8th Grade Vocabulary Insertion 11

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8th Grade Vocabulary Insertion 11

• enigma, hindrance,
• meager, pivotal, irascible, indeterminate, sage,
  stupefied, vigilant, oblivion

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Standard

• ELACC8W2 Use precise language and
  domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or
  explain a topic

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1. enigma

• enigma (n) a mystery a puzzle
• Sample sentence The crossword puzzle was nothing
  but an enigma for the confused student.
• Other forms enigmatic
• enigmatically

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2. hindrance

• hindrance (n) an obstruction or
• difficulty something that holds
  something/someone back
• Sample sentence On land, the sloths weak hind
  legs provide no power and their long claws are a
  hindrance.
• Word Form Hinder

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3. meager

• meager (adj.) small in amount, inadequate not
  enough
• Sample Sentence The boy thought his paycheck was
  meager and wanted a raise.
• Word Forms meagerly meagerness

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4. pivotal

• pivotal (adj.) of vital or critical
• Importance highly important
• Sample Sentence The day her father died was a
  pivotal moment in her life.
• Sample Sentence The bombing of Pearl Harbor was
  a pivotal day in history.
• Word Forms pivotally

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5. irascible

• irascible (adj) easily provoked to anger very
  irritable
• Sample Sentence My friend is a very irascible
  person if you say hi in a wrong tone of voice,
  he will scream at you.
• Word forms irascibility irascibly

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6. indeterminate

• indeterminate (adj.) indefinite vague unknown
• Sample sentence The number pi has an
  indeterminate amount of decimal places.
• Sample sentence The tornado caused an
  indeterminate amount of damage.
• Forms indeterminable

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7. sage

• sage (adj.) wise especially if the wisdom is a
  result of age and experience
• Ex. Even though you think your teacher is nagging
  you, she might just be trying to give you some
  sage advice.
• Word forms sagacity, sage (n) wise person

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8. stupefied

• stupefied (adj). Stunned or amazed
• Sample Sentence The sudden explosion left the
  bystanders stupefied.
• Word Forms stupefy

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9. vigilant

• vigilant (adj.) watchful alert especially in
  times of danger
• Sample Sentence The vigilant watchman scanned
  the surroundings for intruders.
• Word Forms vigilance vigilante vigilantly

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10. oblivion

• oblivion (n.) state of being completely forgotten
• Sample sentence History prevents our past
  mistakes from disappearing into oblivion.
• Word Forms oblivious

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• 1. enigma (n) a mystery a puzzle
• 2. hindrance (n) an obstruction or difficulty
• 3. meager (adj.) small, inadequate poor
• 4. pivotal (adj.) of vital or critical importance
• 5. irascible (adj.) easily provoked to anger
  very irritable
• 6. indeterminate (adj.) indefinite vague subtle
• 7. sage (adj.) very wise, especially if the
  wisdom is a result of age and experience
• 8. stupefied (adj.) stunned amazed
• 9. vigilant (adj.) watchful alert, especially in
  times of danger
• 10. oblivion (n.) state of being completely
  forgotten