Speak Vocabulary
1st Marking Period
obscene: offensive to the mind
abstinence: act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite
savant: a learned person
thespian: a theatrical performer
faction: a dissenting clique
indoctrination: teaching someone to accept beliefs uncritically
demerit: a mark against a person or group for misconduct or failure
humble: marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
testament: strong evidence for something
insulate: surround with material to protect from heat, cold, or noise
inconspicuous: not prominent or readily noticeable
varsity: the top team at a high school or university
sanctuary: a shelter from danger or hardship
flee: run away quickly
canopy: a covering (usually of cloth) that shelters an area
bellow: shout loudly and without restraint
errant: straying from the right course or from accepted standards
alcove: a small recess opening off a larger room
wan: deficient in color suggesting physical or emotional distress
pseudo: not genuine but having the appearance of
scheme: form intrigues in an underhand manner
intimidated: made scared or fearful as by threats
rally: a large gathering of people intended to arouse enthusiasm
potpourri: a jar of mixed flower petals and spices used as perfume
incite: urge on; cause to act
mayhem: violent and needless disturbance
flounder: behave awkwardly or with difficulty
patron: someone who supports or champions something
blather: talk foolishly
interim: the time between one event, process, or period and another
deprive: keep from having, keeping, or obtaining
interrogation: an instance of questioning
baffle: be a mystery or bewildering to
ensemble: a coordinated outfit (set of clothing)
squabble: argue over petty things
splurge: indulge oneself
frenzy: state of violent mental agitation
abduct: take away to an undisclosed location against their will
embroider: decorate with needlework
rumor: gossip passed around by word of mouth
2nd Marking Period
ecology: study of the relations of organisms to their environment
endangered: in imminent threat of extinction
slaughter: a sound defeat
buccaneer: someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea
patriarch: the male head of family or tribe
refurbish: improve the appearance or functionality of
conjugate: add inflections showing person, number, gender, or tense
unpredictable: unknown in advance
immigration: movement of people into a country or area
intolerant: unwilling to tolerate difference of opinion
xenophobic: having abnormal fear or hatred of foreigners
eloquent: expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
harried: troubled persistently, especially with petty annoyances
anonymous: having no known name or identity or known source
wince: draw back, as with fear or pain
bleak: offering little or no hope
anthropologist: a social scientist specializing in the study of humanity
rummage: search haphazardly
homely: without artificial refinement or elegance
incompetence: lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications
violation: an act that disregards an agreement or a right
illegible: unable to be read
amber: of a medium to dark brownish yellow color
floe: a flat mass of ice drifting at sea
downtrodden: abused or oppressed by people in power
demure: shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
dribble: propel a ball by repeated taps or kicks
humiliation: strong feelings of embarrassment
tentacle: a flexible appendage adapted for grasping or feeling
vermilion: of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
retention: the power of holding back liquid
demented: affected with madness or insanity
grammar: the branch of linguistics that deals with sentence structure
gnarled: old and twisted and covered in lines
dormant: inactive but capable of becoming active
cue: a reminder for some action or speech
apparently: seemingly; as far as one can tell
abysmal: very great; limitless
chisel: an edge tool with a flat steel blade with a cutting edge
menacing: threatening evil or danger
3rd Marking Period
budget: a sum of money allocated for a particular purpose
fumble: feel about uncertainly or blindly
trudge: walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
conundrum: a difficult problem
decent: sufficient for the purpose
tenure: give life-time employment to
full-fledged: having gained complete status
seep: pass gradually or leak or as if through small openings
reputation: the general estimation that the public has for a person
spangled: covered with beads or jewels or sequins
consequence: the outcome of an event
asylum: a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced people
bigoted: blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion
misdemeanor: a crime less serious than a felony
felony: a serious crime, such as murder or arson
colleague: an associate that one works with
pluck: pull lightly but sharply
shard: a broken piece of a brittle artifact
venison: meat from a deer used as food
carcass: the dead body of an animal
obnoxious: causing disapproval or protest
dissect: cut open or cut apart
germinate: sprout; produce buds or branches
strategy: an elaborate and systematic plan of action
vulnerable: capable of being wounded or hurt
gauzy: so thin as to transmit light
harem: living quarters for wives in some Muslim households
titter: laugh nervously
wistful: showing pensive sadness
banshee: a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death
analyze: consider in detail in order to discover essential features
psychiatric: relating to the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
jabber: rapid and indistinct speech
deranged: driven insane
gargoyle: an ornament consisting of a grotesquely carved figure
4th Marking Period
petition: a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
tenacious: stubbornly unyielding
tension: a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
profoundly: to a great depth psychologically
alien: a person who comes from a foreign country
genetics: the study of heredity and variation in organisms
momentum: an impelling force or strength
blight: any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
muse: the source of an artist's inspiration
rambling: straying from the main point or covering a range of subjects
suffragette: a woman advocate of women's right to vote
scowl: frown with displeasure
escort: accompany
quantum: the smallest discrete quantity of some physical property
tactic: a plan for attaining a particular goal
delinquency: an antisocial misdeed in violation of the law by a minor
toxic: of or relating to or caused by a poison
coax: influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
callus: a skin area that is thick or hard from continual pressure
obtain: receive a specified treatment
exemption: immunity from an obligation or duty
sleazy: morally degraded
maladjusted: emotionally unstable and having difficulty coping with personal relationships
pry: move or force in an effort to get something open
indenture: bind by a contract for work, as an apprentice or servant
chenille: a heavy fabric woven from soft tufted cord
leper: a pariah who is avoided by others
afghan: a blanket knitted or crocheted in strips or squares
allegedly: according to what has been declared but not proved
loathsome: highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust