Grade 9 College Vocabulary, Week 12

Definition: The action of pausing before saying or doing something; uncertainty.

From the reading: "Without any further hesitation; I agreed to take command of the honest men who were burning to punish, ay and destroy, those outlaws, as now beyond all bearing." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

reluctance, wavering, uncertainty

Antonyms:

decisiveness

Root:Latin haesitatio: compare French hésitation. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The action or process of sticking firmly to something; steady devotion or loyalty.

From the reading: "I think it is but fair that you should see an experiment shewing you the way in which we get the adhesion of platinum." (The Chemical History of a Candle)

Synonyms:

adherence, attachment, bond

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin adhaesio, from adhaerere: compare French adhésion. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A stout glove with a long cuff; to throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge.

From the reading: "Nor always errs; for oft the gauntlet draws A sweeping stroke along the crackling jaws." (The Aeneid)

Synonyms:

glove; challenge

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French gantelet, dim. of gant glove, Late Latin wantus, of Teutonic origin; compare Dutch want, Sw. & Dan. vante, Icelandic vöttr, for vantr. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A public entertainment with costumes and historical scenes; a splendid display.

From the reading: ""I should like to see it all." He leaned on his crutches in the crowd and watched the glitter of the passing pageant." (The Lost Prince)

Synonyms:

spectacle, parade, procession

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Medieval Latin pagina, a stage or scaffold, perhaps from Latin pangere, to fasten (origin uncertain): a stage show of history.

Definition: Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.

From the reading: "It is the stand made by the losing party, and the true patriotism of one young chieftain, that we would wish here to dwell upon." (A Book of Golden Deeds)

Synonyms:

love of country, loyalty, allegiance

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Cf. French patriotisme. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A person or thing that is a perfect example of a quality or type.

From the reading: "Proceeding on, another Troy I see, Or, in less compass, Troy’s epitome." (The Aeneid)

Synonyms:

embodiment, model, quintessence

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin, from Greek épitome. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A small and inadequate amount.

From the reading: "I should have said that Caleb lived here, and his poor Blind Daughter somewhere else—in an enchanted home of Caleb’s furnishing, where scarcity and shabbiness were not, and trouble never entered." (The Cricket on the Hearth)

Synonyms:

shortage, dearth, lack

Antonyms:

abundance, plenty

Root:Old French escarcete, from escars, scanty (Latin excarpsus, plucked out): a lack.

Definition: Fame or recognized superiority; a piece of rising ground.

From the reading: "Some of their number from the eminence had watched the desperate struggle, and on hearing how their soldiers were pressed by the surrounding host of English men-at-arms they could no longer remain inactive." (In Freedom's Cause)

Synonyms:

distinction, prominence, renown

Antonyms:

obscurity

Root:Latin eminentia, from eminens eminent: compare French éminence. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability.

From the reading: "And though I went and watched the house, decency would not allow me to knock on the Sunday evening, especially when I found at the corner that his lordship was at home." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

propriety, modesty, respectability

Antonyms:

indecency

Root:Latin decentia, from decens: compare French décence. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: An authoritative command or request.

From the reading: "And yet, Coeur de Lion's behest--my own promise!" (The Talisman)

Synonyms:

command, bidding, order

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Old English biheste promise, command, Old English (Anglo-Saxon) beh promise; pref. be- + h command. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition.

From the reading: "The induction of the Sethian brought them face to face in fierce hostility." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

enmity, antagonism, animosity

Antonyms:

friendliness, goodwill

Root:Latin hostilitas: compare French hostilité. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A remarkable occurrence of events or circumstances at the same time without apparent causal connection.

From the reading: "As he crossed the study he almost staggered at a shocking coincidence." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

chance, accident, happenstance

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Cf. French coïncidence. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The act of removing someone from office, especially a ruler; sworn testimony given out of court.

From the reading: "All this shall go in your favour greatly, when I make deposition." (Lorna Doone)

Synonyms:

removal, dethronement; testimony

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin depositio, from deponere: compare French déposition. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The action of forcing someone to leave a place or organization.

From the reading: ""Why, where have you been, truant?" Sir William exclaimed as Archie entered the room in the governor's house which had been set apart for the use of Wallace since the expulsion of the English." (In Freedom's Cause)

Synonyms:

ejection, banishment, exile

Antonyms:

admission

Root:Latin expulsio, from expellere: compare French expulsion. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: An expression whose meaning is not obvious from its words, such as raining cats and dogs; the language of a particular people.

From the reading: "“What would you?” he asked of Balthasar, speaking in the idiom of the city." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

expression, phrase, dialect

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French idiome, Latin idioma, from Greek suus, and to English so. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The act of escaping or avoiding something, especially a duty or a question, by trickery.

From the reading: "But before morning the news of the evasion would spread far and wide, and there would be a hot pursuit among the mountains." (In Freedom's Cause)

Synonyms:

avoidance, dodging, equivocation

Antonyms:

payment

Root:Latin evasio: compare French évasion. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The fixed form of public worship used in a church.

From the reading: "They began in the churches as liturgy plays, which were given at the Christmas, Easter, and other festivals, illustrating in chief the birth, life, death and passion of Christ." (The Wakefield Second Shepherds' Play)

Synonyms:

rite, service, worship

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French liturgie, Late Latin liturgia, Greek Lay, a., and Work. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Greatly desired.

From the reading: "I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel." (Acts 20:33)

Synonyms:

desired, longed-for, sought-after

Antonyms:

unwanted

Root:Old French coveitier, from Latin cupiditas, desire (cupere, to desire): eagerly desired.

Definition: Inspiring wonder; marvelous.

From the reading: "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works." (Psalm 26:7)

Synonyms:

marvelous, wonderful, astonishing

Antonyms:

ordinary

Root:Old English wonders, adv. (later also adj.). (Webster, 1913)

Definition: To formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution.

From the reading: "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" (Ephesians 2:15)

Synonyms:

end, eliminate, do away with

Antonyms:

establish

Root:French abolir, Latin abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to grow. Cf. Finish. (Webster, 1913)