admonish (verb) to

warn; to criticize gently

(ad-mon-ish)

clue: admonish=criticize

The coach admonished me for playing video games instead of coming to practice.

ex: parents admonish children; puppies need to be admonished

aghast (adj.) struck with

horror; shocked

(uh-gast)

clue: aghast=ghosts

make me aghast

We were aghast after

watching the scary movie.

ex: an aghast student;

aghast because of the

haunted house

annihilate (verb) to

destroy completely; to

reduce to utter ruin

(uh-nahy-uh-leyt)

clue:

annihilate=devastate

We annihilated their

football team last night.

ex: annihilate all

opponents; annihilated the

old houses

benefactor (verb) a

person who provides

help, especially by giving

money.

ben-uh-fak-ter

clue: benefactor=be a

factor and help

People who donated more than $100 to the library were listed as benefactors.

ex: the child’s benefactor; a secret benefactor; financial benefactor

bestow (verb) to give as

an honor; to present as a

gift.

(bih-stoh)

clue: bestow=to present

or gift

An Academy Award is the highest honor Hollywood can bestow on a film.

ex: bestow gifts; bestow advice; bestow an award

devious (adj.) having

many twists and turns;

sneaky; not frank.

(dee-vee-uhs)

clue: devious=cunning

and deceptive

The devious scheme was intended to take advantage of vulnerable people.

ex: devious plan; devious mastermind

devoid (adj.) Lacking;

empty; entirely without.

(dih-void)

clue: devoid=bare

Although he had experienced great misfortune, he was devoid of bitterness.

ex: devoid of happiness; devoid of energy; room was devoid of furniture

heed (noun) to pay

attention to.

(heed)

clue: heed=listen

Pay heed to the teacher’s

instructions before you

begin the test.

ex: heed my advice, heed

your coach

DO NOT

WRITE ON

THE TEST!

mortal 1. (noun) a

human being, especially

as contrasted with a god.

2. (adj.) very severe

(mawr-tl)

clue: mortal=human

Achilles, a hero in Greek mythology, had a goddess for a mother and a mortal for a father.

ex: only a mortal; mortal danger; mortal wound

Mother

Father Achilles

muse (verb) to think

about in a quiet, careful

way.

(myooz)

clue: muse=to ponder

I mused over whether to

sell the house.

ex: mused privately; he is

musing

pioneer (noun) a person

who goes before others

and opens the way for

them to follow.

(pahy-uh-neer)

clue: pioneer=to blaze a

path

Lucretia Mott was a pioneer

in the women’s rights

movement.

ex: pioneer in the field of

engineering; space pioneer;

early settlers were pioneers

plague (noun) a deadly disease

that spreads rapidly from person

to person; Anything that causes

destruction or suffering; (verb) To

cause destruction or suffering

(pleyg)

clue: plague = serious suffering

About one fifth of the population of

London died during the bubonic

plague of 1665.

Ex: plagued by doubts; problems

that plagued the company; the

plagues of Egypt.

subside (verb) to sink to a

lower level; to become

quieter or less active

(suhb-sahyd)

clue: subside = to go down

like a slide; to calm down

After the rain stopped, the

floodwaters gradually

subsided.

Ex: his anger subsided; the

noise subsided Waters subsided

unwitting (adj.) not done on

purpose; not aware of what is

really happening; clueless

unwittingly (adv.) by mistake

clue: unwitting = unintended

(un·wit·ting)

The teacher unwittingly left

the answers to the test on the

board.

ex: unwitting insult; unwitting

mistake; unwitting friends

wrath (noun) forceful

anger; fury

(rahth)

clue: wrath = rage

After blinding

Poseidon's son,

Odysseus was a victim

of the god’s wrath.

ex: the wrath of God;

the hurricane’s wrath