Vocabulary 1 Austin English 11

Affinity - noun Does affinity mean: Examples: a) A preference It’s hard for someone with an affinity for warm weather to be happy living in Alaska. My cat has an affinity for small, dark hiding places – I’ve often found her asleep in my dresser drawer, under the footstool, and inside my suitcase. Does affinity mean: a) A preference b) A fear c) Ignorance

Fledgling - adjective Examples: Does fledgling mean: Old New The short story class is full of fledgling writers. They’re all enthusiastic, but since they are beginners, they are shy about sharing their work. Myra and her sisters are excited about their fledgling catering service, which was booked for three parties during its first week in business. Does fledgling mean: Old New c) Different

Hackneyed – adjective Examples: Does hackneyed mean: Worn-out Insulting Funny Examples: The hackneyed phrase “Have a nice day!” is heard so often that it has become meaningless. The worst part of our family reunions is hearing my uncle’s hackneyed jokes – the ones he has told since about 1950.

Incessant - adjective Silent Wise Nonstop Examples: Mrs. Raglan finally insisted that her husband see a doctor about his incessant snoring – it didn’t bother him, but she wasn’t getting any sleep. The children nearly drove their parents crazy on the long car trip with their incessant demands Does incessant mean: Silent Wise Nonstop

Opulence - noun Closeness Riches Permanence Examples: The opulence of the magnificent, luxurious resort was in stark contrast to the poverty of the little fishing villages at its gate. The writer Thoreau had no liking for opulence. He wrote in his journal, “That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.” Does opulence mean: Closeness Riches Permanence

Proximity - noun Examples: Does proximity mean: Similarity Contrast The proximity of the railroad tracks worries neighborhood parents when their children play outside. I don’t drive a car, so when I was apartment hunting, I had to consider the proximity of public transportation. Does proximity mean: Similarity Contrast Nearness

Sagacious - adjective Silly Intelligent Strong Examples: The Bible tells the story of King Solomon, who was so sagacious that he knew what to do when two women came to him, both claiming to be the mother of the same child. Often when you are faced with a difficult situation, the sagacious thing to do is nothing right away, but wait to see what happens. Does sagacious mean: Silly Intelligent Strong

Supplant - verb To replace To restore To support Examples: Acme Company fired its entire accounting staff today. It intends to supplant these employees with part-time workers. An idealistic young revolutionary overthrew the dictator and set up a democratic government. But he was too soon supplant when a military strongman seized power. Does supplant mean: To replace To restore To support

Unassailable - adjective Examples: The Evanses’ claim that their house is the oldest house in town is unassailable. They have a deed dated 1804, and a copy was filed in the county courthouse that same year, “My opponent may try to attack me,” said the candidate, “but my record is unassailable.” Does unassailable mean: Untrue Undeniable Unimportant

Voluminous - adjective Examples: Denise chose a wedding dress in a “Southern Belle” style, with a long, voluminous shirt. How she’s worried she’ll trip over all those yards of material. In the weeks before Christmas, each issue of our newspaper is voluminous, swollen enormously with all the ads. Does voluminous mean: Valuable Cut short Large

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum Dorothy lives on a small farm in Kansas with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. When a cyclone hits, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are carried away in the farmhouse. They land in a strange place where a good witch and tiny people called Munchkins greet them. Dorothy's house has landed on (and killed) the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy takes the Wicked Witch's charmed silver shoes, and the good witch gives her a protective kiss on her forehead so she can reach Oz safely. Dorothy hopes that the Wizard of Oz will be able to send her back to Kansas, so she sets off on the yellow brick road.

The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life. For eighty-four days, Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, has set out to sea and returned empty-handed.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn opens by familiarizing us with the events of the novel that preceded it, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Both novels are set in the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, which lies on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The Hound of the Baskervilles Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles opens with a mini mystery—Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson speculate on the identity of the owner of a cane that has been left in their office by an unknown visitor. Wowing Watson with his fabulous powers of observation, Holmes predicts the appearance of James Mortimer, owner of the found object and a convenient entrée into the baffling curse of the Baskervilles.

Robin Hood Paul Creswick Robin Hood is a legendary hero of English folklore. In the old tales, Robin Hood is an expert archer and good-hearted outlaw who lives in England's Sherwood Forest and "robs from the rich and gives to the poor." He loves Maid Marian, leads a band known as the Merry Men (which includes Friar Tuck and the oversized Little John) and torments the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

coulrophobia Fear of clowns