1. “The Root –spec–”
Vocabulary Lesson 22

2. English 11 Homework: 3-Column Chart
WORD
ALL DEFINITIONS (COPY FROM THE SHEET!)
YOUR OWN SENTENCE (THIS WEEK: Hyphens) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.

3. Auspices DEF: Sponsorship, support, or protection
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe an event in which you would want the auspices of a particular group of people (such as the police)
EXAMPLE: At a large-scale music festival, it is good to have the auspices of the local police.

4. Auspicious
DEF:
A. Favorable, promising success
B. Marked by success; prosperous
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a person who made an auspicious decision.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) boy/girl/etc. made the auspicious decision to _______________.

5. Circumspect
DEF: Cautious; prudent; mindful of circumstances and potential consequences
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe something that a circumspect teenager would think about.
EXAMPLE: The circumspect teenager thought long and hard about the consequences of throwing a(n) (hyphenated-word) party.

6. Despicable DEF: Deserving of scorn, contempt, or a low opinion
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a man or woman who is despicable.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) (wo)man was despicable.

7. Introspective
DEF: Contemplating one’s own thoughts and feelings; self-examining
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a person who is introspective.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) teen/
man/woman/etc. was introspective.

8. Perspicuous DEF: Clearly expressed; easy to understand
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a teacher who teaches a certain subject in a perspicuous way.
EXAMPLE: My (hyphenated-word) ___________ teacher taught about __________________ in a very perspicuous way.

9. Specious DEF: Seemingly true, but actually false
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Describe a person who has told you a specious story.
EXAMPLE: My (hyphenated-word) friend/sister/classmate/etc. told me a specious story about _________________.

10. Spectacle
DEF:
A. An impressive public performance or display
B. A public display of bad behavior
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe someone who might create a spectacle.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) man/ woman/group/etc. created a spectacle by…

11. Specter
DEF:
A. A ghost or spirit
B. A haunting or disturbing image or possibility
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a child who saw a specter.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) child saw a specter.

12. Spectrum
DEF:
A. A band showing different wavelengths of color or sound, arranged in order
B. A broad range of related qualities or ideas
POSSIBLE SENTENCE TOPIC: Use a hyphen to describe a class with a spectrum of opinions.
EXAMPLE: The (hyphenated-word) class had a spectrum of opinions.