8th Grade Vocabulary Insertion 11

enigma, hindrance,meager, pivotal, irascible, indeterminate,

sage, stupefied, vigilant, oblivion

Standard

• ELACC8W2 – Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain a topic

1. enigma

enigma (n): a mystery; a puzzle

Sample sentence: The crossword puzzle was nothing but an enigma for the confused student.

Other forms: enigmatic; enigmatically

2. hindrance

hindrance (n): an obstruction ordifficulty; something that holds

something/someone back

Sample sentence: On land, the sloth’s weak hind legs provide no power and their long claws are a hindrance.

Word Form: Hinder

3. meager

meager (adj.): small in amount, inadequate; not enough

Sample Sentence: The boy thought his paycheck was meager and wanted a raise.

Word Forms: meagerly; meagerness

4. pivotal

pivotal (adj.): of vital or critical Importance; highly important

Sample Sentence: The day her father died was a pivotal moment in her life.

Sample Sentence: The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a pivotal day in history.

Word Forms: pivotally

5. irascible

irascible (adj): easily provoked to anger; very irritable

Sample Sentence: My friend is a very irascible person; if you say “hi” in a wrong tone of voice, he will scream at you.

Word forms: irascibility; irascibly

6. indeterminate

indeterminate (adj.) indefinite; vague; unknown

Sample sentence: The number pi has an indeterminate amount of decimal places.

Sample sentence: The tornado caused an indeterminate amount of damage.

Forms: indeterminable

7. sage

sage (adj.) wise; especially if the wisdom is a result of age and experience

Ex. Even though you think your teacher is nagging you, she might just be trying to give you some sage advice.

Word forms: sagacity, sage (n) wise person

8. stupefied

• stupefied (adj). Stunned or amazed

Sample Sentence: The sudden explosion left the bystanders stupefied.

Word Forms: stupefy

9. vigilant

• vigilant (adj.) watchful; alert; especially in times of danger

Sample Sentence: The vigilant watchman scanned the surroundings for intruders.

Word Forms: vigilance; vigilante; vigilantly

10. oblivion

• oblivion (n.) state of being completely forgotten

Sample sentence: History prevents our past mistakes from disappearing into oblivion.

Word Forms: oblivious

1. enigma (n) a mystery; a puzzle 2. hindrance (n) an obstruction or difficulty3. meager (adj.) small, inadequate; poor 4. pivotal (adj.) of vital or critical importance5. irascible (adj.) easily provoked to anger; very irritable

6. indeterminate (adj.) indefinite; vague; subtle7. sage (adj.) very wise, especially if the wisdom is a

result of age and experience8. stupefied (adj.) stunned; amazed9. vigilant (adj.) watchful; alert, especially in times of

danger10. oblivion (n.) state of being completely forgotten