I know, I know - I'm posting the vocabulary early this week . . . I'm not going to be here tomorrow (Tuesday, 11/7), and I wanted to be sure that everyone had access to the definitions. It's a short week this week so quizzes and sentences will be on WEDNESDAY for E and F periods and on THURSDAY for A, B, and C periods.

Three-week projects are due on Monday, 11/6 and Tuesday, 11/7. A, B, and C - you have dialogue journals due on Thursday, 11/9. I want to get writing assignments (new ones) SOON - more info. to follow, but plan on some time in the next week . . .

Vocabulary Lesson 8:

1. adulterate - v - to corrupt, contaminate, or pollute
If a company doesn't dispose of its waste properly, neighboring water supply could be adulterated.

2. aloof - adj. - standoffish, indifferent, not interested
At parties, I tend to be aloof; I have trouble socializing with large groups.

3. apochryphal - adj. - false, counterfeit
The student invented apochryphal tales to explain why his homework was missing.

4. belittle - v - to make something seem unimportant, to trivialize
Even though my daughter's problems seem trivial to me, I try not to belittle them because they are important to her.

5. capitulate - v - to surrender, to give in
If we don't capitulate to the criminal's demands, she may kill the hostages.

6. crestfallen - adj. - discouraged, disappointed
I was crestfallen when I discovered that I hadn't even been nominated for teacher of the year.

7. conciliatory - adj. - meant to soothe or reconcile
After an argument, it's nice to make conciliatory remarks to smooth things over.

8. dearth - n - shortage
I always worry about having a dearth of food - I like to stock up in case of emergency.

9. desecrate - v - to treat with disrespect
Vandals who desecrate graves with graffiti can be arrested.

10. diffident - adj. - shy; modest, unassertive
The diffident little boy didn't even correct the teacher when she called him by the wrong name.

HONORS ONLY:

11. spectral - adj. - ghostly
We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room.

12. mendacious - adj. - lying, false
The student's mendacious accusation cost the teacher her job.

13. guffaw - n - boisterous laughter
When you hear a guffaw coming from my classroom, you know it's because I've just told one of my hilarious jokes.

14. bilk - v - to swindle or cheat
At the flea market, I tried to bilk the old man so I could get the antique chairs for a song.

15. pusillanimous - adj. - cowardly, faint-hearted
It was pusillanimous to run away from the problem instead of facing the music.