1. Vocabulary List #1 Common theme: Animal –related Words
Keystone English 10 – Blocks 3

2. Definition: to tease; annoy; nag; harass
Badger (verb)
Definition: to tease; annoy; nag; harass
Origin: to harass a trapped badger
Context Sentence: John and Stephanie badgered their parents incessantly until they finally relented and allowed the teens to go to the movies on a school night.

3. Definition: calm, peaceful
Halcyon (adjective)
Definition: calm, peaceful
Origin: From Halcyon; a mythical bird believed to calm the waves
Context Sentence: Jude looked out across the halcyon surface of the lake which was undisturbed by even the slightest of ripples.

4. Definition: To treat as highly important
Lionize (verb)
Definition: To treat as highly important
Origin: From the lion; considered to be one of the most important or kingly of animals.
Context Sentence: After winning the state championship, the football team was lionized throughout the school and community.

5. Definition: a collection of animals
Menagerie (noun)
Definition: a collection of animals
Origin: Was used to refer to a place (zoo or farm) where animals were kept and trained.
Context Sentence: Tonya loved stuffed animals so much that her bedroom was truly a menagerie of plush pets.

6. Parasite (noun)
Definition: a person who lives off of others; a freeloader
Origin: an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
Context Sentence: Roy was such a parasite that he preferred freeloading off of his generous sister to finding gainful employment of his own.

7. Parasitic (adjective)
Definition: living at the expense of others; sponging off of
Origin: from parasite; an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
Context Sentence: Despite her brother Roy’s parasitic behavior, Heather could not bring herself to stop supporting him financially.

8. Definition: to repeat mechanically
Parrot (verb)
Definition: to repeat mechanically
Origin: from parrot; the tropical bird that imitates human speech.
Context Sentence: Even though she tried very hard, Diana did not understand the Italian language; she merely parroted her teacher’s words.

9. Scavenger (noun)
Definition: an animal or person who removes refuse, left-overs, or waste
Origin: an animal or other organism that feeds on dead organic matter.
Context Sentence: Like a scavenger, Fred attacked the Thanksgiving left- overs and polished them off in an instant.