Syllabication: plural aus·pic·es /-p&-s&z, -"sEz/
Pronunciation: 'os-p&s
Part of Speech: Plural
Origin: Latin auspicium, from auspic-, auspex diviner by birds,
from avis bird + specere to look, look at -- more at
AVIARY, SPY
Meaning: favorable influence, omenSynonyms: Omen, Portent, Presage, Prognostic
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection:
1 : observation by an augur especially of the flight and feeding of birds to discover omens 2 plural : kindly patronage and guidance
How the word is used in the dictionary: The school fair was held
under the auspices of the Parent’s association.
Student’s use of the word: J.S. prom was held under the auspices
of the principal.
The Word: Bulge
Syllabication: bul/ge
Pronunciation: [buhlj]
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle English boulge, bouge leather bag, curved part, from
Anglo-French bouge bag -- more at BUDGET
Meaning: swelling
Synonyms: None
Antonyms: hole, hollow
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: You can notice the bulge in
his pocket.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Censure
Syllabication: Cen/sure
Pronunciation: 'sen(t)-sh&r
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Latin : NONE
Meaning: Criticism,blame
Synonyms: admonishment, admonition, blame, castigation,
condemnation
Antonyms: approval, blessing, praise
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: Censure is sometimes
harder to bear than punishment.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Derelict
Syllabication: der·e·lict
Pronunciation: 'der-&-"likt, 'de-r&-
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: Latin derelictus, past participle of derelinquere to abandon,
from de- + relinquere to leave -- more at RELINQUISH
Meaning:
1: abandoned especially by the owner or occupant; also : Run-
down
2: lacking a sense of duty : Negligent
Synonyms: pauper, poor man
Antonyms: derelict, delinquent, neglectful, remiss
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: A derelict ship.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Embark
Syllabication: em·bark
Pronunciation: \im-ˈbärk\
Part of Speech: Verb
Origin: Middle French embarquer, from Old Occitan embarcar,
from em- (from Latin in-) + barca bark
Meaning:
Synonyms: Begin, commence get, start out, start, set about
Antonyms: disembark, debark, set down
Inflection:
Intransitive verb
1 : to go on board a vehicle for transportation
2 : to make a start
Transitive verb
1 : to cause to go on board (as a boat or airplane)
2 : to engage, enlist, or invest in an enterprise
How the word is used in the dictionary: The troops embarked for
France.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Feasible
Syllabication: fea·si·ble
Pronunciation: \ˈfē-zə-bəl\
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: Middle English faisible, from Anglo-French faisable, from
fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere
Meaning:
1 : capable of being done or carried out
2 : capable of being used or dealt with successfully
: suitable
3 : reasonable, likely
Synonyms: feasible, practicable, viable, workable
Antonyms: Impossible
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: The comitee selected the
plan that seemed most feasible.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Gawk
Syllabication: gawk
Pronunciation: \ˈgȯk\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Probably from English dialect gawk left-handed
Meaning: A clumsy stupid person : lout
Synonyms: Lout, klutz, clod, stumblebum, goon, oaf, lubber,
lummox, lump, gawk
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: What are you gawking at?
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Hectic
Syllabication: hec·tic
Pronunciation: \ˈhek-tik\
Part of Speech: adjective
Origin: Middle English etyk, from Anglo-French etique, from Late
Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos habitual, consumptive,
from echein to have — more at scheme
Meaning: Of, relating to, or being a fluctuating but persistent
fever (as in tuberculosis) : having a hectic fever : red,
flushed : characterized by activity, excitement, or
confusion
Synonyms: feverish, hectic
Antonyms: unagitated, undisturbed
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: I’ve been so tired this day.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Indebted
Syllabication: in·debt·ed
Pronunciation: \in-ˈde-təd\
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: Middle English indetted, from Anglo-French endetté, past
participle of endetter to run into debt, from en- + dette debt
Meaning: owing gratitude or recognition to another : beholden,,,
owing money
Synonyms: obligated(predicate) (vs. unobligated)
Antonyms: INDIRECT (VIA obligated) -> unobligated
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: We are indebted to him.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Jargon
Syllabication: jar·gon
Pronunciation: \ˈjär-gən, -ˌgän\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French jargun, gargon
Meaning: confused unintelligible language : a strange, outlandish, or
barbarous language or dialect : a hybrid language or dialect
simplified in vocabulary and grammar and used for
communication between peoples of different speech: the
technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special
activity or group: obscure and often pretentious language
marked by circumlocutions and long words
Synonyms: cant, jargon, slang, lingo, argot, patois, vernacular
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: jar·gony --Adjective
How the word is used in the dictionary: The jargon of foreigners.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Kernel
Syllabication: ker·nel
Pronunciation: \ˈkər-nəl\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle English, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn.
Meaning: chiefly dialect : a fruit seed: the inner softer part of a
seed, fruit stone, or nut: a whole seed of a cereal corn>: a central or essential part : germ
M. Lyman>: a subset of the elements of one set (as a group)
that a function (as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity
element of another set
Synonyms: grain, caryopsis
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary: The kernel of his
argument.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Ledge
Syllabication: ledge
Pronunciation: \ˈlej\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle English legge bar of a gate
Meaning: : a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to
protect or check : an underwater ridge or
reef especially near the shore : a narrow flat surface or
shelf; especially : one that projects from a wall of rock
: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges
: bedrock
Synonyms: ridge
Antonyms: None
Inflection: ledgy -- Adjective
How the word is used in the dictionary: The window ledge is very
clean.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Mope
Syllabication: Mope
Pronunciation: \ˈmōp\
Part of Speech: Intransitive Verb
Origin: probably from obsolete mop, mope fool
Meaning: archaic : to act in a dazed or stupid manner: to give
oneself up to brooding : become listless or dejected: to move
slowly or aimlessly : dawdle
Synonyms: idler, loafer, do-nothing, layabout, bum
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: mop·er noun - mop·ey adjective
How the word is used in the dictionary: After he failed in the
exam he was just moping around.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Nod
Syllabication: Nod
Pronunciation: \ˈnäd\
Part of Speech: Verb
Origin: Middle English nodden; perhaps akin to Old High German
hnotōn to shake
Meaning: intransitive verb : to make a quick downward motion of
the head whether deliberately (as in expressing assent or
salutation) or involuntarily (as from drowsiness) : to incline
or sway from the vertical as though ready to fall : to bend
or sway the upper part gently downward or forward : bob
gently : to make a slip or error in a moment of abstraction.
transitive verb : to incline (as the head) downward or
forward : to bring, invite, or send by a nod
: to signify by a nod
Synonyms: gesture, motion, gesticulation
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: nod·ded; nod·ding
How the word is used in the dictionary: His head is nodding.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Orgy
Syllabication: or·gy
Pronunciation: \ˈȯr-jē\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle French orgie, from Latin orgia, plural, from Greek;
akin to Greek ergon work — more at work
Meaning: secret ceremonial rites held in honor of an ancient Greek
or Roman deity and usually characterized by ecstatic singing
and dancing a: drunken revelry : a sexual encounter involving
many people; also : an excessive sexual indulgence: excessive
indulgence in something especially to satisfy an inordinate
appetite or craving
Synonyms: indulgence, indulging, pampering, humoring, pleasing
Antonyms: Noun
Inflection: plural orgies plural orgies
How the word is used in the dictionary: An orgy of killing.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Peculiarity
Syllabication: pe·cu·liar·i·ty
Pronunciation: \pi-ˌkyül-ˈya-rə-tē, -ˌkyü-lē-ˈa-\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: None
Meaning: the quality or state of being peculiar : a distinguishing characteristic : oddity, quirk
Synonyms: feature, characteristic
Antonyms: None
Inflection: plural pe·cu·liar·i·ties
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word: The peculiarities of a language.
The Word: Quaver
Syllabication: qua·ver
Pronunciation: \ˈkwā-vər\
Part of Speech: Verb
Origin: Middle English, frequentative of quaven to tremble
Meaning: Tremble, Trill,
Synonyms: Sound
Antonyms: None
Inflection: qua·vered; qua·ver·ing
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word: His voice is quavering when he recitein
the front of the class.
The Word: Ramification
Syllabication: ram·i·fi·ca·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌra-mə-fə-ˈkā-shən\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: NONE
Meaning: : branch, offshoot
Synonyms: Division
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: NONE
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Sarcasm
Syllabication: sar·casm
Pronunciation:
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: : French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin
sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear
flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh;
probably akin to Avestan thwarəs- to cut
Meaning: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to
cut or give pain : a mode of satirical wit depending for its
effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is
usually directed against an individual : the use or language of
sarcasm
Synonyms: wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness
Antonyms: None
Inflection: None
How the word is used in the dictionary: “How unselfish you are!”
said mary in sarcasm as john took the biggest piece of cake.
Student’s use of the word: “How beautiful you are!”
said Paulo in sarcasm as Girao put face powder to her face.
The Word: Tatter
Syllabication:
Pronunciation: \ˈta-tər\
Part of Speech: Verb
Origin: None
Meaning: to make ragged
Synonyms: rag, shred, tag, tag end, tatter
Antonyms: None
Inflection: None
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Untidy
Syllabication: un·ti·dy
Pronunciation: \-ˈtī-dē\
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: NONE
Meaning: not neat
Synonms: blowsy, blowzy, slatternly, sluttish
Antonyms: clean-cut, trig, trim
Inflection: un·ti·di·ly adverb un·ti·di·ness noun
How the word is used in the dictionary: His handwriting is untidy.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Valiant
Syllabication: val·iant
Pronunciation: \ˈval-yənt\
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: Middle English vailant, valiant, from Anglo-French vaillant
Meaning: possessing or acting with bravery or boldness
Synonyms: brave (vs. cowardly), courageous, fearless
Antonyms: cowardly, coward, fearful
Inflection: val·iant·ly adverb val·iant·ness noun
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word: All CAT officers are all valiant.
The Word: Wane
Syllabication: Wane
Pronunciation: \ˈwān\
Part of Speech: Intransitive Verb
Origin: NONE
Meaning: to decrease in size
Synonyms: decline, diminution
Antonyms: wax
Inflection: waned
How the word is used in the dictionary: The moon wanes after it
has became full.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Yawning
Syllabication: yawn·ing
Pronunciation: \ˈyȯ-niŋ\
Part of Speech: Adjective
Origin: None
Meaning: wide open
Synonyms: breathe, take a breath, respire
Antonyms: NONE
Inflection: None
How the word is used in the dictionary: I saw a yawning hole.
Student’s use of the word:
The Word: Zenith
Syllabication: ze·nith
Pronunciation: \ˈzē-nəth, Canada also & British usually ˈze-nəth, -
nith\
Part of Speech: Noun
Origin: Middle English cenyth, senyth, from Middle French cenit,
from Medieval Latin, from Old Spanish zenit, modification
of Arabic samt (al-ra's) way (over one's head)
Meaning: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite
the nadir and vertically above the observer — see azimuth
illustration : the highest point reached in the heavens by a
celestial body : culminating point : acme
Synonyms: celestial point
Antonyms: nadir
Inflection: None
How the word is used in the dictionary:
Student’s use of the word:
