English Vocabulary 10th Grade: Definitions and Context Clues

Vocabulary Definitions

• Turbulent: Characterizes a state of disorder or unrest, often associated with violence or agitation.
• Soporific: Means inducing sleep; synonymous terms include drowsy or lethargic.
• Hie: Defined as to hurry or hasten, generally implying urgency in movement.
• Crag: Refers to a steep, rugged cliff or rock face.
• Ebb: Describes the receding movement of the tide; metaphorically, it indicates a decline or fading away.
• Abyss: Synonymous with a deep or bottomless chasm, often representing vast emptiness or a profound void.
• Moron: Viewed as a derogatory term for someone perceived as foolish or lacking intelligence.
• Oblivion: Characterized by a state of being forgotten or unaware, often with a sense of emptiness or nothingness.

Economic Terms

• Peso: The basic monetary unit in countries like Mexico, the Philippines, and several Latin American countries.
• Lira: Historically used as the basic monetary unit in Italy and Turkey, mentioned in a historical context.

Emotional and Behavioral Descriptions

• Fervor: Signifies intense and passionate feeling, often related to enthusiasm for an idea or cause.
• Frivolity: Refers to a lack of seriousness; often associated with trivial or light-hearted behavior.
• Placid: Represents a state of calmness and serenity, indicating peacefulness.

Contextual Uses

• Tense, over-tired, mind-fatigued businessmen: Engaged in stressful activities, potentially leading to burnout or mental fatigue.
• Foliage: Used by Coxe to describe plant leaves or vegetation, often conveying imagery of nature.
• Ovation: Refers to enthusiastic public approval or applause, as mentioned by Lynd, typically following a speech or performance.

Social and Cultural Concepts

• Heifer: Contextually used to refer to a young female cow, often in agricultural discussions.
• Zenith: Indicates the highest point of something, often used to describe peaks in success or intensity.
• Yuletide: Associated with the Christmas season; a time of celebration and festivity.

Additional Insights

• Audacious: Signifies boldness or daring, often in a way that challenges norms.
• Disparage: Means to belittle or speak of someone in a way that shows lack of respect.
• Aloof: Best defined as being emotionally detached or distant, often implying indifference.

Miscellaneous

• Infamous: Describes something widely known for a bad quality or deed.
• Cracking of craniums was the rage: Implies a trend or practice where violence or fighting was popularized.
• Prolific: Defined as fruitful or producing in abundance, often referring to creativity or productivity.
• Fruition: Represents the realization or achievement of something desired or planned.

Test your understanding of vocabulary from various literary works with definitions and context clues. Identify the meanings of words like 'turbulent' and 'soporific' based on how they are used in sentences from classic texts. Improve your English language skills with this quiz.