New Words for Grade 12

100 Words list: 2020-10-17, 2019-12-07

subpoena   n. a legal document ordering someone to appear in a law court
marginally   ad. to only a limited extent; slightly
haptic   a. relating to the sense of touch
acoustic   a. relating to sound or the sense of hearing
dieback   n. a condition in which a tree begins to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backwards
severity   n. fact or condition of being severe
creaky   a. bad in some way because it is old or old-fashioned
ill-timed   a. occurring at or planned for an unsuitable time
terrace   v. make sloping land into a number of level flat areas resembling a series of steps
irrigation   n. supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels
vilification   n. abusively disparaging speech or writing
frenzied   a. wildly excited or uncontrolled
prime-time   n. regularly occurring time at which a television audience is expected to be greatest
stipend   n. a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance
collaborator   n. a person who works jointly on an activity or project; an associate
enshrine   v. place a revered or precious object in an appropriate receptacle
infringe   v. actively break the terms of a law or agreement
knack   n. an acquired or natural skill at performing a task
unabashed   a. not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed
influencer   n. a person or thing that influences another
drop shipper   n. agent, distributor, or retailer who earns a commission on orders passed on to the manufacturer or original supplier
knock off   n. a copy that sells for less than the original
blatant   a. done openly and unashamedly
barbaric   a. savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal
brand   v. consider or refer to something as being bad
culminate   v. reach a climax or point of highest development
bear no resemblance   v. not be similar to someone or something else
bolster   v. support or strengthen; prop up
ramp up   v. increase or cause to increase in the amount
cull   v. kill animals, especially the weaker members of them, in order to reduce or limit their number
mink   n. a small animal with valuable fur that is used to make expensive coats, or the fur from this animal
draconian   a. excessively harsh and severe
chatter   n. incessant trivial talk
skirmish   n. an episode of irregular fighting, especially between small parts of armies or fleets
stunned   a. so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react; astonished
incursion   n. an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one
afloat   a. out of debt or difficulty
prose   n. written language in its ordinary form rather than poetry
implication   n. a conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated
grapple   v. engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons
rowdy   a. noisy and disorderly
grubby   a. dirty; grimy
to heart's content   ad. as much or as often as you like
personnel   n. people employed in an organization to undertake such as military service
fluctuate   v. rise and fall irregularly in number or amount
grouse   v. complain pettily; grumble
outpouring   n. something that streams out rapidly
sedition   n. conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch
secession   n. action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body
subversion   n. undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution
complacency   n. a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements
brace   v. support an object in order to stop it from falling down
grueling   a. extremely tiring and demanding
brawl   n. a rough or noisy fight or quarrel
elbow out of   v. pressure someone to depart something
phony   n. a fraudulent person or thing
surreptitious   a. kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
furlough   v. grant a leave of absence to
grapple   v. engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle
abet   v. encourage or assist someone to do something wrong
flout   v. openly disregard a rule, law or convention
stroll   n. walk in a leisurely way
diocese   n. a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church
mortuary   n. a place in which dead bodies are kept until burial
bout   n. a short period of intense activity of a specified kind, outbreak
wind up   v. conclude or finish something
spook   v. frighten; unnerve
accordance   n. following or obeying a rule, law, wish
come under fire   v. be criticized, be attacked with guns
constituent   n. a member of an electoral district
dire   a. extremely serious or urgent
pandemic   n. a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world
kick   v. run at a faster speed during the last part of a race
clog   v. block or become blocked with an accumulation of thick, wet matter
draconian   a. excessively harsh and severe
lock down   v. confine of prisoners to their cells, typically after an escape or to regain control during a riot
excruciate   v. torment someone physically or mentally
shortfall   n. a deficit of something required or expected
stark   a. severe or bare in appearance or outline
repatriate   v. send someone back to their own country
en route   ad. during the course of a journey; on the way
epidemic   n. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease
epicenter   n. the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake
parlor   n. a sitting room in a private house
makeshift   a, serving as a temporary substitute; sufficient for the time being
grim   a. causing feelings of sadness or worry, gloomy or depressing
siphon   v. draw off or convey liquid by means of a long and small tube
know-how   n. practical knowledge or skill; expertise
respiratory   a. relating to breathing
quarantine   v. impose isolation on
stratospheric   a. relating to the layer of the earth's atmosphere extending to about 50 km above the earth's surface
rover   n. a vehicle for driving over rough terrain
spearhead   v. lead an attack or movement
disruptive   a. causing or tending to cause disorder or trouble
destabilize   v. upset the stability of; cause unrest in
magnum   n. a thing of a type that is larger than normal, in particular
opus   n. any artistic work, especially one on a large scale
prequel   n. a story or movie containing events that precede those of an existing work
spin-off   n. a byproduct or incidental result of a larger project
evangelist   n. a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching