125 Words Every 7th Grader Should Know: List 8

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. calamity
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    Windstorms, lightning fires, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and other natural calamities knock down trees and open up the forest, or prevent open country from turning into forestland. 1491
  2. casual
    marked by a lack of concern
    Liam tried to keep his voice casual, but his eyes had darkened, obviously troubled. The Darkest Minds
  3. chortle
    laugh quietly or with restraint
    I chortled delightedly as it came back to me. Elliott, Francis Perry
  4. cower
    show submission or fear
    The tiger roared furiously and the girl cowered. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
  5. curt
    brief and to the point
    His morning announcements were short and curt, and he didn’t say anything about the scoreboard. Made You Up
  6. dormant
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
    He had planted a seed, and though I let that seed lie dormant for a long season, it eventually began to grow. Long Walk to Freedom
  7. dubious
    not convinced
    I must have looked dubious, for he said: “Really, I do.” Black Boy
  8. falter
    speak haltingly
    His voice faltered—like he wasn’t sure if he was saying it right this time. Harbor Me
  9. idle
    not in action or at work
    His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the animals were underfed. Animal Farm: A Fairy Story
  10. keen
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    But in the meantime, I employed my keen powers of observation rather than beastly force. Salt to the Sea
    not sure if this is the def you wanted
  11. lament
    express grief verbally
    He would scold her gently and lament, “Am I never to have a grandson?” Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
  12. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    The ornate lobby, with its marble columns and twisting staircases, leads to a lush, domed auditorium with seating for about 650 and decorated with a colorful timeline fresco detailing the country’s history. New York Times (Nov 8, 2018)
  13. perpetual
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    One side of the planet is in perpetual day time, and the other in perpetual night — with a huge temperature difference between the two. Scientific American (Jan 4, 2011)
  14. recede
    become faint or more distant
    Presently the voices began to recede again, and then they slowly faded away. The Two Towers
  15. relentless
    never-ceasing
    The sun was relentless and eternal: There was neither wisp of cloud nor whiff of breeze for relief. A Long Walk to Water
  16. sociable
    inclined to or conducive to companionship with others
    "He was very bubbly, outgoing, sociable and caring," she added. BBC (May 10, 2021)
  17. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    After we told her that she couldn’t see Mayor anymore, Maribel grew moody and sullen. The Book of Unknown Americans
  18. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    When everyone is seated, Miss Larsen pulls a loop on a string and a colorful map of the world unfurls on the wall. Orphan Train
  19. waft
    be driven or carried along, as by the air
    The smell of the spices on the chicken wafted up, and a pang of hunger hit Moss again. Anger Is a Gift
  20. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    But as the servant lifted the fish, it writhed and twisted, jumping out of the servant's hands. When the Sea Turned to Silver
Created on Thu Dec 02 09:37:06 EST 2021 (updated Tue Dec 14 09:11:23 EST 2021)

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