Elements of WritingElements of Writing

Vocab: Week 8Vocab: Week 8

AssiduousAssiduous

Adj: Done with diligence or careAdj: Done with diligence or care

Robert Langdon carefully attempted Robert Langdon carefully attempted to open the small coded box with to open the small coded box with assiduousassiduous and careful movements of and careful movements of his hands. If he slipped up or moved his hands. If he slipped up or moved to hastily, the contents could be to hastily, the contents could be destroyed. destroyed.

BelaborBelabor

Verb: To beat soundly; to assail or Verb: To beat soundly; to assail or attack verbally; to “beat to death”attack verbally; to “beat to death”

Mazer Rackham Mazer Rackham belaboredbelabored the point the point that young Wiggin could never give that young Wiggin could never give up, could never stop, could never up, could never stop, could never halt his training. He pounded and halt his training. He pounded and beat the idea into Wiggin’s brain. beat the idea into Wiggin’s brain.

BrusqueBrusque

Adj. Blunt; abruptAdj. Blunt; abrupt

The The brusquebrusque mother told Tom Joad mother told Tom Joad that he’s got to go. She was very that he’s got to go. She was very blunt and frank about it, which isn’t blunt and frank about it, which isn’t very surprising; the whole family is very surprising; the whole family is known for their candor and blunt known for their candor and blunt honesty. honesty.

CommensurateCommensurate Adj. Equal in extentAdj. Equal in extent corresponding or equal in size, corresponding or equal in size,

extent, amount or degreeextent, amount or degree

Jack Ryan’s position in the NSA shows Jack Ryan’s position in the NSA shows that despite being outside the three that despite being outside the three equal branches of the government, equal branches of the government, any agency can have any agency can have commensuratecommensurate power with the presidency. At the power with the presidency. At the end of the book, Ryan confronts the end of the book, Ryan confronts the President and shows he can wield President and shows he can wield just as much power.just as much power.

CommiserateCommiserate

Verb: To feel or express pity or Verb: To feel or express pity or sympathy forsympathy for

Diana Diana commiseratedcommiserated with her friend with her friend over the color of her hair. The over the color of her hair. The friend’s attempt to dye her hair black friend’s attempt to dye her hair black resulted in a horrible shade of green; resulted in a horrible shade of green; the original red hair was much nicer, the original red hair was much nicer, but Diana was there to cry with her. but Diana was there to cry with her.

EsotericEsoteric

Adj. Known only to a chosen fewAdj. Known only to a chosen few

Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler went to Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler went to the the esotericesoteric island off the coast of island off the coast of Costa Rica. There, known only to a Costa Rica. There, known only to a few people, millionaire John few people, millionaire John Hammond embarked on a grand Hammond embarked on a grand project involving cloning and genetics. project involving cloning and genetics.

FelicitousFelicitous Adj. suitable expressed or well-Adj. suitable expressed or well-

chosen; aptchosen; apt

The The felicitousfelicitous title of this book is an title of this book is an appropriate selection because Trisha appropriate selection because Trisha McFarland often hallucinates that she McFarland often hallucinates that she sees her all-time favorite baseball sees her all-time favorite baseball player while she’s lost in the woods. player while she’s lost in the woods. It’s a well-chosen title! It’s a well-chosen title!

GratuitousGratuitous

Adj: given freely; unwarrantedAdj: given freely; unwarranted

The Ring, because it was a The Ring, because it was a gratuitousgratuitous gift, didn’t overwhelm and twist the gift, didn’t overwhelm and twist the Halfling. Since his adoptive uncle Halfling. Since his adoptive uncle gave him the Ring freely, he did not gave him the Ring freely, he did not feel the powerful effects as strongly feel the powerful effects as strongly as if he had stolen it or killed to get it. as if he had stolen it or killed to get it.

HiatusHiatus

Noun. A gap or pauseNoun. A gap or pause

The gravedigger provides a bit of The gravedigger provides a bit of comic relief and a small comic relief and a small hiatushiatus to the to the drama of the play. It kick’s back up drama of the play. It kick’s back up full swing after the pause in the full swing after the pause in the intensity with the protagonist and his intensity with the protagonist and his foil tumbling into the grave of a girl foil tumbling into the grave of a girl who drowned. who drowned.

JadedJaded

Adj: to tire or dull by excess or repetition Adj: to tire or dull by excess or repetition

Marvin, a Marvin, a jadedjaded robot, does nothing but robot, does nothing but whine and complain. I don’t really whine and complain. I don’t really blame him for being worn out by the blame him for being worn out by the humdrum of the universe. He was left humdrum of the universe. He was left on a desolate planet for several million on a desolate planet for several million years until the universe came to an end. years until the universe came to an end.

Meander Meander Verb. To wind or turn in course; to Verb. To wind or turn in course; to

wanderwander

Bill Bryson Bill Bryson meanderedmeandered up the east up the east coast along the Appalachian trail. coast along the Appalachian trail. His movements turned this way and His movements turned this way and that way as he slowly worked his way that way as he slowly worked his way along the winding trail.along the winding trail.

RapaciousRapacious Adj. Excessively grasping; plunderingAdj. Excessively grasping; plundering

Fagin and his gang of Fagin and his gang of

rapaciousrapacious pick-pockets pick-pockets

tried to plunder as tried to plunder as

much as they get their much as they get their

grubby little hands on. grubby little hands on.

SardonicSardonic

Adj. Disdainful; sarcasticAdj. Disdainful; sarcastic

John Corey, a John Corey, a sardonicsardonic cop on sick cop on sick leave after being shot on duty, found leave after being shot on duty, found himself thrown into a crazy, dangerous himself thrown into a crazy, dangerous mystery full of death, mayhem, spies, mystery full of death, mayhem, spies, women, and sarcastic comments. It women, and sarcastic comments. It culminates in a climactic conclusion on culminates in a climactic conclusion on Plum Island. Plum Island.

ZenithZenith

Noun. The point directly overhead in Noun. The point directly overhead in the sky; a summitthe sky; a summit

Taran, assistant pig-keeper, battled Taran, assistant pig-keeper, battled the undead soldiers of Arawn, death the undead soldiers of Arawn, death lord, near the lord, near the zenithzenith of Mount Dragon. of Mount Dragon. Here, at the summit, he risked his life Here, at the summit, he risked his life to save the world from evil. to save the world from evil.