VOCABULARY UNIT 2 Kassi Cervantes Michelle Morris Michele Ramos Marisa Garcia

MAELSTROM [meyl-struhm] (noun)- a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction. Cassandra is in the middle of the maelstrom of war, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounds her.

MYOPIC [mahy-op-ik, -oh-pik] (adjective)- nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment The myopic foreign policy of the last administration has led to serious problems with our allies.

OVERT [oh-vurt, oh-vurt] (adjective)- open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized In order for Congress to declar war, the President must demonstrate an overt threat.

PEJORATIVE [pi-jawr-uh-tiv] (adjective)- tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling The lawyer was accused of making a pejorative remark when referring to the defendant’s background.

PROPRIETY [pruh-prahy-i-tee] (noun)- the state of being proper, appropriateness (pl.)- standards of what is proper or socially acceptable The social worker questioned the propriety of the police’s request to see confidential records.

SACRILEGE [sak-ruh-lij] (noun)- improper of disrespectful treatment of something held sacred The anthropologist was accused of committing a sacrilege when she disturbed an ancient burial ground.

SUMMARILY [suh-mair-uh-lee] (adverb)- without delay or formality; briefly, concisely As soon as there was evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the official was summarily ousted from his post.

SUPPLIANT [suhp-lee-uhnt] (adjective)- asking humbly and earnestly (noun)- one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, a suitor He made a supppliant address to the parole board.

TALISMAN [tal-is-muhn, -iz-] (noun)- an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish Most people do not believe that rabbit’s feet and other talismans actually bring good luck.

UNDULATE [uhn-juh-leyt] (verb)- to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form The baseball fans began to undulate as they cheered, so that they appeared to move in a wave.