Vocabulary List – Week 1

I plan on putting out a weekly vocabulary list that I provide to my children for them to study.
Below is this week’s vocabulary list as promised:

Collop \ KOL-uhp \ noun;
1. A small slice of meat. I was given a collop of roast beef for dinner.
2. A small slice, portion, or piece of anything. The horse bit a collop out of my arm.
altruistic \al-troo-IS-tik\ adjective:
1. Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others.
 The soldier’s altruistic act saved the rest of his troop.
2. Animal Behavior. Of or pertaining to behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, often its close relatives. Lemmings, in an altruistic act, may leap off a cliff to reduce their own numbers when food is insufficient.
numb   [nuhm] adjective -er, -est, verb, adjective
1. deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move: fingers numb with cold.
2. manifesting or resembling numbness: a numb sensation.
3. incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate: numb with grief.
fal·ter   [fawl-ter] verb (used without object)
1. to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
2. to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
3. to move unsteadily; stumble.
al·lege   [uh-lej] verb (used with object), -leged, -leg·ing.
1. to assert without proof. I allege that my teacher hates tomatoes.
2. to declare with positiveness; affirm; assert: to allege a fact.
3. to declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath. I allege that my father hates celery.
ab·rupt   [uh-bruhpt] adjective
1. sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
2. curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.
3. terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.
4. having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.
5. steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.
fes·toon   [fe-stoon] verb (used with object)
1. to adorn with or as with festoons: to festoon a hall.
2. to form into festoons: to festoon flowers and leaves. The vase was festooned with many decorations. The hallway was festooned with ribbons and streamers.
di·vert   [dih-vurt] verb (used with object)
1. to turn aside or from a path or course; deflect. My mom saw a child on the road and diverted her car around them.
2. British . to route (traffic) on a detour.
3. to draw off to a different course, purpose, etc.
4. to distract from serious occupation; entertain or amuse. The television diverted my attention when I was supposed to do my homework.
as·sail·ant   [uh-sey-luhnt] noun
1. a person who attacks. The assailant attempted to hit me with a stick.
hes·i·ta·tion   [hez-i-tey-shuhn] noun
1. the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear: His hesitation cost him the championship.
2. a state of doubt or uncertainty.
3. a halting or faltering in speech.
in·quire   [in-kwahyuhr] verb, -quired, -quir·ing. verb (used without object)
1. to seek information by questioning; ask: to inquire about a person.
2. to make investigation (usually followed by into ): to inquire into the incident.
grog·gy   [grog-ee] adjective, -gi·er, -gi·est.
1. staggering, as from exhaustion or blows: a boxer groggy from his opponent’s hard left jab.
2. dazed and weakened, as from lack of sleep: Late nights always make me groggy the next morning.
re·luc·tant   [ri-luhk-tuhnt] adjective
1. unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant candidate.

un·der·priv·i·leged   [uhn-der-priv-uh-lijd, -priv-lijd] adjective
1. denied the enjoyment of the normal privileges or rights of a society because of low economic and social status. If I don’t have enough to eat today, I feel underprivileged.
ju·ve·nile   [joo-vuh-nl, -nahyl] adjective
1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable or intended for young persons: juvenile books.
2. young; youthful: juvenile years.
3. immature; childish; infantile: His juvenile tantrums are not in keeping with his age.
rue·ful   [roo-fuhl] adjective
1. causing sorrow or pity; pitiable; deplorable: a rueful plight.
2. feeling, showing, or expressing sorrow or pity; mournful; doleful: the rueful look on her face.
re·morse   [ri-mawrs] noun
1. deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction. I have remorse for having taken the cookie from the cookie jar, especially since I was caught.
2. Obsolete . pity; compassion. I have deep remorse for the loss of life in the car accident.
en·mi·ty   [en-mi-tee] noun, plural -ties.
1. a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism. Ever since I accidentally kicked my friend, he stares at me with severe enmity.
quar·rel    [kwawr-uhl] noun, verb, -reled, -rel·ing
1. an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations. I had a quarrel with my friend and I no longer want to speak with them.
2. a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling: She has no quarrel with her present salary.
re·pu·di·ate   [ri-pyoo-dee-eyt] verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim.
2. to cast off or disown: to repudiate a son.
3. to reject with disapproval or condemnation: to repudiate a new doctrine.
4. to reject with denial: to repudiate a charge as untrue.
5. to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.