Grade 8 Vocabulary 2014-2015

Sadlier Units 1-15- Level C

Unit 1-
1. Adage- a proverb, wise saying (n)
2. Bonanza- a rich mass of ore in a mine, or something very valuable or rewarding, or a
source of wealth, or as large amount, or a sudden profit or gain (n)
3. Churlish- lacking politeness or good manners, lacking sensitivity, difficult to work with,
or rude (adj)
4. Citadel- a fortress that overlooks and protects a city, any strong commanding place (n)
5. Collaborate- to work with, work together (v)
6. Decree- an order having the force of law (n), to issue such an order, to command
firmly or forcefully (v)
7. Discordant- disagreeable in sound, jarring, lacking in harmony (adj)
8. Evolve- to develop gradually, to rise to a higher level (v)
9. Excerpt- a passage taken from a book, article, etc.(n), to take such a passage, to
quote (v)
10. Grope- to feel about hesitantly with the hands, to search blindly and uncertainly (v)
11. Hover- to float or hang suspended over, or to move back and forth uncertainly over
and around (v)
12. Jostle- to make or force one’s way by pushing or elbowing, to bump, brush against, to
compete for (v)
13. Laggard- a person who moves slowly or falls behind (n), falling behind, slow to move,
act, or respond (adj)
14. Plaudits- applause, enthusiastic praise or approval (n)
15. Preclude- to make impossible, prevent, shut out (v)
16. Rubble- broken stone or bricks, ruins (n)
17. Servile- of or relating to a slave, behaving like or suitable for a slave or servant,
menial, or lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive (adj)
18. Revert- to return, go back (v)
19. Vigil- a watch, especially at night, any period of watchful attention (n)
20. Wrangle- to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way, to obtain by argument, to herd (v)
a noisy quarrel (n)
Unit 2-
1. Antics- ridiculous and unpredictable behavior or actions (n)
2. Avowed- declared openly and without shame, acknowledged (adj)
3. Banter- to exchange playful remarks, tease (v), talk that is playful and teasing (n)
4. Bountiful- giving freely, generous, plentiful, given abundantly (adj)
5. Congested- overcrowded, filled or occupied to excess (adj)
6. Detriment- harm or loss, injury, damage, or a disadvantage, or a cause of harm, injury or
loss (n)
7. Durable- sturdy, not easily worn out or destroyed, lasting for a long time (adj), consumer
goods used repeatedly over a series of years (n)
8. Enterprising- energetic, willing and able to start something new, showing boldness and
imagination (adj)
9. Frugal- economical, avoiding waste and luxury, scanty, poor, meager(adj)
10. Gingerly- with extreme caution or care (adj)
11. Glut- to provide more than is needed or wanted, to feed or fill to the point of
overstuffing(v), an oversupply(n)
12. Incognito- a disguised state, under an assumed name or identity(adj), the state of being
disguised, a person in disguise (n)
13. Invalidate- to make valueless, take away all force or effect (v)
14. Legendary- described in well-known stories, existing in old stories (legends) rather than
in real life (adj)
15. Maim- to cripple, disable, injure, mar, disfigure, mutilate (v)
16. Minimize- to make as small as possible, make the least of, to make smaller than before (v)
17. Oblique- slanting or sloping, not straightforward or direct (adj)
18. Veer- to change direction or course suddenly, turn aside, shift (v)
19. Venerate- to regard with reverence, look up to with great respect (v)
20. Wanton- reckless, heartless, unjustifiable, loose in morals (adj), a spoiled, pampered
person, one with low morals (n)
Unit 3-
1. Allot- to assign or distribute in shares and portions (v)
2. Amass- to bring together, collect, gather. especially for oneself, to come together,
assemble (v)
3. Audacious- bold, adventurous, recklessly daring 9adj)
4. Comply- to yield to a request or command (v)
5. Devoid- not having or using, lacking (adj)
6. Elite- the choice part of a group of people or things (n), superior(adj)
7. Grapple- an iron hook used to grab and hold (n), to come to grips with wrestle or fight
with (v)
8. Incapacitate- to deprive of strength or ability, to make legally ineligible 9v)
9. Instigate- to urge on, to stir up, start, incite (v)
10. Longevity- long life, long duration, length of life (n)
11. Myriad- in very great numbers (adj), a very great number (n)
12. Perspective- a point of view or general standpoint from which different things are viewed,
physically or mentally, or the appearance to the eye of various objects at a given time,
place, or distance (n)
13. Perturb- to trouble, make uneasy, to disturb greatly, to throw into confusion (v)
14. Prodigious- immense, extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree (adj)
15. Relevant- connected with or related to the matter at hand (adj)
16. Skittish- extremely nervous and easily frightened, shy or timid, extremely cautious,
unstable, undependable (adj)
17. Tether- a rope or chain used to fasten something to a fixed object, the outer limit of
strength or resources (N) to fasten with a rope or chain (v)
18. Unison- a sounding together, agreement or accord (n)
19. Vie- to compete, to strive for victory or superiority (v)
20. Willful- stubbornly self-willed, done on purpose, deliberate (adj)
Unit 4-

1. Annul- to reduce to nothing, to make ineffective or inoperative, to declare legally invalid

or void (v)
2. Blasé- indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures, apathetic (adj)
3. Bolster- to support, give boost to (v), a long pillow or cushion, a supporting post (n)
4. Deplore- to feel or express regret or disapproval (v)
5. Frivolous- of little importance, not worthy of serious attention, not meant seriously (adj)
6. Muster- to bring together for service or battle, to gather or summon, to amount to,
compromise, include (v), a list of military personnel, or a gathering, accumulation (n)
7. Nonentity-a person or thing of no importance (n)
8. Obsess- to trouble, haunt, or fill the mind(v)
9. Ornate- elaborately decorated, showily splendid (adj)
10. Oust- to remove, drive out of a position or place (v)
11. Peruse- to read thoroughly and carefully (v)
12. Porous- full of tiny holes, able to be penetrated by air or water (adj)
13. Promontory- a high point of land extending into water (n)
14. Prone- lying face down, inclined, likely (adj)
15. Qualm- a pang of conscience, uneasiness, misgiving, or doubt, or a feeling of faintness or
nausea (n)
16. Recourse- a person or thing turned to for help or advice, the act of seeking help or
protection (n)
17. Residue- a remainder, that which remains when a part has been used up or removed (n)
18. Solicitous- showing concern or care, fearful or anxious about something or someone (adj)
19. Staid- serious and dignified, quiet or subdued in character or conduct (adj)
20. Sustain- to support, nourish, or keep up, to suffer, undergo, or to bear up under,
withstand, or to affirm the validity of (v)
Unit 5-
1. Addendum- a thing that is added, an appendix or addition to a book or written document
(n)
2. Aghast- filled with amazement, disgust, fear, or terror (adj)
3. Ample- more than enough, large, spacious (adj)
4. Apparition- a ghost or ghostly figure, an unexplained or unusual appearance 9n)
5. Assert- to declare or state as truth, maintain or defend, put forward forcefully (v)
6. Cower- to crouch or shrink away in fear or shame (v)
7. Disdain- to look upon with scorn, to refuse scornfully (v), a feeling of contempt (n)
8. Ethical- having to do with morals, values, right and wrong, in accordance with standards
of right conduct, requiring a prescription for purchase (adj)
9. Facetious- humorous, not meant seriously (adj)
10. Inaudible- not able to be heard (adj)
11. Indiscriminate- without restraint or control, unselective (adj)
12. Epitaph- a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone 9n)
13. Intrigue- crafty dealings, underhanded plotting(n), to form and carry out plots, to puzzle
or excite the curiosity (v)
14. Jurisdiction- an area of authority or control, the right to administer justice(n)
15. Plausible- appearing true, reasonable, or fair (adj)
16. Plebeian- common, vulgar, belonging to the lower class (adj) a common person, member
of the lower class (n)
17. Prodigal- wastefully extravagant, lavishly or generously abundant(adj), one who is
wasteful and self-indulgent (n)
18. Proximity- nearness, closeness (n)
19. Pulverize- to grind or pound to a powder or dust, to destroy or overcome(as though
smashing into fragments)9v)
20. Volatile- highly changeable, fickle, tending to become violent or explosive, changing
readily from the liquid to the gaseous state (adj)
Unit 6-

1. Abashed- embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed (adj)

2. Aloof- withdrawn, standing apart from others by choice (adj)
3. Anguish- great mental suffering, distress, or pain (N), to cause deep pain or sorrow (v)
4. Articulate- to pronounce distinctly, to express well in words, to fit together into a system
(v), able to use language effectively, expressed clearly and forcefully (adj)
5. Bask- to be in, or expose oneself to, pleasant warmth, tot ake pleasure in or derive
enjoyment from (v)
6. Defect- an imperfection, flaw, or blemish of some sort(n), to desert a cause or
organization(v)
7. Finesse- delicate skill, tact and cleverness (N), to accomplish something by cleverness,
good judgment, or skillful evasion (v)
8. Flaunt- to wave or flutter showily, to display in a conceited, offensive way (v)
9. Forthright- frank, direct, straightforward (adj)
10. Genial- cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm (adj)
11. Instill- to add gradually, to introduce or cause to be taken in (v)
12. Ostracize- to exclude from a group, banish, send away (v)
13. Premonition- forewarning or foreboding of a future event (n)
14. Pseudonym- a pen name, names assumed by a writer (n)
15. Purge- to wash away impurities, clean up(v), the process of getting rid of something or
someone decisively (n)
16. Rehabilitate- to make over in good form, to restore to good condition or to a former
position(v)
17. Repercussion- an effect of consequence of some action or event, result an echo or
reverberation (n)
18. Retentive- able to hold, keep, recall, retaining knowledge easily (adj)
19. Resolute- bold, determined (adj)
20. Scapegoat- a person or thing carrying the blame for others (n)
Unit 7-
1. Acme- the highest point(n)
2. Attribute- a quality or characteristic belonging to or associated with someone or
something(n), to assign to, credit with, to regard as caused by or resulting from(v)
3. Belittle- to make something appear smaller than it is, to refer to in a way that suggest
lack of importance or value(v)
4. Convey- to transport, to transmit, to communicate, make known, to transfer
ownership or title to(v)
5. Doctrine- a belief, principle, or teaching, a system of such beliefs or principles, a
formulation of such beliefs or principle(n)
6. Excise- to remove by cutting(v),an indirect tax on the manufacture, sale, or
distribution of a commodity or service(n)
7. Exotic- foreign, charmingly unfamiliar or strikingly unusual(adj)
8. Haggard- thin, pale, and careworn as a result of worry or suffering, wild-looking(adj)
9. Jaunty- lively, easy, and carefree in manner, smart or trim in appearance(adj)
10. Juncture- a joining together, the pint at which two things are joined, any important
point in time(n)
11. Menial- lowly, humble, lacking importance or dignity,(adj), a person who does the
humble and unpleasant tasks(n)
12. Parry- to ward off, fend off, evade, avoid(v), a defensive movement in fencing and
other sports(n)
13. Predatory- preying on, plundering, or piratical(adj)
14. Ravage- to destroy, lay waste, ruin(v),ruinous damage, destruction(n)
15. Stance- a way of holding the body, an attitude or position on and issue(n)
16. Tawdry- showy and flashy but lacking in good taste(adj)
17. Turncoat- a person who switches to an opposing side or party(n)
18. Unassuming- not putting on airs, unpretentious, modest(adj)
19. Wallow- to roll about in a lazy, clumsy or helpless way, to overindulge in, to have in
abundance(v), a wet muddy or dusty area used by animals as a sort of bath, a state of
moral or physical collapse(n)
20. Waver- to move to and fro, become unsteady, to show lack of firmness or decision(v)
Unit 8-
1. Abut- to join at one end or be next to, to support, prop up (v)
2. Attire- clothes, apparel, garb(n), to dress, adorn, or bedeck(v)
3. Avail- to be of use or benefit to, to make use of, to take advantage of, to profit or
benefit(v), use benefit, or value(n)
4. Crony- a very close friend, chum, buddy(n)
5. Cryptic- puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic(adj)
6. Divergent- going in different directions, different from each other, departing from
convention, deviant(adj)
7. Enmity- hatred, ill-will(n)
8. Fervent- very earnest, emotional, passionate, extremely hot(adj)
9. Gaunt- thin and bony, starved looking, bare, barren(adj)
10. Infiltrate- to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily(v)
11. Nullify- to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out(v)
12. Perceptible- capable of being grasped by the senses or mind(adj)
13. Plummet- to plunge straight down(v), a weight fastened to a line(n)
14. Proclaim- to declare publicly or officially(v)
15. Proxy- an agent, substitute, a written permission allowing one person to act in another’s
place(n)
16. Rankle- to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows
worse with time) (v)
17. Scavenger- a person who collects or removes usable items from waste materials, an
animal the feeds on refuse or dead bodies(n)
18. Stint- to limit, be sparing or frugal(v), a limit or restriction, a fixed share of work or duty,
a period of activity(n)
19. Stoical- self-controlled, not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain(adj)
20. Unflagging- tireless, continuing with vigor(adj)
Unit 9
1. Apt- suitable, fitting, likely, or quick to learn (adj)
2. Awry- in a turned or twisted position or direction, wrong, out of the right or hoped for
course (adj/ adv)
3. Bludgeon- a short club used as a weapon (n), to strike with a heavy club, or to use force
or strong arguments to gain some point (v)
4. Capitulate- to end resistance, give up, throw in the towel (v)
5. Chafe- to warm by rubbing, or to wear sore by rubbing, or to feel annoyance or
dissatisfaction, annoy irk, or to strain or press against (v), sore or injury cause by rubbing
(n)
6. Defile- to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of, or to march in a single line or in
columns (v), a narrow passage, gorge, or canyon (n)
7. Dire- dreadful, causing fear or suffering, or warning of trouble to come, or demanding
immediate action to avoid disaster (adj)
8. Disarming- charming, tending to soften unfriendliness or suspicion (adj)
9. Disgruntled- in bad humor, discontented, annoyed (adj)
10. Encroach- to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass (v)
11. Endow- to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality (v)
12. Fend- to ward off, resist, or to get along, manage (v)
13. Impunity- freedom form punishment (n)
14. Mien- air, manner, appearance, expression (n)
15. Penal- having to do with punishment (adj)
16. Pertinent- relate to the matter at hand, to the point (adj)
17. Predominant- the greatest in strength or power, most common (adj)
18. Prodigy- something wonderful or marvelous, or an unusual feat, or a child or young person
with extraordinary ability or talent (n)
19. Recluse- a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world (n)
20. Renown- fame, glory (n)
Unit 10-
1. Accord- agreement, harmony 9n), to agree, be in harmony, or bring into harmony, or
to grant, bestow on (v)
2. Barter- an exchange in trade (n), to exchange goods (v)
3. Curt- short, rudely brief (adj)
4. Devise- to think out, plan, figure out, invent, create (v)
5. Dexterous- skillful in the use of hands or body, or clever (adj)
6. Engross- to occupy the complete attention of, absorb fully (v)
7. Entail- to put a burden on, impose, involve, or to restrict ownership of property by
limiting inheritance (v), such a restriction (n)
8. Ferret- a kind of weasel (n), to search out or hunt (v)
9. Habitualte- to become used to, or to cause to become used to (v)
10. Impending- about to happen, hanging over in a menancing way 9adj)
11. Personable- pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive (adj)
12. Rue- to regret, be sorry for (v) feeling fo regret (n)
13. Scoff- to make fun or, to show contempt for 9v)
14. Transition- a change from one state or condition to another 9n)
15. Trepidation- fear, fright, trembling (n)
16. Upbraid- to blame, scold, find fault with (v)
17. Veritable- actual, true, real (adj)
18. Vex- - to annoy, anger, exasperate, to confuse, baffle (v)
19. Vitality- strength, energy, or the capacity to live and develop, or the power to endure
or survive (n)
20. Whimsical- subject to odd ideas, notions, or fancies, or playful, unpredictable (adj)
Unit 11-

1. Appease- to make calm, soothe, or to relieve, satisfy, or to yield to (v)

2. Belated- late, tardy (adj)
3. Calamitous- causing great misfortune (adj)
4. Cite- to quote, to mention, or to summon to appear in court, or to commend,
recommend (v)
5. Conventional- in line with accepted ideas or standards, trite (adj)
6. Decoy- to lure into a trap (v), a person or thing used to lure into a trap (n)
7. Delve- to dig, or to search deeply and thoroughly into (v)
8. Ensue- to follow in order, come immediately after, and as a result (v)
9. Gallantry- heroic courage, or respect and courtesy, or an act or statement marked
by a high level of courtesy (n)
10. Impart- to make known, tell, or to give, pass something on (v)
11. Judicious- using or showing good judgment, wise, sensible (adj)
12. Mediate- to bring about an agreement between persons or groups, act as a go-
between (v), occupying a middle position, indirect acting through an intermediary
(adj)
13. Milieu- the setting, surrounds, environment (n)
14. Outlandish- strange freakish, weird, foreign-looking, or out –of- the- way,
geographically remote, exceeding reasonable limits (adj)
15. Overbearing- domineering, haughty, bullying, overpowering (adj)
16. Pert- high-spirited, lively, bold, saucy, jaunty (adj)
17. Quirk- a peculiar way of acting, a sudden twist or turn (n)
18. Regale- to feast, entertain agreeably (v)
19. Shiftless- lazy, lacking in ambition and energy, inefficient (adj)
20. Taint- a stain or spot, a mark of corruption or dishonor (n), to stain or contaminate
(v)
 Unit 12-

1. Abdicate- to resign, formally give up an office or duty, or to disown or discard

(v)
2. Bestow- to give as a gift, to provide with lodgings (v)
3. Capacious- able to hold much, roomy (adj)
4. Caustic- able to burn or eat away by chemical action, biting (adj)
5. Crusade- a strong movement to advance a cause or idea(n), to campaign, work
vigorously (v)
6. Deface- to injure or destroy the surface or appearance of, or to damage the
value, influence, or effect of, or to face down, outshine (v)
7. Embargo- an order forbidding the tread in or movement of commercial goods,
or any restraint or hindrance(n), to forbid to enter or leave port, to forbid to
trade with (v)
8. Fallacy- a false notion or belief, an error in thinking (n)
9. Levity- a lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially about things that should
be treated with respect, or a buoyancy, lightness in weight (n)
10. Mendicant- beggar (n) depending on begging for a living (adj)
11. Nauseate- to make sick to the stomach, to fill with disgust (adj)
12. Negate- to nullify, deny, bring to nothing (v)
13. Pivotal- vitally important, essential 9adj)
14. Recipient- one who receives(n) receiving, able or willing to receive (adj)
15. Ruse- an action designed to confuse or mislead, a trick (n)
16. Teem- to become filled to overflowing, to be present in large quantities (v)
17. Tenet- an opinion, belief, or principle held to be true 9n)
18. Tractable- easily managed, easy to deal with, easily wrought, malleable (adj)
19. Ungainly- clumsy, awkward, unwieldy (adj)
20. Voracious- having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous , excessively eager (adj)
Unit 13-
1. Adapt- to adjust or change to suit conditions (v)
2. Attest- to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine(v)
3. Dovetail- to fit together exactly, to connect so as to form a whole 9v), a
carpentry figure resembling a dove’s tail (n)
4. Enormity- the quality of exceeding all moral bounds, or an exceedingly evil
act, or huge size, immensity (n)
5. Falter- to hesitate, stumble, lose courage, or to speak hesitatingly, or to
lose drive, weaken, decline (v)
6. Foreboding- a warning or feeling that something bad will happen (n),
marked by fear , ominous (adj)
7. Forlorn- totally abandoned and helpless, sad and lonely, wretched or pitiful,
almost homeless (adj)
8. Haughty- chillingly proud and scornful(adj)
9. Impediment- a physical defect, a hindrance, obstacle (n)
10. 10. Imperative- necessary urgent(adj), a form of a verb expressing a
command, that which is necessary or required (n)
11. Loiter- to linger in an aimless way, hang around, dawdle (v)
12. Malinger- to pretend illness to avoid duty or work, lie down on the job (v)
13. Pithy- sort but full of meaning (adj)
14. Plunder- to rob by force- especially during wartime, to seize wrongfully (v),
properly stolen by force (n)
15. Simper- to smile or speak in a silly forced way (v), a silly forced smile (n)
16. Steadfast- firmly fixed, constant not moving or changing (adj)
17. Vaunted- much boasted about in a vain or swaggering way (adj)
18. Vilify- to abuse or belittle unjustly or maliciously (v)
19. Waif- a person (usually a child) without a home or friend, a stray person or
animal, something that comes along by chance, a stray bit 9n)
20. Wry- twisted, turned to one side, cleverly or grimly humorous (adj)
Unit 14-
1. Amplify- to make stronger, larger, greater, louder, or the like (v)
2. Armistice- a temporary peace, a halt in fighting (n)
3. Arrogant- haughty, too convinced of one’s own importance (adj)
4. Bland- gently, soothing, mild, lacking interest or taste 9adj)
5. Disclaim- to deny interest in or connection with, to give up on all claim
to 9v)
6. Epoch- a distinct period of time, age (n)
7. Estrange- to drift apart or become unfriendly, to cause such a
separation, to remove or keep distance (v)
8. Gratify- to please, satisfy, to indulge or humor (v)
9. Infinite- exceedingly great, inexhaustible, without limit, endless (adj),
an incalculable number, the concept of infinity (n)
10. Irascible- easily made angry, hot-tempered (adj)
11. Kindred- a person’s relatives, a family relationship(n) related by blood,
like, similar (adj)
12. Naïve- innocent, unsophisticated, showing lack of worldly knowledge
and experience (adj)
13. Niche- a decorative recess in the wall, a suitable place or position for a
person or thing (n)
14. Obliterate- to blot out completely, destroy utterly (v)
15. Ransack- to search or examine thoroughly, to rob or plunder (v)
16. Rote- unthinking routine or repetition, a fixed or mechanical way of
doing something (n), based on a mechanical routine (adj)
17. Ramshackle- appearing ready to collapse, loose and shaky (adj)
18. 18. Tedious – long and tiresome (adj)
19. Vendor- a person who sells something (n)
Unit 15-

1. abyss- a deep or bottomless pit (n)

2. befall- to happen, occur, to happen to (v)
3. crucial- of supreme importance, decisive, critical (adj)
4. dregs- the last remaining part or least worth (n)
5. embody- to give form to, to incorporate, include, to personify 9v)
6. exasperate- to irritate, annoy, or anger (v)
7. fiasco- the complete collapse or failure of a project (n)
8. garnish- to adorn or decorate, especially food (v) an ornament or
decoration, especially for food (n)
9. heritage- an inheritance, a birthright (n)
10. inert- lifeless, unable to move or act, slow, inactive (adj)
11. mercenary- acting or working for self gain only(adj), a hired soldier,
a soldier of fortune (n)
12. negligent- marked by carelessness or indifference, failing to do what
should be done (adj)
13. oblivion- forgetfulness, disregard, a state of being forgotten, or an
amnesty, general pardon (n)
14. opus- an impressive piece of work, especially a musical composition
or other work of art (n)
15. pallid- pale, lacking color, weak and lifeless (adj)
16. parable- a short narrative designed to teach a moral lesson (n)
17. rational- based on reasoning, able to make use of reason, sensible or
reasonable (adj)
18. reciprocal- shared, involving give-and-take between two persons or
things, working in both directions, or a number that, when
multiplied by another number, give 1 (n)
19. stricture- a limitation or restriction, a criticism, or a narrowing of a
passage in the body (n)
20. veneer- a thin outer layer, a surface appearance or decoration (n),
to cover with a thin layer (v)