Week 1 Vocabulary Words

Ch. 1-3 Vocabulary Words

1.     Morosely:  adverb (-ly), morose (adj).  This is extreme sadness, but not as far as depression.  Morose people are often withdrawn, quiet, and uninvolved in social activities.  Eeyore (of Winnie and the Pooh) is a perfect example of morose.  He has a rain cloud that never leaves him.

2.     Lumbered: verb.  Often, people who lumber are considered clumsy.  They may drag their feet due to extreme height or weight.  Opposite of walking gracefully. 

3.     Imperiously: domineering behavior; demeaning in nature.  Imperious is often associated with emotional and physical strength.  A small, weak person wouldn’t pull off imperious behavior because they aren’t fearful to look at.  If you are the victim of imperious behavior, you may feel threatened or harassed.  At the  beginning of their freshman year, all the 203 students acted imperiously towards the other races.

4.     Shuffled: verb. To walk without lifting your feet or to walk with clumsy steps.  For instance, I can tell that the boy is lazy because he shuffles into my class and I can hear his feet scraping the floor.  Lumbered is a synonym for shuffled.

5.     Mollify: verb. To soften in feeling or temper.  Slightly mollified, the students in Wilson High School slowly began to accept Ms. Gruwell.  Mollify means to reduce any pain or uneasiness.  Related words include appease, sooth, and calm down.

6.     Pugnacious: adjective. Inclined to fight.  When you are pugnacious, you are combative and looking for a fight.  A synonym for pugnacious is argumentative.  There are people who simply look for a fight and these people are pugnacious individuals.

7.     Gingerly: adjective. When something is done with great care or caution.  When you act gingerly, you are doing something in a soothing, loving, and gentle way.   A synonym for gingerly is gently.  For instance, when you pet a small animal, such as a hamster, you must pet it gingerly or else you might hurt it.

8.     Derogatory: adjective. Suggests the lessening the merit or reputation of something or someone.  The word is usually associated with remarks.  For instance, “Did you hear those derogatory remarks?  How insulting!”  Any actions or words that are derogatory are condescending and degrading.  A synonym for derogatory is insulting.

9.     Complacent: adjective. To be pleased with oneself or satisfied about a situation, often unaware of a potential danger.  Related words are content and satisfied.  One can be complacent in their job.  

10.        Skeptical: adjective. Showing doubt or uncertainty.  You are skeptical about something when you are not sure about something—you’re uncertain.  Related words include doubtful and disbelieving.  At first, the students of Room 203 were skeptical of Ms. Gruwell’s intentions.