English 12

1. English 12 Vocabulary

2. Lesson 1 • Admonish – to counsel or advise; to caution or warn • Banister – a railing held up by posts on a staircase or a balcony; handrail • Code – a system of signals, often secretive, for communication • Consequently – following as a result; therefore • Dirge – a musical piece or a poem expressing grief • Exception – that which is excluded; that to which a general rule does not apply • Innocent – free from guilt, blame, evil, or sin; blameless • Prompt – on time; ready to act without delay • Reliable – able to be counted on; deserving of trust; dependable • Signal – to communicate by means of a prearranged sign

3. Lesson 2 • amuse – to occupy attention pleasurably, to entertain • cling – to hold fast, as by grasping or embracing; to stick closely • comical – funny, amusing, provoking laughter, humorous • convert – to change into another substance or to change form or condition • defect – an imperfection, a fault • energetic – active, vigorous, forceful • imagination – the process or power that forms mental pictures of things not actually present, fantasy • improvise – to make or provide without elaborate preparation from materials at hand, to invent on the spur of the moment • persistence – the act of remaining determined despite opposition, determination • provoke – to move to anger or action, to arouse

4. Lesson 3 • dismiss – to put out of the mind, to stop considering, to reject an idea • distinguish – to perceive clearly, to recognizes as different or distinct • extraordinary – out of the common or regular order, pattern, limit; exceptional, remarkable • gesture – a movement of the body or limbs meant to express or emphasize an idea or emotion • idle – without worth, importance, or basis • intonation – the pattern of high and low pitches of a voice during a speech • sane – having or coming from a sound mind, rational • sensitive – open to impressions from the senses or anything external • shred – a long, narrow strip cut or torn off; a small amount; particle • shrivel – to become wrinkled, to shrink

5. Lesson 4 • clump – a group of things clustered together • convenient – suited to one’s personal ease or comfort • frolic – to have fun • gnaw – to wear away or break off by persistent biting • grimace – to twist the face into an unusual expression • imitation – to act or result of copying another as closely as possible • impertinent – ignoring the rules of courtesy • moderation – avoidance of excess or extremes • pierce – to make a hole in • stratagem – a plan or scheme to deceive

6. Lesson 5 • aide – one who assists a superior • applaud – to show approval • assume – to take upon oneself • career – the course of a person’s life • contribution – a gift or effort made in common with others • enhance – to raise to a higher degree or value • heritage – the rights, background, and position one gains from ancestors or society, legacy, or tradition • principle – an established rule of conduct • readiness – state of being ready or prepared • talent – a special natural or acquired ability or gift

7. Lesson 6 • abhor – hate • abrasive – irritating • accessible – reachable • acclaim – praise • acknowledge- admit • adage – proverb • addicted – given up to habit • adversary – enemy • advocate – support • affected - false

8. Lesson 7 • apathy – lack of interest, concern or spirit; indifference; lack of feeling • apparition – a ghost, a phantom, an appearance seen suddenly • applicable – suitable to be applied, appropriate • arrogance – overbearing pride, a lack of regard for others • assassin – the murderer of an important person or public official • assess – to determine the rate of charge or amount to be paid, to evaluate • asterisk – a star-shaped mark used in printing • attribute – a characteristic or quality of a person or thing • autonomous – self-governing, independent • belligerent – warlike, ready to fight

9. Lesson 8 • benefactor – a person who has given help, patron • benign – not harmful, gentle, good-natured • bibliography – a list of books or essays on a particular subject • bilingual – able to use two languages well • biographical – having to do with a persons life • bisect – to divide into two equal parts • bizarre – odd, fantastic, grotesque, unusual, or unconventional • bland – pleasant, soothing, mild, dull • brochure – a pamphlet • buoyant – able to float, able to bounce back after a setback

10. Lesson 9 • cope – handle • credentials – evidence of authority • culmination – a high point • cumbersome – unwieldy • cynic – scornful person • deficient – incomplete • defile – dirty • defraud – swindle • demoralize – dishearten • denote - indicate

11. Lesson 10 • emissary – a person sent on a mission to represent another’s interests, agent • encore – a further performance given on audience demand • entice – to tempt, to attract, to lure • epic – a long poem about the adventures of a great hero • equation – a statement of equality • eradicate – to remove all traces of, to erase, to eliminate • essence – defining feature • evict – force a person to leave • exasperate – to irritate or to annoy greatly • expend – to use up, spend

12. Lesson 11 • Formidable – hard to overcome or deal with; causing fear • Fraternize – to associate in a brotherly or cordial way • Frenzied – wildly excited; frantic • Frivolous – silly; not important • Functional – useful; practical • Galvanize – to cover with a thin coating of zinc • Garb – clothing; external appearance; clothe • Gaudy – tastelessly cheap and showy; flashy • Genealogy – an account of the descent of a person or family • Genial – kindly and friendly

13. Lesson 12 • Homage – something done or given to show respect or honor • Horde – a crowd; a swarm; a wandering tribe or group • Humanitarian – person devoted to helping humanity • Hygiene – condition or practices of cleanliness related to health • Humanoid – resembling or looking like a human • Ideally – perfectly • Illiterate – uneducated; unable to read or write • Immaterial – not important or relevant • Immunity – state of being free or safe from • Impertinent – rude and impolite