BHS Fall Final Exam Vocab

stupefy

VERB 1: to shock or surprise someone very much 2: to cause someone to become confused or unable to think clearly

example: Bennett was stupefied when his long-lost sister Erica, whom he thought had died in childhood, walked through the door, very much alive.

infatuate

VERB 1: to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration

example: Lucy was so infatuated with her high school boyfriend that she gave up her scholarship to Stanford to be able to attend college with him.

usurp

VERB to take and keep something, such as power, in a forceful or violent way and especially without the right to do so

example: The mafia boss's brother usurped power from him and took over the family business.

covet

VERB to wish for greatly or with envy

example: Esmeralda coveted her sister's ruby necklace and stole it from the jewelry box when the coast was clear.

feign

VERB to pretend or fake

example: The school nurse could tell that Ricky was feigning sick because his temperature was completely normal.

supplicate

VERB to ask for earnestly and humbly

example: The criminal supplicated the judge to grant him mercy and not sentence him to life in prison.

notes: These words come from the Latin "placare," meaning "please."

repent

VERB to acknowledge regret for having done something wrong

example: On her deathbed, Fatima repented for treating her sister unkindly when they were younger, and begged Fayza to forgive her.

allay

VERB 1: to put a negative emotion (such as fear, doubt, suspicion, anger, etc.) to rest; calm; quiet 2: to lessen or relieve pain

example: Ellie's father allayed her fears of a monster under the bed by getting on the floor and checking with a flashlight.

insinuate

VERB 1: to say something, especially something bad or insulting in an indirect way 2: to gradually make yourself a part of a group, a person's life, etc., often by behaving in a dishonest way

example: Mandy insinuated that Roger was not intelligent when she said, "I am surprised that you were able to get an A!"

example: The undercover police officer was able to insinuate herself into the mafia so that she could collect evidence on their criminal activities.