Word Masters 7th grade Gold List 1

1. ven·det·ta Listen to the pronunciation of vendetta Pronunciation:  \ven-ˈde-tə\ noun
Etymology: Italian, literally, revenge, from Latin vindicta — more at vindictive
Date: 1855  1 : blood feud 2 : an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts <waged a personal vendetta against those who opposed his nomination>
 
2. ad·u·la·tion Listen to the pronunciation of adulationPronunciation: \ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən, -dyə, -də-\  noun  Etymology:  Middle English adulacion, from Old French, from Latin adulation-, adulatio, from adulari to fawn on (of dogs), flatter  Date:  14th century  : excessive or slavish admiration or flattery  — ad·u·late Listen to the pronunciation of adulate\ˈa-jə-ˌlāt,  dyə-, -də-\ transitive verb  — ad·u·la·tor Listen to the pronunciation of adulator\-ˌlā-tər\ noun  — ad·u·la·to·ry Listen to the pronunciation of adulatory\-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\  adjective
 
3. im·pas·sive Listen to the pronunciation of impassive Pronunciation:  \(ˌ)im-ˈpa-siv\  Function:  adjective  Date: 1605
1 aarchaic : unsusceptible to pain b: unsusceptible to physical feeling : insensible c: unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion : apathetic2: giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless — im·pas·sive·ly adverb  — im·pas·sive·ness noun  — im·pas·siv·i·ty Listen to the pronunciation of impassivity\ˌim-ˌpa-ˈsi-və-tē\ noun
synonyms impassive, stoic, phlegmatic, apathetic, stolid mean unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion. impassive stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression <met the news with an impassive look>. stoic implies an apparent indifference to pleasure or especially to pain often as a matter of principle or self-discipline <was resolutely stoic even in adversity>. phlegmatic implies a temperament or constitution hard to arouse <a phlegmatic man unmoved by tears>. apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness <charitable appeals met an apathetic response>. stolid implies an habitual absence of interest, responsiveness, or curiosity <stolid workers wedded to routine>.
 
4. op·u·lence Listen to the pronunciation of opulence Pronunciation:  \ˈä-pyə-lən(t)s\  Function: noun  Date: circa 1510
1 : wealth, affluence 2 : abundance, profusion 
 
5. yaw Listen to the pronunciation of 1yaw Pronunciation:  \ˈyȯ\  Function:  noun  Etymology: origin unknown  Date: 1546  1: the action of yawing; especially : a side to side movement2: the extent of the movement in yawing
1 aof a ship : to deviate erratically from a course (as when struck by a heavy sea); especially : to move from side to side bof an airplane, spacecraft, or projectile : to turn by angular motion about the vertical axis2: alternate <restlessly yawing between apparent extremes — Martin Kasindorf>
6. ba·roque Listen to the pronunciation of 1baroque Pronunciation:  \bə-ˈrōk, ba-, -ˈräk, -ˈrȯk\  Function:  adjective  Usage:  often capitalized  Etymology: French, from Middle French barroque irregularly shaped (of a pearl), from Portuguese barroco irregularly shaped pearl Date: 1765 1 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension 2 : characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance 3 : irregularly shaped —used of gems <a baroque pearl> — ba·roque·ly adverb 
baroque Function: noun Usage: often capitalized Date: 1877 : the baroque style or the period in which it flourished
 
7. re·prieve Listen to the pronunciation of 1reprievePronunciation: \ri-ˈprēv\  Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): re·prieved; re·priev·ing Etymology: probably blend of obsolete repreve to reprove (from Middle English) and obsolete repry to remand, postpone, from Anglo-French repri-, past stem of reprendre to take back Date: 1596 1 : to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner) 2 : to give relief or deliverance to for a time
reprieve Function: noun Date: 1592 1 a: the act of reprieving : the state of being reprieved b: a formal temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence especially of death2: an order or warrant for a reprieve3: a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)
 
8. re·pu·di·ate Listen to the pronunciation of repudiate Pronunciation:  \ri-ˈpyü-dē-ˌāt\  Function:  transitive verb  Inflected Form(s):  re·pu·di·at·ed; re·pu·di·at·ing  Etymology:  Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare, from repudium rejection of a prospective spouse, divorce, probably from re- + pudēre to shame  Date:  1545  1: to divorce or separate formally from (a woman)2: to refuse to have anything to do with : disown3 a: to refuse to accept; especially : to reject as unauthorized or as having no binding force <repudiate a contract> b: to reject as untrue or unjust <repudiate a charge>4: to refuse to acknowledge or pay <repudiate a debt>  synonyms see decline
 
9. sur·rep·ti·tious Listen to the pronunciation of surreptitious Pronunciation:  \ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs, ˌsə-rəp-, sə-ˌrep-\  Function:  adjective  Etymology:  Middle English, from Latin surrepticius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere to snatch secretly, from sub- + rapere to seize — more at rapid
Date:  15th century  1 : done, made, or acquired by stealth : clandestine 2 : acting or doing something clandestinely : stealthy <a surreptitious glance>  synonyms see secret — sur·rep·ti·tious·ly adverb
 
10. mar·ti·net Listen to the pronunciation of martinet Pronunciation:  \ˌmär-tə-ˈnet\  Function:  noun  Etymology:  Jean Martinet, 17th century French army officer  Date:  1737 1 : a strict disciplinarian 2 : a person who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods
 
11. veer Listen to the pronunciation of 1veer Pronunciation: \ˈvir\  Function:  transitive verb  Etymology:  Middle English veren, of Low German or Dutch origin; akin to Middle Dutch vieren to slacken, Middle Low German vīren  Date:  15th century : to let out (as a rope)
veer Function: verb Etymology: Middle English veren, from Middle French virer, from Old French, to throw with a twisting motion, from Vulgar Latin *virare, alteration of Latin vibrare to wave, propel suddenly — more at vibrate Date: 15th century intransitive verb1: to change direction or course <the economy veered sharply downward>2of the wind : to shift in a clockwise direction — compare back3: to wear shiptransitive verb: to direct to a different course; specifically : wear 7 synonyms see swerve — veer·ing·ly Listen to the pronunciation of veeringly\-iŋ-lē\ adverb
veer Function: noun Date: circa 1611 : a change in course or direction <a veer to the right>
 
12. his·tri·on·ic Listen to the pronunciation of histrionic Pronunciation:  \ˌhis-trē-ˈä-nik\  Function:  adjective  Etymology:
Late Latin histrionicus, from Latin histrion-, histrio actor  Date:  1648 1 : deliberately affected : theatrical 2 : of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater  synonyms see dramatic — his·tri·on·i·cal·ly Listen to the pronunciation of histrionically\-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
 
13. har·ri·dan Listen to the pronunciation of harridan Pronunciation:  \ˈher-ə-dən, ˈha-rə-\  Function:  noun  Etymology:  perhaps modification of French haridelle old horse, gaunt woman  Date:  1678  : shrew
 
14. ex·e·crate Listen to the pronunciation of execrate Pronunciation:  \ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt\  Function:  transitive verb  Inflected Form(s):  ex·e·crat·ed; ex·e·crat·ing  Etymology:  Latin exsecratus, past participle of exsecrari to put under a curse, from ex + sacr-, sacer sacred  Date:  1531  1 : to declare to be evil or detestable : denounce 2 : to detest utterly  — ex·e·cra·tive Listen to the pronunciation of execrative\-ˌkrā-tiv\ adjective  — ex·e·cra·tor Listen to the pronunciation of execrator\-ˌkrā-tər\ noun
 
15. in·tu·i·tive Listen to the pronunciation of intuitive Pronunciation:  \in-ˈtü-ə-tiv, -ˈtyü-\  Function:  adjective  Date:  circa 1645  1 a: known or perceived by intuition : directly apprehended <had an intuitive awareness of his sister's feelings> b: knowable by intuition <intuitive truths> c: based on or agreeing with intuition <intuitive responses> <makes intuitive sense> d: readily learned or understood <software with an intuitive interface>2: knowing or perceiving by intuition3: possessing or given to intuition or insight <an intuitive mind> — in·tu·i·tive·ly adverb  — in·tu·i·tive·ness noun
 
16. rep·ar·tee Listen to the pronunciation of reparteeListen to the pronunciation of repartee Pronunciation:  \ˌre-pər-ˈtē, -ˌpär-, -ˈtā\  Function:  noun  Etymology:
French repartie, from repartir to retort, from Middle French, from re- + partir to divide — more at part  Date:  circa 1645  1 a: a quick and witty reply b: a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words2: adroitness and cleverness in reply : skill in repartee  synonyms see wit
 
17. en·hance Listen to the pronunciation of enhance Pronunciation:  \in-ˈhan(t)s, en-\  Function:  transitive verb  Inflected Form(s):  en·hanced; en·hanc·ing  Etymology:  Middle English enhauncen, from Anglo-French enhaucer, enhauncer, from Vulgar Latin *inaltiare, from Latin in + altus high — more at old  Date:  13th century  1obsolete : raise2: heighten, increase; especially : to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness <enhanced the room with crown molding> — en·hance·ment Listen to the pronunciation of enhancement\-ˈhan(t)-smənt\ no
 
18. quer·u·lous Listen to the pronunciation of querulous Pronunciation:  \ˈkwer-yə-ləs, -ə-ləs also ˈkwir-\  Function:  adjective
Etymology:  Middle English querelose, from Latin querulus, from queri to complain
Date:  15th century  1 : habitually complaining 2 : fretful, whining <a querulous voice>  — quer·u·lous·ly adverb  — quer·u·lous·ness noun
 
19. in·er·tia Listen to the pronunciation of inertiaPronunciation:  \i-ˈnər-shə, -shē-ə\  Function:  noun  Etymology:  New Latin, from Latin, lack of skill, from inert-, iners  Date:  1713  1 a: a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force b: an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity)2: indisposition to motion, exertion, or change : inertness — in·er·tial Listen to the pronunciation of inertial\-shəl\ adjective  — in·er·tial·ly Listen to the pronunciation of inertially\-ˈnər-sh(ə-)lē\ adver
 
20. shroud Listen to the pronunciation of 1shroud Pronunciation:  \ˈshrau̇d, especially Southern ˈsrau̇d\  Function:  noun
Etymology:  Middle English, garment, from Old English scrūd; akin to Old English scrēade shred — more at shred  Date:  14th century  1obsolete : shelter, protection2: something that covers, screens, or guards: as a: one of two flanges that give peripheral support to turbine or fan bedding b: a usually fiberglass guard that protects a spacecraft from the heat of launching3: burial garment : winding-sheet, cerement4 a: one of the ropes leading usually in pairs from a ship's mastheads to give lateral support to the masts b: one of the cords that suspend the harness of a parachute from the canopy
shroud  Function:  verb  Date:  14th century  transitive verb  1 aarchaic : to cover for protection bobsolete : conceal2 a: to cut off from view : obscure <trees shrouded by fog> <this point is shrouded in uncertainty — Henry James> b: to veil under another appearance (as by obscuring or disguising) <shrouded the decision in a series of formalities>3: to dress for burialintransitive verbarchaic : to seek shelter
 
21. in·ci·sive (in sī′siv) adjective 1. cutting into 2. sharp; keen; penetrating; acute an incisive mind of the incisors  incisively adverb, incisiveness noun
 
22. lev·ity (lev′i tē) noun 1. Rare lightness of weight; buoyancy 2. lightness or gaiety of disposition, conduct, or speech; esp., improper or unbecoming gaiety or flippancy; lack of seriousness; frivolity 3. fickleness; instability  Etymology: OFr levité < L levitas < levis, light
 
23. dis·avow· (dis′ə v′) transitive verb 1. to deny any knowledge or approval of, or responsibility for; disclaim; disown Etymology: ME disavouen < OFr desavoer: see dis- & avow  disavowal noun
 
24. vis·ceral (əl) adjective1. of, having the nature of, situated in, or affecting the viscera  2. intuitive, instinctive, emotional, etc. rather than intellectual a visceral reaction  Etymology: ML visceralis  viscerally adverb
 
25. dé·tente Listen to the pronunciation of détente Variant(s):  or de·tente Listen to the pronunciation of detente\dā-ˈtänt\ Function: noun Etymology: French  Date: 1908 1: the relaxation of strained relations or tensions (as between nations); also : a policy promoting this2: a period of détente