VOCAB WEEK

11

1. arbitrary• Some of the decisions teachers may

seem, arbitrary, even though students may not know the thought behind them.

• Coin tosses are arbitrary, so we should come up with a better way to choose.

1. arbitrary(adj.) unreasonable; based on one’s own wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness.

2. atone• It is best to atone for any

wrongs done right after they occur.

• The priest told her to give money to charity to atone for her crime.

2. atone(v.) to make up for

3. brazen• With a brazen disregard for the

rules, the man continued talking loudly on his cell phone in the library.

• The boy was brazen when he said he would hit his friend again if he got a chance.

3. brazen(adj.) shameless; not showing respect for another

4. catalyst• Her rude comment was the

catalyst that started the argument.

• My slowly failing car was the catalyst for my decision to get a new one.

4. catalyst(n) a substance that causes/hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change.

5. diligent• The girl was a diligent

student all throughout high school, and it finally paid off when she got into college.

• The band practiced diligently every night before their big show.

5. diligent(adj.) hardworking; industrious, not lazy

6. doleful• The man was doleful on

Thanksgiving, because both of his parents recently passed away.

• He was doleful that he had to sell his long-beloved car.

6. doleful(adj.) sad, dreary

7. hamper• The defense of the

opposing team hampered the Laker’s rebound.

• Having bad grades will hamper your chances of getting into college.

7. hamper(v.) to hold back

8. impoverished• After buying a new car, I

might be in an impoverished state.

• Many college students are impoverished since they don’t work while going to school.

8. impoverished(adj.) poor; in a state of poverty; depleted

9. incorrigible• Her brother was incorrigible;

try as she might, she couldn’t get him to take a picture.

• The student’s incorrigible attitude resulted in his expulsion.

9. incorrigible(adj.) not able to be corrected, beyond control

10. latent• The detective found latent

fingerprints on the wall.• The attendance of the the

music star was latent until halftime when he shuffled for the crowd.

10. latent(adj.) hidden, present but not realized