The Great Ponds Vocabulary

Attrition [noun]• “A reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or

strength; a wearing down or weakening of resistance….”

• (Through natural significant attrition, the number of students in the PreAP class unfortunately dwindled.)

Boisterous [adjective]• “Rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy;

clamorous; unrestrained...”• (The boisterous musicians made a clamorous

racket.)

Concomitant [adjective]• “Existing or occurring with something else, often in a

lesser way; accompanying; concurrent…”• (The snuggie was the main prize while the free

reading light was the concomitant gift.)

In the x-ray image above, the overlapping teeth are an example of concomitant hypo-hyperdontia.

Effervescent [adjective]• “Effervescing; bubbling; vivacious; lively; sparkling…”• (The effervescent drink tickled her nose as she brought

the chilled glass to her lips.)

Gesticulate [verb]• “To make or use gestures, esp. in an animated or

excited manner with or instead of speech…”• (The costumed children acted out the scene without

words, gesticulating the story for the audience .)

Glowered [verb]• “To look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or

anger…”• (The teacher and student glowered at each other,

facing off for a brief contest of wills.)

Matchet [noun]•“A large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a weapon or for cutting vegetation...” •[syn: machete]•(The machet was used to cut a wide path through the towering jungle.)

Placate [verb]• “To lessen the anger or agitation ; to appease or

pacify…”• (The kind friends sought to placate her trampled

emotions.)

Poaching [noun]• “The illegal practice of trespassing on another's

property to hunt or steal game without the landowner's permission…”

• (The game warden was always on guard against the act of poaching, seeking to protect the wild game on his stretch of land.)

Premonition [noun]• “A feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future

event; presentiment…”• (The dibia examined his instruments, outlining the

premonitions in his mind.)

Protuberant [adjective]• “Thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent

surface often as a rounded mass; prominent…”• (The protuberant mole almost completely marred

his face.)

Pseudonym [noun]• “A fictitious name used by an author to conceal his

or her identity; pen name…”• (Mark Twain is the pseudonym or pen name of the

real-life Samuel Clemens.)

Reprisal [noun]• “Retaliation for an injury with the intent of inflicting

at least as much injury in return…”• (The army’s reprisal was aimed at the heart of the

renegade city; the generals planned their attack to retaliate against the insurgent rebels.)

Talisman [noun]• “An object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good

fortune…”• (The talisman dangled protectively around her neck, warding off

evil influences.)

Vehemently [adverb]• “Marked by forceful energy ; intensely emotional...”• (The student attacked the SAQ portion of the STAAR

Reading test with gusto, writing so vehemently that his pencil was smoldering.)