This document provides vocabulary terms, parts of speech, definitions, and examples for 20 words: adage, bonanza, churlish, citadel, collaborate, decree, discordant, evolve, excerpt, grope, hover, jostle, laggard, plaudits, preclude, revert, rubble, servile, vigil, and wrangle. Each word is defined and an example sentence is given to illustrate its meaning in context. Synonyms and antonyms are also provided for some terms.

1. ACT/SAT Vocabulary Unit 1 Level C

2. ADAGE (ad’ ij) ADAGE Noun – a proverb, wise saying One way to begin an informal speech or an oral report is to quote an old adage. SYNONYMS: maxim, saw, aphorism ADAGE

3. BONANZA (bənan'zə) BONANZA Noun – a rich mass of ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable, or rewarding; a source of wealth or prosperity The thrilling adventure movie set in Alaska proved to be a box-office bonanza. BONANZA

4. CHURLISH (chər' lish) CHURLISH Adjective - lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude The store manager instructed all the salesclerks to avoid churlish replies to customers’ questions. CHURLISH

5. CITADEL (sit' ə del) CITADEL Noun – a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or commanding place A medieval citadel once guarded the capital city of the Greek island of Rhodes. Synonyms: surly, ill-tempered Antonyms: courteous, civil, well-mannered CITADEL

6. COLLABORATE (kə lab' ə rāt) COLLABORATE Verb, to work with or work together Several students plan to collaborate on a geology project for the annual science fair. Synonyms: team up, join forces Antonyms: work alone COLLABORATE

7. DECREE (dikrē) DECREE Noun – an order having the force of law; Verb – to issue such an order; to command firmly or forcefully “There went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1) Why does nature always seem to decree nasty weather for our annual picnic? Synonyms: (n) proclamation, edict; (v) proclaim DECREE

8. DISCORDANT (diskôr'dənt) DISCORDANT Adjective – disagreeable in sound, jarring; lacking in harmony, conflicting Their little spat struck a discordant note in our otherwise happy family get-together. Synonyms: grating, shrill, different, divergent Antonyms: harmonious in agreement DISCORDANT

9. EVOLVE (ē välv') EVOLVE Verb – to develop gradually to rise to a higher level Authors hope that their notes, descriptions, and character sketches will evolve into a book. Synonyms: unfold, emerge Antonyms: wither, shrivel up atrophy EVOLVE

10. EXCERPT (ek'sərpt) EXCERPT Noun – a passage taken from a book, article, etc; Verb – to take such a passage; to quote My essay includes a long excerpt from a speech by Sojourner Truth. If you excerpt some material from a reference book, be sure to enclose it in quotation marks. Synonyms: (n) portion, section, extract EXCERPT

11. GROPE (grōp) GROPE Verb – to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly and uncertainly When the power failed, we had to grope in the dark to find a working flashlight. Synonyms: fumble for, cast about for GROPE

12. HOVER (həv' ər) HOVER Verb – to float or hand suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly over or around A large group of vultures hovered in the air above the wounded animal. Synonyms – linger, waver, seesaw Antonyms – soar HOVER

13. JOSTLE (jäs'əl) JOSTLE Verb to make or force one’s way by pushing or elbowing; to bump, shove, brush against; to compete for I tried not to jostle other riders as I exited the crowded bus. Synonym: push JOSTLE

14. LAGGARD (lag'ərd) LAGGARD Noun - a person who moves slowly or falls behind; Adjective – falling behind; slow to move, act, or respond Tour guides often have to urge laggards to keep up with the rest of the group. Tenants who are laggard in paying rent run the risk of being forced to move. Synonyms: (n) slowpoke, straggler; (adj.) sluggish Antonyms: (n) early bird; (adj.) swift, speedy, prompt LAGGARD

15. PLAUDITS (plō ditz) PLAUDITS Noun, plural – applause, enthusiastic praise or approval The skaters who won the gold medals gratefully accepted the plaudits of their fans. Synonyms: cheers, acclaim Antonyms: boos, disapproval, ridicule PLAUDITS

16. PRECLUDE (prēklüd) PRECLUDE Verb – to make impossible, prevent, shut out Three wrong answers will preclude any contestant from entering the quiz show’s final round. Synonyms: hinder, check, stop Antonyms: help, promote, facilitate PRECLUDE

17. REVERT (rēvərt') REVERT Verb – to return, go back Control of a property usually reverts to the legal owner when a lease is up. Synonyms: relapse, regress Antonyms: progress, advance REVERT

18. RUBBLE (rəb'əl) RUBBLE Noun – broken stone or bricks; ruins Bulldozers and wrecking balls soon reduced the damaged building to a heap of smoking rubble. Synonyms: wreckage, debris RUBBLE

19. SERVILE (sər'vīl) SERVILE Adjective – of or relating to a slave; behaving like or suitable for a slave or a servant, menial; lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive. Most serious performers prefer constructive criticism to servile flattery. Synonyms: slavish, groveling, fawning Antonyms: masterly, overbearing SERVILE

20. VIGIL (vij'əl) VIGIL Noun – a watch, especially at night; anyperiod of watchful attention Thousands attended the solemn vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. VIGIL

21. WRANGLE (raŋ' gəl) WRANGLE Verb – to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument; to heard; Noun – a noisy quarrel My brother and sister always wrangle over whose turn it is to sit in the front seat. The customer got into a nasty wrangle with the shopkeeper. Synonyms: squabble, bicker Antonyms: agree, concur WRANGLE