Language Ladder

convulse \kun-VULSS\ verb
What does it mean?
To shake violently; especially : to shake with usually uncontrolled jerky movements
How do you use it?
“He gazed at me with bleared, drunken eyes for a moment, and then I saw a horror spring up in them, and convulse his whole features, which showed me that he knew me.” (Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet)

tarmac \TAR-mak\ noun
What does it mean?
A road, apron, or runway paved with layers of crushed stone covered with tar
How do you use it?
Did you hear how lucky Eva and Ricky were? They got to be on the tarmac and greet the dignitaries as they arrived at the airport.

ballot \BAL-ut\ noun
What does it mean?
1. A small ball used in secret voting or a sheet of paper used to cast a vote
2. a:The action or system of voting
b : the right to vote
3. The number of votes cast
How do you use it?
In the last town election, paper ballots were used after a power failure caused the electronic voting booths to malfunction.

subterfuge \SUB-ter-fyooj\ noun
What does it mean?
1. The action of deceiving usually by slyness in order to avoid some unpleasant circumstance (as to escape blame)
2. A plan or trick that employs sly deception
How do you use it?
Catherine faked a headache to get out of her share of the spring house cleaning, but her mom saw through the subterfuge and assigned her to washing windows.

tractable \TRAK-tuh-bul\ adjective
What does it mean?
Easily led, taught, or controlled
How do you use it?
“The Old Lady made a marvellously patient and tractable invalid." (Lucy Maud Montgomery, Chronicles of Avonlea)

Related Posts by Categories

|