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Great Source's Vocabulary for Achievement: 3rd Course/9th Grade Lessons 1-14

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Word
Part of Speech
Primary Definition
Secondary Definition
Origin
archaic   adjective   no longer used or applicable; ancient     Greek arkhaios ("ancient")  
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argot   noun   the informal, specialized vocabulary or expressions of a particular group   (blank)   (blank)  
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connotation   noun   ideas or meanings suggested by a word, associations that go beyond a word's literal meaning   (blank)   Latin com- ("together")  
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denotation   noun   the most direct or specific meaning of a word   (blank)   Latin de- ("completely")  
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idiom   noun   an expression with a special meaning that cannot be understood   (blank)   Greek idios ("personal; private")  
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jargon   noun   a specialized vocabulary of a profession or trade   nonsensical or meaningless communication   (blank)  
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pidgin   noun   a simplified form of speech developed from two or more languages      
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semantics   noun   the study of meaning and word interpretation   the exact meaning of a word   Greek sema ("sign")  
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standard   adjective/noun   conforming to the established language used by educated speakers   something established as a measure of quality   Latin sta- ("stand")  
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vernacular   noun/noun/adjective   everyday language, rather than literary language   the native language or dialect of a country, place, or group 3rd def: commonly spoken by a region or group   Latin verna ("native slave")  
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atlas   noun   a book or bound collection of maps   (blank)   Atlas, a mythological Greek giant  
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epicure   noun   a person with refined taste, especially in food and drink   (blank)   Epicurus, a Greek philosopher  
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galvanize   verb   to stimulate or urge into action; spur   (blank)   Luigi Galvani, an Italian scientist  
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jovial   adjective   jolly; filled with good cheer   (blank)   Latin Iovis, "Jupiter" (king of the Roman gods)  
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nemesis   noun   a source of harm or ruin; an opponent that cannot be defeated   one who inflicts retribution or vengeance   Nemesis, the Greek goddess of revenge  
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Pyrrhic victory   noun   a victory that is offset by staggering losses or that comes at a huge price   (blank)   Pyrrhus, a king in ancient Greece  
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quixotic   adjective   dedicated to unreachable goals; idealistic but not practical   (blank)   Don Quixote, a 1604 Spanish novel  
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saturnine   adjective   gloomy and sullen   (blank)   Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture  
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Sisyphean   adjective   requiring endless effort; without result or success   (blank)   Sisyphus, a mythological Greek king  
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solecism   noun   a nonstandard or improper use of language   a mistake in manners or behavior   Soloi, an Athenian colony where an improper form of dialect was spoken  
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behold   verb   to gaze at or look upon   (blank)   (blank)  
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discernment   noun   excellent judgment and insight; skill in perceiving   (blank)   Latin dis- "apart" + cernere, "to separate carefully"  
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envision   verb   to picture in the mind; to imagine   (blank)   Latin in-, "in" + vision  
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foresee   verb   to see or know ahead of time   (blank)   Old English fore, "in front" + see  
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gape   verb   to stare in amazement, often with the mouth wide open   (blank)   (blank)  
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impressionistic   adjecive   describing a highly personal, indivdual response to experience   reflecting a style of painting of the late nineteenth century that focuses on a personal or momentary view of something   Latin im-, "in" + press  
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myopia   noun   lack of planning for the future; shortsightedness   nearsightedness; a condition in which distant objects appear blurred   Greek muein, "to close the eyes" + ops, "eye"  
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perceptive   adjective   marked by understanding or awareness; sharp; sensitive   (blank)   Latin percipere, "to grasp with the mind"  
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premonition   noun   a feeling that something will happen in the future; an advance warning   (blank)   Latin pre, "before" + monere, "to warn"  
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subliminal   adjective   below the threshold of conscious thought; not detectable, but able to bring about a response   (blank)   Latin sub-, "under"  
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cessation   noun   a bringing or coming to an end; a halt   (blank)   Latin cessare, "to stop"  
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commence   verb   to begin   (blank)   Latin initiare, "to begin"  
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deter   verb   to prevent or discourage from acting, by means of fear or doubt   (blank)   Latin de-, "away" + terrere, "to frighten"  
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hamper   verb/noun   to prevent from moving freely or making progress; to limit   a large basket, usually with a cover   (blank)  
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obstruction   noun   something that blocks or gets in the way; an obstacle   (blank)   Latin on-, "against" + struere, "to pile up"  
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preclude   verb   to make impossible or unlikely; to prevent   (blank)   Latin pre-, "before" + claudere, "to close"  
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procrastinate   verb   to delay; to put off doing something   (blank)   Latin pro-,"forward" + crastinus, "tomorrow"  
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scuttle   verb   to run or move with short, hurried movements; to scurry   (blank)   (blank)  
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subside   verb   to sink to a lower or more normal level   to become less active or intense   Latin sub-, "under" + sidere, "to settle"  
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thwart   verb   to prevent from taking place; frustrate; block   (blank)   Old Norse thvert, "transverse"  
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apologist   noun   a person who speaks in defense of a person, an idea, or a position   (blank)   Greek apologia,"  
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dissuade   verb   to discourage from doing something through persuasion   (blank)   Latin dis-, "not" + suadere, "to advise"  
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dupe   verb/noun   to take advantage of people by tricking or fooling them   someone tricked and taken advantage of   Old French huppe, "a foolish-looking bird"  
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fallacy   noun   a false belief   faulty and illogical reasoning   Latin fallere, "to deceive"  
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imply   verb   to hint; to suggest indirectly   (blank)   Latin in-. "in" + plic, "fold"  
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indisputable   adjective   beyond doubt or question; certain   (blank)   Latin in-, "not + disputare, "to dispute"  
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infer   verb   to draw a conclusion from evidence   (blank)   Latin in-, "not" +  
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red herring   noun   something that draws attention away from the main issue   (blank)   (blank)  
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refute   verb   to prove to be false or invalid; to deny the accuracy or truth of   (blank)   Latin re-, "against" + future, "to put forth"  
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substantiate   verb   to support with evidence   (blank)   Latin sub-, "under" + stare, "to stand"  
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accolade   noun   great praise   an award   French accolade, "an embrace"  
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adulation   noun   adoration; excessive praise or flattery   (blank)   Latin adulare, "to flatter"  
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anathema   noun   something or someone that is greatly hated and avoided   (blank)   Greek ana-, "against"  
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commend   verb   to give approval or praise   (blank)   Latin commendare, "to recommend"  
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critique   noun/verb   a detailed review; an evaluation   to review, discuss, or evaluate   Greek kritike, "art of criticism"  
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eulogy   noun   a tribute; spoken or written praise, often given in honor of a person who has died   (blank)   Greek eu-, "good" + log- "speech"  
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homage   noun   publicly expressed honor or respect   (blank)   Latin homo, "man"  
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laudable   adjective   worthy of praise and honor   (blank)   Latin laudere, "to praise"  
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quibble   verb/noun   to criticize, argue, or raise objections over something unimportant   an unimportant complaint   (blank)  
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reproach   verb   to criticize or express disapproval   (blank)   Latin re-, "back" + prope, "near"  
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bland   adjective   calming or soothing; not spicy or irritating; lacking flavor   dull; plain to the point of being boring   Latin blandus, "soothing"  
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culinary   adjective   related to cooking or kitchens   (blank)   Latin culina, "kitchen"  
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cutlery   noun   utensils used for eating, such as knives, forks, and spoons   cutting instruments and tools   Old French coutel, "knife"  
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devour   verb   to consume or eat up greedily or enthusiastically   (blank)   Latin devovare, "to swallow up"  
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morsel   noun   a very small piece; a small treat   (blank)   Latin mordere, "to bite"  
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pungent   adjective   having a sharp, strong taste or smell   strong, sharp, and penetrating   Latin pungere, "to sting"  
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quaff   verb   to drink heartily and deeply   (blank)   (blank)  
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ravenous   adjective   extremely hungry   (blank)   Old French raviner, "to take by force"  
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savory   adjective   pleasing to the taste or smell, appetizing   flavorful; spicy or salty, but not sweet; DEF 3: morally good or satisfactory, respectable   Latin saporare, "flavor"  
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simmer   verb   to cook gently in a liquid just at or below the boiling point   to be filled with pent-up emotion   (blank)  
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blight   verb/noun   to have a negative effect on; to ruin   something that ruins or greatly harms; a terrible condition, environment, or process   Old English bleight, "worthless"  
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cataclysm   noun   an intense and violent disaster or change   (blank)   Greek kataklysmos, "flood"  
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decomposition   noun   the process of rotting, breaking down, or disintegration   (blank)   Latin de-, "opposite of" + com-, "together" + ponere, "to put"  
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eradication   noun   the act of tearing out by the roots, or of eliminating as if tearing out by the roots   (blank)   Latin ex- "out" + radix, "root"  
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havoc   noun   widespread destruction and devastation   chaos and disorder   Old French havot, "plundering"  
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mar   verb   to inflict damage or spoil the quality of   (blank)   Old English merran, "to impede"  
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obliterate   verb   to wipe out completely; to do away with, leaving no trace   (blank)   Latin oblitterare, "to erase"  
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pugnacious   adjective   combative; eager for a fight   (blank)   Latin pugnare, "to fight"  
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pulverize   verb   to pound, crush, or grind into powder or dust   (blank)   Latin pulvis, "dust"  
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stagnant   adjective   stale and foul because of lack of movement   lacking progress or vitality   Latin stagnum, "swamp"  
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broach   verb   to bring up a subject for discussion   (blank)   Old French broche, "to pierce"  
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convene   verb   to assemble formally; to come together officially   (blank)   Latin com-, "together"  
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debut   verb/noun/noun   (1: to make) a first public experience   3: a formal presentation of a young woman into society   French debuter, "to lead off in a game"  
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embark   verb   to board a plane or ship   to start a major effort; to set out on a venture   Latin em-, "in" + barca, "boat"  
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generate   verb   to create; to bring into being   (blank)   Greek gen-, "birth"  
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incipient   adjective   beginning to exist or appear   (blank)   Latin in-, "in" + apere, "to take up"  
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initiative   noun   a beginningor introduction step; an opening move   the ability or wish to start something; enterprise; determination   Latin initium, "beginning"  
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innovation   noun   something newly introduced or created   (blank)   Latin in-, "in"+ novare, "to make new"  
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novice   noun   a beginner   (blank)   Latin novus,"new"  
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overture   noun   a piece of music intended to introduce a longer work   an act or offer showing readiness to form a relationship or to negotiate   Latin aperire, "to open"  
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devious   adjective   meant to trick; not straightforward; shifty   departing from the correct or accepted way; 3: departing from the straight or direct course; roundabout   Latin de-, "away from" + via, "road"  
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duplicity   noun   deliberate deception in behavior or speech   (blank)   Latin du-, "two" + plex, "fold"  
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fictitious   adjective   false or fake; adopted or assumed in order to deceive   imaginary; unreal; relating to fiction   Latin fictus, "formed"  
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guile   noun   sly intelligence; craftiness with the intention to deceive   (blank)   (blank)  
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gullible   adjective   easily deceived or fooled   (blank)   (blank)  
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hypocritical   adjective   giving a false appearance; saying one thing, but doing another   (blank)   Greek hypokrinesthai, "to pretend"  
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masquerade   verb/noun   to disguise oneself; to put on a false or deceptive appearance   a disguise or false appearance; a scheme or charade   Old Italian machere, "mask"  
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overt   adjective   open and observable; not hidden or secret   (blank)   Latin aperire, "to open"  
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reputable   adjective   having a good reputation; well thought of; honorable or trustworthy   (blank)   Latin reputare, "to think over"  
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veracity   noun   truthfulness or accuracy; conformity to fact or truth   (blank)   Latin ver-, "true"  
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acme   noun   the highest point of achievement   (blank)   (blank)  
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adept   adjective   very skillful   (blank)   Latin adipisci, "to attain"  
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aptitude   noun   natural ability; talent   quickness in understanding; intelligence   Latin apere, "to fasten"  
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astute   adjective   having shrewd judgment; observant, clever, and cunning   (blank)   Latin astus, "craftiness; cunning"  
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finesse   verb/noun/noun   to achieve a goal or handle a situation with subtle skill   refinement, delicacy, and skill; 3: subtle, skillful handling of a potentially difficult situation   French finesse, "fineness; subtlety"  
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painstaking   adjective   marked by or requiring great care; demanding extended or extreme effort, or diligence   (blank)   (blank)  
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precocious   adjective   showing unusually early development or maturity   (blank)   Latin pre-,"before" + coquere, "to cook" or "to ripen"  
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prodigy   noun   a person, often young, with exceptional talents or powers   (blank)   Latin prodigium, "sign; omen"  
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resourceful   adjective   effective and imaginative in solving problems; practical   (blank)   (blank)  
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virtuouso   noun   a very skilled musician or other type of artist; an expert or master artist   (blank)   Latin virtus, "excellence"  
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idiosyncrasy   noun   an unusual habit of one particular person   (blank)   Greek idios, "personal" + synkrasis, "temperament"  
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innocuous   adjective   harmless; not likely to offend anyone   (blank)   Latin in-, "not" + nocere, "to harm"  
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obtrusive   adjective   unpleasantly noticeable; bold   thrusting out   Latin ob-, "against" + trudere, "to thrust"  
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orthodox   adjective   doing and believing what is commonly accepted or customary   following established faiths and beliefs   Greek orthos, "correct" + doxa, "opinion"  
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prevalent   adjective   widely or commonly existing or practiced   (blank)   Latin praevalere, "to be stronger"  
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prosaic   adjective   dull; ordinary; lacking in imagination and spirit   (blank)   Latin prosa, "prose"  
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quaint   adjective   charmingly odd, especially in an old-fashioned way   (blank)   Latin cognitus, "known"  
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rarity   noun   something that is very infrequent or scarce   (blank)   Latin rarus, "scarce"  
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singular   adjective   beingthe only one of a kind; unique   being beyond what is ordinary or usual; remarkable   Latin singularis, "single"  
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trite   adjective   overused and therefore lacking in interest   (blank)   (blank)  
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appraisal   noun   evaluation or estimation of worth   (blank)   Latin ad-, "to" + pretium, "price"  
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base   adjective   low or inferior in position or quality   (blank)   Medieval Latin bassus, "low"  
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candid   adjective   frank; honest; expressing one's honest opinion   not posed or rehearsed   Latin candidus, "bright white"  
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criterion   noun   a standard of judgment   (blank)   Greek krites, "a judge"  
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dexterity   noun   skill and grace in physical movement   cleverness   Latin dexter, "on the right"  
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legitimate   adjective   lawful; proper and acceptable   genuine   Latin lex, "law"  
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mediocre   adjective   moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary   (blank)   Latin medius, "middle"  
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meritorious   adjective   worthy; deserving of praise   (blank)   Latin meritorious, "earning money"  
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truism   noun   a statement of self-evident truth; a saying that, while true, has been overused   (blank)   Old English treowe, "firm; trustworthy"  
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validate   verb   to establish or confirm the truth or legality of something   (blank)   Latin valere, "to be strong"  
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circumlocution   noun   the use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language   (blank)   Latin circum-, "around" + loq-, "speech"  
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cogent   adjective   logical and convincing; appealing to reason   (blank)   Latin cogere, "to force"  
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discourse   noun/verb   formal speech or writing   to speak or write formally, and at length   Latin discurrere, "to run about"  
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falter   verb   to hesitate or stammer in speech   to move or function in an unsteady way   Middle English falteren, "to stagger"  
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literate   adjective   able to read and write; knowledgeable; educated   knowledgeabl; well expressed   Latin littera, "letter"  
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prattle   verb/noun   to talk foolishkly; to chatter   foolish, annoying talk   (blank)  
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raconteur   noun   a person who tells stories and relates incidents, with skill and wit   (blank)   French raconter, "to relate"  
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sophistry   noun   clever arguments that are misleading or incorrect   (blank)   Greek sophos, "wise"  
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utterance   noun   something that is said   (blank)   (blank)  
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verbose   adjective   using or containing too many words; excessively wordy   (blank)   Latin verbum, "word"  
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