1. WORD A DAY
MS. LEWIS

2. Petty WEEK 1 Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Not important
Sentence: When we divided the lunch bill, it seemed petty to argue over who would pay the extra five cents.
Question: What are some other things that are too petty to argue about?

3. venture Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A risky or uncertain undertaking
Sentence: The business venture turned out to be a financial disaster.
Which of these are ventures?
A guaranteed success
A bet
An adventure into the unknown
A sure chance
Question: Are there any ventures you might like to be involved in? What are they?
Why would you be willing to take the risk?

4. whim
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: A sudden idea to do something Sentence: I’d planned to clean out my closet today, but on a whim, I decided to go roller-skating. Question: What are some things you sometimes do on a whim?

5. Quizzical Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Expressing Doubt or Questioning
Sentence: Mom looked quizzical when she received a birthday card from someone whose name she didn’t recognize.
Question: Which words mean the same as quizzical?
Perplexed
Certain
Convinced
Confused

6. Week 2 Moderate Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Not too much or too little
Sentence: Moderate amounts of dark chocolate have health benefits, but don’t overdo it.
Question: Which word or words mean about the same as moderate?
A large amount
A fair amount
In the middle
Excessive
Average

7. fiasco
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: A complete failure Sentence: The pool party was a fiasco due to the lightning storm. Question: Give an example of something you tried that turned into a fiasco.

8. Gritty Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Feeling like sand
Sentence: After the dentist drilled my tooth, I felt something gritty in my mouth.
Question: What words mean about the same as gritty?
Wet
Rough
Sandy
Smooth

9. Contemplate
Part of Speech: Verb Definition: to think about for a long time Sentence: Jeremy took some time to contemplate the question before he answered it. Question: What type of decisions cause you to contemplate?

10. Week 3
Diplomatic Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Skillful at dealing with people Sentence: My teacher is so diplomatic at giving feedback that I never get my feelings hurt when she corrects me. Question: Describe someone you know who is diplomatic.

11. taunt Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To tease or make fun of; to mock
Sentence: The zookeeper had to reprimand some teenagers who were taunting the lion by poking sticks through the bars of its cage.
Question: Which words mean about the same as taunt?
Jeer at
Help
Praise
Ridicule

12. jester
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: Someone who always jokes or acts playfully Sentence: Always the jester, Billy showed up for the field trip wearing his sister’s bunny slippers. Question: Do you know anyone who is a jester? Is this person fun to be around? Why?

13. Obsolete
Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: No longer in use Sentence: Just as CDs made records a thing of the past, DVDs made videocassettes obsolete. Question: Name some other objects that have become obsolete.

14. Week 4 Exaggerate Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To make something seem larger, more important, or more valuable than it actually is
Sentence: Tall tales usually exaggerate and attribute superhuman traits to the characters.
Question: Tell about a time when you exaggerated to make something more interesting or humorous.

15. tendency Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A likelihood of behaving in a certain way
Sentence: A puppy has a tendency to chew on things.
Question: Which of these describe a tendency?
A pattern of doing something
A predictable behavior
An unexpected event
A complete surprise
What do you have a tendency to do?

16. persistent Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: 1. Not giving up 2. Lasting a long time
Sentence: The persistent hikers finally overcame the last obstacle and reached the summit. Their ordeal left them with persistent aches and pains.
Question: Which definition is being used?
The persistent runner was determined to break the world record for the mile.
The teacher gave Ana a lecture for her persistent talking.
The persistent salesperson wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Jane’s parents worried about her persistent cough.

17. extricate
Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To set free from a difficult or embarrassing situation. Sentence: The bear struggled to extricate itself from the net. Question: Describe a time when you had to extricate yourself or someone else from an uncomfortable situation. Where were you and how did you extricate yourself or the other person?

18. Week 5 Frontier Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: The farthest reaches of the settlement, exploration, or knowledge.
Sentence: There are few geographic frontiers remaining on Earth, but science has many new frontiers to explore.
Question: What do you think some new frontiers in science may be in the 21st century?

19. Flaunt Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To display noticeably
Sentence: My cousin loves to flaunt her expensive clothes whenever she has a chance.
Question: Which word or words mean about the same as flaunt?
Parade around
Show off
Cover up
Exhibit
Hide

20. Terminology
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: The special vocabulary used in a particular business, science, or art. Sentence: Words like byte, software, and operating system are examples of computer terminology. Question: Can you give examples of the terminology used in another field of science?

21. Digit
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: 1. A Numeral 2. A Finger or Toe Sentence: How many digits are in the number one million? Do you have enough digits to represent all those zeros? Question: Which animals have digits similar to a human’s?

22. Perennial Week 6 Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Lasting through the year or for many years; constant
Sentence: Perennial flowers, such as roses and irises, are sure to bloom again next year.
Question: What kinds of perennial plants can you name?

23. Comprehend Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To understand
Sentence: A good teacher can help you comprehend even difficult math problems.
Question: Which words mean about the same as comprehend?
Misinterpret
Realize
Grasp
Know

24. Deception Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A trick or lie meant to deceive someone.
Sentence: The movie villain's deception to disguise his identity was uncovered by the clever detective?
Question: Which words mean about the same as deception?
dishonesty
honesty
hoax
fraud
truth

25. Immobile
Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Unable to move Sentence: A car is totally immobile without its battery. Question: How would you feel if you had to remain completely immobile for a long time?

26. Week 7 Avert
Part of Speech: Verb Definition: 1. To turn away from 2. To prevent Sentence: A sudden noise made the driver avert his eyes from the road for an instant. Fortunately, he was able to avert an accident by refocusing on the traffic ahead. Question: Do you participate in any activities in which you need to be careful to avert serious injuries?

27. Majority Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: More than half or most of something
Sentence: The majority of the students in my class ride a bus to school. The majority opinion is that riding the bus is fun.
Question: Which of these mean about the same as majority?
The greater number
The most popular
The largest part
Only a few
A little bit

28. Fastidious
Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Not easy to please. Sentence: The fastidious eater complained about every dish served at dinner. Question: Who is the most fastidious person you know? Why?

29. Lunge Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To move forward suddenly.
Sentence: The kitten lunged at my fish sandwich.
Question: Which of these mean about the same as lunge?
To come after someone
To jump toward
To lean back
To sit down
To attack

30. Array Week 8 Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: 1. A large or impressive group or display. 2. Beautiful or splendid clothing.
Sentence: An array of brightly colored flowers lined the parade route. Soon, the queen appeared in a royal array.
Question: What sort of array would you like to wear?

31. Promotion Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A move upward in position or grade.
Sentence: My mother’s promotion at work meant that we could afford music lessons.
Question: Which words mean about the same as promotion?
Improvement
Advancement
Demotion
Increase
Decline

32. Reluctant
Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: Unwilling Sentence: The young boy was reluctant to jump into the deep end of the pool. Question: Give an example of something you are reluctant to do.

33. Confront Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To meet or face boldly.
Sentence: I decided to confront my brother about using my bike without permission.
Question: Which word or words mean about the same as confront?
hide
avoid
tackle
deal with
meet head-on

34. Week 9 Sensitive Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Physically or emotionally responsive
Sentence: Because Felix is so sensitive to pollen, we need to be sensitive about bringing flowers into the house.
Question: Name an example of a time when it is important to be sensitive?

35. Ambiguous Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Having more than one possible meaning; vague
Sentence: The judge asked the witness to clarify her ambiguous answer.
Question: Which words mean about the same as ambiguous?
uncertain
confusing
definite
unclear
sure

36. Encumber
Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To weigh down or burden. Sentence: The escaping robber was encumbered by the heavy sack of loot. Question: Give examples of things that might encumber someone from moving freely.

37. Benefactor
Part of Speech: Noun Definition: Someone who gives generous assistance or a gift of money. Sentence: Mr. Lawson was one of the major benefactors for the new community swimming pool. Question: If you could be a benefactor, what kind of help would you like to give and to whom?

38. Week 10 Indispensable Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Absolutely necessary
Sentence: Although we can live a long time without food, water is indispensable.
Question: What is something that is indispensable to you.

39. Mortify
Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To cause someone to feel terrible embarrassment. Sentence: At my graduation party, my brother mortified me when he began to sing off-key into the karaoke machine. Question: Tell about a time when you felt mortified? What made you feel mortified?

40. Finance
Part of Speech: Noun/Verb Definition: 1. Affairs related to money 2. to provide money for someone or something Sentence: My mother has been very successful in finance. The profits from her investment helped finance our family’s restaurant. Question: What is something you would like to finance and how do you plan to finance it?

41. Bountiful
Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: More than enough; plenty. Sentence: Because everyone brought something to eat, we had a bountiful amount of food for the potluck. Question: What is something bountiful in your life?