1. Week 10 Vocabulary

6. 5. recoil (v)
To draw back
As the killer popped up on the screen, the movie-goers recoiled in fear.

7. 6. pertinent (adj) relevant; relating to the matter at hand
The police struggled to get the suspect to describe the pertinent facts of the robbery.

8. 7. mastiff (n.)
large dog
The child was frightened by my pet mastiff because he was almost three times his size. 8

9. 8. obsess (v) To haunt, preoccupy; fill the mind intrusively
The dog was obsessed with his squeaky stuffed dog toy.

11. 10. wan (adj)
sickly pale
After the embarrassing presentation, the student’s normally happy face became wan with fear.

12. 11. histrionics (adj) display of emotions
Mom tried unsuccessfully to quell her histrionics on the day I left for college.

13. 12. elusive (adj) difficult to find, catch, or achieve
The unicorn and loch ness monster have proven to be elusive creatures.

14. 13. frustrate (v)
To counteract, foil, thwart, prevent something from happening
The warden frustrated the prisoners’ attempt to escape by adding more guards.

16. 15. Interject (v) To insert or interrupt
While the two players were chatting, the news reporter interjected to ask a question.

17. 16. inert (adj.) Motionless, without power to move
Exhausted, she remained inert on her desk, even after the bell had rung.

18. outstanding, prominent; the most noticeable or important
17. salient (adj)
outstanding, prominent; the most noticeable or important
One of the salient features of Homer’s poetry is the use of epic similes.

19. 18. imminent (adj)
Likely to happen or occur at any moment; impending
The rain seemed imminent as the ominous storm clouds advanced rapidly toward us.

20. 19. squeamish (adj)
(of a person) easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted, esp. by unpleasant images, such as the sight of blood.
The man became squeamish after seeing the bloody images.

21. 20. engrossed (adj) absorbed; having all one’s attention involved in something
The teenager was engrossed in his music.