"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 36

Philip Geer's "Simon's Saga" includes 820 SAT-level words and gives students an entertaining glimpse into college life.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 11, Episode 12, Episode 13, Episode 14, Episode 15, Episode 16, Episode 17, Episode 18, Episode 19, Episode 20, Episode 21, Episode 22, Episode 23, Episode 24, Episode 25, Episode 26, Episode 27, Episode 28, Episode 29, Episode 30, Episode 31, Episode 32, Episode 33, Episode 34, Episode 35, Episode 36, Episode 37
20 words 306 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. gesticulate
    show, express, or direct through movement
    The other women were looking at her as she talked, gesticulating expressively.
  2. minute
    infinitely or immeasurably small
    Miss Bridget was looking intently at Christine, and seemed to be following the most minute changes in Christine’s facial expressions.
  3. resonate
    evoke or suggest a strong meaning or belief
    You could see her whole body resonate to Christine’s expressions.
  4. alchemy
    the way two individuals relate to each other
    Miss Bridget had, presumably, received Christine’s emotion, processed it by whatever complex alchemy females process feelings, and then returned it, with her own feelings added.
  5. stigmatize
    condemn or openly brand as disgraceful
    Now, Simon thought, if a guy listened to another guy like that—actually tried to listen—he’d be totally stigmatized, maybe even ostracized, for violating the onerous, totally unyielding statutes of Guy World.
  6. ostracize
    expel from a community or group
    Now, Simon thought, if a guy listened to another guy like that—actually tried to listen—he’d be totally stigmatized, maybe even ostracized, for violating the onerous, totally unyielding statutes of Guy World.
  7. statute
    an act passed by a legislative body
    Now, Simon thought, if a guy listened to another guy like that—actually tried to listen—he’d be totally stigmatized, maybe even ostracized, for violating the onerous, totally unyielding statutes of Guy World.
  8. preposterous
    inviting ridicule
    It was preposterous.
  9. rapacious
    excessively greedy and grasping
    It seemed almost aggressive, even rapacious at times, the listening.
  10. enervate
    weaken physically, mentally, or morally
    It must be exhausting, Simon thought—completely enervating.
  11. harrowing
    causing extreme distress
    No wonder most women didn’t really bother much with those movies—they had their own far more harrowing movies.
  12. hirsute
    having or covered with hair
    His shirt was open, showing much of his hirsute chest.
  13. hiatus
    an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
    All three women had a look of total aloofness, like all they were thinking about in the whole world was what they were going to discuss after this little hiatus in the action.
  14. megalomania
    a psychological state characterized by delusions of grandeur
    But that smacked of megalomania.
  15. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    DelMonico’s was, as usual, packed, so there was a din.
  16. intermittent
    stopping and starting at irregular intervals
    Simon was not an expert lip-reader, but he could make out a few words intermittently—quarterback, nice, so he—but nothing continuous.
  17. inconspicuous
    not prominent or readily noticeable
    As inconspicuously as he could, he craned his neck.
  18. propensity
    a disposition to behave in a certain way
    People at gabfests seemed to have a propensity for saving the really juicy bits for later so they could look forward to them.
  19. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    That way, when they finally got around to them, which, it appeared, could be several hours from now, they could be relished all the more.
  20. nuance
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
    But not nearly as satisfying as analyzing it in depth, examining every nuance, every scenario, every implication.
Created on Tue Aug 19 09:36:02 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 19 17:41:29 EDT 2014)

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