1. VOCABULARY A LESSON BEFORE DYING LIST 6

2. SLUMP VERB TO FALL OR SLOUCH DOWN I DIDN’T WANT THE TEACHER TO CALL ON ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, SO I SLUMPED DOWN IN MY CHAIR SO THAT SHE HOPEFULLY WOULDN’T SEE ME.

3. INFLAME VERB TO AROUSE, EXCITE, OR INCITE FEELINGS AND PASSIONS (ESPECIALLY ANGER) THE NEGOTIATOR CHOSE HIS WORDS CAREFULLY, SO AS NOT TO INFLAME THE ANGER OF THE CROWD.

4. VEX VERB TO BRING TROUBLE OR DIFFICULTY WORRIES, DISTRESSES, IRRITATES, BOTHERS, OR PUZZLES THE LACK OF COMPREHENSION BY HIS STUDENTS SEEMED TO VEX THE GEOMETRY PROFESSOR, AND HE HAD TO COME UP WITH A NEW METHOD OF TEACHING THE CONCEPT.

5. PRECEDENT NOUN SOMETHING THAT SETS A STANDARD FOR FUTURE EVENTS A TEACHER WHO LETS TEACHERS USE CELL PHONES IN CLASS SETS THE PRECEDENT THAT USING CELL PHONES WILL BE OKAY IN THE FUTURE.

6. SENTIMENT NOUN PERSONAL BELIEF OR ATTITUDE ABOUT SOMETHING DESPITE HIS HOPES, HER SENTIMENTS TOWARDS HIM HAD NOT CHANGED; SHE WOULD NEVER AGREE TO MARRY HIM.

7. SHACKLES NOUN A PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESTRAINT THAT RESTRICTS MOVEMENT HANDCUFFS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF SHACKLES. SO ARE THOSE LEG IRONS SOME PRISONERS WEAR WHEN THEY APPEAR IN COURT.

8. HEADWAY NOUN WHAT YOU ACHIEVE WHEN YOU MOVE FORWARD OR MAKE PROGRESS WHEN YOU’RE ROWING A BOAT ON A VERY WIND DAY, IT CAN BE HARD TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY.

9. SACRIFICE NOUN A LOSS OR SOMETHING YOU GIVE UP, USUALLY FOR THE SAKE OF A BETTER CAUSE PARENTS SACRIFICE TIME AND SLEEP TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE KIDS MIGHT SACRIFICE WATCHING THEIR FAVORITE SHOW ON TV IN ORDER TO HANG OUT WITH MOM AND DAD.

10. INFLECTION NOUN THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A LANGUAGE THE PITCH AND TONE PATTERNS IN A PERSON’S SPEECH EVEN IF YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND ITALIAN YET, THE INFLECTION IN YOUR PROFESSOR’S VOICE SHOULD TIP YOU OFF TO WHETHER SHE’S ASKING A QUESTION, GIVING A COMMAND, OR MAKING A JOKE.

11. JANGLE VERB TO MAKE A SOUND TYPICAL OF METALLIC OBJECTS THE JANITOR’S RING OF KEYS JANGLED IN HIS POCKET, AND SIGNALED TO EVERYONE THAT HE WAS APPROACHING.

12. OBLIGATION NOUN A DUTY IT IS YOUR OBLIGATION, OR RESPONSIBILITY, TO CALL YOUR MOM ON MOTHER’S DAY. WHEN YOU SIGN A CONTRACT, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS STATED IN IT.

13. AFFLICT VERB TO CAUSE SUFFERING, PAIN, OR MISERY CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IS MOST LIKELY TO AFFLICT SOMEONE WHO SPENDS MANY HOURS EVERY DAY TYPING ON COMPUTERS.

14. PARDON VERB TO ACCEPT AN EXCUSE FOR WHEN YOU LET OUT A BELCH DURING DINNER, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO SAY “PARDON ME.” (PLEASE FORGIVE ME, OR EXCUSE ME).

15. LINGER VERB TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO DEPART OR LEAVE ROMEO LINGERS WHEN BIDDING JULIET FAREWELL, BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO LEAVE HER. EVEN THOUGH THE PASSENGER HAD LONG EXITED THE ELEVATOR, THE STRONG SMELL OF HER PERFUME LINGERED FOR A FEW MINUTES MORE.

16. VACANT ADJECTIVE EMPTY AN APARTMENT WITH NO TENANT OR FURNITURE IS CONSIDERED VACANT.

17. PECULIARITY NOUN AN ODD OR UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTIC HANNA HAD NEVER SEEN A PEACOCK ON SOMEONE’S ROOF BEFORE, SO SHE STARED AT THE PECULIARITY OF IT WHENEVER SHE CAME TO STAY WITH ME FOR THE WEEKEND.

18. INCLEMENT ADJECTIVE SEVERE OR HARSH WEATHER THAT IS COLD AND WET WHEN PACKING FOR A TRIP TO THE CARIBBEAN, BE SURE TO BRING TANK TOP AND SHORTS, BUT DON’T FORGET TO PACK A RAINCOAT IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. STUDENTS WERE HOPING THAT SCHOOL WOULD BE CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

19. BOURGEOIS ADJECTIVE RELATING TO OR TYPICAL OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IF SOMEONE SAYS, “OH, HOW BOURGEOIS!” IT’S PROBABLY AN INSULT, MEANING YOU’RE PREOCCUPIED WITH MIDDLE CLASS SMALL MINDEDNESS.

20. BONA FIDE ADJECTIVE THE REAL DEAL, GENUINE NOT FAKE OR COUNTERFEIT WHEN YOU EARN YOUR COLLEGE DIPLOMA, YOU’RE A BONA FIDE COLLEGE GRADUATE. IF YOU SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE STUDYING MUSIC, YOU ARE A BONA FIDE MUSICIAN.

21. TETE-A-TETE NOUN A FORMAL CONVERSATION OR MEETING BETWEEN ONLY TWO PEOPLE IF YOUR BOSS REQUESTS A TETE-A-TETE WITH YOU, SHE MEANS THAT SHE WANTS TO HAVE A MEETING, JUST THE TWO OF YOU. MAYBE YOU’LL GET A RAISE AT THE TETE-A-TETE, OR MAYBE YOU’RE IN TROUBLE. YOU COULD SCHEDULE A TETE-A-TETE WITH YOUR COUNSELOR TO TALK ABOUT YOUR COURSE SCHEDULE AND GRADUATION TRACK.