1. 8th Grade Vocabulary Insertion 11
enigma, hindrance,
meager, pivotal, irascible,

2. Standard
ELACC8W2 – Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain a topic

3. 1. enigma enigma (n): a mystery; a puzzle
Sample sentence: The crossword puzzle was nothing but an enigma for the confused student.
Other forms: enigmatic;
enigmatically

4. 2. hindrance hindrance (n): an obstruction or
Difficulty; something that holds you back
Sample sentence: On land, the sloth’s weak hind legs provide no power and their long claws are a hindrance.
Sample sentence: The density of the text is, at times, a hindrance.

5. 3. meager
meager (adj): small, inadequate; not enough Sample Sentence: The boy thought his paycheck was meager and wanted a raise. Word Forms: meagerly; meagerness

6. 4. pivotal pivotal (adj): of vital or critical importance
Sample Sentence: The day her father died was a pivotal moment in her life.
Sample Sentence: The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a pivotal day in history.
Word Forms: pivotally

7. 5. irascible
irascible (adj): easily provoked to anger; very irritable Sample Sentence: My friend is a very irascible person; if you say “hi” in a wrong tone of voice, he will scream at you. Word forms: irascibility; irascibly

8. All enigma (n) – something mysterious or puzzling
hindrance (n) – a difficulty; an obstruction
meager (adj.) – small, inadequate; poor
pivotal (adj.) – of vital or critical importance
irascible (adj.) – easily provoked to anger; very irritable