Vocabulary Words and Definitions

Intervene

  • Definition: Come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.
  • Word Forms: intervention (noun), intervening (adj/verb), intervened (verb)
  • Memory Trick: “Inter” means between + “vene” sounds like venture — to venture between two things.
  • Sample Sentence: The teacher had to intervene when the students began arguing during the group project.

Intramural

  • Definition: Situated or done within the walls of a building.
  • Word Forms: none commonly used in other forms
  • Memory Trick: “Intra” = within, “mural” = wall → within walls
  • Sample Sentence: He plays on the college’s intramural basketball team, which only competes with other teams at the same school.

Intravenous

  • Definition: Existing or taking place within veins.
  • Word Forms: intravenously (adverb)
  • Memory Trick: “Intra” = within + “venous” = veins → within veins
  • Sample Sentence: The patient was given medicine through an intravenous drip.

Extraneous

  • Definition: Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.
  • Word Forms: extraneously (adverb), extraneousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: “Extra” = outside → outside the topic
  • Sample Sentence: Please remove any extraneous information from your essay.

Extrapolate

  • Definition: Extend the application of a method or conclusion to an unknown situation, assuming trends will continue.
  • Word Forms: extrapolation (noun), extrapolated (verb), extrapolating (verb)
  • Memory Trick: “Extra” = beyond + “-polate” like calculate → calculate beyond known data
  • Sample Sentence: Scientists can extrapolate future climate patterns from historical data.

Gratuitous

  • Definition: Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
  • Word Forms: gratuitously (adverb), gratuitousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: Sounds like “gratuity” — something extra, but here it’s unwanted
  • Sample Sentence: The film contained a gratuitous amount of violence that didn’t serve the story.

Audacity

  • Definition: A willingness to take bold risks; rude or disrespectful behavior.
  • Word Forms: audacious (adjective), audaciously (adverb), audaciousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: Think “audacious = bold,” and boldness = audacity
  • Sample Sentence: She had the audacity to interrupt the speaker in front of the whole audience.

Emulate

  • Definition: Match or surpass, typically by imitation.
  • Word Forms: emulation (noun), emulator (noun), emulated/emulating (verb)
  • Memory Trick: Sounds like “imitate” → emulate = imitate to equal or beat
  • Sample Sentence: Young athletes often emulate their sports heroes.

Nepotism

  • Definition: Favoritism toward relatives or friends, especially in giving jobs.
  • Word Forms: nepotistic (adjective), nepotist (noun)
  • Memory Trick: “Nephew” → think of giving a job to your nephew
  • Sample Sentence: The company was accused of nepotism after the CEO hired her brother for a top position.

Conundrum

  • Definition: A confusing or difficult problem or question.
  • Word Forms: conundrums (plural)
  • Memory Trick: Sounds like “drum” — like a riddle beating in your head
  • Sample Sentence: Deciding between two great colleges is a real conundrum.

Disingenuous

  • Definition: Not candid or sincere.
  • Word Forms: disingenuously (adverb), disingenuousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: “Dis” = not + “genuine” = real → not genuine
  • Sample Sentence: Her apology felt disingenuous because she smirked the whole time.

Dubious

  • Definition: Hesitating or doubting.
  • Word Forms: dubiously (adverb), dubiousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: Sounds like “doubt” → doubtful = dubious
  • Sample Sentence: I was dubious about his claim that he could run a mile in under four minutes.

Morose

  • Definition: Sullen and ill-tempered.
  • Word Forms: morosely (adverb), moroseness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: “Mo” = mood, “rose” = down → mood is down like a wilted rose
  • Sample Sentence: After hearing the bad news, he sat in a morose silence.

Fortuitous

  • Definition: Happening by accident or chance rather than design.
  • Word Forms: fortuitously (adverb), fortuitousness (noun)
  • Memory Trick: Sounds like “fortune” — lucky accident
  • Sample Sentence: It was a fortuitous coincidence that they met again at the airport years later.