Grade 11-12: Vocabulary Lesson for Monday, Week 2

Word List 2

1. vilify: to make vicious and defamatory statements about someone or something
2. trepidation: a state of alarm or dread; trembling or quivering
3. sporadic: occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern or order in time; at widely scattered locations
4. renounce: to give up, especially be formal announcement; to reject or disown
5. pungent: affecting the sense of smell or taste with a sharp sensation
6. overt: open and observable; not hidden, concealed, or secret
7. muster: to call troops together as for an inspection; to gather; to cause to come together

Monday Activities

1. Create or buy a notebook. It can be named My Vocabulary Notebook or you can create your own name. You will be keeping your weekly words, definitions and assignments in this notebook.
2. Write the words and definitions in your vocabulary notebook.
3. Write each word and definition in your vocabulary book. Use this dictionary link to check the pronounciation of each word. Type each word in the box on the left, then click the sound icon to listen.

Other Help

If you need more information on your words, click on the link to use a on-line dictionary.

Use the daily activities to help you remember words that you learn each week. It is much easier to remember what the words mean if you do something with them and use them frequently in talking with your parents, family and friends.

Sample sentences:

The candidates attempts to vilify his opponent backfired.
The unfortunate soccer player found himself vilified in his country's newspapers.

I approached the closed door in the dark with fear and trepidation.
With much trepidation I stood in front of the entire school giving my first public address.

Sporadic outbreaks of the flu made it hard to predict where is would strike next.
Sporadic thunderstorms marked the weather patterns in our area for the last two weeks.

Brainwashing caused the terrorist to renounce his US citizenship.
The baptismal rite begins by asking, 'Do you Renounce Satan?'

Feta cheese adds a pungent taste to the salad.
The pungent odor of vinegar made me turn my head sharply.

The president said that he wanted all aid to the rebels to be overt.
There was no overt act of hostility, but I still didn't think that he liked me.

I didn't think that he could muster enough courage to stand up to the bully.
"Jake, you and Jimmy bring all the helpers you can muster.^

 
 

For more vocabulary, reading and other language arts resources, please visit our interactive skillbuilders.