Vocabulary 13

Using Context Clues

Adept

• Very skilled; proficient; expert

Axiom

• A self-evident truth; a universally accepted principle or rule

Complement

• Something that completes or makes perfect; either of two parts or things that constitute a whole; counterpart; full quantity or amount

Confound

• To perplex or amaze; confuse; to throw into confusion or disorder; to contradict or refute

Cumulative

• Increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions

Delve

• To carry on intensive and thorough research for data, information, or the like

Diligent

• Constant in effort to accomplish something; done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking; industrious; untiring; tireless

Superlative

• Of the highest kind or order; excessive or exaggerated, as in language

Tantalize

• To torment with the sight or prospect of something desired that cannot be reached or attained; tease by arousing expectations

Unerring

• Not going astray or missing the mark; undeviatingly accurate; unfailingly right or appropriate

Vocabulary 14

Compound Words

Backlash

• An antagonistic reaction to an earlier action

Benchmark

• A standard in measuring or judging a quality or characteristic

Common sense

• Sound judgment

Gridlock

• Complete lack of movement or progress

Outsource

• Send work to an outside resource

Overkill

• More of something than is necessary or appropriate

Superhighway

• An expressway that has four or more lanes for traffic

Tip-off

• Confidential disclosure

Underdog

• One that is expected to lose

Wind chime

• Hanging decoration that makes noise when there is a breeze

Vocabulary 15

The Latin Roots frag and fract

Defray

• To undertake the payment of costs or expenses

Fractional

• Comprising a part or the parts of a unit; comparatively small; inconsiderable or insignificant

Fractious

• Peevish, irritable, or quarrelsome; refractory or unruly; testy, petulant; snappish; touchy; stubborn; difficult

Fragment

• A small part broken off or detached; to break or separate something into small pieces

Frail

• Physically weak or delicate; easily broken or destroyed

Fritter

• To reduce or squander little by little

Infraction

• A violation of a law or rule

Infringe

• To trespass or encroach on; to violate or go beyond the limits of

Osprey

• A large fish-eating bird

Refractory

• Obstinately resistant to authority or control; resistant to treatment