New Words for Grade 12

100 Words list: 2020-03-28, 2019-03-18

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
resurrection   n. state of one risen from the dead
purport   v. appear or claim to be or do something, profess
leniency   n. fact or quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected
media outlet   n. a newspaper, television company or other mass media which publishes news stories
trove   n. a store of valuable or delightful things
infiltrate   v. access to somewhere surreptitiously and gradually, especially to acquire secret information
remorseful   a. annoyed, regretful, vexed
hindsight   n. understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed
intercession   n. the action of intervening on behalf of another
preeminent   a. surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way
enmity   n. state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone
longstanding   a. having existed or continued for a long time
push back   v. delay something; postpone; oppose or resist a plan
painstaking   a. extremely careful and correct, and involving a lot of effort
post-mortem   n. a medical examination of a dead person's body in order to find out the cause of death
short-change   v. give less than the correct amount of change to
prosthetic   a. denoting an artificial body part, such as a limb, a heart, or a breast implant
debacle   n. a sudden failure
jog   v. rouse to alertness
vibe   n. atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others
prompt   v. give or show without delay
whistle-blower   n. one who reveals something covert or who informs against another
impeachment   n. charging with a crime or misdemeanor
coniferous   a. any of an order (Coniferales) of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having usually needle-shaped
deciduous   a. (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually
sequester   v. isolate or hide away (someone or something)
stewardship   n. the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property
galvanize   v. shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action
kneecap   v. shoot (someone) in the knee or leg as a form of punishment
dwindle   v. diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength
meticulous   a. showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
netizen   n. a user of the Internet, especially a habitual or avid one
comb   v. search carefully and systematically
craggy   a. (of a landscape) abrupt, cliffy, steep
melancholy   n. a feeling of thoughtful sadness
down   n. a gently rolling hill
none other than   n. one is surprised or impressed by the person or thing one is about to mention
cracksman   n. a burglar, especially a safecracker
muzzle   n.  the open end of the barrel of a firearm
temple   n. the flat area on either side of the forehead
sardonic   a. disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
ascetic   a. pertaining to practice of rigorous self-discipline
gloom   n. a state of partial or total darkness
bode   v. indicate by signs
tide waiter   n. a customs inspector at a seaport
monger   n. someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
woo   v. seek someone's favor
deprive   v. take away possessions from someone
frenzy   n. a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior
tirade   n. a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
gibe   n. being compatible, similar or consistent
sneer   n. a contemptuous or scornful remark
cronyism   n. appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications
stain   n. a colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove
taint   v. contaminate or pollute something
socialite   n. a person who is well known in fashionable society and is fond of social activities
dilettante   n. a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real knowledge
grudge   n. a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment
handed-down   a. passed on to a later generation or age
hairdo   n. style of a person's hair
crew cut   n. a very short haircut for men and boys
in full swing   ad. in full operation, at the highest level of activity
homeroom   n. a classroom in which a group of students assembles daily with the same teacher