1. Grade 11 Vocab Unit 2
Abnegate - Vacillate
20 WORDS

2. Word: Abnegate
Definition: to deny oneself, to reject Part of Speech: verb Example Sentence: She abnegated the ice cream in order to keep her preparations for the Olympic swim team on track.

3. Word: Affinity
Definition: attraction, natural liking/sympathy Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: Certain breeds of dogs have an affinity for hunting; it’s almost as if it’s in their blood.

4. Word: Atrophy
Definition: to waste away Part of Speech: VERB Example Sentence: After being in a cast for six months, the muscles in my leg atrophied due to a lack of use.

5. Word: Bucolic
Definition: country-like, charmingly rural Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The sprawling landscape of farmland and trees painted a bucolic picture of nature at it’s best.

6. Word: Complacent
Definition: overly self-satisfied Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: Lisa is very complacent and often stops working when she finishes her work without really checking it over and pushing herself to improve it to the best it can be.

7. Culminate
Definition: to reach the high point or the most important part
Part of Speech: verb
Example Sentence:
The To Kill a Mockingbird unit culminates in a writing assignment on the book.

8. Word: Didactic
Definition: intended to teach, morally instructive Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: Olivia speaks in a very didactic manner, which annoys everyone because she thinks she always knows what’s right and what other people should do.

9. Word: Endemic
Definition: native, particular to a certain region Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The plant is endemic to the Northeastern region.

10. Word: FRENETIC
Definition: frantic Part of Speech: adj Example Sentence: There was a lot of frenetic activity on the office, but nothing ever seemed to get accomplished.

11. Word: Harbinger
Definition: a signal Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: Warm weather is a harbinger of spring.

12. Word: Inevitable
Definition: certain to happen, unavoidable Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: -The coming of winter in Boston is inevitable. -Finals are an inevitable part of the end of the year.

13. Word: Machination
Definition: activity schemed for an evil purpose Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: The machinations of the troublemaking students were supposed to cause chaos in the school but one of the teachers caught them before they could do anything.

14. Word: Neologism
Definition: study of new words Part of Speech: noun Example Sentence: The whole point of vocabulary tests and quizzes is to expose students to neologism, but most students argue that they know enough words.

15. Word: Pejorative
Definition: negative, disparaging Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The teacher’s mean comments were pejorative and uncalled for.

16. Word: Profane
Definition: irreverent, disrespectful Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The student got in trouble for writing on the bathroom walls and using profane language.

17. Word: Recondite
Definition: hard to understand, over one’s head Part of Speech: adj Example Sentence: The joke he cracked was recondite. Nobody laughed because it went over their heads.

18. Word: Saccharine
Definition: excessively sweet Part of Speech: adj Example Sentence: The student’s saccharine comments came off as insincere. It was clear she was trying to use flattery to get an A. I do not like the saccharine taste of frosting.

19. Word: Stringent
Definition: strict Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The stringent classroom rules prevented students from misbehaving.

20. Word: Tenacious
Definition: persistent Part of Speech: adjective Example Sentence: The athlete’s tenacious attitude led him to never give up and always keep trying.

21. Word: Vacillate
Definition: to be indecisive, to waver Part of Speech: verb Example Sentence: George vacillated between taking a year off to travel after high school or going straight to college.