1. Grade 10 Unit 6
Acumen-Wanton
20 Words

2. Acumen
DEFINITION: good judgement; mental sharpness PART OF SPEECH: Noun EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The person who is able to turn one hundred dollars into one million dollars has a lot of business acumen.

3. Apartheid DEFINITION: a policy of racial segregation
PART OF SPEECH: Noun
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa between and 1991.

4. Belligerent
DEFINITION: combative; warlike PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Cam’s belligerent attitude made everyone at the party uncomfortable; he was picking a fight with everyone he saw.

5. Chronicle
DEFINITION: a record of events in history PART OF SPEECH: Noun EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Historians just discovered a diary that they believe is a chronical of the Revolutionary war period.

6. Copious
DEFINITION: abundant PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Kevin was nervous about the test, so he took copious notes during the review period.

7. Discern
DEFINITION: to see things quickly; to distinguish PART OF SPEECH: Verb EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Although it was difficult for the doctors to discern which twin was which, the mother was able to easily tell her daughters apart. With Janice, sometimes it is difficult to discern the truth because she lies so easily.

8. Ethereal
DEFINITION: heavenly, delicate, light PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: -The ethereal mist coming off the water was so beautiful and was the main reason they bought the house. -When Jane first heard the sound of ethereal voices in the empty house she thought they were ghosts; however, it was really just the sound of a radio left on at a low volume.

9. Word: Hapless
Definition: unlucky Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: Laura went on a hapless search to find her dog. Everyone in her neighborhood either hadn’t seen it or wasn’t home.

10. Inexorable
DEFINITION: unavoidable PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Jack knew his punishment for being suspended was inexorable, but he just wasn’t sure exactly what the punishment would be.

11. Malinger
DEFINITION: to pretend to be sick to avoid work PART OF SPEECH: Verb EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Sarah malingers to avoid taking tests.

12. Perturb
DEFINITION: to upset greatly PART OF SPEECH: Verb EXAMPLE SENTENCE: We were all perturbed by tim’s behavior; since he was born, he has always been naughty.

13. Word: Oblivion
Definition: state of being forgotten Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: The boy band was popular for a little while and then faded into total oblivion.

14. Word: Propriety
Definition: properness, good manners (derives from the word proper) Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: Exhibiting propriety is important especially when trying to make a good impression at a job interview. Harry made sure to show good propriety while at dinner with his girlfriend’s parents.

15. Word: Relentless
Definition: unstoppable, not stopping/giving up Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: Despite losing to the Patriots earlier in the 2007 season, the Giants went on to relentlessly win the Super Bowl. Jerry York is relentless in his pursuit of winning. He has the most wins of any collegiate coach and he still always strives for more.

16. Solicitous
DEFINITION: eager and attentive, almost to a fault PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: While car shopping, the solicitous salesperson was always following us and asking us if we needed help no matter how many times we said we were just looking.

17. Supercilious
DEFINITION: arrogant; acting better than others PART OF SPEECH: Adjective EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Kevin’s supercilious attitude that he was better than everyone else left him with no friends.

18. Word: Tenacious
Definition: persistent Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The athlete’s tenacious attitude led him to never give up and always keep trying.

19. Veracity
DEFINITION: Truthfulness PART OF SPEECH: ADJ EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The teacher questioned the veracity of the student’s statement that he tried to the paper, but his would not work.

20. Word: Verbose
Definition: wordy/using too many words Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The essay was too verbose; the thesis and argument were lost in the excess of complicated words.

21. Wanton
DEFINITION: purposefully wicked, unprovoked PART OF SPEECH: ADJ EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The wanton child often erupted in a tantrum to get what he wanted.