Write@Home
Winter 2015

Glossary

Here is some vocabulary from this edition. Do you know what the words mean?

addictive
a substance your body starts to need it regularly and you are unable to stop taking it

appetizer
a small dish that you eat at the beginning of a meal

assimilation
the process of becoming an accepted part of a country or group

buggy
a light carriage pulled by a horse

cenotes
a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath

cheapskate
someone who spends as little money as possible – used to show disapproval

chronic
a disease or illness is one that continues for a long time and cannot be cured

commemorate
to do something to show that you remember and respect someone important or an important event in the past

concurrently
existing or happening at the same time

congregate
to come together in a group

cozy
a place that is cosy is small, comfortable, and warm

hypocritical
behaving in a way that is different from what you claim to believe – used to show disapproval

inconsolable
so sad that it is impossible for anyone to comfort you

indigenous
people or things have always been in the place where they are, rather than being brought there from somewhere else

infrastructure
the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs in order to work properly, for example roads, railways, banks etc

Innu
Aboriginal inhabitants of an area in Canada which comprises most of the northeastern portion of Quebec and some eastern portions of Labrador.

insecure
not feeling at all confident about yourself, your abilities, or your relationships with people

lavish
very generous

logistics
the business of transporting things such as goods to the place where they are needed

longevity
the amount of time that someone or something lives

matriculation
to officially begin studying at a university, school or college

mock
not real, but intended to be very similar to a real situation, substance etc

obstacle
something that makes it difficult to achieve something

pegged
to believe or say that someone has a particular type of character, or that a situation has particular qualities

poker face
showing no expression

precipice
a very steep side of a high rock, mountain, or cliff

prosperity
when people have money and everything that is needed for a good life

recital
a performance of music or poetry, usually given by one performer

sedentary
spending a lot of time sitting down, and not moving or exercising very much

serene
very calm or peaceful

solemn
very serious and not happy, for example because something bad has happened or because you are at an important occasion

spank
to hit a child on their bottom with your open hand, as a punishment

stamina
physical or mental strength that lets you continue doing something for a long time without getting tired

strict
expecting people to obey rules or to do what you say

superb
extremely good

trendy
influenced by the most fashionable styles and ideas

urban
relating to towns and cities

Glossary Crossword