Code X: Course I

worrywart

a person who worries excessively

bureau

a chest of drawers, often with a mirror

an office or department of government or business

frisky

full of energy and playfulness

tenant

a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord

diploma

a certificate awarded by a school, college, or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of study

foreign

of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own

wheeze

breathe with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of obstruction in the air passages

daze

make (someone) unable to think or react clearly

bewilder

transistor

a semiconductor device with three connections, capable of amplification in addition to rectification and switching

squawk

make a loud, harsh noise like that of a bird

pin

a thin piece of metal or other material with a sharp point at one end and a head at the other, used for fastening things together

alcove

a recess in the wall of a room or garden

impasse

a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement

a deadlock

decoy

a bird or animal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or animals

something intended to mislead

brindled

(of an animal, especially a cat or dog) having a brownish or tawny coat with streaks of other color

menace

a person or thing that is likely to cause harm

a threat or danger

furnace

an enclosed structure in which heat is produced, for example by burning fuel

companion

a person with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels

trot

(of a horse or other quadruped) proceed at a pace faster than a walk, moving diagonally opposite legs at the same time

coyote

a wild canine native to North America, similar to a small wolf

Unit 1, Academic Vocabulary

recite

repeat aloud or declaim (a poem or passage) from memory before an audience

rigid

unable to bend or be forced out of shape

not flexible

torment

severe physical or mental suffering

adjust

alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result

mock

tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner

devoted

very loving or loyal

frighten

make (someone) afraid

counterpane

a bedspread

shoo

drive away by crying "shoo!"

charm

the power or quality of delighting, attracting, or fascinating others

context

the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood

point of view

a particular attitude or way of considering a matter

in literature, it refers to the perspective from which a story is told

simile

a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion)

irony

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

rising action

a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest, and tension in a narrative

conflict

a serious disagreement or argument

in literature, a struggle between opposing forces

climax

the most intense, exciting, or important point of something

a culmination or apex

resolution

the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter

in literature, the part of the story's plot line in which the problems are solved or worked out

suffix

a morpheme added at the end of a word to form a derivative (e.g., -ing, -ed, -ness)

refrain

a repeated line or lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse

fictional

relating to or characteristic of fiction

not real or true

narrative

a spoken or written account of connected events

a story

introduction

the action of introducing something

the beginning of a book, speech, or piece of music

body

the main part of a book, speech, or other piece of writing

conclusion

the end or finish of an event or process

the final part of a speech or piece of writing

Unit 2, Words to Know

shortstop

the fielder positioned between second and third base in baseball

matter-of-fact

expressing things directly and without embellishment or unnecessary emotion

homer

a home run in baseball

bench press

a weightlifting exercise in which a lifter lies on their back on a bench and raises a barbell from chest level to arm's length

fortify

strengthen (a place) against attack

provide (someone) with moral or mental strength

fault

an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature, especially in a person's character

a crack or fracture in the earth's crust

feat

an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength

color

the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light

compression

the action of compressing or being compressed

chronology

the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence

province

a principal administrative division of certain countries or empires

goblin

a mischievous, ugly creature of folklore

lair

a wild animal's resting place

a den

suppress

forcibly put an end to (something)

restrain or stop oneself from expressing a feeling

inevitable

certain to happen

unavoidable

desperate

feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with

vacant

having no fixtures, furniture, or inhabitants

empty

hearty

(of food) substantial and satisfying

(of a person or their behavior) loudly vigorous and cheerful

ruddy

(of a person's face) having a healthy red color

mimic

imitate (someone or their speech or actions), especially for amusement

accustomed

customary

usual

propose

put forward (an idea or plan) for consideration or discussion by others

assure

tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have

defer

put off (an action or event) to a later time

postpone

condition

the state of something with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order

capacity

the maximum amount that something can contain

the ability to do something

oxygen

a colorless, odorless reactive gas, the chemical element of atomic number 8 and the life-supporting component of the air

acclimatize

become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions

freshman

a student in the first year of college, university, or high school

Unit 2, Academic Vocabulary

apply

make a formal application or request

put something into practical use