Today, it can be hard to maintain an extensive vocabulary as teenagers: however, knowing a broad range of terms is always useful. Vocabulary helps not only on standardized tests but also in general conversation. However hard it may seem to learn new words quickly, summer provides a great opportunity for catching up on practicing your memorization of prefixes, suffixes, and just really uncommon words. This section will give you a head start on your summer studying, because every word counts in the end!
Pulchritude: (n.) physical comeliness.
Snow White is a classic example of pulchritude, admired by the prince and envied by the Queen.
Arcane: (adj.) secret or mysterious: known or understood by only a few people.
A lot of the words tested on the SAT and similar tests tend to be very arcane to today’s generation of students.
Comatose: (adj.) in a state of profound unconsciousness.
A friend of mine has been comatose ever since her concussion.
Capricious: (adj.) changing often and quickly; especially often changing suddenly in mood or behavior.
The teacher was capricious: he would treat me nicely and give me positive feedback one day, but scowl at my questions the next.
Enthrall: (v.) to hold the attention of by being very exciting, interesting, or beautiful.
Many call The Fault in Our Stars an enthralling book, one that holds the reader’s eye from the beginning to the end.
Auspicious: (adj.) showing or suggesting that future success is likely.
The most auspicious way to start improving IHS’s facilities is to present the issues to the Board of Education.
Stoic: (adj.) a person who accepts what happens without complaining or showing emotion
The stoic child barely flinched when he got his first flu shot.
Impregnable: (adj.) not able to be captured by attack: very strong.
The IHS Brain Team is practically impregnable with its track record of countless victories over surrounding areas’ teams.
Anecdote: (n.) a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident.
The lockdown on the first day of school became a widely-told anecdote.
All definitions by Merriam-Webster. The “Lexical Laboratory” is a monthly installment. If you know any wonderful words you think people should know, email features@ihstattler.com.