Austere

• very plain
• adjective
• aw-steer
• 1300–50 Middle English < Latin < Greek
• It was after dark by the time Waldo returned to the cinder-block cabin that,   all winter long,centered his austere  homestead. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/austere



This room is austere.
http://www.simplicitylove.com/2013/06/la-chiesuola-italy-marina-sinibaldi.html

Esoteric

• difficult to understand
• adjective
• es-uh-ter-ik
• 1645-55 Greek
• Some of their anthems can be a bit too intricate and esoteric  for newcomers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/esoteric?s=t



Hieroglyphics are esoteric and take many years to learn.
http://www.bl.uk/learning/images/whywrite/new/large7408.html

Facsimile

• an accurate copy
• noun
• fak-sim-uh-lee
• 1655-65 Latin
• The expanded system would also provide for facsimile  and computer data transmission. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/facsimile?s=t



The word fax is the same as facsimile.  You can use a facsimile machine to send copies from one place to another.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/facsimile

Grotesque

• strange-looking
• adjective
• groh-tesk
• 1555–65 French < Italian
• She looked like some kind of grotesque  praying mantis. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grotesque?s=t



The object on the side of the building looks like some kind of grotesque caveman.
http://groteskology.blogspot.com/2010/09/ruskin-around-2-back-in-habit.html

Mesmerize

• to fascinate
• verb
• mez-muh-rahyz, mes-
• 1820-30 German
• Sure, a simple sandbox and climbing gym are enough to mesmerize  toddlers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mesmerize?s=t



The picture mesmerizes me every time I look at it and I can't take my eyes off it.
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mesmerize-michael-durst.html

Metamorphosis

• a change in form
• noun
• met-uh-mawr-fuh-si
• 1525–35 Neo-Latin < Greek
• In earliest human life, some cells undergo a dramatic metamorphosis . http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/metamorphosis?s=t



A caterpillar changes to a butterfly in a process called metamorphosis.
http://doulafaith.org/tag/creationism/ 

Notorious

• regarded negatively
• adjective
• noh-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr-, nuh-
• 1540-50 Medieval Latin
• Spiders are notorious  hunters, luring prey into their sticky webs or ambushing them from be hind a leaf. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/notorious?s=t



The Oakland Raiders are notorious for drafting fast thugs.
http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/ice-cube-shows-his-raider-love

Perfunctory

• uninterested, boring
• adjective
• per-fuhngk-tuh-ree
• 1575-85 Late Latin
• The daughter remembers how she was too busy with city life to make anything   more than aperfunctory phone   call home. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perfunctory



The women brushes her teeth as a part of her perfunctory morning routine.
http://kidsproblem.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Brushing-Teeth.jpg

Provocative

• attention-getting
• adjective
• pruh-vok-uh-tiv
• 1375–1425 late Middle English < Late Latin
• That's a brave and provocative  idea that may not come as a complete surprise to   the latest  generation of biophysicists. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/provocative?s=t



This "Twerk Team Captain" shirt is provocative because it will draw every ones attention that walks by.
http://www.geekosystem.com/twerk-in-oed/

Travesty

• a joking, disrespectful imitation
• noun
• trav-uh-stee
• 1655–65 French < Italian < Latin
• The retraction that does not spell out what's wrong is not a retraction, it's a joke and a travesty . http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/travesty?s=t



This picture is a travesty because it mocks Edvard Munch's painting called "The Scream".
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/travesty

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Advocate

• to promote
• verb
• ad-vuh-keyt
• 1300-50 Latin < Middle French
• What I've been trying to advocate  is that it's an extremely authentic form of storytelling. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advocate?s=t



This women is trying to advocate women rights.
http://www.wagggs.org/en/about/relevance/advocacy

Antipathy

• a strong dislike
• noun
• an-tip-uh-thee
• 1595-1605 Latin < Greek
• Run- ins with the police gave him a lifelong antipathy  to authority. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antipathy?s=t



These men have an antipathy for each other because they had a big fight over a girl in high school.
http://www.phocabulary.com/animosity

Emancipate

• to free
• verb
• ih-man-suh-peyt
• 1615-25 Latin
• If you don't reach an agreement the judge will decide whether to emancipate  you   or not based on what is in your best interests. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/emancipate?s=t



The picture symbolizes someone being emancipated.  Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves.
http://www.patriotledger.com/letters/x1224700392/DIANE-CARR-Waltham-Public-groundswell-will-emancipate-animals-from-corporations

Idiosyncrasy

• a personal habit
• noun
• id-ee-uh-sing-kruh-see, -sin
• 1595-1605 Latin
• While my father had many peculiar habits, his biggest idiosyncrasy was collecting his own toenail clippings. http://wordsinasentence.com/idiosyncrasy-in-a-sentence/



My biggest idiosyncrasy is crossing things such as clothes hangers, baseball bats, and pencils.
http://en.paperblog.com/wardrobe-idiosyncrasy-or-just-crazy-obsessiveness-331096/

Imminent

• likely to occur soon
• adjective
• im-uh-nuhnt
• 1520-30 Latin
• He also discovered that its owners were in default on a federal loan and that foreclosure was imminent . http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imminent



The mans release from prison is imminent because he only has a couple days left on his sentence and he has been good. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57605146/untreated-mental-illness-an-imminent-danger/

Impede

• to hinder
• verb
• im-peed
• 1595-1605 Latin
• Sunspots are visible because the bundled field lines impede  the flow of   convection. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/impede?s=t



The mans ability to walk is impeded by his shoelaces.
http://images.yourdictionary.com/impede

Inclusive

• complete
• adjective
• in-kloo-siv
• 1400–50 late Middle English < Medieval Latin
• Also of concern to some locals: the advance of all- inclusive  resorts from the north. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inclusive?s=t



This resort is all- inclusive because it has everything you need.
http://www.nassauparadiseisland.com/where-to-stay/all-inclusive-resorts/

Jurisdiction

• control
• noun
• joor-is-dik-shuhn
• 1250-1300 Middle English < Latin < Old French < Latin
• Establishing jurisdiction  over contractors for crimes committed overseas can be tricky. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jurisdiction?s=t



The Supreme court has jurisdiction over all sorts of cases in the US.
http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/kennedy/210/juris.html

Precarious

• unsafe
• adjective
• pri-kair-ee-uhs
• 1640-50 Latin
• When told of the boys' precarious  position, they wanted to help — but   adopting a teenage war orphan seemed  like a huge step. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/precarious?s=t



Life is like a precarious walk on the edge of a cliff.
http://heartofaballerina.com/2012/06/30/life-is-like-a-precarious-walk-on-the-edge-of-a-cliff/

Preposterous

• ridiculous
• adjective
• pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs
• 1535-45 Latin
• The story, with its arcane riddles and preposterous  twists, does not translate well to the screen. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/preposterous?s=t



This two headed llama is a preposterous gift for someone.
http://mandyevebarnett.com/2013/09/24/preposterous-my-dear/

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Vocab Week 11

Liability

• Something that acts as a disadvantage; a drawback
• Noun
• lahy-uh-bil-i-tee
• 1785-95 Latin
• If the mortgage is refinanced, the lender could retain some liability  due to   the quality of the loan. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liability



The puddle of water was a liability to the mean because it caused him to slip and fall down.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/liability

Clandestine

• Done in secret; kept hidden
• Adjective
• klan-des-tin
• 1560-70 Latin
• Biological weapons are not only more potent than chemical weapons but they are   easier to produce in small, clandestine  facilities. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clandestine?s=t



The men are having a clandestine meeting on top of a building.
http://wax-wane.com/2011/12/11/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-savile-row-inspired-style/

Incongruous

• Out of place; having parts that are not in harmony or that are inconsistant
• Adjective
• in-kong-groo-uhs
• 1605-15 Latin
• Standing in blonde tresses and heels, she is a fabulously incongruous  sight   here in the mountains. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/incongruous?s=t



The keep moving sign is incongruous next to the stop sign.
http://ap-terms-oxymoron-paradox.wikispaces.com/1.+Paradox+%26+Oxymoron

Contingency

• A possible future event that must be prepared for or guarded against; possibility
• Noun
• kuhn-tin-juhn-see
• 1555-65 Latin
• Political scientists and campaign consultants tend not to account for   contingency  when they are busy predicting the future. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/contingency?s=t



The man has three contingencies for which way to go.
http://blog.questionmark.com/moments-of-contingency-how-black-and-william-conceptualize-formative-assessment

Indigenous

• Living, growing, or produced naturally in a particular place; native
• Adjective
• in-dij-uh-nuhs
• 1640-50 Latin
• So did the introduction of non native species that competed for resources with,   and sometimes preyed on, indigenous  birds. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indigenous?s=t



These people are the leaders of the indigenous Kayapo tribe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples

Superfluous

• Beyond what is needed, wanted, or useful; extra
• Adjective
• soo-pur-floo-uhs
• 1400–50 late Middle English < Latin
• Cable companies appear to be obsessed with the pursuit of more revenue even if it means superfluous  power consumption. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/superfluous?s=t



This girl has a superfluous amount of food.
http://krustykrabpizza-danjordanmitchreed.blogspot.com/2011/01/word-9.html

Prolific

• Producing many works, results, or offspring; fertile
• Adjective
• pruh-lif-ik
• 1640-50 Medieval Latin
• Soft yellow wintertime flowers are small but prolific  and long lasting. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prolific?s=t



Rats are prolific breeders.  They produce about 5 to 10 litters a year with 5 to 6 young in each litter.
http://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/pest-control-news/rodent-control/farmer-hails-his-prolific-ratcatching-dog/801565910

Exonerate

• To clear of an accusation or charge; prove innocent
• Verb
• ig-zon-uh-reyt
• 1515-25 late Middle English < Latin
• Hypocritical actions of one government cannot serve as grounds to justify or exonerate  deplorable acts by other governments. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/exonerate?s=t



The man was exonerated by the judge because the opposition didn't have enough evidence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/us/10exonerate.html?_r=0

Egocentric

• Self-centered; seeing everything in terms of oneself
• Adjective
• ee-goh-sen-trik, eg-oh-
• 1895-90 English
• He fit the image of the mad genius, a romantic figure America glorifies while resenting it as egocentric  and inegalitarian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/egocentric?s=t



People that are egocentric only think about themselves and nobody else.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201204/it-s-fine-line-between-narcissism-and-egocentrism

Reinstate

• To restore to previous condition; bring back into being or use
• Verb
• ree-in-steyt
• 1620-30 Latin
• Prosecutors tried to reinstate  the case but ultimately gave up. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reinstate?s=t



This kid had to drop out of school to help out his family but hopes to reinstate soon.
http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Your-Teen-from-Dropping-out-of-School

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