Group 10 English II/ Honors English II Vocabulary

Seminal (adjective)

• Definition: Strongly influencing later developments; creative/original.
• Example 1: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a seminal moment in the Civil Rights movement, inspiring millions to fight for racial equality.
• Example 2: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is a seminal masterpiece of Renaissance art that enthralls viewers and artists today.

Significance (noun) / Significant (adjective)

• Significance (noun): Importance; consequence.
  • Example: The new legislation is of great significance to female citizens and voters in that state.
• Significant (adjective): Likely to have influence or effect; important.
  • Example: The woman’s blindness in “The Mouse” is significant, both in terms of plot and theme.

Concept (noun) / Conceptual (adjective)

• Concept (noun): Thought or idea.
  • Example: Because the Jewish people in Sighet had no concept of the Holocaust and what was actually happening, Moishe the Beadle’s warnings fell on deaf ears.
• Conceptual (adjective): Functioning as a model or prototype of a new innovation.
  • Example: The company introduced a new concept car that showcases a sleek design and futuristic technology.

Consume (verb)

• Definition 1: To do away with completely; destroy.
  • Example: The house was consumed by a raging fire that left nothing but ashes in a matter of minutes.
• Definition 2: To use up or spend.
  • Example: Video games consumed much of his free time.
• Definition 3: To eat or drink; devour.
  • Example: She managed to consume an incredible amount of food at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Truism (noun)

• Definition: Self-evident, obvious truth.
• Example 1: In his time as a Harris Teeter cashier, he quickly learned the truism “the customer is always right,” even when, in reality, they are not.
• Example 2: She frequently states, “This, too, shall pass,” a truism that reminds her to push through a temporary situation.

Delusion (noun) / Delusional (adjective)

• Delusion (noun): A false belief strongly held in spite of evidence to the contrary.
  • Example: Despite the predictable weekly schedule, the student is under the delusion that there will not be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.
• Delusional (adjective): Having false or unrealistic beliefs.
  • Example: She was under the delusional belief that she could submit no assignments and still get credit for English II.

Hermetically (adverb)

• Definition: So as to be airtight.
• Example 1: The lab was hermetically sealed so that no outside contaminants could impact the experiment.
• Example 2: Wiesel writes, “The world had become a hermetically sealed cattle car” (24).

Conflagration (noun)

• Definition 1: A destructive fire.
  • Example: The conflagration consumed all nine buildings in the warehouse complex.
• Definition 2: A large and violent event such as a war.
  • Example: Diplomats worked tirelessly to negotiate a peace treaty that would end the conflagration.

Untenable (adjective)

• Definition: Incapable of being defended; incapable of being sustained or maintained over time.
• Example 1: Because of a shift in public opinion, the politician’s stance on the issue had become untenable.
• Example 2: Years from now the long-term effects of climate change will make life in certain regions of the world untenable.

Cease (verb) / Cessation (noun)

• Cease (verb): To stop or discontinue.
  • Example: Due to decreased demand, the company plans to cease manufacturing that particular car model.
• Cessation (noun): A temporary or complete stopping.
  • Example: Health insurance plans often cover the cost of smoking cessation programs for policyholders.