English 8 Short Story Vocab

allocation (n.)

allotment; ration

1. the action or process of alloting or distributing something

2. an amount or portion of a resource assigned to a particular recipient

bureaucratic (adj.)

procedural

1. relating to the business of running a organization or government

2. Overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense

bureaucracy (n.)

administration

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

petulance (n.)

irritability

the act of showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over a trifling annoyance

provincial (adj.)

unsophisticated

of or concerning the regions outside of the capital city of a country, especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded

impediment (n.)

obstacle

1. a hindrance or obstruction

2. a defect in a person's speech

implore (v.)

beg

to beg urgently, as for aid or mercy

impunity (n.)

exception

exemption from punishment

indifferent (adj.)

unconcerned

having no particular interest or sympathy

indifference (n.)

apathy

lack of interest or concern

loquacious (adj.)

chatty

characterized by excessive talk; tending to babble

civility (n.)

courtesy

politeness; a polite action or expression necessary for courteous, proper society

deftly (adv.)

dexterously

quickly and lightly in movement; with agility; skillfully

gesticulation (n.)

hand movement

a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words

gravely (adv.)

solemnly

1. in a serious or solemn manner

2. in a manner that gives cause for alarm

trepidation (n.)

apprehension; dread

a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen

tumultuous (adj.)

turbulent

riotous; marked by disturbance or uproar; disorderly; causing a commotion

urbane (adj.)

cultivated

courteous and refined in manner (said of a person); sophisticated

vigilant (adj.)

watchful

keenly alert to detect danger; wary

vigilance (n.)

watchfulness

the state or quality of being vigilant

vigilante (n.)

renegade

a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority

adulation (n.)

adoration

excessive flattery or admiration

retribution (n.)

payback

a justly deserved punishment; something given or inflicted because it is deserved

sanctuary (n.)

holy place/safe house

1. a sacred or holy place

2. a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest

subsist (v.)

exist

to remain alive or continue to exist (often just barely)

subsistence (n.)

nourishment or livelihood

providing sustenance or support; a means of supporting life

loquacity (n.)

chattiness

the state of being extremely talkative

luminous (adj.)

radiant

full of or shedding light; bright or shining; especially in the dark

oppression (n.)

domination

prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control

oppressive (adj.)

overwhelming

1. unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint, especially on a minority

2. weighing heavily on the minds or spirits

3. (of weather) excessively hot and humid

perfunctory (adj.)

superficial

done without care or interest or merely as duty or routine

petulant (adj.)

irritable

childishly sulky or bad tempered; rude in speech or behavior

renounce (v.)

reject

stop using or consuming; formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or possession

repercussion (n.)

consequence

an effect or result of some action, which can be indirect or minor

resilience (n.)

endurance; fortitude; elasticity

1. the ability to return to the original form after being bent or stretched

2. ability to recover recover readily from illness, depression, or adversity

resilient (adj.)

recovering

1. springing back; rebounding

2. returning to the original form after being bent

3. recovering soon from illness, depression, or adversity

circumscribe (v.)

confine; restrict

1. to draw a line around

2. to enclose within bounds; to limit