VOCABULARY DRILL

English 10 - First Quarter

SET ONE SET TWO
abate (verb) aesthetic (adjective)
● to reduce in amount or intensity; ● relating to beauty, art, or the
become less active or intense. appreciation of beauty;
● Origin: Middle English, from Old concerned with visual appeal.
French "abattre," from Latin "ad" ● Origin: Greek "aisthētikos," from
(to) + "battuere" (to beat). "aisthēsis" (perception).

abdicate (verb) ambivalent (adjective)

● to renounce or relinquish a ● having mixed feelings or
position of power, authority, or contradictory emotions about
responsibility. something; uncertain about a
● Origin: Latin "abdicare," from "ab" decision.
(away) + "dicare" (to proclaim). ● Origin: German "ambivalent,"
from "ambi" (both) + "valent"
aberration (noun) (strong).
● a departure from the norm or a
deviation from what is typical or ameliorate (verb)
expected. ● Meaning: to make something
● Origin: Latin "aberratio," from better or improve a situation,
"aberrare" (to wander away). especially one that is negative or
unsatisfactory.
abject (adjective) ● Origin: Late Latin "ameliorare,"
● miserable, wretched, or of the from "melior" (better).
lowest kind; showing utter
hopelessness or resignation. animosity (noun)
● Origin: Latin "abjectus," past ● Meaning: strong hostility, intense
participle of "abicere" (to throw dislike, or bitter resentment
away). toward someone or something.
● Origin: Late Middle English
accrue (verb) "animosite," from Latin
● to accumulate or grow over "animositas," from "animosus"
time, typically referring to the (spirited).
increase of something such as
interest, benefits, or earnings. ardent (adjective)
● Origin: Middle English "acreuen," ● Meaning: enthusiastic,
from Old French "acreue," from passionate, or intensely devoted
Latin "accrescere" (to grow). to a cause, person, or belief.
● Origin: Latin "ardent," from
"ardere" (to burn).
 VOCABULARY DRILL
English 10 - First Quarter
SET THREE
arduous (adjective) SET FOUR
● involving or requiring a lot of belligerent (adjective)
effort, hard work, and energy; ● aggressive, or inclined to
difficult and strenuous. wage war; displaying a
● Origin: Latin "arduosus," from combative or
"ardeo" (I burn) + "-ousus" (full of). confrontational attitude.
● Origin: Latin
ascribe (verb) "belligerantem," from
● to attribute or assign a quality, "bellum" (war) + "gerere"
idea, or concept to a particular (to wage).
source or origin.
● Origin: Latin "ascribere," from bombast (noun)
"ad" (to) + "scribere" (to write). ● high-sounding,
impressive language
auspicious (adjective) with little meaningful
● suggesting a positive outcome content; inflated or
or likely success; showing signs pretentious speech or
of future happiness or writing.
prosperity. ● Origin: French
● Origin: Latin "auspiciosus," from "bombace," from Latin
"auspex" (an augur, one who "bombax" (cotton) due to
predicts the future from the the puffed-up nature of
flight of birds). cotton.

befuddle (verb) brusque (adjective)

● to confuse or make someone ● abrupt in manner or
unable to think clearly; to speech; blunt, short, and
bewilder or perplex. curt in communication.
● Origin: A blend of "befog" and ● Origin: French "brusque,"
"fuddle." from Italian "brusco"
(rough), possibly related
beleaguer (verb) to Latin "bruscum"
● to lay siege to, harass, or trouble (cider).
persistently; to cause constant
problems or difficulties. capitulate (verb)
● Origin: Irish "béal" (mouth) + ● to surrender, often under
"léige" (a bed), used to describe specific conditions, after
a military blockade. a period of resistance or
negotiation.
 VOCABULARY DRILL
English 10 - First Quarter
● Origin: Latin "capitulare," ● done in secret or kept hidden,
from "capitulum" (a especially for a dishonest or
chapter or section of an unethical purpose.
agreement). ● Origin: Latin "clandestinus," from
"clam" (secretly) + "de" (from) +
capricious (adjective) "teneo" (to hold).
● characterized by sudden
and unpredictable collusion (noun)
changes of mood or ● a secret or illegal cooperation or
behavior; impulsive and conspiracy, often for fraudulent
whimsical. or deceitful purposes.
● Origin: Italian ● Origin: Latin "collusio," from
"capriccioso," from "colludere" (to play together),
"capriccio" (whim, fancy). from "com" (together) + "ludere"
SET FIVE (to play).
cavalier (adjective) SET SIX
● showing a lack of concern, congenial (adjective)
especially for something ● pleasant and friendly, suited to
important; offhand or disdainful. one's personality or taste;
● Origin: French "cavalier," from getting along well with others.
Italian "cavaliere" (knight or ● Origin: Latin "congenialis," from
horseman). "con-" (together) + "genus" (birth,
kind).
chagrin (noun)
● a feeling of disappointment, conjecture (noun)
embarrassment, or humiliation ● the formation of an opinion or
due to a failure or mistake. conclusion without sufficient
● Origin: French "chagrin," from evidence or based on
"chagriner" (to distress or vex). guesswork.
● Origin: Latin "conjectura," from
circumvent (verb) "conicere" (to throw together),
● to find a way around or from "con-" (together) + "iacere"
overcome a problem or (to throw).
obstacle, typically through
cunning or deceit. consummate (verb)
● Origin: Latin "circumvenire," from ● to bring a process or action to
"circum" (around) + "venire" (to completion; to make something
come). perfect or achieve it.
● Origin: Latin "consummare," from
clandestine (adjective) "con-" (altogether) + "summus"
(highest).
 VOCABULARY DRILL
English 10 - First Quarter
● to weaken or make someone
convoluted (adjective) physically or mentally feeble; to
● extremely complex, intricate, or impair their strength or ability.
involved; twisted or coiled in ● Origin: Latin “debilitare,” from
shape. “debilis” (weak).
● Origin: Latin "convolutus," from
"con-" (together) + "volvere" (to delineate (verb)
roll). ● to describe, outline, or portray
something in detail, often with
copious (adjective) precision and clarity.
● abundant, plentiful, or producing ● Origin: Latin “delineare,” from
a large quantity; overflowing or “de-” (completely) + “linea” (line).
profuse.
● Origin: Latin "copiosus," from
"copia" (abundance).
SET SEVEN
credence (noun) SET EIGHT
● belief in or acceptance of despondent (adjective)
something as true or valid; trust ● feeling downcast, hopeless, or in
or confidence in the credibility of low spirits; experiencing a loss of
a statement or source. courage or optimism.
● Origin: Old French “credence,” ● Origin: Latin “despondere,” from
from “crere” (to believe). “de-” (down) + “spondere” (to
promise).
credulous (adjective)
● easily deceived or gullible, often diabolical (adjective)
believing things without ● related to or characteristic of the
questioning or critical devil; wicked, evil, or extremely
examination. cruel.
● Origin: Latin “credulus,” from ● Origin: Latin “diabolicus,” from
“credere” (to believe). “diabolus” (devil).

culpable (adjective) diatribe (noun)

● deserving blame or censure for ● a bitter, critical, and prolonged
wrongdoing or a mistake; guilty verbal attack or rant against a
of an offense. person, group, or idea.
● Origin: Latin “culpabilis,” from ● Origin: Latin “diatriba,” from
“culpa” (fault or blame). Greek “diatribē” (study,
discourse).
debilitate (verb)
dichotomy (noun)
 VOCABULARY DRILL
English 10 - First Quarter
● a division into two contrasting or
completely different parts, often
with opposing characteristics.
● Origin: Greek “dichotomia,” from
“dichotomos” (divided in two).

diminutive (adjective)
● small in size or stature; indicating
a smaller or more affectionate
version of something.
● Origin: Latin “diminutivus,” from
“diminuere” (to lessen).