhelming that he waited below her balcony in spite of her family’s hatred of him.

14. 2. zealot -noun
A person who feels extreme devotion or passion for a cause
The PETA organization has
many zealots who will do
anything to help animals and
keep them safe.

15. 3. amorous -adj Passion or attraction for someone John was so amorous
about Jane that he saw
hearts in the air whenever
he looked at her.

16. 4. fervent -adj Burning with enthusiasm Lilly’s fervent nature
helped her as she took
to the streets to promote her latest cause.

17. 5. fanatical -adj Enthusiasm to the point of being irrational
Greg’s wife could no longer
put up with his fanatical devotion to watching
football games on TV every Saturday, so she went shopping with the girls.

18. 6. manic -adj Passion to the point of madness
Kevin’s passion for old cars bordered on manic.
He had to buy every
kind he could.

19. 7. evangelical -adj crusading enthusiasm for something
Their anti-war sentiments bordering on the evangelical, the student protesters marched through the streets of Washington with posters and chant, "No more war!”

20. 8. Vehemently -adv An intense emotion or conviction
At his trial, the accused man insisted on his innocence, vehemently denying he had ever seen the victim before.

21. 9. effusive -adj Unrestrained in emotional expression, gushy
Whenever you mention getting
out of school early to Josh, he gets
excited and becomes very effusive, saying he feels like he is in heaven.

22. 10. hell-bent -adj Recklessly determined to do something
Teddy, hell-bent on
making it to the top of
the mountain, takes his time in placing each hand and foot just in the right position.