August Student Access

Since Wednesday, the 7th, we have been creating a stem dictionary in your writing journal. You are to alphabetize and define all 150 stems by Friday, August the 16th at 3pm.

7th period will meet in the Computer Lab, Room 47, during class so that you can use the following resources: STEM WORK The following Words contain stems. You are to define each and write a narrative, using as many as possible. 1. Malapropism- misuse of a word 2. Nonplussed- perplexing 3. Postlude-concluding section 4. Hierarchy- ranking 5. Portly- stout/ a little fat 6. Interdiction- prohibition 7. Vide- see 8. Omnibus- many things 9. Monolithic- massive and uniform 10. Imponderable- difficult to ponder 11. Benediction- blessing 12. incredulous- not believing 13. omniscient- all knowing 14. Neophyte- beginner 15. Bilateral- two sided 16. Hypothecate- pledge as secure 17. Heterodox- unorthodox 18. Paterfamilias- father 19. Putative- thought-to-be 20. Aver- affirm or declare 21. Megaton- force of a million tons of dynamite 22. Sangfroid- cool, calm composure 23. Alter ego- second self 24. Altercation- problem 25. Contravene- go against 26. Confluence- flowing together 27. Circumlocution- talking in circles 28. Soliloquy- speech to oneself 29. Mollify- soften 30. Gregarious- very sociable 31. declaim- denounce 32. sotto voce- very soft voice 33. translucent- semitransparent 34. forte- strong point 35. fortissimo- loudly 36. acerbity- sharp temper 37. perambulate- wander through 38. perfidy- breach of faith 39. impugn- attack as false 40. non sequitur- an idea which does not follow 41. egocentric- putting oneself above all 42. loquacious- talkative 43. sacrosanct- sacred 44. cacophony- terrible noise 45. tangible- touchable 46. obiter dictum- passing remark 47. obsequious- a follower 48. abase- to lower 49. pathetic fallacy- ascribing feelings to something inanimate EX: "It is a lonely sea tonight" 50. ratiocination- methodical thinking 51. mutatis mutandis- with necessary changes 52. interstice- small space 53. terra incognito- unknown land 54. sedate- calm 55. retort- swift reply 56. nihilism- belief in nothing 57. supersede- replace 58. inanimate- lifeless 59. condescend- to lower 60. epigram- witty comment 61. anthropocentric- man- centered 62. gastronome- one who loves fine food/ chef 63. autodidact- self- taught person 64. monism- doctrine that reality is one 65. in medias res- the the middle 66. lycanthrope- warewolf 67. circumambient- surrounding 68. transmogrify- change form 69. reify- treat as real 70. au contraire (French)- on the contrary 71. vivacious- lively 72. circumvent- to get around the subject 73. heliotrope- lover of sun 74. exculpate- free from blame 75. introspective- inward looking 76. A priori- from theory 77. A posteriori- from observation 78. Parthenogenesis- unfertilized birth 79. Assonance- vowel repetition 80. Objurgating- rebuke 81. Demotic- of common people 82. Soporific- sleep- inducing 83. Internecine- mutually destructive 84. Sesquipedalian- very long words 85. Sui generis- unique 86. Plutocracy- government of the wealthy 87. Delineate- to outline 88. Dichotomy- two part division 89. Epiphany- changing thought 90. tortuous- twisting 91. thanatopsis- view of death 92. vacuous- stupid and empty 93. lucubration- late night studying 94. ex cathedra- from the throne 95. legerdemain- sleight of hand 96. suspiration- deep sigh 97. nepotism- favoritism to relatives 98. synoptic- general in view 99. lionize- treat as a celebrity 100. assiduous- persevering 101. subterfuge- evasive dodge; to "duck" the subject 102. bon vivant- indulge in luxury 103. saturnine- gloomy 104. sedentary- sitting 105. pusillanimous- small minded 106. syllogism- 3-part deduction 107. metonymy- association name 108. anaphora- repetion of phrases (EX: "I have a dream...") 109. bowdlerize- to censor 110. locus classicus (works by Shakespeare and Lucretius) 111. reiterate- repeat 112. desultory- rambling 113. funambulist- tightrop walker 114. lyssophobia- fear of insanity 115. idée fixe (French)- a fixation 116. schism- division 117. apotheosis- raising to god status 118. precursor- forerunner 119. cosmology- study of the universe 120. euphony- joyous 121. narcissism- self- infatuation 122. prolix- too wordy 123. miscreant-evil believer 124. physiognomy-facial character 125. patrician- aristocratic 126. apostasy-desert all principles 127. hedonism-devotion to pleasure 128. sententious- moralistic expression 129. on the qui vive- on the alert 130. manumission-release from slavery 131. sanction- authorize 132. terra firma- firm land 133. synopsis- short summary of facts 134. colloquy-conversation 135. in loco parentis- in place of the parents 136. valediction- farewell speech 137. protagonist- main character 138. maladroit- clumsy 139. stoicism- not feeling 140. sarcophagus-stone coffin 141. ignominious- disgraceful 142. surrealistic- unrealistically imagineable 143. analects- selected writings 144. expository- explain 145. exegesis-critical interpretation 146. magnus opus- Great Work! 147. supercilious- scornful 148. synopsis 149. diction- word choice 150. emissary- messenger August 9, 2013 Upon hearing the omniscient judge issue his imponderable interdiction against omnibus legislation and monolithic government, the nonplussed, portly neophyte unilaterally pronounced a benediction, which included the following malapropism: “I write postludes at the ends of my letters.” This sentence formed a condign postlude to the day’s events. SEE STUDENT SAMPLE Student Sample 2 (The Tale of Princess Lu) You are to write your own Stem Narrative.