Word Wall Glossary


Use these words to study for your Word Wall Quizzes.
Definitions are in your Language Arts notes or you can go to dictionary.com.
Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

A

abscess

a localized collection of pus in the tissues, often with swelling, usually caused by bacteria.
synonyms: sore, ulcer, lesion

aghast

struck with overwhelming shock or amazement; filled with sudden fright or horror.

alibi

(n.) - a claim or piece of evidence that a person was elsewhere when a crime occurred.
synonyms: explanation, reason, informal story.

anesthesia

(n.) - a drug given for medical purposes that causes loss of feeling in an area of the body for surgery.
synonyms: narcotic, seditive

antagonist

(n.) - a person who actively opposes or is hostile to another person or thing.
synonyms: foe, rival, adversary, opponent, enemy, competitor

apartheid

(n.) - a rigid policy of segregation of non-white populations.
synonyms: segregation, discrimination, separatism

appositive

(n.) - a word or phrase that identifies or renames a noun or pronoun.

arduous

Requiring or using much energy or vigor; hard to endure.

autopsy

(n.) - inspection and dissection of a body after death to determine cause of death.
synonyms: dissection, examination

B

bade

to command or order (someone) to do something; to express a greeting or wish.

baubles

trinkets or objects of very little value often used for decoration.

boisterous

rough and stormy; noisy and lively; full of excitement.

burly

large in bodily size.

C

cadaver

(n.) - a dead body, especially a human body to be dissected; corpse.
synonyms: carcass, corpse, remains

cerebellum

http://dictionary.reference.com/

character

(n.) - the traits that describe an individual; moral or ethical quality; a part in a story, play, or film; a symbol used in a writing system.
synonyms: symbol, figure, sign, mark, letter, cast, appearance, nature, reputation, trait

characterization

(n) - the creation and convincing representation of fictional characters.


cite

:

climax

http://dictionary.reference.com/

conclusion

http://dictionary.reference.com/

conflict

:

consent

www.dictionary.com

consternation

http://dictionary.reference.com/

conundrum

(n.) - anything that puzzles; a riddle where the answer involves a pun or play on words. synonyms: paradox, puzzle, riddle, pun, problem, mystery

cortex

http://dictionary.reference.com/

credibility

http://dictionary.reference.com/

D

dendrite

http://dictionary.reference.com/

depict

http://dictionary.reference.com/

dialect

(n.) - a variety of language that distinguishes varieties of the same language.
synonyms: accent, jargon, lingo, slang

dialogue

http://dictionary.reference.com/

disposition

:

E

empathy

:

emphasize

:

epilepsy

http://dictionary.reference.com/

espionage

http://dictionary.reference.com/

exhume

:

exposition

http://dictionary.reference.com/

F

falling action

(n.) - when the conflict in a story gets resolved and tensions/suspense lessen; occurs after the climax has been reached

feeble

:

foreshadow

to show or indicate beforehand.

G

gaudy

http://dictionary.reference.com/

genre

http://dictionary.reference.com/

H

hyperbole

a figure of speech not intended to be taken literally; obvious and intentional exaggeration to make a point.

hypothetical

:

I

inauguration

:

inevitable

http://dictionary.reference.com/

inference

http://dictionary.reference.com/

inquiry

:

instinctive

http://dictionary.reference.com/

integumentary system

.


interjection

(n.) - a word or phrase used to express strong emotion or surprise.
synonyms: bellow, yell, cry, expletive, outcry

J

jutting

extending beyond the main body or line; extending upwards or outwards beyond limits.

L

latter

http://dictionary.reference.com/

loner

-

M

moratorium

http://dictionary.reference.com/

N

neurology

http://dictionary.reference.com/

neuron

http://dictionary.reference.com/

O

ostracize

http://dictionary.reference.com/

P

perforate

http://dictionary.reference.com/

persistent

:

personification

the act of giving inanimate objects human characteristics.

phrenology

http://dictionary.reference.com/

plagiarism

http://dictionary.reference.com/

plot

http://dictionary.reference.com/

prognosis

:

protagonist

http://dictionary.reference.com/

prow

the pointed front portion of a ship's bow below the water.

pulsate

http://dictionary.reference.com/

Q

query

http://dictionary.reference.com/

R

relevant

http://dictionary.reference.com/

reluctant

http://dictionary.reference.com/

reminiscent

(adj) - awakening memories of something similar.
synonyms: recollect, remember, suggestive

resolution

http://dictionary.reference.com/

retroactive

:

revise

http://dictionary.reference.com/

rising action

(n.) - a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest.
synonyms: developments, critical moments, defining moments.

S

scything

cutting rapidly and forcefully with a long curved blade.

seizure

http://dictionary.reference.com/

sepsis

http://dictionary.reference.com/

simile

a figure speech in which two unlike things are compared.

skeptical

-

subordinate character

http://dictionary.reference.com/

synthesize

(v.) - to combine information to form a new thought or product; to combine multiple ideas into a single thought.
synonyms: blend, integrate, combine

T

theme

:

trifle

http://dictionary.reference.com/

U

unveil

.

Z

zeal

.