Level B Unit 3 Vocabulary

animated(adj.) full of life, lively;

aliveAfter the game the sportscaster found the winning team to be in an _______________ mood.

Synonyms: (adj.) energetic, vigorous

Antonyms (adj.) lifeless, dead, flat

The characters in “Looney Tunes” are animated. After winning, the team was in an ANIMATED

mood.

brood(n) A family of young animals, especially birds; any group having the same nature and origin;

(v) to think over in a worried, unhappy way

The mother bird fed her _____________________The pioneers did not ____________________ over the hardships they suffered on the long journey

Synonyms: (v.) ponder, meditate, worry, agonize

The mother duck is escorting her brood to the pond. (noun)

Don’t BROOD over your problems; someone else is worse off than you.

Constituent (n.) an essential part; a

voter who elects a representative; or being a

part of a wholeIn our district, almost every

________ is dedicated to participating in the voting

process.Synonyms: element,

component

Vegetables are an important constituent of a diet.

culminate(v) To reach a high point of development; to end, climax

The president’s military advisors hoped the overseas action would not _________ in disaster.Synonyms: conclude, terminateAntonyms: begin, initiate, kick off

The closing credits culminate the show.

The year of dance classes CULMINATED in a recital.

downright(adv.) thoroughly;

(adj.) absolute, complete; frank, blunt

Our neighbor, who chopped down our tree and destroyed fence, is just _________ mean. The actor felt like a ____________ fool when her forgot his lines.

Synonyms: total, out-and-out

                        

   

This baby is downright relaxed.

drone(n) A loafer, idler; a buzzing or humming sound; a remote-control device; a male

bee; (v) to make a buzzing sound; to speak in a dull tone of voice

The steady ______ of the engine put us all to sleep.

The speaker ________ on and on, ignoring the fact that much of the audience had left.

Synonyms: (n). Bum, do-nothing; (v.) hum, buzz, purr

This traffic drone will be used to catch speeders.

goad(v) To drive or urge on; (n)

something used to drive or urge on

The sergeant ad to ______ the reluctant soldiers into action.

The cowhand used a _________ to prod the sluggish cattle.

Synonyms: (v.) prod, spur on

This carrot is being used to goad the donkey to the finish line.

hanker(v) to long (for), to desire

Now after three weeks on the road, I really ______ for some home-cooked meals and my own bed.

Synonyms: yearn

indulge(v) To give in to a wish or desire,

give oneself up

Sometimes the members of a losing team will _____ in self-pity.

Synonyms: oblige, humor, coddle, pamper

The dog has a stomach ache because he indulged himself in honey

literate(adj) being able to read and write; showing an excellent educational background; having knowledge or

training

Compared with others in the colonial settlement, she was a highly __________

young woman.

Synonyms: educated

If you were literate, you would be able to read the writing on the wall.

loom(v) To come into view; to appear in an exaggerated form; (n) a machine

for weaving

The climbers were awestruck to see the peak ______ up before them.

The antique ____, once used to make cloth, was on display in the crafts

museum.

Synonyms: (v.) emerge, surface, hover, tower

You can see a storm is coming by the clouds that are looming in the distance.

luster(n) The quality of giving off

light, brightness, glitter, brilliance

The polished gold dome atop the state capitol shone with a starry

______.

Synonyms: gloss, sheen, shine

The pearls have a brilliant luster.

miscellaneous(adj) mixed, of different kinds

A collection of ______ items was gathering dust in the attic.

Synonyms: varied, unsorted, motley

These are the miscellaneous items that might be found in a Victorian kitchen.

oration(n) A public speech for a

formal occasion

Cicero’s ______ in the Roman Senate are still studied by

speakers today.

Synonyms: address

Abraham Lincoln is known for his great oration at Gettysburg.

peevish(adj) cross, complaining,

irritable; contrary

Although the members of the tour group were usually in good

humor, hunger made them ______

Synonyms: crabby, testy, stubborn

This man is peevish; he was asked to pay a fine for something he did not do.

I like my toast with the edges slightly singed.

seethe(v) To boil or foam; to be excited or

disturbed

Mother would ____ with rage each time she learned that the dog had been

mistreated.

Synonyms: churn, simmer, stew

The seething water would burn your skin.

singe(v) To burn slightly; (n) a burn at

the ends or edges

Getting too close to the flame of the campfire caused the camper to ____

his eyelashes.A _____ from a cigar ash had

destroyed the last word of the document.

Synonyms: (v.) scorch, char

unique(adj) one of a kind; unequaled; unusual; found only in a given

class, place, or situation

Most people would agree that finidng an elephant in one’s bathtub would constitute a ______ situation, even in

one’s dreams.

Synonyms: unparalleled, distinctive

Each of your fingerprints is unique.

upright(adj) vertical, straight; good,

honest (adv) in a vertical position

The senator showed her ____ character by voting for bills she

believed to be morally right.The patient was finally standing _____.

Synonyms: (adj.) perpendicular, virtuous

This kitten fell asleep sitting upright against the radiator.

verify(v) To establish the truth or

accuracy of; confirm

The reported hurried to ____ the source of the controversial

statement.

Synonyms: prove, validate, substantiate

A driver’s license can be used to verify your identity.