Beast Mode: An Ark of Animal Words: Dog Vocabulary: A Canine Lexicon

For Fido's next new trick, teach him some of these words that describe canine companions. What's even more amazing than a talking dog? A spelling bee.
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Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. acquiescent
    willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another
    Before I became so adaptable—so acquiescent to the way my life worked—I would resist some of the transitions. Every Day
  2. agreeable
    pleasing to one's own tastes, feelings, or nature
    At the sight of his quizzical, kindly face—so sweet, so agreeable, so glad to see me—something wrenched deep in my chest. The Secret History
  3. amenable
    disposed or willing to comply
    It was he who first used the word Cosmos to denote a well-ordered and harmonious universe, a world amenable to human understanding. Cosmos
  4. attentive
    taking heed
    Her gold and silver dogs sniffed the air, but they remained calm and attentive at her side. The House of Hades
  5. canine
    a dog, wolf, jackal, or other closely related mammal
    The green eyes glowering at me are unlike any dog or wolf, any canine I've ever seen. The Hunger Games
  6. companion
    a friend who is frequently with another
    The canine center at the zoo is, in fact, one of its most popular attractions, and posters near the cages explain how to properly care for and feed—not eat—canine companions. Washington Times
  7. deferential
    showing courteous regard for people's feelings
    He is loyal and deferential to Miz Penny, and injects soul and spirit into her troubled life. Salon
  8. docile
    easily handled or managed
    The next day, right before closing, they returned the dog and asked if we had anything older or more docile. Please Ignore Vera Dietz
  9. domesticated
    converted or adapted to use in the home
    Wolves were domesticated in Eurasia and North America to become our dogs used as hunting companions, sentinels, pets, and, in some societies, food. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
  10. loyal
    unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
    “Dogs are loyal. Dogs don’t turn on you for stupid reasons,” I continued, but at a normal volume. Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
  11. obedient
    dutifully complying with the commands of those in authority
    James patted each one on top like obedient puppies. Book Scavenger
  12. tractable
    easily managed
    “That means you needed animals that were pretty tractable.” Dogs may have adapted to be more submissive, she explains, and to show it via puppy dog eyes. Scientific American
  13. pedigree
    ancestry of a purebred animal
    And when it came to dog breeds, personality varied widely within the same pedigree. Science
  14. kennel
    a building or cage that serves as a shelter for a dog
    The cage smelled of dogs and raw meat, and indeed it did look like a kennel. Inkheart
  15. frisky
    playful like a lively kitten
    Ever since getting repaired by the Amazons, the metal dogs had been frisky and full of energy—unlike their owner. The Blood of Olympus
Created on Fri Aug 17 09:25:08 EDT 2018 (updated Wed May 24 12:07:00 EDT 2023)

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