1. Mrs. Brannen’s English 1,2 Vocabulary Fall, Week Two

2. circu-
A prefix meaning “around”

3. circulate
Verb
To move around; to flow freely through a particular route
When we are in good health, our blood circulates freely through our vascular system

4. circumference
Noun
The distance around a circle or around a roughly circular object
The circumference of the earth is about 25,000 miles!

5. compile Verb To gather things together to form a whole
Ralphie compiled his entire shell collection in one summer.

6. derogatory
Adjective
Belittling, negative; tending to lower in estimation
The doctor’s derogatory comments about Fred’s bad habits made him feel stupid.

7. despot Noun A monarch with unlimited power
Ancient Egyptian kings or pharaohs were among the greatest of despots.

8. diatribe Noun A bitter verbal attack
Sadly, the teacher’s diatribe caused all of her students to tremble in fear.

9. dormant Adjective In a state of rest; lying asleep
In the fall, some trees lose their leaves and become dormant for a few months.

10. elusive Adjective Difficult to grasp or understand
Mathematics can be an elusive subject to some people.

11. presume
Verb
To believe something is true without any evidence to prove it
As we mature, we often presume that there is no Santa, but is there proof?

12. refute Verb To deny a statement or to disprove a fact
The defense attorney refuted the plaintiff’s claims and won the case for her client.