1. adequate (adj) enough; sufficient
[ad-i-kwit]
Clue: adequate = just enough
One blanket will be adequate on
such a warm night.
Ex: adequate food supply;
adequate attention; adequate
seating; adequate sleep

2. administer (v) 1. to manage or
direct
2. to give out as treatment
or assistance
[ad-min-uh-ster]
Clue: administer the meds
The scout leader administered
first aid to the child who had cut
his hand.
Ex: administer rules; administer
justice; administer the oath

3. agitate (v) 1. to disturb or upset
2. to move with an irregular, fast,
or violent action. 3. to stir up
interest in and support for a cause
[aj-i-teyt]
Clue: agitate = aggravate
1. Talk of sharks in the water agitated the
swimmers at the beach.
2. Strong winds agitated the surface of the
lake.
Ex: agitate the crowd; washer
agitates the clothes; agitate the dog

4. capitulate (v) to give in; to
surrender
[kuh-pich-uh-leyt]
Clue: capitulate = capture and
surrender
At the end of WWII, Japan
capitulated to the Ally forces.
Ex: capitulated to defeat;
capitulate and surrender;
capitulate and agree

5. citrus (n) 1. a fruit of the family that
includes oranges, lemons,
grapefruits, and limes
2. a tree that produces these
fruits
(adj) of or relating to these fruits
or trees
[si-truhs]
Clue: citrus = lemons & oranges
The kumquat is a less well-known
member of the citrus family.
Ex: citrus trees; citrus flavors; citrus
smell

6. disrupt (v) 1. to break up the
orderly course of
2. to interrupt; to bring to a
temporary halt
disruptive (adj); disruption (n)
[dis-ruhpt]
Angry protestors disrupted the
president’s speech.
Ex: disruptive music; annoying
disruption; disrupted the silence

7. hovel (n) an unpleasant, cramped,
and dilapidated place to live
[huhv-uhl, hov-]
Clue: hovel = wretched hut
The Saxons complained that they
were forced to live in hovels while
their Norman conquerors had fine
homes.
Ex: hovel dwelling; humble hovel

8. illiterate (adj) unable to read or
write
(n) illiteracy
[ih-lit-er-it]
Clue: illiterate = can’t read + can’t write
Volunteers are needed to help
teach illiterate adult how to read.
Ex: computer illiterate;
technologically illiterate;
politically illiterate

9. indifferent (adj) 1. not concerned
about; not caring
2. neither very good nor very
bad; passable
[in-dif-er-uhnt, -dif-ruhnt]
Clue: indifferent = don’t care
Her indifferent grades in school
worried her parents.
Ex: indifferent attitude;
indifferent opinion

10. menial (adj) of or relating to low-
level, humble work
[mee-nee-uhl, meen-yuhl]
Clue: menial = lowly or degrading
Desperate for money, Oliver
accepted menial work with low
pay.
Ex: menial job; menial tasks,
menial pay

11. permanent (adj) lasting or
expected to last for a long
time
[pur-muh-nuhnt]
Clue; permanent = long time
A child’s first permanent teeth
appear about the age of six.
Ex: permanent marker;
permanent tattoo; permanent job

12. respite (n) a period of rest; a
pause
[res-pit]
Clue: respite = rest
The rain brought a welcome
respite from the tremendous heat.
Ex: reading respite; vacation
respite; doctor-ordered respite

13. strenuous (adj) 1. needing much
effort; using a lot of energy
2. very active; vigorous
[stren-yoo-uhs]
Clue: strenuous = laborious + demanding
The plan to close the local school
met with strenuous opposition
from the parents.
Ex: strenuous work; strenuous
exercise; strenuous game

14. toil (v) 1. to work long and hard
2. to make one’s way with
difficulty
(n) hard and tiring labor
[toil]
Clue: toil = laborious & exhausting
Sugar can cutters toil in the fields from
dawn to dusk.
Ex: toil at work; toil up the mountain;
toil; toil in life

15. urgent (adj) needing quick action
or attention
urgency (n) the need for
quick action
[ur-juhnt]
Clue: urgent = right away
The county has an urgent need for
a new hospital
Ex: urgent message; urgent phone
call; urgent care