9th grade ELA Vocabulary

bearer

a person in possession of something

Impala

medium african antelope

Gimlet

gin and lime juice

adolescent

growing from childhood to adulthood; roughly, of the teenage period

nuisance

a bothersome annoying person

reproach

blame

ennui

boredom

elation

great happiness and exhilaration

contempt

scorn, extreme dislike or disdain

Enamel

hard, outermost layer of a tooth

sinister

evil

loathe

to hate

columnist

a person who writes in a newspaper or magazine giving a personal opinion

gait

manner of walking

endorse

approve; support

sporting

to be fair in a game or contest

ruddy

having a healthy, reddish color

masculinity

possession of the qualities traditionally associated with men.

Stream of consciousness

a style of writing that portrays the inner workings of a character's mind in a continuous flow

elaborate (adj)

detailed; careful; thorough

irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously

interminable

endless

paraphernalia

personal belongings

lapse

interval or passing of time

petulant

easily irritated or annoyed

boisterous

rough and noisy

grasping

To take hold of somebody or something firmly, especially with the hand

reprimand

to scold formally

rebuke

personal direct criticism

jovial

cheerful and friendly

shabby

showing signs of wear and tear

Perfunctory

done without care; in a routine fashion

vigilance

Alert watchfulness

Franchise

A business where the owners allow others to create new locations for a fee.

subliminal

below the level of consciousness

Paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

suave

smoothly agreeable or polite

mutilated

damaged

smitten

very much in love

unperturbed

not easily disturbed, calm and not anxious

obsequious

overly submissive and eager to please

fortitude

courage in facing difficulties

adversary

an enemy, opponent

indignant

angered at something unjust or wrong

stagnant

not moving

involuntary

done without will or conscious control

incompetent

Not able to do something properly

monotony

sameness

unpretentious

modest; not showy; plain

serenade

sing and play for somebody

Upheaval

(n.) a sudden, violent upward movement; great disorder or radical change

efflorescence

Blooming of flowers

solemnly (adv)

seriously

motif

A recurring theme, subject or idea

Definition of Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Definition of Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Definition of Personification

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

Definition of Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Definition of Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Definition of Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds

Definition of Oxymoron

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')

Definition of idiom

A common expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.

Definition of Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Example of Metaphor

The snow is a white blanket.

Example of Simile

She is as slow as a snail. He was as fast as a cheetah.

His words were smooth like butter.

Example of Personification

The trees danced in the breeze.

Example of Hyperbole

I have a million things to do today

Example of Allusion

"I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio's."

example of alliteration

many mumbling mice are making midnight music in the moonlight

example of oxymoron

jumbo shrimp

example of onomatopoeia

The thunder "boomed" and the lightning "cracked" all night.

Examples of idioms

Piece of cake

Under the Weather