2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency corps corrosive cossette n n / SkP(E)r / corte / kBSset / L F [has homonyms: cor, core, kor] the cortege [has homonyms: cassette, cosset] a ensemble or chorus of a ballet n strip or slice (as of sugar beet or company as distinguished from / kOrStezh / potato) : chip. soloists and principals. L > It > F Each cossette was dropped in very Even the most famous ballerinas a procession of mourners at a hot fat for browning and then have spent some time as members funeral. moved to a lower temperature for of the corps. Representatives of various charities final cooking. the princess had supported made corpuscles up her official cortege. costliness corrade corticoid costume n correct coruscated / SkBTst(y)Vm / v L > It > F correlate / SkOrETskCtDd / the distinctive dress of a particular L period, locality, or occupation worn correlation gleamed with intermittent flashes : in the drama or for festivals. glittered, sparkled. During the intermission the tenor correspondence The leaves shimmered and the had to change into another grass coruscated in the early costume. corrigendum morning sunlight. costumery corroboration corydora n cotehardie / kETrBbESrCshEn / cosmetic L cottage evidence that confirms the truth of cosmetologist something. n cottonseed Two witnesses provided / TkBzmEStBlEjDst / corroboration of the suspect’s Gk couac alibi. one who gives beauty treatments (as to skin and hair). couchette corrode Mrs. Shelton worked for 22 years v as a cosmetologist at Belk’s coulomb / kESrPd / Department Store. n L / SkVTlBm / undergo a gradual wearing away or cosmic F name alteration by a chemical or adj the practical meter-kilogram- electrochemical essentially / SkBzmik / second unit of electric charge equal oxidizing process. Gk to the quantity of electricity The picture of a harbor in Sandy’s of, from, or relating to the transferred by a current of 1 ampere book was accompanied by an extraterrestial vastness in contrast in 1 second. explanation of how ship hulls to Earth alone. Jenna found that 1 coulomb of corrode. In his spare time Steven likes to electricity changed the potential read science fiction tales of cosmic between two plates of a capacitor corrodible exploration. by 1 volt. adj / kESrPdEbEl / cosmozoic L + Ecf capable of being worn away or converted into an easily disintegrated substance. Lemon juice should not be stored in a corrodible container.

Page 61 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency coulombs courser coverlet n pl n n / SkVTlBmz / / SkPrsEr / / SkEvE(r)lDt / F name F > E L > F > E units of electric charge equal to the [has homonym: coarser] a swift or a bedspread sometimes quilted or quantity of electricity transferred spirited horse : war-horse. of heavy material. by a current of one ampere in one The foaming courser threw his Kasey drew the coverlet up to her second. rider headlong to the ground. neck to seek relief in the drafty An ordinary flashlight battery room. delivers a current that provides a courtesy total charge flow of approximately covert 5,000 coulombs. courtier n covet council / SkPrZGEr / F > E covetous counselee a gentleman attendant of a sovereign’s residence or covinous counterfeiter establishment. n Travis will perform the part of the cowardly / SkaUntE(r)TfiZE(r) / king’s courtier in the play. L > F > E cowed one that forges or makes fraudulent courtliness v imitations of current money. / SkaUd / Special paper, ink, and watermarks courtly E are used for making currency to adj intimidated with threats, show of foil the counterfeiter. / SkPrtlG / strength, or impressiveness : L > F > E dispirited into inactivity or counterinsurgency marked by highbred polish, submission. stateliness, and ceremony. The cowed convicts did not dare to counterpoise Lord Darnley removed his antagonize the vengeful guards. feathered hat and addressed the counterspy queen with a courtly bow. cowhide country coutil cowl n countryfolk couturier / SkaUl / Celt? > L > E coupe couturiere a hood especially of a monk. n At the monastery Sheila was coupling / kVStUrGTe(E)r / greeted by a man wearing the long F brown robe and cowl of a friar. courage [Note: Could be confused with n unisex couturier.] a female cowling / SkErij / proprietor of or designer for an L > F > E establishment engaged in cozen mental or moral strength enabling designing, making, and selling one to venture, persevere, and fashionable expensive custom- cozening withstand danger, fear, or difficulty made women’s clothing. firmly and resolutely. The couturiere Coco Chanel is crabby The boys argued about whether the considered by many to be the 20th adj crocodile hunter showed true century’s single most important / SkrabG / courage or just foolhardiness. arbiter of fashion. E cross, churlish, ill-natured. courageous couvade The crabby driver did not allow any talking on the school bus.

crackleware

cracknel

Page 62 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency cradled cravat crestfallen n adj craftiness / krESvat / / SkrestTfOlEn / G or Serbo-Croatian > F L > F > E + E craftsman a band or scarf of fine cloth worn marked by a sense of personal around the neck : necktie. defeat : dispirited, dejected. crag The flamboyant poet showed up for Margaret was crestfallen when she n the interview wearing a cravat over got only a C on her essay. / Skrag / a tie-dyed T-shirt. Celt > E cretify a rough broken cliff or projecting crayon point of rock. cretin A favorite children’s movie begins creaking and ends with the king of beasts crevice standing on a crag, overlooking his creamery n kingdom. / SkrevDs / credence L > F > E crambo a narrow opening of some depth creditable caused especially by a split. cranberry The hiker’s compass fell into a creditor crevice in the rock and will cranially probably never be seen again. credo cranioscopy n crew n / SkrG(T)dP / / TkrCnGSBskEpG / L cricket Gk > L + Gk > L a confession of faith said or sung in n observations on or examination of Christian liturgies. / SkrikDt / the human skull. Bach’s B Minor Mass contains a F imit The team’s physician advised a famous credo. any of certain leaping insects that cranioscopy for the batter who had are also noted for the chirping notes been beaned by a wild pitch. creedmore produced by the males. The male cricket produces sound cranium creepage by rubbing together parts of the n n fore wings. / SkrCnGEm / / SkrGpij / Gk > L E crickety the part of the skull that encloses the slow spreading or movement of the brain. a substance. criminal The carelessly tossed book The creepage of rust across the encountered Zelda’s cranium with bumper betrayed the car’s age. criminologist a thud. n crenature / TkrimESnBlEjDst / crassitude L crepitate one that specializes in the scientific crater study of crime as a social n crept phenomenon, of criminal / SkrCZE(r) / v investigation, of criminals, and of Gk / Skrept / penal treatment. any of thousands of formations on E Nicole asked her guidance the lunar surface ranging in size entered stealthily and secretly. counselor if she needed an from small pocks less than a mile Mary crept softly across the room advanced degree to be a in diameter to walled plains nearly to look. criminologist. 150 miles across. Buzz set down the lunar lander just crinal beyond the rim of a huge crater. crinet cratered

Page 63 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency cringing crocodilian croupon adj adj / SkrinjiN / / TkrBkESdilGEn / crowd E Gk > L n that shrinks in fear or servility. false, insincere. / SkraUd / Cringing at the sight of the bear in Claire’s crocodilian grief over the E the distance, the children gathered death of her brother’s pet snake did a large number of persons their courage and backed slowly not fool anyone. especially when collected into a toward their car. somewhat compact body without crocuses order : throng. crinkle n pl The crowd on the football field / SkrPkEsDz / chanted, “We’re number one!” crinkly Semitic > Gk > L crucially bulbs, plants, or flowers of the criollo genus Crocus. cruciform n Crocuses were peeking through the adj / krGSPl(y)P / snow in the Goulds’ yard. / SkrVsETfOrm / Sp L + Ecf [Note: Could be confused with crooked forming or arranged in a cross. feminine form criolla.] a person of The cruciform blossom of the pure Spanish descent born in croquembouche dogwood has inspired a well- Spanish America. n known legend. The anthropologist noted in her / krOkBMbVsh / report that only one criollo F cruciverbalist answered her genealogical survey. a cone-shaped stack of cream puffs n coated with caramelized sugar. / TkrVsESvErbElDst / crispation A croquembouche is a traditional L n type of French wedding cake. a person skillful in creating or / kriSspCshEn / solving crossword puzzles. L + Ecf crossbow Angela was named Cruciverbalist the act or process of curling : the n of the Month by her crossword state of being curled. / SkrOsTbP / club. Al pointed out the crispation of the E leaves on the infested plant. a weapon having a short bow cruel mounted crosswise that fires an adj crisscross arrow lying in a groove in the / SkrVEl / stock. L > F > E criterion The crossbow was a particular [has homonym: crewel] stern, favorite of the weaponsmaster. rigorous, and grim. crith The cruel reality is that Justin will n crosswind be expelled for his wrongdoing / Skrith / n regardless of how remorseful he is. Gk / SkrOsTwind / the weight of a liter of hydrogen at ON or Old Ir > E + E cruelly 0 degrees Celsius and 760 a wind blowing in any direction not millimeters pressure (0.08987 parallel to a course. cruise gram). A strong crosswind made it difficult As a unit of mass, the crith was a for Carla to land her Cessna 150. crumpet precursor to the mole. n crotalic / SkrEmpDt / crocheted E? crotalid a small round cake made of rich crocheter adj unsweetened batter cooked on a / SkrPZFlDd / griddle and usually served split and crocodile Gk > L toasted. typical of a pit viper. Pierre thinks no English crumpet Crotalid venom, while not usually can hold a candle to a delicious fatal, can cause severe discomfort. French croissant.

Page 64 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency crushable cubit culpability n crutch / SkyVbDt / culver L cryogenics any of various ancient units of culvert length based on the length of the n cryonics forearm from the elbow to the tip / SkElvE(r)t / n pl of the middle finger and usually unknown / krISBniks / equal to about 18 inches. a transverse waterway (as under a Gk Helen couldn’t understand why road, railroad, or canal). the practice of freezing a dead more things weren’t measured by Gina’s cat ran from the dog and diseased human being in hopes of the cubit, since it was a readily hid in the culvert for several hours. restoring life at some future time available measure. when a cure for the disease has culvertage been developed. cubomancy The premise of Rudolph’s movie cumulocirrus script involved an experiment in cucumber n cryonics gone awry. / TkyUmyE(T)lPSsirEs / cuerda L crypt n a small billowy cloud form found at / SkwerdE / high altitudes and characterized by cryptanalysis Gk > L > Sp a white delicacy. n a Puerto Rican unit of land measure Denny’s plane flew through a / TkriptESnalEsDs / equal to 0.97 acre. cumulocirrus that looked just like Gk Raul farmed a small patch of cotton candy. the theory of solving writing that is land—less than a cuerda—during in cipher or code : the art of the off season. cuneate devising methods for such solving. adj Through cryptanalysis the Allies cuisine / SkyVnGTCt / were able to decode the enemy’s n L secret messages. / kwDSzGn / shaped like a wedge : narrowly L > F triangular with the acute angle cryptogenic manner of preparing food : style of toward the base. cooking. The forest floor was a strange mix cryptophyte Jackie traveled to Lyons to take a of pine needles and cuneate leaves. two-week course in French cuisine. crystallize cunette culicide ctetology n cunning / SkyVlETsId / cub L cupcake n a substance that destroys / SkEb / mosquitoes. cupola unknown The town’s inhabitants were a young person; especially : an advised to stay indoors for two curarize awkward or ill-mannered boy. hours after the culicide was Mr. Downes called every student sprayed. curassow that passed through his classroom a “young cub.” culicidologist curettage cubature culottes curia n pl / Sk(y)VTlBts / F a garment having a divided skirt. When bell-bottom jeans came back into style, Janine was afraid that culottes would, too.

Page 65 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency curie cutigeral cymbal n adj n / SkyUrG / / kyVStijErEl / / SsimbEl / F name L + L Gk > L > F > E a unit of radioactivity equal to 37 bearing skin. [has homonym: symbol] a large billion disintegrations per second. Starbuck was limping because of concave brass plate producing a While studying nuclear the infection in the cutigeral cavity brilliant clashing tone of indefinite engineering, Melissa learned to use of his left front hoof. pitch. the curie to quantify radioactive The percussionist grimaced after he decay. cutlery struck the cymbal at the wrong time. curiosity cyanide n n cymbalist / TkyUrGSBsEZG / / SsIETnId / L Gk + ISVcf cymbiform a desire to know. a compound of cyanogen usually adj The locked box aroused immense with a more electropositive element / SsimbDTfOrm / curiosity in Maxine. or radical. Gk > L + Lcf Ions of cyanide are extremely toxic boat-shaped. curmudgeonly because they bind almost While discussing the skeletal irreversibly with cytochrome system, Mr. Gray called the curricle oxidase, a key enzyme in metabolic students’ attention to a small processes. cymbiform bone in the wrist. cursorial adj cyanophilous cynical / TkErSsPrGEl / L cyclamate cynicism having limbs adapted to running. n Horses, zebras, and other members cyclometer / SsinDTsizEm / of the genus Equus are cursorial n Gk mammals. / sISklBmEZE(r) / the quality or state of being prone Gk + Gk to faultfinding. curtail a contrivance for recording the Tom's cynicism has become v revolutions of a wheel and often tiresome to all his friends. / TkErStCl / used for registering distance L > F > E traversed by a wheeled vehicle. cynodont shorten in duration or scope : Just for fun, Chris attached a abridge, reduce. cyclometer to his daughter’s cyrillic The students were warned their tricycle. adj grades would be affected if they / sDSrilik / didn’t curtail their extracurricular cyclorama Slavic name activities. n constituting or written in the / TsIklESrBmE / alphabet used for Russian and cushioned Gk + Gk many other Slavic languages. v a curved curtain or wall used as a Sven puzzled over the cyrillic / SkUshEnd / background of a stage set to writing on the Moscow subway L > F > E suggest unlimited space. station sign. provided or equipped with a pad or The cyclorama provided the pads. illusion of being in a huge cytologist Gil and Terry cushioned the hard ballroom. wooden train seats with their coats. cytolysis cyclothymia n cuticolor / sIStBlEsDs / Gk the dissolution or disintegration of cells. The researchers experimented with various chemicals to bring about the cytolysis of tumor cells.

Page 66 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency cytoplasm Daltonism Daphnean n adj dabbing / SdOltFnTizEm / / SdafnGEn / E name Gk dabblingly red-green color blindness, named shy, bashful. after John Dalton, who first Sally’s Daphnean personality dactyl detailed a description of color causes her to look away from the blindness from which he and his camera whenever her picture is dactylic brother suffered. being taken. adj Danny’s parents didn’t realize that / dakStilik / he suffered from Daltonism until he dapperling Gk attended pre-school. of or consisting of a metrical foot darcy of three syllables, the first being damascened n stressed and the last two being adj / SdBrsG / unstressed. / SdamETsGnd / F name Homer’s two epics are written in Syrian geog name > Gk > L a unit of porous permeability in dactylic meter. decorated with inlaid work of physics. precious metals. Geologists use the darcy as a dactylion Francine admired the delicate measure of how easily water will n scrollwork on the damascened permeate a given type of rock. / dakStilGTBn / chest in the Museum of Decorative Gk Arts. daresay the tip of the middle finger. As Ruth was restitching a seam, she dampproof Darjeeling ran the sewing machine needle n through the dactylion of her left damson / dBrSjGliN / hand. Beng geog name danceable high quality tea grown especially in daft adj northern India. / Sdan(t)sEbEl / Anthony's mother always dagger L? > F > E + Ecf purchased her Darjeeling from an suitable for dancing. importer in Chicago. daguerreotypes When a danceable song began n pl playing, Lars asked Anita if she darken / dESgerETtIps / knew how to waltz. F name + Gk > F darkle photographs produced on a silver dandruff v plate or silver-covered copper / SdBrkEl / plate. dandruffy E Ike treasured the daguerreotypes of grow dark : fade into darkness. his great grandparents. dank Agnes watched the last bright- colored daylight darkle slowly dailiness dansant against the hills. n dainty / dBMsBM / darkness L? > F n dairy an informal or small dance. / SdBrknDs / Sally’s friends held a dansant in E Dallas her honor before her departure for the absence in whole or in part of adj China. light. / SdalEs / Mia fumbled in the darkness of the Am geog name cave to replace the failing of or from the city of Dallas, Texas. flashlight batteries with new ones. Sue could not find a winter parka in any of the Dallas stores. darnel

Page 67 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency dasyure dazzlement debtor n n / SdasGTyU(E)r / / SdazElmEnt / deburr Gk > L ON > E an arboreal carnivorous marsupial the action of impressing or exciting decadal of Australia and Tasmania that admiration by being brilliant and somewhat resembles a weasel. splendid. decadence The spotted-tailed dasyure is The dazzlement of the Paris fashion n commonly known in Australia as show left Suzette speechless and / SdekEdEn(t)s / the tiger cat. wide-eyed. L [has homonym: decadents] the dative deadline quality or state of being marked by adj decay or decline (as from an earlier / SdCZiv / deaeration condition of excellence or vitality). L n The family mansion’s decadence is of chemical bonds : formed by / TdGa(E)SrCshEn / an embarrassment to Clarissa. contribution of a pair of electrons L + Gk > L by one atom. the act or process of removing air decahydrate Although the properties of a dative or gas (as oxygen) from something. bond do not differ from those of a The packaging company reduces decalage normal covalent bond, in which the volume of powders by each atom contributes an electron, deaeration before they are put into decalcomania the distinction is useful for keeping bags. n track of valence electrons. / (T)dGTkalkESmCnGE / dealkalize L > F + Gk > L > F daubster the art or process of transferring deathin pictures and designs typically from daughter specially prepared paper to china, deathwatch glass, or marble and permanently daven fixing them thereto. v debauch Most tourist centers use / SdBvEn / decalcomania to turn cheap china Yiddish debellatio and glass into expensive souvenirs. recite the prescribed prayers in the n daily and festival Jewish liturgies. / TdCbESlBZGTP / decamerous Shmuel watched his father daven L adj and tried to copy him exactly. complete subjugation of a / dDSkamErEs / belligerent nation usually involving Gk + Gk davenport loss of sovereignty. having ten parts or divisions— The Punic Wars ended with the usually used of a flower. davit Roman debellatio of Carthage. Nelson chose only decamerous flowers for his girlfriend’s bouquet. dawn debellation v decapitation / SdOn / debilitate E decathlon begin to grow light in the morning. debilitated n Every night Delia thanked God for v / dDSkathTlBn / her good fortune and prayed that / dDSbilETtCZDd / Gk she be able to watch the next day L a ten-event athletic contest. dawn. impaired the strength of : The motivational speaker Bruce weakened, enfeebled. Jenner is famous for having won a dawned Disease had so debilitated Kate’s gold medal in the 1976 Olympic sister that she required constant Games decathlon. daze care in a nursing home. deceased debouchure decency debt

Page 68 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency decennary decrement deem n n v / dDSsenErG / / SdekrEmEnt / / SdGm / L L E period of ten years. the act or process of gradually [has homonym: deme] come to Peace was finally restored after a becoming less : decrease. view, judge, or classify after some decennary of unrest. The game warden explained that a consideration. deer herd suffers no decrement if Robert was frustrated that his decent the legal hunting take is not trainer did not deem him ready for permitted to exceed 20 percent of the fight. deciare the total herd. deerstalker deciliter decrepit n n / Sdi(E)rTstOkE(r) / / SdesETlGZE(r) / decrepitude E + E L > F + Gk > L > F n a close-fitting cap with a visor at a metric unit of capacity equal to / dDSkrepETt(y)Vd / the front and the back and with 1/10 liter. L > F earflaps that may be tied up or At fashionable Paris boutiques, a state of decay, ruin, or down. some brands of perfume are sold by dilapidation. Sherlock Holmes without his the deciliter. Far from falling into decrepitude, deerstalker and pipe? Seems the town was on a spree of building sacrilegious, doesn’t it? deciphering construction. deet decision decryptograph defalcation n declarative decubital / (T)dGTfalSkCshEn / L declare decubitus misappropriation of money in one’s keeping. declination decumary The treasurer was charged with n defalcation when it was learned / TdeklESnCshEn / decumbent that he was diverting funds for his L personal use. angular distance from the celestial dedicate equator measured along a great defamation circle passing through the celestial dedimus n poles. n / TdefESmCshEn / Declination and right ascension / SdedGmEs / L > F together define the position of an L the act of harming another’s object in the sky. a writ giving a private person reputation by any slanderous permission to act as a judge. communication. declivity In the course of her legal studies, The corporation sued the journalist Anna found only five instances of for defamation, claiming lost decolletage the issuance of a dedimus. business as a result of his article. decorate deduce defective v decorative / dDSd(y)Vs / defensible L decorum derive by logical process. From the tracks and the spoor, decrease Tule was able to deduce that the elephants left the watering hole when the lions arrived.

deducible

Page 69 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency deference dehydration deltohedron n / Sdef(E)rEn(t)s / deixis deluginous L n a yielding of judgment or / SdIksDs / delusory preference out of respect for the Gk position, wish, or known opinion of the specifying action of some delved another. words (as definite articles and v Special hunting and fishing rights demonstrative pronouns). / Sdelvd / are given to Alaskan natives in An example of deixis is the word E deference to their tribal traditions. there in the sentence “I left the car dug into : explored by or as if by over there.” digging. defiantly dejectedly As an amateur archaeologist, adv adv Vernon delved into many creek / dDSfIEntlG / / dDSjektEdlG / beds for artifacts. L > F L in a bold, insolent, or unafraid in a depressed manner : sadly. demagogy manner. “It seems to me that almost Though she had been grounded, everything is a waste of time,” he demantoid Vera defiantly rode to the bowling remarked one day as he walked alley on her bicycle. dejectedly home from school. demarche n deflagrate delaine / dCSmBrsh / n F deflationary / dDSlCn / course of action : maneuver. L > F With his approval ratings deflead a lightweight dress fabric of wool plummeting, the leader wondered or wool and cotton. what demarche would be the most deflocculate Sarah chose to make her sundress effective. out of a floral print delaine. defoliant demerit delator defunct demesmerize adj deliberate / dDSfEN(k)t / v demiurge L / dDSlibETrCt / n having finished the course of life or L / SdemGTErj / existence : dead, deceased, extinct. ponder or think about with Gk > L The advent of the pocket calculator measured careful consideration. something (as an institution, idea, made the mechanical adding Speed chess rewards the player or individual) conceived as an machine defunct. who needs little time to deliberate. autonomous creative force or decisive power. degerminate delicate It is surprising how many people tend to regard a computer as a deglaciation delineation demiurge. n n / TdGTglCs(h)GSCshEn / / dDSlinGSCshEn / demonstration L L the process whereby a glacier or ice accurate and precise graphic sheet shrinks to disappearance. representation as distinguished The deglaciation period at the end from that which is careless or of the Ice Age lasted for several sketchy as to details. years. The architect presented Ruth and Bob with a delineation of the house degrade plan. degustator deliquesces dehumidify delirium

Page 70 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency demotic denigration depravity adj n n / dDSmBZik / / TdenDSgrCshEn / / dDSpravEZG / Gk L L > F > E of, belonging to, or connected with a sullying of reputation or the quality or state of being marked the form of Modern Greek that is character. by debasement, corruption, based on colloquial use. The candidate’s denigration of her perversion, or deterioration. Everyone in Callista’s ancestral opponent backfired in the election. The young man spent his college village spoke demotic Greek except years making a concentrated study the priest, who usually spoke a denigratory of depravity. more classical form of the language. denim depreciate demure denticulate depredation adj adj / dDSmyU(E)r / / denStikyETlCt / depressant F? > E L marked by quiet modesty, sedate having small teeth : covered with depression reserve, restraint, or sobriety : small pointed projections. n retiring, shy. The archaeologist unearthed a / dDSpreshEn / Sondra’s classmates mistook her denticulate tool that early humans L demure conduct for used for shredding food. a region of low barometric pressure standoffishness. surrounded by higher pressures. dentist The size of a depression can vary dendrochronology n from a few hundred feet in a n / SdentDst / tornado to several hundred miles in / Tden(T)drPkrESnBlEjG / L > F a tropical cyclone. Gk one whose profession it is to treat the science of dating events, diseases of the teeth and associated deprivation intervals of time, and variations in tissues. n environment in former periods by Mrs. Caleb asked the dentist to / TdeprDSvCshEn / study of the sequence of and remove her sweet tooth. L differences between rings of the act of taking away. growth in trees and aged wood. denunciate Earl suffered some brain damage Jennifer’s biology class attempted as a result of oxygen deprivation. to use dendrochronology to chart deodorant climactic changes. adj depth / dGSPdErEnt / dendrologist L + L + Ecf deputize n destroying or masking offensive / den'drBlEjDst / smells. derby Gk Penny used a deodorant carpet n a specialist in the study of trees. cleaner to get rid of the dog smell / SdErbG / The dendrologist decried the in the apartment. E name continuing deforestation of the rain a stiff felt hat with a dome-shaped forests. depauperate crown and a rather narrow somewhat rolled brim—called also denier depiction “bowler.” n Alfred wore his new suit and high- / dDSni(E)r / depilitant crowned derby to the horse race. L > F > E a unit of fineness for silk, rayon, or deplenish derisible nylon yarn equal to the fineness of adj a yarn weighing 0.05 gram for each deplorable / dDSrizEbEl / 450 meters of length. L Silk is usually quite strong, deposit worthy of ridicule, mockery, or resisting breakage even when scorn. subjected to weights of about 4 depot Fans were appalled at the boxer’s grams per denier. derisible behavior in the ring.

Page 71 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency derisively dervish desertification n n derivation / SdErvish / / dDTzErZEfDSkCshEn / Per > Turk L dermabrasion a Muslim monk who performs the process of becoming arid land certain devotional exercises such as or desert. dermal concerted movements leading to a Environmentalists warn that adj trance or ecstasy. significant portions of the United / SdErmEl / The dancing dervish moved from States could undergo Gk side to side as he chanted his desertification if there is a marked of or relating to skin, especially to prayers. climate change. the dermis : cutaneous. Various reptiles have small bones desacralize desiccant or concretions within their skin v n called “dermal ossicles.” / dGSsCkrETlIz / / SdesDkEnt / dermatoglyphics L L divest ceremonially of supernatural a drying agent (as sulfuric acid, dermatology qualities or a taboo and render silica gel). n nonsacred. The desiccant packed with Vern’s / TdErmEStBlEjG / The reformers wanted to camera lens bears the warning Gk + Gk desacralize much of the church’s “Do Not Eat.” a branch of science that is traditional liturgy. desideratum concerned with the skin, its n structure, functions, and diseases. descending / dDTsidESrBZEm / The cosmetics company employed adj L only individuals knowledgeable in / TdDSsendiN / something that is sought for or dermatology to assist in its L + L + Ecf aimed at. laboratory. moving or directed downward. A traditional Roman desideratum The principal listed the amounts was “a sound mind in a sound dermatophyte contributed by the classes in body.” n descending order. designate / (T)dErSmaZETfIt / Gk + Gk descriptive desinence a fungus parasitic upon the skin or skin derivatives (as hair or nails) of descry desipient humans or lower animals. The skin disease ringworm is desecration desirous caused by a dermatophyte. n / TdesDSkrCshEn / desperately derogation L adv n the act or an instance of violating / Sdesp(E)rDtlG / / TderESgCshEn / the sanctity of something by L L diverting from sacred purpose, by with an intensified or all-out last- disparagement : detriment. contaminating, or by defiling. ditch effort in refusing to give up a While the word childlike is usually Congress debated a bill to ban the struggle or purpose. used in a favorable sense, the word desecration of the American flag. Firefighters tried desperately to childish is usually used in rescue every person in the burning derogation. desert house. derogative

Page 72 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency despondent desultor devastavit adj / dDSspBndEnt / detach developer L discouraged, dejected, or détente devious depressed. Elizabeth tried earnestly to keep deteriorable devise her ailing brother from becoming v despondent. determinant / dDSvIz / L > F > E despondently determine formulate by thought : contrive, adv v invent. / dDSspBndEntlG / / dDStErmDn / It is possible to devise motors much L L > F > E smaller than the head of a pin with in an extremely discouraged, come to a decision about by microtechnology. dejected, or depressed manner. investigation or reasoning. After he was laid off, Larry Ross’s attempts to determine who devoid despondently searched the “Help his parents are were stymied by a Wanted” section of the classified fire that burned all the records. devoir ads. deters devour despot v / dDStErz / devouring despotic L v turns aside, discourages, or / dESvaU(E)riN / dessert prevents from acting by fear or L > F > E consideration of dangerous eating up with greediness : dessertspoonful circumstances. consuming ravenously. n Nothing deters a good man from The squirrels are devouring the / dDSzErtTspVnfUl / doing what is honorable. seeds meant for the birds. L > F + E a unit of measure equal to about 2½ detestable dewdrop fluidrams. adj n Paige’s secret recipe calls for a / dDStestEbEl / / Sd(y)UTdrBp / dessertspoonful of almond extract. L E + E very odious : deserving abhorrence. a drop of moisture condensed upon destination Manners that are passable in youth a cool surface, especially at night. n are detestable in later age. The bird put his tiny head on one / TdestESnCshEn / side and looked up at him with his L detract soft bright eye which was like a a place which is set for the end of a black dewdrop. journey or to which something is detrimental sent. adj dewfall The newest game show gives / TdetrESmentFl / n amateur travelers an itinerary L + Ecf / Sd(y)VTfOl / every day but no sense of their final harmful, damaging. E + E destination. There is little doubt that smoking is the amount of moisture deposited detrimental to one’s health. as dew during one period. destitute The dewfall quickly evaporated as adj deuterogamy the Sun rose. / SdestETtVt / n L / Td(y)VZESrBgEmG / dextral lacking possessions and resources; Gk adj especially : lacking the necessaries a legal second marriage after the / SdekstrEl / of life. termination of a first marriage. L The tornado left many families After Gordon’s wife passed away, right-handed. absolutely destitute. he expressed his opinion that a Little Lucas kept trying to use deuterogamy was out of the dextral scissors with his left hand destitution question. but was always frustrated.

Page 73 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency diabolical diastrophe dichondra n n diacritic / dISastrEfG / / dISkBndrE / Gk Gk diacritical a deformation of Earth’s crust. a chiefly tropical perennial herb Part of Anita’s master’s thesis in with tiny leaves and flowers that is diadromous geology deals with the different commonly used as a ground cover causes of diastrophe. in the southern United States. diagnosis Mr. Dupree doesn’t like to mow, so n diatessaron he planted his yard with dichondra / TdIDgSnPsDs / n instead of grass. Gk / dIEStesErEn / investigation or analysis of the Gk dichotomous cause or nature of a condition, the interval of a fourth in ancient situation, or problem. Greek music. Dickensian After the doctor’s grim diagnosis, While practicing with her high adj Harvey’s family went looking for a school choir for the Classics / diSken(t)sGEn / second opinion. Festival, Louise had problems E name singing the diatessaron in her solo characteristic of or having the diagrammatic correctly. qualities of the writings of Charles adj Dickens with respect to humor and / TdIEgrESmaZik / diathermy pathos in the portrayal of character Gk types. being or relating to a drawing that diatom The Dickensian slums of London shows arrangement and relations n were perfectly portrayed in the (as of parts to a whole, origins and / SdIETtBm / television movie. development, chronological Gk fluctuations). any of the unicellular or colonial dictator A family tree is a diagrammatic algae having a silicified cell wall representation of the various that persists as a skeleton after diction relationships in a family. death and forming a large part of the plankton of both fresh and salt dictum dialectic water. Griff examined the diatom through dieffenbachia dialectician the microscope and drew a quick sketch of it in his lab notebook. diener diamond diatomaceous dieseling dianoia diatonic dieter diapasons diazepam difference diaper n / dISazETpam / differentiable diaphoresis ISV + unknown n a synthetic tranquilizer used differentials / TdIEfESrGsDs / especially to relieve anxiety and Gk tension and as a muscle relaxant. differentiate perspiration. The patient’s seizure subsided after v Dr. Grady explained that Simon’s treatment with diazepam. / TdifESrenchGTCt / diaphoresis was one of the L symptoms of his high blood dicey express the specific difference of. pressure. The order of red and yellow stripes helps differentiate deadly coral diastole snakes from benign species.

Page 74 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency diffraction digit dimmer n n / dDSfrakshEn / diglossia / SdimE(r) / L E a modification which light dignified a device for causing an electric undergoes in passing by the edges light to burn less brightly. of opaque bodies or through narrow digoneutic Sara turned the dimmer down and slits in which the rays appear to be lit the candles in the dining room. deflected and produce fringes of digression parallel light and dark or colored n dimorphism bands. / dISgreshEn / n One consequence of diffraction is L / dISmOrTfizEm / that sharp shadows are not the act of turning aside from the Gk produced. main subject of attention in a difference (as of form, color, size) discourse or literary work. between two individuals or kinds of diffractometer Lou felt that they were wandering individuals that might be expected n from the point, and that in to be similar or identical. / TdiTfrakStBmEZE(r) / digression Alexandra might Screech owls exhibit color L + Ecf + Gk unnerve him. dimorphism, being either gray or an instrument for measuring the reddish. diameters of small particles in a dihedral microscope field by means of the adj dined diffraction rings which appear to / dIShGdrEl / surround them. Gk + Gk dingbat Lance used a diffractometer to having or formed by two plane measure particles collected in the faces. dingo air filter. The dihedral angles in a cube n measure 90 degrees. / SdiN(T)gP / diffuser Australian name n dijudicate a wild dog of Australia. / dDSfyVzE(r) / v Many Australian farmers erect high L / dISjVdDkCt / fences to protect their sheep a device to distribute the light from L against the dingo. a concentrated source uniformly. make a judicial decision. To replace the burnt-out bulb, Judge Flanders will dijudicate in dingy Adam had to remove the diffuser the civil case between Victoria and adj from the light. her insurance company. / SdinjG / unknown diffusion dilatancy dirty, soiled, discolored. n The bird flapped its dingy wings / dDSfyVzhEn / dilate and flew off in a cascade of dust L and dirt and fuzz. spreading, dispersion. dilated Dr. Packman is investigating the v diocesan effect of temperature on the / SdITlCZEd / diffusion of light in various L dioscuric crystals. expanded or became wide. adj Slowly the pupils of Joan’s eyes / dIESskyUrik / digest dilated until they were back to Gk v normal. twin. / dISjest / The dioscuric children greatly L dilatorily enjoyed switching identities to [Note: The definition provided is annoy their teachers. not the one most commonly diluvial associated with this word.] diphthongize appropriate or assimilate mentally. The teacher told James that she found it difficult to digest the main idea of his recent essay.

Page 75 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency diphyllous disappearance discombobulate adj n v / dISfilEs / / TdisESpirEn(t)s / / TdiskEmSbBb(y)ElCt / Gk L L + unknown having two leaves. removal from sight : vanishing. upset, confuse, or disconcert. In her description of the flower, the With the disappearance of the Changing the rules just before the botanist noted that its calyx was snow, the sleds and skates were game was bound to discombobulate diphyllous. replaced with bicycles. the team. diploe disappoint disconsolate adj diploid disapprobation / dDSskBn(t)s(E)lDt / L diplomacy disarray hopelessly sad : being beyond comfort. dipper disaster After she received her report card, n Gretchen was disconsolate for the dipsas / dDSzastE(r) / rest of the day. Gk > L dipsomaniac a sudden and unfortunate event that discordancies causes much damage : calamity. n pl dipteral The violent hail storm was the / dDSskOrdFn(t)sGz / disaster that ruined the wheat crop. L diptote disagreements. disavowed Emma insisted to Mr. Knightley dire v that their discordancies always / TdisESvaUd / arose from her being in the wrong. director L > F > E n denied responsibility for, approval discountenance / dDSrektE(r) / of, or validity of : disowned. L Although the manager disavowed discourage one that supervises the production the illegal actions of his of a show (as for stage or screen) subordinates, he was held discrete with responsibility for action, responsible and was fired. adj lighting, music, and rehearsals. / dESskrGt / While the producer is responsible disbursement L for the finances and publicity of a n [has homonym: discreet] possessed show, the director is responsible / dDsSbErsmEnt / of definite identity or individuality for the show itself. L > F + Gk > L > F + Ecf : separate. the act of expending, especially As a member of a large family, dirge from a public fund : paying out. Emily sometimes finds it difficult to The officer in charge of establish a discrete identity at dirk disbursement gave the builders the school. final payment. disadvantage discriminant discept disagreeable discrimination adj discernible n / TdisESgrGEbEl / / dDTskrimESnCshEn / L > E + F > E + Lcf > Ecf dischargeable L causing discomfort, displeasure, or the act, practice, or an instance of repugnance. discigerous differentiating categorically rather Mary was so disagreeable that than individually. after the first day or two nobody disciple Several women waged lifelong would play with her. campaigns to end discrimination against females. disappear

Page 76 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency discursively disillusion disquietude adv v n / dDSskErsDvlG / / disDSlVzhEn / / dEsSkwIDTtVd / L L L > Ecf + L + L > Ecf in a manner passing from one topic deprive of hopes previously held : lack of peace or tranquillity : to another. disenchant. anxiety. In her book on modern art Rosalind If you believe that you’ll win the Groans and disquietude followed discusses the various movements lottery, why should I disillusion Mr. Collins’s announcement of a discursively. you? pop quiz. disinherit discuss disrupt disinterred discussion v dissect n / TdisinStE(r)d / / dDSskEshEn / L dissecting L dug out of the ground : taken out of v a consideration of a question in a place of burial. / dDSsektiN / open usually informal debate. The body of the victim was L A lively discussion followed Ms. disinterred after a long legal battle cutting into parts or sections. Poole’s speech. with the next of kin. The science kit was equipped with a knife for dissecting. disease dismayed v dissension disematism / dDSsmCd / (L + Gmc) > F > E dissentious disembark upset, perturbed, alarmed. v Many veteran teachers were disservice / TdisDmSbBrk / dismayed to learn that they had to F pass a test in order to continue to disseverance go ashore out of a ship or boat : teach in public schools. leave a ship. dissevered “Please hold the railing as you dispel v disembark,” Simi cautioned the v / dDSsevE(r)d / passengers. / dDSspel / L L disunited. disgruntle clear away : cause to disperse or If the group dissevered, it could not disappear. hope to win the campaign. disgusting Dr. McKellar’s explanation of the surgical procedure did not dispel dissidence disheartening his patient’s fear. n adj / SdisEdEn(t)s / / dEsShBrtFniN / dispensary L Lcf > Ecf + E + Ecff [has homonym: dissidents] inducing discouragement or disperse difference of opinion : dejection. disagreement. Wally’s attempts to learn ice- dispersed The tyrannical dictator did not skating were disheartening. v tolerate any political dissidence. / dDSspErst / dishevel L dissimulate caused to break up and go in v dishonest different ways. / dESsimyETlCt / The high wind dispersed the seeds L in the milkweed pods throughout hide under a false appearance with the neighborhood. intent to deceive. In the preface to his autobiography, disposed the author said that he refused to dissimulate the facts of his life.

dissipate

Page 77 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency dissipative distichous distraught adj adj dissociate / SdistDkEs / / dDSstrOt / Gk L > E dissolute divided into two distinct segments. beset with doubt or mental conflict adj The entomology student was : deeply troubled. / SdisETlVt / puzzled over insects with distichous For four days distraught friends L antennae. and relatives waited for news of the unrestrained or lawless in conduct. lost skiers. The board deplored the dissolute distilland behavior of one of its members. distressing distillery v dissolution / dDSstresiN / n distinct L > F > E / TdisESlVshEn / adj subjecting to great strain or L / dDSstiN(k)t / difficulties. [has near homonym: disillusion] L > F > E Ulrich had a distressing day at the termination or destruction by capable of being easily perceived. office. breaking down, disrupting, or As the dense fog lifted, the dispersing. mountains again became distinct. distributary King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in distinctive disturbance England primarily to obtain their adj wealth. / dDSstiN(k)tiv / disturbed L adj dissonance characteristic, peculiar : special. / dDSstErbd / The distinctive odor of natural gas L > F > E dissonantly comes from an additive designed to deprived of mental or emotional adv make leaks easier to detect. peace : upset, agitated. / SdisEnEntlG / The movie’s villain was a brilliant L distinctly but emotionally disturbed scientist. in a manner marked by a mingling of discordant sounds. distingue disunify When the table was overturned, the plates and silverware crashed distinguishable ditch dissonantly to the floor. adj / dESstiNwishEbEl / dithering dissuasion L recognizable as separate : dittography distal discernible. adj King snakes and coral snakes are diurnation / SdistFl / distinguishable by the order of L their red, yellow, and black stripes. diuturnal located away from the center of the adj body. distractible / TdIyVStErnFl / The professor asked the students to adj L identify the distal and proximal / dDSstraktEbEl / of long continuance : lasting. ends of several bones. L In geologic time, the Paleozoic Era having one’s attention readily was relatively diuturnal. distemper diverted. n The highly distractible student was divan / dDsStempE(r) / diagnosed as having attention L deficit disorder. divergence a highly contagious virus disease of some animals. The sick animals had distemper and were given medicine by the veterinarian.

Page 78 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency divers doab dolefully pron pl / SdIvE(r)z / doable dollarwise L [Note: The definition provided is docible dollhouse not the one most commonly associated with this word. In docile dolmen addition, word has near homonym: n diverse.] an indefinite number more docket / SdPlmEn / than one (as of persons or objects). L > Bret > F Divers of the enemy were captured. dockization [has homonym: dolman] a prehistoric monument consisting of diversion doctorate two or more upright stones supporting a horizontal stone slab diverticulum doctrine found especially in Britain and n France and thought to be a tomb. / TdIvE(r)StikyElEm / dodderer Connor made a model of a dolmen L enclosed by a stone circle as part an abnormal pouch or sac opening doddery of his English history project. from a hollow organ (as the intestines or bladder). dodecarchy dolomite The examination began rather n n casually, but at the first sight of a / SdPdETkBrkG / / SdPlETmIt / diverticulum the doctor became Gk F name much more serious. a ruling body of 12. a limestone or marble rich in The rebels overthrew the magnesium carbonate. divertimento dodecarchy and established an Geologists suspected a deposit of n independent kingdom. dolomite lay just beneath the next / dDTvErZESmen(T)tP / rock layer. L > F > It dodecuplet an instrumental musical doloroso composition having from four to dodgery ten movements that is written as a dolt chamber work. doeskin The conductor chose a divertimento domesticate by Mozart for the evening’s doffed performance. v dominate / SdBft / diverting E dominigene v lifted the hat. / dDSvErZiN / When he reached the car, the figure dominion L + Ecf doffed his cap. turning or drawing (as the mind or donation attention) from one concern to dogged another : distracting. donee The program on television was doily diverting Vera’s attention from her donkey homework. doldrum donnybook divide doldrums n pl doohickey dividend / SdPldrEmz / E? doombook divination a spell of listlessness or despondency : blues. doorjamb divvy Siobhan, who lives in Alaska, explained that she often doornail dizzyingly experiences the doldrums in the winter. dopester

Page 79 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency dormer doughtily downdraft adv n dormice / daUZDlG / / SdaUnTdraft / E E + E dormitory in a manner marked by fearless a downward current of air. resolution and by stoutness in A strong downdraft sent the dormouse contest or struggle. airplane into a sudden steep The district attorney doughtily descent. dorsal persevered in his efforts to bring adj the crime bosses to justice. downpour / SdOrsEl / n L dour / SdaUnTpP(E)r / belonging to or situated near or on adj E + E the back of an animal. / SdaU(E)r / a pouring or streaming downward; From the scar near the salmon’s L especially : a heavy rain. dorsal fin, Ako knew it had been [has homonyms: doer, dower] The town’s sewage system was attacked by a lamprey. marked by gloomy silence or ill unable to handle the tremendous humor : sullen. downpour. dorsiferous The usually dour senator was advised to smile more if he wanted downright dote to get reelected. downtrodden dottiness dourness doze doublet dovetail n n dragonfly / SdEblDt / / SdEvTtCl / L > F > E E + E dragoon a quilted undergarment reinforced something (as a flaring tenon, v by rings of mail and worn under tongue, or machine part) felt to / drESgVn / armor. resemble a dove’s tail in shape; F The knight’s life was saved by the especially : dovetail joint. compel or attempt to compel into doublet he had reluctantly worn. The cabinetmaker taught his submission by violent measures : apprentice to use a dovetail to join harass, persecute. doubletone the pieces of wood. Gerald’s so-called friends tried to dragoon him into quitting school, doubloon dovetailed but he would have none of it. adj doubloons / SdEvTtCld / drakelet n pl E + E / TdESblVnz / joined with or as if with a flaring dramatize L > Sp tenon or tongue. v old gold coins of Spain and Spanish Norm Abram showed the TV / SdramETtIz / America worth 16 pieces of eight. audience the carefully dovetailed Gk “Hang it, Pew, we’ve got the joints on the sideboard. exhibit graphically in such a doubloons!” grumbled one pirate manner as to show forth qualities, to the other. dowdily attributes, or aspects likely to be overlooked. dough downcast To dramatize the plight of Third adj World children, the charity / SdaUnTkast / executives decided to film their E + ON > E commercial in a squalid back alley. low in spirit : depressed, dejected. After striking out, the downcast dramaturge batter returned to the bench.

Page 80 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency drams Drosophila dryad n pl n n / Sdramz / / drPSsBfElE / / SdrITad / Gk > L&F > E Gk > L Gk > L avoirdupois units, each equal to a genus of small two-winged flies one of the minor divinities of 27.343 grains. that have been used extensively in nature in Greek and Roman The doctor prescribed 2 drams of experiments to study basic mythology that are represented as the medicine to be taken three times mechanisms of inheritance. beautiful maidens dwelling in the a day. The fruit fly is of the genus forests. Drosophila. Sally likes to sit in her tree house drapery and pretend that she is a dryad. drown drastically dryness drowsily drawer adv dual / SdraUzDlG / adj drawl E? + Ecf / Sd(y)VEl / in a sleepy manner. L drawloom Ali drowsily took the message for [has homonym: duel] consisting of his roommate but forgot to give it two parts or elements : twofold. drearily to him. Mark practiced whistling until he was able to consistently produce a drippage druid dual tone. n drizzle / SdrVDd / dualistic n Gaulish > L / SdrizEl / a member of a priesthood in ancient dubious E Gaul, Britain, and Ireland whose a fine misty rain; specifically : a members are said to have studied dubiously light rain of very small drops. the natural sciences and later adv The rain increased suddenly, appeared in legends as magicians / Sd(y)VbGEslG / pounding hollowly against the and wizards. L + Ecf umbrella, then just as suddenly The tour guide speculated that in a manner expressive of doubt, faded back to a drizzle. Stonehenge had been built by a hesitation, or suspicion. lone druid seeking immortality. “Are you sure the shot won’t drogher hurt?” Sarah dubiously asked the druidism doctor. droll adj drumlin dubonnet / SdrPl / n D > F / SdrEmlDn / ducal having a whimsical, humorous, or IrGael + E adj odd character. an elongate or oval hill of glacial / Sd(y)VkEl / Steve says things so droll his drift. L > F parents can’t respond for laughing. Last summer the cousins built a of, belonging to, or befitting a duke bonfire atop the drumlin on or dukedom. drolly Granddad’s farm. The ducal palace stood in the middle of a beautiful garden. dromic drunkard adj ductility / SdrBmik / n Gk / TdEkStilEZG / of, relating to, or in the form of a L > F racecourse. the quality or state of being capable Many Eastern churches exhibit the of being drawn out into wire. dromic form. The ductility of platinum is such that it has been drawn into a wire dromond less than two thousandths of an inch in diameter.

Page 81 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency duenna dunderfunk dutiful n / d(y)VSenE / dundrearies duumvirate L > Sp n pl n an elderly woman serving as / TdEnSdrirGz / / d(y)VSEmvErDt / governess and companion to the E name L younger ladies in a Spanish or a long flowing side whiskers. two people associated in high Portuguese family. Dundrearies were a popular office or position. The governor’s daughter was never adornment of men in the latter half The rebellion’s leader and the allowed to leave the house without of the 19th century. army colonel formed a powerful her duenna. duumvirate that controlled all duodenary traffic to and from the capital. dugong adj n / Td(y)VESdenErG / dwindled / SdVTgBN / L v Malay&Tagalog > L containing 12. / SdwindFld / an aquatic herbivorous mammal The radical new government E that has a two-lobed tail and in the planned to hold its elections on a became steadily less : diminished male upper incisors altered into duodenary cycle of years. in size, amount, or quality. short tusks, is related to the Above them the trees of the manatee, and inhabits warm coastal duologue mountain dwindled, and then regions. vegetation ceased entirely. The dugong grazes on green algae duopsony and sea grasses and is able to dyeing remain submerged for up to 10 dupes minutes. n pl dynamic / Sd(y)Vps / adj dulcimer F / dISnamik / puppets or tools especially of a Gk dulcinea powerful person or idea. forceful, energetic. n In his “Four Freedoms” speech, The soccer team praised their / TdElsESnGE / Franklin D. Roosevelt warned dynamic coach for his untiring L > Sp name about the presence of secret agents efforts. sweetheart. and their dupes. Wesley called his girlfriend his dynamo “dulcinea” because it sounded duplicate n more romantic. adj / SdInETmP / / Sd(y)VplDkDt / Gk dulosis L a direct-current generator. n [Note: The definition provided is The old car had a dynamo powered / d(y)VSlPsDs / not the one most commonly by the front tire. Gk > L associated with this word.] of, enslavement by an insect that relating to, or being a card game in dyne captures and rears the larvae or which all players play identical n pupae of another species. hands in order to allow a / SdIn / Some ants practice dulosis in order comparison of scores. Gk > F to enlarge their army of workers. Joe and Lisa spent the weekend at [has homonym: dine] the unit of a duplicate bridge tournament. force in the centimeter-gram- duly second system equal to the force duplicator that would give a free mass of 1 duncical gram an acceleration of 1 adj dusky centimeter per second per second. / SdEn(t)sDkEl / adj Mr. Hill tried to give examples Scottish name + Ecff / SdEskG / illustrating the force of 1 dyne, but stupid. E the students were still confused. Warren’s patience ran out when he somewhat dark in color. had to walk his neighbor’s duncical Dustin described the bird’s dysarthria dog. plumage as a dusky brown tinged with yellow. dyscrasia

Page 82 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency dysesthesia eavesdropper echelette n dysgraphia Ebenezer / TeshESlet / n L > F dyslexiac / TebESnGzE(r) / a reflection grating made by ruling Heb parallel V-shaped grooves in a dysphagia a commemoration of divine polished metal plate so that light is n assistance. reflected from the corresponding / dDSsfCj(G)E / The city swimming pool is a faces of successive grooves. Gk + Gk millionaire’s Ebenezer, celebrating If cut properly, an echelette can difficulty in swallowing. his recovery from a childhood bout reflect almost as much light as a Doug experienced dry mouth and of polio. mirror. dysphagia as adverse reactions to the medication he was taking. eburnean echeveria adj dysprosium / DSbErnGEn / echidna L n dystrophy resembling ivory in color. / DSkidnE / n Charlie pleaded with his dentist to Gk / SdistrEfG / improve the appearance of his a spiny-coated toothless burrowing Gk eburnean teeth. egg-laying mammal of Australia any of several neuromuscular having a tapering snout and long disorders. ecce tongue for eating ants. Shayna was diagnosed with interj To frustrate its enemies, an echidna muscular dystrophy the summer / Se(T)chC / may roll itself into a ball and dig before she began elementary L straight down in loose soil. school. interjection used to call attention often to one persecuted unjustly. echinacea eagerness At the end of his speech the defense n attorney screamed “Ecce” and / TekESnCshGE / earnestly pointed at his client. Gk adv the dried rhizome, roots, or other / SErnDstlG / eccyclema parts of any of three composite E herbs used in folk medicine and with intent and serious manner. ecdysis some patent medicines especially Gerald performed his job so for a supposed beneficial effect on earnestly that his co-workers ecdysone the immune system. teased him by asking if he thought n Some people take echinacea to he was saving the world. / SekdDTsPn / prevent colds and flu. Gk earring any of several arthropod hormones echinate that in insects trigger molting and adj ease metamorphosis. / DSkInEt / The insecticide Mary uses in her Gk > L easel garden inhibits ecdysone, the [Note: Could be confused with hormone that enables some insects noun echinite.] densely covered easelback to metamorphose. with stiff bristles or spines : prickly like a hedgehog. easily echard Not many animals interfere with adv n the echinate porcupine. / SGz(D)lG / / SeTkBrd / E Gk without difficulty, discomfort, or the soil water that is unavailable to reluctance : readily. plant organisms. Thomas easily solved the first set of The echard forms a part of the total math problems, but the second set moisture content of the soil. required great effort. easterly

Page 83 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency echinus ectoparasite eeriness n n n / DSkInEs / / SektPTparETsIt / / SirGnDs / Gk Gk E the rounded molding forming the a parasite that lives on the exterior the quality or state of being unusual bell of the Greek Doric capital of a of its host. or unnatural to such a degree as to column. The flea is a common ectoparasite inspire fear. The tour guide pointed out the on dogs and cats. The abandoned mansion’s eeriness echinus of the capital to Nancy’s sent a shiver down Joachim’s group. eczema spine. echo edaphic effective adj echolocation / DSdafik / effectuality n Gk / Te(T)kPlPSkCshEn / of or relating to the soil. effervescence Gk + L Kate’s research project on the a process of animal orientation and effects of local edaphic variations effervescently navigation that involves emission on agriculture won a silver medal of high-frequency sounds that are in the state science fair. effervescible reflected back from environing surfaces and thus indicate the eddy efficient relative distance and direction of such surfaces. eddying effigial Contrary to popular fiction, Erin v learned that bats never get tangled / SedGiN / effortless in people’s hair because their ON? > E system of echolocation is so causing to move contrary to the eggnog accurate. main current. Yolanda let her fly drift into the eglantine echoppe eddying water at the edge of the n n stream. / SeglEnTtIn / / CSshBp / L > F > E + Ecf L > F edger an Old World rose with stout an engraver’s needle beveled to an recurved prickles and white to deep oval facet at the end and used to edgily rosy pink single flowers. reopen previously incised lines. The eglantine, noted for its fragrant Kermit carefully worked the edibility foliage, can grow to a height of six echoppe through the broad strokes feet. of the engraving. edition ego ecize editor egotistical eclair educand adj / TGgEStistDkEl / ecliptical education L + Ecff boastful or arrogant : referring ecocide educe unduly to oneself. Paul wrote an egotistical letter to economic eellike the editor of the newspaper. economy ecstasiate ecstatically ectocranial

Page 84 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency Egyptian eland electorate adj n n / DSjipshEn / / SGlEnd / / DSlekt(E)rDt / Gk > L Lithuanian > G > D > Afrikaans L of or relating to Egypt, its either of two large African a body of people entitled to vote. inhabitants, or its language. antelopes of which both male and The electorate favored allowing the The pyramids at Giza are huge female have short spirally twisted independent candidate to spectacular monuments of Egyptian horns. participate in the presidential Old Kingdom architecture. In some areas of Africa the eland debates. has been domesticated for use as a eigenvalue draft animal on farms. electrify n / SIgEnTvalyV / elaphine electroencephalograph G + L > F > E n any of the permissible values of a elapse / DTlektrPDnSsefElEgraf / parameter in the solution of a Gk > L differential equation satisfying elastique an apparatus for detecting and specified conditions. recording brain waves. Nina spent an hour finding the final elated The technicians installed the new eigenvalue that satisfied the adj electroencephalograph at the assigned physics problem. / DSlCZDd / hospital. L eighth elevated in spirit : excited electroluminescence especially with pride. n einkanter The scientist was elated on hearing / DTlekTtrPSlVmESnesFn(t)s / n that he would be awarded the Gk + L + Lcf / SInTkBntE(r) / Nobel Prize. an emission of light resulting from G a high-frequency discharge through a stone with a single sharp edge elaterid a gas or from application of an worn by wind-driven sand. n alternating current to a layer of Joseph cut his knee on a large / DSlaZErDd / phosphor. einkanter at the beach. Gk > L Stan was surprised to find that his click beetle. friend knew what eisegesis Sandy was surprised to hear a electroluminescence is. n clicking noise when the elaterid / TIsESjGsDs / flipped itself to an upright position. electrolyte Gk n the interpretation of a text (as of the elbowroom / DSlektrETlIt / Bible) by reading into it one’s own Gk ideas. elder a substance (as an acid, base, or The biblical scholar noted that salt) that when dissolved in a eisegesis is often unavoidable elderly suitable solvent (as water) or when because our lives have a strong adj fused becomes an ionic conductor. impact on how we learn. / SeldE(r)lG / The veterinarian recommended that E + Ecf Mo use the product Pedialyte to get elaborative rather advanced in years. an electrolyte or two into Daisy, his adj An elderly lady lived in a huge old sick chimp. / DSlabETrCZiv / house on the edge of town and L never came out except for food and electron tending to expand something in church. detail. electroretinograph Each topical heading was followed electioneer n by elaborative paragraphs giving / DTlektrPSretFnETgraf / details. Gk + L + Gk an instrument for recording electrical activity in the retina. The security device in the sci-fi film involved an electroretinograph, but the details were vague.

Page 85 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency elegance elongate emaciation n elegiac eloquent / DTmCshGSCshEn / adj adj L / TelDSjIEk / / SelEkwEnt / the state of being made lean by Gk L impairment (as from hunger). consisting of two dactylic adept at skilled easy pleasing Disease was the major cause of the hexameter lines the second of communication of a thought, idea, emaciation of the children in the which is often felt to be or feeling. African village. pentameter. A gifted toastmaster is not only Gonda could not figure out how to eloquent but also entertaining. email scan the elegiac couplet. n eloquently / CSmI / elegy F n elucubrate a moderate bluish green to greenish / SelEjG / blue. Gk > L elude Email, also called “bleu Louise,” a poem expressing sorrow or is a common color of enamel used lamentation. elusive in cloisonné. The English poet Thomas Gray wrote perhaps the most famous eluvium emanatory elegy. n / GSlVvGEm / emancipatory element L rock debris produced by embarrassing elenchus weathering. After many years the wind and embergoose elevation water made eluvium of the n n limestone. / SembE(r)TgVs / / TelESvCshEn / Norw&E + E L elysium common loon. the angular distance of a celestial n The embergoose is a large fish- object above the horizon. / DSliz(h)GEm / eating aquatic bird that spends Simon measured the Moon’s Gk > L most of its time in open water. elevation with a protractor, a the dwelling place of happy souls straw, a string, and a washer. after death as conceived by the embezzled ancient Greeks and Romans. v elevator Greek tales about the afterlife seem / DmSbezEld / to focus more on Hades than on F > AF > E elevon elysium. appropriated fraudulently to one’s own use (as property entrusted to elicit elytra one’s care). n pl The bank employee embezzled elicitation / SelETtrE / hundreds of thousands of dollars Gk > L before the authorities discovered elicitor the thickened sclerotized anterior the crime. wings in beetles and some other eligibility insects that protect and cover the emblema posterior wings. elocutionary At least 250,000 species of insects emboss have hardened wing covers called eloge “elytra.” n / CSlPzh / Gk > L > F a panegyrical funeral oration. Mourners wept at the rabbi’s moving eloge.

Page 86 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency embosser emmetropia encaustic n n n / DmSbBsE(r) / / TemDStrPpGE / / DnSkOstik / F Gk > NL Gk a punch used for striking metal on the normal refractive condition of a paint mixed with melted beeswax the reverse side to raise the relief. the eye in which with and after application fixed by heat. Mandy used an embosser to form a accommodation relaxed parallel Encaustic gave Gerard’s painting design on a thin piece of copper rays of light are brought accurately an appealing texture. sheeting. to a focus upon the retina. There are new kinds of laser enceinte embracing surgery that bring the eyes of n v nearsighted people back to a state / BMSsant / / DmSbrCsiN / of emmetropia. L > F F a line of fortification enclosing a encircling, enclosing, emotion castle or town. encompassing. The attacking army used artillery Calvin flung his arms out wide, as emperor to breach the town’s enceinte. though he were embracing Meg and her mother—the whole house. emphasize encephalon n embroidered empiricism / DnSsefETlBn / v Gk / DmSbrOidE(r)d / employed the vertebrate brain. F > E + Ecf The encephalon is divided into the ornamented with needlework. emptiness hindbrain, the midbrain, and the Grandma embroidered the forebrain. tablecloth with a floral motif. empyreal enchanted embryogenesis emulator v n / DnSchantEd / / TembrGPSjenEsDs / emulsify L > F > E Gk + Gk v influenced by or as if by charms the formation and development of / DSmElsETfI / and incantation : bewitched. the animal organism in the early L The dominant spirit that has stages of growth and convert into a mixture of two haunted and enchanted this region differentiation. incompletely miscible liquids. is a figure on horseback. During early embryogenesis cells Monika used a hand mixer to differentiate to form various types emulsify the eggs and oil for her encincture of tissue. special salad dressing. encipherment emersal enamelware encoignure eminence enatic adj encolure emit / GSnaZik / v L + Ecf encomiastic / GSmit / descended from the same mother : adj L related on the mother’s side. / DnTkPmGSastik / throw or give off or out (as light, George and Isabel are enatic Gk heat, gases, or charged particles). cousins. of, belonging to, or bestowing “Neon” signs are actually made praise. with neon, krypton, and argon, The opera’s composer wrote an which emit different colors of light. encomiastic letter to the conductor commending his performance.

encompass

encourage

Page 87 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency encouraged endoradiosonde enkindle n v encroaching / TenTdPSrCdGPTsBnd / / DnSkindFl / v Gk + L + F L + ON > E / DnSkrPchiN / a microelectronic device introduced set on fire. Scand > F > E + Ecf into the body to record Light concentrated by a magnifying entering by gradual steps or by physiological data. glass will enkindle dry grass or stealth into the possessions or Dr. Lennon warned Tonya not to paper. rights of another. use a portable telephone while her Mr. Bickett’s garden was endoradiosonde was in place. enlivened encroaching on his neighbor’s v lawn year by year. endotracheal / DnSlIvEnd / adj L > F > E + E enculturate / TendPStrCkGEl / made sprightly, gay, or cheerful. v Gk The dancers were immediately / DnSkElchErCt / placed within or passed inside of enlivened by the swing music. L the windpipe. modify or condition by the process The physician had to insert an ennoble by which an individual learns the endotracheal tube to help the v traditional content of a culture and patient breathe. / DSnPbEl / assimilates its practices and values. L > F > E The Romans intended to endurance elevate in degree or excellence. enculturate the vanquished people n Thad is living proof that spending as quickly as possible. / DnSd(y)UrEn(t)s / time with virtuous people can L > F ennoble those of lesser character. endear an instance of long-suffering (as hardship or tribulation). enoptromancy endearment On his sad face was an expression of suffering and endurance. enormous endive adj enemy / DSnO(r)mEs / endocardial L + Ecf adj energumen [Note: Speller should not confuse / TendPSkBrdGEl / with obsolete form enormious.] Gk + Gk enforceable marked by extraordinarily great situated within the heart. adj size, amount, number, degree, With a stethoscope the physician / DnSfP(E)rsEbEl / scope, intensity, or significance. listened for endocardial murmurs. F > E The documentary depicted the capable of being enforced. enormous task of building the endocrinopathy A law must be enforceable if it is to Panama Canal. have any effect. endogenous enraptured adj enfranchise v / enSdBjEnEs / / DnSrapchE(r)d / Gk + Gk engagement L arising from internal structural or filled with delight : gratified functional causes. engagingly completely. Rhythmic biological behavior As Timmy entered the room, he was governed by an endogenous clock engine enraptured by the sight of the tree is widespread in the animal and the many presents. kingdom. engorge enshroud engross

enjoin

enjoyable

Page 88 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency ensteel entrapment envision v n v / DnzStG(E)l / / DnStrapmEnt / / DnSvizhEn / E F L + L make hard and strong. the luring by an officer of the law have a mental picture of especially Mr. Simpson explained that one of a person into the commission of in advance of realization. step in making silver jewelry is to a crime in order that the person When she was a child, Calinda hammer the metal well to ensteel it. may be prosecuted for the offense. would often envision her life as a The jury felt that the evidence famous writer or painter. ensuant indicated police entrapment, so they acquitted the defendant. envoy entelechy n entrechat / SenTvOi / enthalpy n F n / TBntrESshB / any person delegated to represent / SenTJalpG / L > It > F one sovereign or government in its Gk a leap during which a ballet dancer relations with another. a thermodynamic quantity that is repeatedly crosses the legs. The Enterprise conveyed the envoy the sum of the internal energy of a The audience watched in to the peace conference without body and the product of its volume fascination as Nureyev performed a incident. multiplied by the pressure—called seemingly effortless entrechat. also “heat content.” eohippus To help determine the change in entrée n enthalpy, Gruen carefully specified / TGPShipEs / the physical states of all the entrepreneurial Gk + Gk reactants and products. an animal or fossil of a genus of entresol small primitive 4-toed horses of the enthusiasm Lower Eocene of the western entropy United States. enthusiast n Modern horses are descended from / SentrEpG / the eohippus. enthusiastic Gk adj the ultimate state reached in the eolith / DnTth(y)VzGSastik / degradation of the matter and Gk energy of the universe. epaxial having an ardent, receptive, The laws of physics state that all adj responsive temperament. things tend toward entropy. / eSpaksGEl / Myron’s enthusiastic nature Gk infected the rest of the students. enumerated located above or on the dorsal side v of a straight line with respect to enticement / DSn(y)VmETrCZDd / which a body, figure, or system of L points is either radially or entirely related one after another : listed. bilaterally symmetrical. When the waiter had enumerated The epaxial muscles along the entirety the dessert choices, making a single human spine are relatively large. selection was difficult. entomb epenthesis enunciatively n entrammel / DSpen(t)thEsDs / envious Gk the insertion of a letter in a word to environ make the spelling conform to the pronunciation. environment The word nymel became nimble by epenthesis.

epergne

Page 89 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency epexegesis epidemiologist epipelagic n n adj / TeTpeksESjGsDs / / TepETdGmGSBlEjDst / / TepDpDSlajik / Gk + Gk Gk Gk an explanation following a word or a specialist in the science that deals of or relating to the part of the larger part of a text that limits its with the incidence, distribution, and oceanic zone into which enough application or clarifies its meaning. control of disease in a population. light for photosynthesis penetrates. An epexegesis is often set off from The epidemiologist strongly Creatures living below the the rest of a sentence by commas or recommended that all children be epipelagic zone are often blind. parentheses. inoculated with the chicken pox vaccine. epiphanic ephelis adj epiglottis / TepESfanik / ephemerally n Gk / TepESglBZDs / of or having the character of a ephemerid Gk sudden manifestation or perception n the fold of tissue that covers the of the essential nature or meaning / DSfem(E)rDd / airway during the act of of something. Gk swallowing. Oliver had the epiphanic a mayfly. Breathing opens the epiglottis and realization that his cat had gained An ephemerid has membranous allows free passage of air to the weight because she was about to wings that fold flat over the back. lungs. have kittens. epibiont epiglottitis epiphora n epic epigonism / DSpifErE / adj n Gk + Gk / Sepik / / DSpigETnizEm / a watering of the eyes due to Gk Gk + Ecf excessive secretion of tears or to [has near homonym: epoch] artistic, literary, or intellectual obstruction of the lacrimal extending beyond the usual or imitation especially by a later passages. ordinary especially in size or scope. generation. Blocked tear ducts were determined The movie’s epic scale succeeded The Pre-Raphaelite movement in to be the cause of the patient’s brilliantly according to most the mid-19th century arose from epiphora. critics. epigonism of the artistic principles of the 14th century. epiphyte epicardia n n epigrammatic / SepETfIt / / TepESkBrdGE / Gk Gk epigraph a plant that derives its moisture and the short part of the esophagus nutrients from the air and rain and extending from the diaphragm to epilithic grows usually on another plant. the stomach. adj Spanish moss is a ubiquitous The medical student was asked to / TepESlithik / epiphyte on trees in the South. identify the patient’s epicardia Gk + Gk during surgery. growing on stone or stonelike epistaxis material. n epicenter Some species of snails feed on / TepESstaksDs / n epilithic lichen. Gk / SepDsentE(r) / nosebleed. Gk > L epinephrine During his illness, Henri had the part of Earth’s surface directly frequent bouts of epistaxis, so he above the focus of an earthquake. learned to keep a box of tissues An earthquake whose epicenter is handy at all times. on the ocean floor may cause a tsunami.

Page 90 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency epistemic equational eraser adj / TepESstGmik / equerry erasion Gk n of, having the character of, or / SekwErG / eremic relating to knowledge or knowing L&F adj as a type of experience. an officer of princes or nobles / DSrGmik / Sol thought the self-evidence of it charged with the care of their Gk all was epistemic justification horses. of or relating to deserts or sandy enough for his belief that the world The royal equerry had his men regions. existed. prepare the horses for the fox hunt. Georgia O’Keeffe painted several famous eremic landscapes. epistolography equestrian n adj eremitic / DTpistESlBgrEfG / / DSkwestrGEn / Gk L + Ecf erg the art or practice of writing [has near homonym: equestrienne] n epistles : letter writing. of, relating to, or featuring / SErg / The widespread use of e-mail has horseback riding. Gk revived a form of epistolography. The artist was best known for his an absolute centimeter-gram- equestrian paintings. second unit of work representing epithelium the work done by a force of 1 dyne n equidistant acting through a displacement of 1 / TepESthGlGEm / adj centimeter in the direction of the Gk + Gk / TGkwDSdistEnt / force. a cellular animal tissue consisting L Dr. Young planned to introduce the of one or more layers of cells that being of the same measure apart. erg in his next physics lesson. serves to enclose and protect the The neighborhood grocery and other parts of the body. video stores are equidistant from ergonomist Humans have about 26 million Josh’s home. n sensory cells per square inch of / (T)ErSgBnEmDst / olfactory epithelium. equipollence Gk n a specialist in biotechnology. epollicate / TGkwESpBlEn(t)s / David ordered a desk chair L + L specially designed by an epopt the quality or state of being equal ergonomist to prevent discomfort n in force, power, or validity. from prolonged sitting. / SeTpBpt / One form of paradox consists in the Gk apparent equipollence of two ergophobia one instructed in a secret system. propositions, one of which is the Because Ivan was an inexperienced negation of the other. eriometer investor, he treated his stockbroker like an epopt. equipollent eristic adj epos equitation / DSristik / n Gk / SeTpBs / equivocal characterized by disputatious often Gk subtle and specious reasoning. a body of poetry expressing the equivocation The debater used eristic double- tradition of a people. n talk to impress the judges. The ancient epos survived in later / DTkwivESkCshEn / literature. L erode the act or an instance of making a epsilon statement that deviates from or erose misconstrues the truth. equalize Felicity knew that equivocation about the matter would keep her equatable out of trouble, but she was forthright in her response.

Page 91 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency erosion erythropsia escheator n n / DSrPzhEn / / TerESthrBpsGE / esclavage L Gk land destruction and simultaneous a visual disturbance in which all escolar removal of particles (as of soil) by objects appear reddish. running water, waves and currents, Cyrus erroneously thought that the esculent moving ice, or wind. expression “seeing the world In some hilly areas terraces are through rose-colored glasses” had escutcheon built to protect soils from erosion. something to do with erythropsia. esne errant escabeche n n / SeznG / erroneously / TeskESbCchC / E adv Ar > Sp a laborer or man of the lower / DSrPnGEslG / fish or chicken fried in oil then classes among the Anglo-Saxons. L > E marinated in a spicy sauce and While working in the fields, the in a manner deviating from what is served cold. esne dreamed of marrying the true, correct, right, or wise. Elena’s recipe for escabeche came master’s daughter and living in the The noun phenomena is sometimes from her mother’s favorite Spanish manor house. used erroneously with a singular cookbook. verb. espousal escalate n error / DSspaUzEl / escapade L > F > E eruciform a taking up or adopting as a cause adj escapement or belief. / DSrVsETfOrm / n The senator’s espousal of a L / DSskCpmEnt / national health program has not of an insect larva : having a soft L > F wavered during his three terms. cylindrical body with a distinct the device in a timepiece which head and usually short thoracic legs controls the motion of the train of esquamulose : caterpillarlike. wheelwork. Fred knew that the eruciform larva The use of an escapement in clocks esquisse would spin a cocoon from which a dates back to the 14th century. butterfly would emerge. essay escarole erythema n essayist n / SeskETrPl / n / TerESthGmE / L > It > F / SeTsCDst / Gk > L an annual or biennial herb widely L > F abnormal redness of the skin due to cultivated as a salad plant. a writer of analytic, interpretative, capillary congestion (as in Helga tossed a salad of escarole, or critical literary compositions. inflammation). mushrooms, and tomatoes. As an essayist, Emerson can hardly A small area of erythema on the be surpassed. back of Hillary’s hand demarcated escharotic the burn. essential eschatological erythrocyte estafette eschatology erythrophobia n n / TeskEStBlEjG / / DTrithrESfPbGE / Gk Gk a study or science dealing with the fear of blushing. ultimate destiny or purpose of Marvin’s erythrophobia is so humanity and the world. severe that speaking in public is Min’s doctoral thesis in philosophy torture for him. addresses the development of eschatology among Asian cultures.

Page 92 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency estate Eucharist eugenics n n n pl / DSstCt / / SyVk(E)rDst / / yVSjeniks / F > E Gk Gk + Gk the aggregate of property or a central rite in many Christian a science that deals with the liabilities of all kinds that a person churches in which bread and wine improvement of hereditary qualities leaves for disposal at his or her are consecrated by the officiating in a series of generations of a race death. member of the clergy and or breed. The estate of the deceased consumed as symbols for the Using eugenics to create a billionaire has been tied up in realization of a spiritual union super20race of human beings is a lawsuits for over 12 years. between Christ and communicant common theme in science fiction. or as the body and blood of Christ. estimate The Eucharist is considered by eulogistic v most Christian churches to be the / SestETmCt / central act of the worship service. euonym L judge the value of. eucharistic euphemize Arthur asked a real estate adj appraiser to estimate the house. / TyVkESristik / euphenics Gk > L n pl estrange manifesting or expressing praise / yVSfeniks / and thanksgiving. Gk + Gk etching Bianca composed a eucharistic a science that deals with the poem for the festival. biological improvement of human ethereal beings after birth. eucrasia Many people believe that euphenics ethics n will be as common as dentistry in / yVSkrCzh(G)E / the next century. ethnocentric Gk + Gk a normal state of health : physical euphonious ethylene well-being. adj n To the ancient Greeks, eucrasia / yVSfPnGEs / / SethETlGn / resulted from the appropriate Gk Gk > ISV balance of the four humors: blood, [Note: Could be confused with a colorless flammable gas found in yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. euphonous.] pleasing in sound. coal gas or obtained from Allison is noted for her euphonious petroleum hydrocarbons and used eudiometer voice and clear enunciation. to ripen fruits or as an anesthetic. n When ethylene is polymerized, the / TyVdGSBmEZE(r) / euphonium product is polyethylene, a plastic Gk n material used for making an instrument for the volumetric / yVSfPnGEm / containers. measurement and analysis of gases Gk + Ecf that involves the explosion of one a tenor tuba similar in shape, pitch, etymological of the components of the mixture and range to the baritone but with a adj by the passage of an electric spark. larger bore, a mellower tone / TeZEmESlBjDkEl / Rodney managed to set the quality, and often a double bell. Gk chemistry lab on fire because he Rocky’s mom made him practice belonging to, based on, or in accord did not understand how to use the his euphonium in the barn. with the history often including the eudiometer. prehistory of a linguistic form (as a euphony word or morpheme). The etymological meaning of the euphoria word hippopotamus is “river horse.” etymologicon

Page 93 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency euphuism evangel ewe n n / SyVfyETwizEm / / DSvanjEl / ewer Gk > E name Gk [has near homonym: euphemism] a doctrine regarded as having exacerbation artificial and excessive elegance of special grace, sanction, or efficacy. n language : high-flown diction. Elizabeth Cady Stanton called for a / igTzasE(r)SbCshEn / Eli’s penchant for euphuism is kept new evangel of womanhood to exalt L in check by his English teacher, Dr. purity, virtue, and morality. the act of making more violent, Holquist. bitter, or severe. evangelist Vigorous exercise can lead to acute eupraxia exacerbation of asthmatic evaporation symptoms. Euripidean n adj / DTvapESrCshEn / exaggeration / yETripESdGEn / L n Gk name the change by which any substance / igTzajESrCshEn / of, relating to, or characteristic of is converted from a liquid state into L the Greek playwright Euripides or and carried off in vapor. the act of enlarging beyond bounds his tragedies. The Mediterranean Sea loses much or the truth : overstatement. In Euripidean tragedy, the chorus water through evaporation, leaving Uncle Joe’s description of the fish provides charming interludes of behind extra-salty water that sinks he caught was a gross song and dance. to the bottom. exaggeration.

European evection examen adj n n / TyUrESpGEn / / DSvekshEn / / igSzCmDn / Gk L L of, relating to, or belonging to perturbation of the Moon’s motion a critical study (as of a writer or a Europe or its inhabitants. in its orbit due to the attraction of phenomenon). Since John, an Englishman, has a the Sun. Vera’s research was a sound, European Union passport, he is Herman’s tidal calculations didn’t brilliant examen of the most allowed to work in France. account for evection; as a result, he powerful English poet of this was left high and dry. century. euryphagous evenhanded examination eustachian adj evermore examine / yVSstCshEn / v It name evidence / igSzamDn / of or relating to the bony and n L > F > E cartilaginous tube connecting the / SevEdEn(t)s / inquire into the state of especially cavity of the middle ear with the L by introspective processes. nasopharynx. something legally submitted to a Shumin’s father told her to examine As he began his dive, John pinched competent tribunal as a means of her conscience first and then his nose, closed his mouth, and ascertaining the truth of any alleged consider how her action might look attempted to blow out to allow his matter of fact under investigation to other people. eustachian tubes to equalize the before it. pressure in his ears. The suspect’s fingerprints on the exanthematic murder weapon were sufficient adj eutely evidence for his arrest. / egTzan(t)thESmaZik / Gk evacuate evil of or relating to an eruptive disease—used especially of those evadable evolution attended with fever (as in measles, smallpox, and scarlatina). evanesce evolvable Mrs. Hu decided that Wilson’s rash was not exanthematic, so she let evulsion him go out to play.

Page 94 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency exasperate exclusive exemplum adj exasperated / ikSsklVsiv / exempt adj L / igSzaspETrCZEd / barring from participation : exequies L snobbishly aloof. n pl irritated or annoyed especially to The exclusive dog show allowed / SeksEkwGz / the point of injudicious action. only registered dogs to participate. L > F > E The movie star became so funeral rites or ceremonies. exasperated with the excogitate The late king’s exequies were photographers that he hurled his v solemnized with great pomp. shoe at them. / ekSskBjETtCt / L exergue excavation examine mentally with thoroughness and care so as to exfoliative excavator obtain thorough grasp and adj n comprehension of. / ekSsfPlGTCZiv / / SekskETvCZE(r) / Lindsay tried to excogitate the L L topic thoroughly and outline his causing or characterized by the a worker who digs out material or thoughts. peeling of the outer layer of the digs cavities (as in quarrying or for skin. building construction). excrescency Phil’s rash was diagnosed as The excavator gasped when the exfoliative dermatitis. side of the pit gave way to reveal a excrescential dark chamber. exhalation excruciating n exceed adj / Teks(h)ESlCshEn / v / ikSskrVshGTCtiN / L > F > E / ikSsGd / L something that is given off or that L > F > E very intense : extreme. rises in the form of gas, fumes, or [Note: Alternate pron has near An excruciating toothache kept steam. homonym: accede.] go beyond a Marcel from enjoying the camping The wind carried a foul exhalation limit set by (as an authority or trip. from the nearby marsh to the privilege). Ackrill’s house. Drivers who exceed the speed limit execrable in the construction zone will be adj exhaust fined a minimum of 200 dollars. / SeksDkrEbEl / n L / igSzOst / excel deserving to be declared evil or L detestable. an arrangement (as of fans) for exception For his execrable cruelty to the withdrawing undesirable fumes, n victim, the assailant was given the dusts, or odors from an enclosure / ikSsepshEn / maximum prison sentence. (as a factory room or a kitchen). L The safety inspector told Sharon the act of excluding or omitting. executive that the greasy residue on the The librarian made an exception kitchen exhaust was a fire hazard. and permitted Sandy to take a exegesis reference book out of the library. exhausting exegetical adj excerpt adj / igSzOstiN / / TeksESjeZDkEl / L excipient Gk depriving wholly of strength, relating to critical interpretation of patience, or resources. a text or portion of Scripture. Robert’s exhausting exercise The theologian was praised for his routine left him not only very tired exegetical commentaries on the Old but also very hungry. Testament.

exemplify

Page 95 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency exhibited exostosis expiration v n n / igSzibDZDd / / TekTsBSstPsDs / / TekspESrCshEn / L Gk L > E presented to view : showed, a spur or bony outgrowth from a the action or process of releasing displayed. bone or the root of a tooth. air through the nose or the mouth. Elizabeth Ellen brought her The exostosis on Bertha’s big toe Mrs. Burnet’s expiration was decorated cake into the room and had to be surgically removed. strained after her operation. exhibited it quite proudly. expectant expired exhilarated adj v / ikSspektEnt / explanation / igSzilETrCZDd / L L characterized by anticipation : explement made cheerful : enlivened. waiting. The sailor felt exhilarated as his The expectant crowd outside the expletive boat headed into the wind. palace gates had been in place since before dawn. explicit exhume v expedient explore / igSzVm / v L expediently / ikSsplP(E)r / dig out of the ground : take out of a adv L place of burial. / ikSspGdGEntlG / search through or into. No matter where the bone is L “Dr. Craven had indeed begun to buried, the dog will be able to in a manner characterized by wonder if it might not be wise to exhume it. suitability, practicality, and send some one out to explore the efficiency. garden paths.” exigencies It is the responsibility of the explosible n pl customer service representative to / SeksEjEnsGz / handle all complaints expediently. exponentially L adv requirements in a particular expedite / TekspESnenchElG / situation. L The Supreme Court supported the expel in a manner indicating variation in theory of presidential power to which one variable factor depends meet national exigencies. experiential upon another variable factor, adj characterized by an extremely rapid existence / ikTspirGSenchEl / increase (as in size or extent). L For the past decade, sales of video exogenous derived from, based on, or relating games have been growing adj to experience : empirical. exponentially. / ekSsBjEnEs / Although based on experiential Gk + Gk procedures and findings, many expound originating from or due to external great scientific discoveries involve v causes. a degree of intuition and luck. / ikSspaUnd / The politician argued that the labor L > F > E strife in his city was exogenous in experiment make a statement : present a view : nature. comment. expertise The interviewer asked Shana to exonumia n expound on the new park proposal. / TekTspErStGz / exorcism L expression specialized skill or technical knowledge in a particular field. Jonathan’s expertise in database management netted him an excellent job.

Page 96 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency expropriate exterminated extraordinaire v v adj / ekSsprPprGTCt / / ikSstErmETnCZDd / / ikTstrO(r)dFnSe(E)r / L L L > F take out of the possession of gotten rid of. markedly exceptional. another : transfer (the property of The Grubes have exterminated the The Iowa Department of Education another) to one’s own possession. rats in the cellar with rat poison. honored Mrs. Ledgerwood, a math Roy was startled to find that the teacher extraordinaire. government had the right to extirpation expropriate his land if he didn’t n extrasensory pay taxes. / TekstE(r)SpCshEn / adj L / TekstrESsen(t)s(E)rG / expurgate the act of destroying totally : L v extermination. residing beyond or outside the / SekspE(r)TgCt / Expanding settlements have ordinary senses. L resulted in the extirpation of vast Reading someone else’s thoughts is cleanse of something morally forests. an example of extrasensory harmful, offensive, or erroneous. perception. Before publishing the manuscript extortion the editors will expurgate it of any n extremity slanderous material. / ikSstO(E)rshEn / n L / ikSstremEZG / expurgatory [has homonym: extorsion] the act L > F > E or practice of obtaining something an outlying or terminal part, exscind from an unwilling or reluctant section, or point. person by physical force, The state’s westernmost extremity extension intimidation, or the abuse of legal is nothing but flat open prairie. n or official authority. / ikSstenchEn / The gang leaders were arrested for extrinsic L their extortion of money from local adj a dance movement in which the leg merchants. / ekSstrinzik / is extended at an angle to the body. L Lily’s teacher told her she would extra of or relating to the outside of. have to work on her extension until n The nondescript extrinsic it was perfect. / SekstrE / appearance of the old building L belied the architectural wonders extent an additional worker hired for a within. motion picture or stage production extenuate to augment the number of people in extrorse v a crowd or group scene. adj / ikSstenyETwCt / When he was in China, Mark was / SekTstrOrs / L an extra in a film requiring a L lessen or try to lessen the real or crowd of Western Europeans. turned away from the axis of apparent seriousness of (as a crime, growth. offense, or fault) or extent of by extradition When the anther of a flower turns making partial excuses. n away from the pistils and toward No excuse can extenuate Kevin’s / TekstrESdishEn / the petals, it is said to be trying to pass off Adam’s work as F + L “extrorse.” his own. the surrender of an alleged criminal exude usually under the provisions of a v extenuations treaty or statute by one authority / igSzVd / n pl (as a state) to another having L / ikTstenyESwCshEnz / jurisdiction to try the charge. undergo diffusion : emanate. L Mrs. Thorpe was arrested in Sweet odors exude from the shrubs acts of partial justification. Arkansas but is fighting extradition around Myra’s patio. Jason’s letter of apology conveyed to Missouri, where she allegedly many extenuations that were assaulted a sales manager. comforting to Julia. extrados

Page 97 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency exultant factual fairway adj / igSzEltEnt / faculty faja L n filled with extreme joy. facundity / SfB(T)hB / The racer was exultant when she n L > Catal > Sp crossed the finish line first. / faSkEndEZG / a wide bright sash worn around the L waist. exultantly [Note: Could be confused with Don Roberto wore his lucky faja adv fecundity.] eloquence. every time he ran with the bulls. / igSzEltFntlG / Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is a L shining example of facundity. falciform in a manner filled with extreme joy. adj She laughed exultantly when her fadeaway / SfalsETfOrm / practical joke worked and her L brother was covered in paint. faena having the shape of a scythe or n sickle. exuviate / fBSCnE / Roderick drew a somber night v L > Catal > Sp scene dominated by a falciform / igSzVvGTCt / the series of final passes by the moon. L matador with sword and muleta molt. leading to the kill. falconry When a snake begins to exuviate, it Many members of the audience left n rolls over several times to loosen the bullfight hastily when the / SfalkEnrG / the skin covering its head. matador began the faena. Gmc? > L > F > E the art of training falcons to pursue eyebrow failure and to attack wild fowl or game. n The king’s oldest servant was a eyewitness / SfClyE(r) / master of falconry. n F / SISwitnDs / lack of satisfactory performance or falling E + E effect. one that sees or has seen an The candidate’s failure to address falsifier occurrence or an object with his or the people’s complaints resulted in her own eyes and so is able to give his losing the election. falter a firsthand report on it. v An eyewitness gave the detective a fain / SfOltE(r) / helpful description of the robber. adv Scand? > E / SfCn / [has homonym: faulter] speak fabaceous E brokenly or weakly : hesitate, [has homonym: feign] happily, stammer. fable joyfully : with glad preference. Stefan recited seven verses of the The feisty cat would fain have poem before he began to falter. fabric chased the dog from his yard. familiarity fabulist fainness n familiarization / SfabyElDst / fainthearted L famine [Note: Could be confused with faintly fabulous.] a creator or writer of adv fanciest fables, especially those that carry a / SfCntlG / moral lesson. F > E fanciness Aesop is frequently called slightly, indistinctly. “history’s greatest fabulist.” There was a low fire glowing fancywork facetiously faintly on the hearth. fanfare factor fairground fanged

Page 98 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency fanglement fascist fate adj n fantasque / SfashDst / / SfCt / L > It L fantasticality of or relating to any program for [has homonym: fete] ultimate lot setting up a centralized autocratic or disposition : final outcome. fantastically national regime with severely Hans Van Ripper now began to feel adv nationalistic policies, exercising some uneasiness about the fate of / fanStastDk(E)lG / regimentation of industry, poor Ichabod. Gk > L > F > E + Ecff commerce, and finance, rigid unbelievably, extremely. censorship, and forcible fatuously Lillian wore her fantastically suppression of opposition. adv expensive diamond necklace to the Fascist ideology shares with / SfachEwEslG / governor’s ball. liberalism an opposition to big L business, trade unions, and the in a foolish, stupid, absurd, or silly farce socialist state. manner. The clown performed fatuously to farcicality fascistization the children’s delight. fare fasten faultless v farfetched / SfasFn / faulty E farina cause parts which are separate to faun n hold together : make fast and / fESrGnE / secure. faustian L The kindergarten teacher spent two the coarsely ground bolted weeks teaching the children how to fauve endosperm of wheats other than fasten their clothing. durum, free from fine flour or bran. fear Before rice cereal for babies fastener v became widely available, cereal / Sfi(E)r / made from farina was often used. fastidiously E adv be afraid of. farrier / faSstidGEslG / Only after she saw its teeth and L + Ecf claws did Severine begin to fear the farriery in a manner that reflects a cute little raccoon. meticulous, sensitive, or fascicular demanding attitude. fearsome Vera’s insistence on dressing adj fascination fastidiously for every occasion / Sfi(E)rsEm / precluded her going anywhere on E fascinator short notice. arousing or likely to arouse fear, n fright, or terror. / SfasFnCZE(r) / fastigiate Kim spent a fearsome night in the L woods. a woman’s light head scarf usually fastuous of crochet or lace. feast Doris appeared at the door fatally n wearing a long cloak and a candy- / SfGst / striped fascinator over her dark L > F > E hair. an elaborate meal. Susan had packed a basket which held a regular feast this morning.

feathery

febrile

Page 99 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency February fenster ferriferous n n adj / SfebrETwerG / / SfenztE(r) / / fESrif(E)rEs / L L > G L the second month of the Gregorian an erosional opening down through containing iron. calendar. overthrust rock exposing the Hematite and magnetite are Kevin’s car quit for good in underlying rock. ferriferous minerals. February. Gabe took a long hike in the national park to find the large ferrotype feculent fenster mentioned in his guidebook. n / SferETtIp / federation feodary L + Gk a positive photograph made by a feeble ferity collodion process on a thin iron n plate and having a darkened fei / SferEZG / surface. L A 19th-century ferrotype depicting felicitations [has homonym: ferrety] the state of Supreme Court Justice Levi being undomesticated : wildness. Woodbury sold at auction for feline Even after several years in a zoo, $24,000. the lion occasionally displayed its felinity ferity. ferrumination feloniously ferment ferry adv / fESlPnGEslG / fermiere ferryboat L > F > E adj in a manner having the nature of or / fermyeer / fertile involving a grave crime. F Garcia was feloniously relieved of of a food : prepared in plain fervently his boombox by a couple of country style. hoodlums. The signature dish at the quiet fervor country inn was pot roast fermiere. felony festinate n fernbrake adj / SfelEnG / / SfestETnCt / F ferny L a serious crime usually punishable hasty. by a sentence heavier than that for feroce Jeremy had a hard time keeping up a misdemeanor. with Noah’s festinate gait as the Filing a false income tax return is a ferociously two boys neared the movie theater. felony punishable by imprisonment adv and a fine. / fESrPshEslG / festival L + Ecff femerell in a manner characterized by wild festoonery or extreme rapacity, cruelty, feminie acrimony, or destructiveness. A large cat ferociously snarled at feminize Beth’s puppy. femur ferocity

ferried

Page 100 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency festschrift feverishly fidgeting n adv v / SfestTshrift / / SfGv(E)rishlG / / SfijDtiN / G L > E + Ecff E? a usually miscellaneous volume of in an agitated manner. moving uneasily one way and the writings from several hands for a Jay lay sleepless and feverishly other. celebration; especially : one of went over the day’s events. The teacher told Caleb to either learned essays contributed by stop his fidgeting or go do his work admirers to honor a scholar on a fiador at a desk outside the classroom special anniversary. door. The retiring Dr. Mayer was fiat presented with a festschrift that fidgety included a piece by a former fibrated student who had won a Pulitzer field Prize. fibrillogenic fielder feta fibrinogen n n / SfGldE(r) / fete / fISbrinEjDn / E v L + ISV + Gk a player positioned in the outer / SfCt / a globulin that is produced in the portion of the playing area (as in F liver and is converted into a protein baseball or cricket). [has homonyms: fait, fate] honor during clotting of blood. The fielder moved all the way back (a person) or commemorate (an Proteins in the blood include to the warning track to catch the fly event) with a festive celebration. albumin, hemoglobin, and ball. Mr. Armstrong’s employees voted fibrinogen. to fete him with a black-tie dinner. fiends fibula n pl fetid n / SfGn(d)z / / SfibyElE / E fetidness L infernal beings : demons. n the outer and usually the smaller of The fiends portrayed in the / SfeZDdnDs / the two bones between the knee painting represented greed and L + Ecf and ankle in most birds and many ambition. the state or condition of having an mammals including humans. offensive smell. After breaking his fibula while fiercely For some people, Limburger sliding into second base, Roderick adv cheese’s fetidness is directly knew his season was over. / Sfi(E)rslG / proportional to its tastiness. L > F > E fictional in a manner without mercy. fetter The hurricane fiercely hit the v fiddle coastal town, leaving many beach / SfeZEr / cottages and business E fidget establishments in ruin. bind (a thing or person) to another as if with a chain. fidgeted fife The young mother had to fetter her v active three-year-old with a child / SfijDtDd / fifer harness to take him shopping. E + Ecf moved uneasily one way and fettuccelle another. The longer the speech went on, the feudal more Kevin fidgeted. feuilleton fidgetiness feverish

Page 101 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency fight filipendulous Finlandization v adj n / SfIt / / TfilESpenjElEs / / TfinlEndDSzCshEn / E L geog name contend physically for victory with suspended by or strung upon a a foreign policy of neutrality. vigor, fierceness, and thread. Finlandization has its roots in the determination. The glittering filipendulous stars neutrality policy of Finland. Soldiers continued to fight on the were very effective when the ridge until nightfall. ballroom lights were dimmed. fipple figment filly firearm figurable filmography firebreak n figure / filSmBgrEfG / firefly v E + Gk n / SfigyE(r) / a list of motion pictures featuring / SfI(E)rTflI / L > F > E the work of a prominent motion E + E compute, reckon. picture figure (as an actor or a winged nocturnal insect usually Erwin tried to figure his grocery director) or relating to a particular producing a bright soft intermittent bill in his head, but he kept losing topic. light. track of the numbers. The biography of the director When the light of the captured provided a complete filmography. firefly started to dim, Nell decided figurine it was time to set the bug free. filmwright filamentary fishery adj filthily / TfilESmentErG / fishmonger L > F fimbriate having the characteristics of a long fishplate thin flexible object. fimbriation The filamentary leg probably had n fissionable belonged to a camel cricket or a / TfimbrGSCshEn / daddy longlegs. L fissiped a narrow border to a heraldic adj filar design. / SfisETped / The family’s coat of arms depicted L filbert a griffon within a blue fimbriation. having the toes separated to the base : filiality fimbrillate cloven-footed. n adj Goats and pigs are some of the / TfilGSalEZG / / SfimbrETlCt / most common fissiped mammals. L L the relation or attitude of a child to [Note: Could be confused with fistful a parent. fibrillate.] bordered with a minute Although Tom and his father often fringe. fistiana disagreed, the bonds of filiality Deb examined the fimbrillate petals n always held firm. under the microscope. / TfistGSanE / E + Ecf filiopietistic finale the world of boxing. Muhammad Ali set fistiana on its finally ear when he defeated George Foreman in Zaire. financial fistmele finespun

finial

Page 102 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency fixedly flaming fleabag adv adj / SfiksDdlG / / SflCmiN / fleece E + Ecff L > F > E + Ecf in a stationary or immovable blazing. fletching manner. The flaming crackling fire could be n Barry stared fixedly at the hail seen throughout the valley. / SflechiN / damage to his car. F > E flannelmouth the feathers on an arrow. fizgig An arrow will not fly straight if the flapdoodle fletching is crooked. fizzwater flareless fleuron fjeld flary flexible flabbergast adj / Sfla(a)rG / flicker flabellum unknown + Ecf showy and bright. flight flagellate Pam’s orange dress seemed too flary compared to the attire of the flippancy flagellatory others at the funeral. adj flipper / SflajElETtPrG / flashcube n L n / SflipE(r) / relating to the act of flogging or / SflashTkyVb / imit beating. imit E + Gk > L > F a broad flat usually rubber shoe The sailors were warned that a plastic cube containing four with the front expanded into a disruptive behavior would result in flashbulbs that fits into the top of a paddle used in skin diving and flagellatory punishment. camera and revolves after each other aquatic sports. shot. Doug got his flipper snagged in the flagrant Franklin forgot to bring a coral and had to leave it behind. adj flashcube, so he couldn’t take any / SflCgrEnt / pictures at the party. flivver L extremely, flauntingly, or flask floccose purposefully conspicuous usually n because of uncommon evil, / Sflask / floeberg unworthiness, unpleasantness, or Gmc > L > Sp > F truculence. [Note: The definition provided is flooey Horace’s flagrant disregard of the not the one most commonly club rule about wearing cowboy associated with this word.] a unit of floraison hats got him kicked out weight for mercury equal to 76 peremptorily. pounds. floral Marcie explained that the amount adj flailing of mercury in a thermometer was a / SflPrEl / v tiny fraction of a flask. L / SflCliN / of, relating to, or associated with a E flatcar flower. moving, swinging, or beating as The floral emblem of the state of though wielding a threshing flattery Tennessee is the iris. implement. The novice skier tumbled down the flaunt floribunda hill, his arms flailing desperately in the air. flavescent flamboyant flavid flamethrower flavorless

Page 103 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency florigen flurries fodient n n pl adj / SflPrEjDn / / SflErGz / / SfPdGEnt / L + Gk imit? L a hormone that induces flowering. sudden showers or snowfalls with a fitted for digging or burrowing. The horticulture expert explained gust of wind. The aardvark is a well-known how pinching back dead blossoms The forecast was for intermittent fodient animal in South Africa. stimulated the production of flurries with no measurable florigen. accumulation. foil n florin flurry / SfOil / n L > F > E / SflOrDn / fluster [Note: The definition provided is L > It > F > E not the one most commonly an old gold coin first struck at fluttering associated with this word.] a Florence in 1252 weighing about v fencing weapon that resembles an 54 grains and noted for the purity / SflEZE(r)iN / épée but has a flat guard and a of its gold. E + Ecf lighter, more flexible blade that The pride of Valentine’s coin moving with quick vibrations or tapers to a blunt point. collection is a florin supposedly undulations. The instructor showed Bella how to once the property of Christopher With his clothes bagging and back her opponent into a corner Columbus. fluttering about him on a windy with a few quick movements of her day, he might be mistaken for some foil. floristry scarecrow escaped from a cornfield. foldout flounder fluviatile foliation flourishes n pl fluviology folio / SflErishDz / n L > F > E / TflVvGSBlEjG / folkloric ostentations in the performance of L adj something often intended to call a science dealing with / SfPkTlPrik / forth or fix attention or admiration. watercourses. E + E Todd stood up after his piano Oliver needs one course in of, resembling, or characteristic of recital and, with many bows and fluviology in order to get his traditional customs, beliefs, dances, flourishes, slowly left the stage. professional civil engineering songs, tales, or sayings preserved license. among a people or group. flowage The Slovakian dance troupe n flysch performed a folkloric dance / SflPij / n wearing colorful costumes. E / Sflish / an overflowing (as of a stream or G folklorist impoundment) onto adjacent land. a thick and extensive deposit The flowage from a nearby creek largely of sandstone that is formed folletto into Mr. Goog’s basement ruined in a geosyncline adjacent to a rising n his stamp collection. mountain belt and is especially / fESleZ(T)P / common in the Alpine region of F > It fluffy Europe. imp, goblin, fairy; especially : a The geologist analyzed samples of supernatural being who is a fluke the flysch to determine when the survival in popular form of an rock was formed. ancient Etruscan or Roman deity. flump Nancy jokingly blamed her actions foaming on an imaginary friend, a folletto fluorine who sat on her shoulder and gave focusable her advice. fluoroscope follicle

Page 104 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency foment footman foreknowledge n fomites / SfUtTmEn / foresee E Fomorian a servant in attendance upon the foresightedly n passengers in a carriage. adv / fPSmOrGEn / Mary saw that it was a stylish / SfPrTsIZDdlG / IrGael carriage and that it was a stylish E one of a race of sea robbers in footman who helped her into the with a view toward the future. Celtic legend who were probably carriage. The state foresightedly created originally gods representing the state parks and reservations along powers of evil and darkness. foozled the seashore so as to preserve its Caitlin wrote a fable about a natural beauty. Fomorian who emerged foppery periodically from the sea off the n forest coast of Ireland. / SfBp(E)rG / E forestall fondant folly, absurdity. v There was an air of foppery and / fPrSstOl / fondu nonsense in Mr. Churchill’s action E n of which Emma could not approve. [has near homonym: forestal] / fBnSd(y)V / exclude, hinder, or prevent by prior F forb occupation or by measures taken in [has homonym: fondue] a lowering advance. or sinking down of the body in forbiddance By traveling to his vacation spot ballet dancing by bending the knee incognito, the film star hoped to of the supporting leg. forbivorous forestall rumors of his arrival. Fondu was a difficult movement for Orson before his knee surgery. forcible forester n foolhardily forcibly / SfOrDstE(r) / F > E foolhardiness forcipiform a person who supervises the development, care, and foolhardy forearm management of timberland. adj The forester showed the class his / SfVlThBrdG / foreground list of sightings of endangered F > E n wildlife species. daring but lacking judgment : / SfP(E)rTgraUnd / foolishly adventurous and bold. Ecf + E foreyard The high dive from the cliffs looked the part of a scene that is nearest to foolhardy, but Ellen knew that the and in front of the spectator. forficiform water beneath was deep and clear. Although there were many actors in adj the scene, the main action was / fOrSfisETfOrm / footage taking place in the foreground. L n shaped like a scissors. / SfUZTij / foreign The jeweler’s forficiform tweezers E gave her a better grip on the tiny the total number of running feet of foreigner watch parts. motion-picture film used for a n complete story or for one or more / SfOrDnE(r) / forgeability scenes or for any subject. E n The director told the film editors a person belonging to or owing / TfP(E)rjESbilEZG / that they would have to cut out allegiance to another L > E enough footage to keep the movie land : alien. suitability for being formed by under 2 hours. Everyone in New Prague liked the heating and hammering. foreigner who moved into the Some alloys exhibit greater Simpsons’ old house. forgeability than others.

Page 105 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency orgetfulness foully fragrance n forgettable fountain / SfrCgrEn(t)s / L > F formalization fourberie a pleasant odor. The fragrance of mulled cider formally fourfold wafted down the hallway. formatore fourplex frail n formicarium fowl / SfrCl / F > E formicine frabjous [Note: The definition provided is adj not the one most commonly formula / SfrabjEs / associated with this word.] the unknown quantity (as 32, 56, or 75 pounds) formulate wonderful. of raisins contained in a shipping v Vonda thought happily that her basket. / SfOrmyETlCt / graduation party was the final While working in the agricultural L + Ecf event of a simply frabjous day. records office, Wanda learned that plan out in an orderly fashion. a frail is used to measure raisins. The board decided to call in a fractal consultant to help formulate plans n framboise for the new factory. / SfraktFl / L franchisal formulator any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes that repeat Franciscan fortississimo themselves at any scale on which adj they are examined and that are / franSsiskEn / fortitudinous assigned fractional dimensions. It name Julia’s science project of or relating to the various fortress demonstrated that the shape of a religious foundations established n snowflake is a fractal. by St. Francis of Assisi. / SfOrtrDs / The Franciscan church in Basel, L > F > E fractionally Switzerland, was used for a long a fortified place : stronghold. time as a warehouse for salt. The refugees began to feel safe fractious once they were deep within the Francoist fortress. fractography n / SfraNkPDst / fortuitously fracturable Sp name an advocate of or adherent to the forum fracture political or social policies of the n Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. forward / SfrakchE(r) / The Francoist claimed that if they L had waited any longer to rise foster the breaking of hard tissue (as against the Republic, a Bolshevik bone). revolution would have broken out. fother Mike’s fall off the ladder resulted n in the fracture of his thighbone. Franconian / SfBLE(r) / adj E fragility / fraNSkPnGEn / [has homonym: father] a modern G geog name unit of weight for lead equal to 19½ fragmentary of or relating to the West Germanic hundredweight. dialects of the Franks. Scott celebrated when his new fragmentize The earliest Franconian written company recovered its first fother documents belong to the late 8th or of refined lead from recycled scrap. early 9th century.

Page 106 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency frangibility frenular frightened n adj adj / TfranjESbilEZG / / SfrenyElE(r) / / SfrItFnd / L + Ecff L E the quality or state of being of or relating to a connecting fold made afraid : scared. breakable. of membrane serving to support or The frightened child was calmed by Winnie appreciates the beauty of restrain. his mother’s embrace. glass ornaments so much that their After Gary took his classmate’s frangibility does not discourage her dare and licked the frozen pump frightening from buying them. handle, the frenular tissue under his tongue hurt for a week. frightful Franglais n frenzied frigid / frBMSglC / adj F frequency / SfrijDd / French marked by a considerable L number of borrowings from frequently markedly lacking heat or warmth : English. very cold. Even after three years of French freshet The mountain climbers wore extra lessons and a year as an exchange layers of clothing to combat the student in Cannes, Peter still fretful frigid conditions. speaks Franglais. fretum frigidarium frappe fribble frijoles fraternity v / SfribEl / friseur frazil unknown n act in a trifling or foolish manner. / frGSzEr / frazzle Mr. Atkinson told the students not F to fribble during study hall but to [Note: Could be confused with freesia read and write quietly. freezer.] hairdresser. n Fernando plans to name his beauty / SfrGzh(G)E / friction shop “Fernando the Fantastic G name + Lcf n Friseur.” any plant of a genus of sweet- / SfrikshEn / fritter scented herbs with narrow tubular L n red, white, or yellow flowers. resistance to the relative motion of / SfriZE(r) / The most colorful flower in one body sliding, rolling, or L > F > E Davida’s bouquet was the freesia. flowing over another with which it a small quantity of batter often is in contact. containing fruit or meat and fried in freestyle The friction of the large door deep fat or sautéed. against its frame kept Janice Eddie and George each ate a large freezing tugging on it for several long apple fritter at the carnival. adj seconds. / SfrGziN / frond E friezing very cold. frons After the first freezing night of the frighten n season, Greg unhappily discovered v / SfrBnz / that his car battery had died. / SfrItFn / L E + Ecf [has near homonym: fronds] the freighter markedly disturb with fear. upper or the anterior part of the Gary did not realize how much his head capsule of an insect : the freijo Halloween mask would frighten his forehead of the insect head. little brother. Simple eyes of an insect are usually located on the frons.

frontier

Page 107 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency frontolysis fugacity fumigation n n frostbitten / fyVSgasEZG / / TfyVmESgCshEn / adj L L > F > E / SfrOstTbitFn / lack of enduring qualities : the act or process of treating with a E + E transience. gas in order to disinfect or destroy injured, nipped, or withered by the The movie star soon experienced pests. process of freezing. the fugacity of public adoration. When Deedee saw a cockroach, she The skier’s mask saved him from called the exterminator and getting a frostbitten nose. fugitives arranged for the fumigation of her n pl new apartment. frostbow / SfyVjEZivz / L fumulus fructose individuals who run away from a n n master or employer or from / SfyVmyElEs / / SfrEkTtPs / uncongenial surroundings. L L Sojourner Truth, one of the many a thin cloud resembling a veil and a sugar that occurs especially in fugitives from slavery, became as forming at any level. fruit juices and honey. famous for advocating women’s The sky was clear except for a Fructose is a common ingredient in rights as she was for denouncing fumulus over the distant mountains. many baked goods found in stores. human bondage. function frugivorous fulgent adj adj functional / frVSjivErEs / / SfUljEnt / L + L L fundamental feeding on fruit. dazzlingly bright : radiant. Monkeys and apes are among the Sophia’s diamond earrings were fundamentally best-known frugivorous mammals. fulgent in the sunlight. funerary frumentaceous fulgurous adj fungible / TfrVmEnStCshEs / fulmar adj L / SfEnjEbEl / made of or resembling wheat or fulminating L other grain. adj of such a kind that one specimen or The seeds of many frumentaceous / SfUlmETnCtiN / part may be used in place of plants such as corn and oats can be L > E another specimen or equal part to ground into meal. coming on suddenly and with great satisfy an obligation—used of severity : characterized by a rapid things that can be counted, fuchsias and severe course. weighed, or measured and are n pl Dr. Lane dreaded telling his patient consumed or alienated by use (as / SfyVshEz / the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, food, coal, oil, lumber). G name a fulminating disease. When fungible goods of different any of numerous decorative shrubs countries of origin are mixed with pendulous tetramerous flowers fumblingly together, it is not practical to often cultivated as potted plants. adv identify the origin of one sample of Grandma lined her windowsill with / SfEmbliNlG / the product. fuchsias. Scand? + Ecff in a manner marked by groping or funipendulous fuel clumsiness. adj Katie fumblingly related her excuse / TfyVnESpenjElEs / to her father. L suspended by a rope or cord. Daniel jokingly called his tire swing a “funipendulous recreational facility.”

Page 108 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency funnel furlongs futon n n pl n / SfEnFl / / SfErTlONz / / SfVTtBn / L > OProv > E E Jpn a utensil that has typically a hollow units of distance, each being equal a mattress filled usually with cotton cone with a tube extending from to 220 yards. that is placed on the floor or in a the point and is designed to catch The second race, for fillies only, is raised frame for use as a bed. and direct the flow of a liquid or six furlongs. Many people whose living and other substance. sleeping quarters are in the same Mary Ann used a funnel to direct furnace room find that a futon meets their the oil into the bottle. needs nicely. furrows furbelow v futurama n / SfEr(T)Pz / / SfErbETlP / E fuzzy F > E shapes into alternate ridges and ruffle; specifically : a flounce on grooves; specifically : makes gabarit women’s clothing. wrinkles in (the brow). Delia sewed a furbelow to the hem When Mr. Burns furrows his brow gabby of her skirt. in puzzlement, he reminds his students of a shar-pei. gabelle furcate adj furuncle gabfest / SfErTkCt / n L / SfyUTrENkEl / gable branching like a fork. L The toddler held the furcate twig up a localized inflammatory swelling gadarene to his mom and whispered the letter of the skin and underlying tissues adj y. that is caused by infection by a / SgadETrGn / bacterium in a hair follicle or skin Palestinian geog name furioso gland and that discharges pus and a rushing precipitously forward : central core of dead tissue. engaged in headlong flight. furiously A painful furuncle developed inside As the department store opened, a adv Amy’s elbow. crazed gadarene horde of shoppers / SfyUrGEslG / rushed headlong to the sales tables. L > F > E + Ecf fury in an impassioned manner : angrily. n gadgetry The soldiers furiously pursued the / SfyUrG / n raiders but could not catch them. L / SgajDtrG / violent anger : rage. unknown furl George’s sadness changed to fury, usually small and often novel and he stalked about the room mechanical or electronic devices or furlong feeling as if he would explode. contrivances. n Anyone who loves gadgetry would / SfErTlON / fustigate have enjoyed the recent Inventor’s E v Expo. a unit of distance equal to 1/8 / SfEstETgCt / statute mile. L Gaelic The horses named “Katie’s criticize severely. adj Delight” and “Going for Gold” Many restaurants withdrew their / SgClik / were neck and neck through the advertising when the newspaper’s ScGael & IrGael entire last furlong of the race. food critic began to fustigate them. of, relating to, or characteristic of the language of the Gaels or fusuma especially of the Celtic Highlanders of Scotland. Steve struggled through the Gaelic program for the Highland Games before he discovered the English translation.

Page 109 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency gaffer galbulus galimatias n n / SgafE(r) / / SgalbyElEs / gallant E? L adj an electrician in charge of the a spherical closed fleshy cone of / SgalEnt / lighting of motion-picture or thickened or fleshy peltate scales Gmc > F > E television sets. (as in the cypress). marked by a blend of the high- The gaffer tried various lighting As we moved through the swamp, spirited, brave, dashing, and techniques to see which would be an occasional galbulus fell into our chivalrous. most consistent with the mood of canoe. The press conference featured the scene. speeches in praise of the gallant gale adventurers who had rescued the gaillardia n lost hikers. / SgCl / gaiters unknown galley n pl [has homonym: Gael] a strong / SgCZE(r)z / current of air; specifically : a wind Gallinazo Gmc > F having a speed from 32 to 63 miles adj [has homonym: gators] cloth or per hour. / TgB(y)GSnB(T)sP / leather leg coverings reaching from Despite the fierce gale and high L > Sp the instep to ankle, mid-calf, or seas, the Coast Guard set out to of or relating to an ancient culture knee, usually fastened by buttons or rescue the shipwreck survivors. of northern Peru characterized buckles, and held by a strap under especially by negative-painted the shank of the shoe. galena pottery, irrigation, and textiles. The bishop was hard at work n Patty applied for a grant to study fastening the lower buttons of his / gESlGnE / Gallinazo pottery at an excavation gaiters as the service was ready to Gk in Peru. begin. a mineral consisting of native lead sulfide occurring in cubic or Gallionic galactose octahedral crystals, bluish gray in adj color with metallic luster. / TgalGSBnik / galah Paul gave his brother a near- L perfect cube of galena for his marked by indifference or Galahad mineral collection. easygoing carelessness or n irresponsibility. / SgalEThad / galenical Randall’s Latin teacher told him E name n that his Gallionic attitude toward a man marked by unusual purity / gCSlenDkEl / homework would negatively affect and self-sacrificing devotion to a Gk name his grade. noble cause. a standard medicinal preparation A true Galahad, Jim has spent his (as extract, tincture) containing galvanic entire life trying to find solutions to usually one or more active adj the problem of poverty. constituents of a plant and made by / galSvanik / a process that leaves the inert and It name galanterie other undesirable constituents of of, relating to, or producing direct the plant undissolved. electric current by chemical action. galantine A galenical was a common type of Myra constructed a galvanic cell medicine in the Middle Ages. using a bar of zinc, a bar of copper, galaxies two beakers, a U-shaped tube, and n pl Galilean solutions of zinc and copper sulfate / SgalEksGz / adj and potassium chloride. Gk / TgalESlCEn / large systems of stars that make up Ital name the universe. of or relating to Galileo Galilei, The Milky Way is just one of the founder of experimental physics universe’s countless galaxies. and astronomy. Opera glasses are a modified version of the Galilean telescope.

Page 110 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency galvanometer gargoyle gasp n n / TgalvESnBmEZE(r) / garibaldi / Sgasp / It name > F + Ecf + Gk n E an instrument for detecting or / TgarESbOldG / catch the breath convulsively and measuring a small electric current It name audibly. by movements of a magnetic a woman’s blouse copied from the Mary caught her breath in a short needle or of a coil in a magnetic red shirt worn by the Italian patriot gasp and felt herself turn pale. field. Garibaldi. The lie detector’s galvanometer Antonio followed his mother gasped indicated that the subject was lying. through the crowded market, keeping a sharp eye on her bright gastrostomy gambrel garibaldi. n / gaSstrBstEmG / gamester garlicky Gk the surgical formation of an gamier garment opening through the abdominal adj wall into the stomach to serve for / SgCmGE(r) / garner the introduction of food. E + Ecff The doctor recommends a more malodorous. garnet gastrostomy as the best solution to The smell in the hut was gamier n keeping Alice alive during her than Maria could tolerate. / SgBrnDt / coma. F > E gamin a brittle mineral usually red in color gateado and occurring mainly in crystals n gammon and used as a semiprecious stone / TgBZGSB(T)dP / and as an abrasive. L > Sp ganancial Alice asked the jeweler to suggest a a tropical American timber tree that setting for the garnet she inherited yields a hard dense black-streaked ganglionitis from her great aunt. wood used to make furniture. The antique library table was made gangly garnish from gateado. v gangrenous / SgBrnish / gatepost Gmc > F > E gangway add decorative or savory touches gatherum to. n gannet Rita used fresh dill to garnish the / SgaLErEm / platter of smoked salmon. E + Ecf gape a collection of miscellaneous items. garniture Alan referred to his assortment of gaping n beach glass and driftwood as a adj / SgBrnDchE(r) / “gatherum,” but his mother called / SgCpiN / F it “Alan’s junk.” ON > E the material in fireworks that gaud wide open. produces stars, fiery rain, or other n The giant raised his hand toward display after explosion. / SgOd / his gaping mouth, and the Humbug Lin Yu calculated how much L > F > E shut his eyes tightly and clasped garniture would be needed to [has homonym: god] ornament; both hands over his head. create the special fireworks for the especially : a showy or flashy bit of Independence Day celebration. jewelry or finery. garbage The blackbird was attracted by the gasket red glass gaud pinned to the shirt garbologist of the scarecrow. gaslight garbure gaudery gasohol garganey gaudify

Page 111 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency gaudy gemination Although he always means well, Cedric has a positive genius for gaullist Gemini getting into embarrassing situations. gaunt gemmary adj n genotype / SgOnt / / SjemErG / n Scand? > E L / SjEnETtIp / thin and angular. the science of precious or Gk + Gk On a high podium in front stood the sometimes semiprecious stones cut the totality of specific transmitters conductor—a tall, gaunt man with and polished for ornament. of hereditary characters possessed dark deep-set eyes. Perry has written many articles on by an individual or group. gemmary for jewelers’ trade Because Richard’s blood type is O, gauzy magazines. he knows that his genotype is recessive. gavage genealogical n adj gentlest / gESvBzh / / TjGnGESlBjDkEl / F Gk genuine introduction of material (as of or relating to an enumeration of nutrients) into the stomach by ancestors and their descendents in genus means of a stomach tube. the natural order of succession. n Gavage is a common method of A family tree is a representation of / SjGnEs / feeding babies who are unable to genealogical relationships. L swallow enough for good nutrition. a class, kind, or group marked by generalize one or more common gavel characteristics. generator The housefly belongs to the genus gawkiness n Musca. / SjenETrCZE(r) / gbo L geocentric a machine by which mechanical adj gear energy is changed into electrical / TjGPSsentrik / energy. Gk + Gk + Ecf geisha The generator at the cabin ran on taking or based on Earth as the gasoline. center of perspective and geishas evaluation. genes The most highly developed gelid geocentric system was that of adj genetic Ptolemy of Alexandria. / SjelDd / L genialize geographical extremely cold : icy. v When Frank was in Finland, he / SjGnyETlIz / geologist took a memorable swim in gelid L + Ecf n water. cause to be marked by sympathetic / jGSBlEjDst / cheerfulness, warmth, and L gelignite friendliness. a specialist in the history of Earth n Kim’s goal as president is to and its life especially as recorded in / SjelDgTnIt / genialize club members and thus rocks. L minimize their cliquish behavior. The geologist conducted a survey a gelatin dynamite in which the of the rock masses and mineral adsorbent base is largely potassium genius resources of the area. nitrate or a similar nitrate usually n with some wood pulp. / SjGnyEs / geology Gelignite was used to blast a L passage through the rocks for a [has near homonym: genus] a roadway. strongly marked capacity or aptitude : notable talent.

Page 112 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency geometrically germinate geyser adv v / TjGESmetrDk(E)lG / / SjErmETnCt / geyserite Gk L n in a manner relating to or according begin to grow : sprout—used / SgIzErIt / to the principles of geometry. especially of a spore or seed. ON > Icelandic The art gallery is displaying a The beans were allowed to a hydrous silica that constitutes one collection of geometrically based germinate in the greenhouse before variety of opal and is deposited abstractions. being transferred to outdoor soil. around some hot springs and geysers in white or grayish geophagy germproof concretions. n While at Yellowstone National / jGSBfEjG / gerontology Park, Kyle took several pictures of Gk + Gk n the gray mounds of geyserite. the practice of eating earthy / SjerEnStBlEjG / substances (as clay) in an attempt Gk gherkin to supply elements lacking in an a scientific study of the phenomena unbalanced diet. of aging and of the problems of the ghost Research in geophagy reveals that aged. some who practice it are protecting Kathy’s research in gerontology ghostly themselves against plant toxins and was complemented by weekly visits adj others are trying to meet an with retirement center residents. / SgPstlG / increased need for minerals. E gerrymandered of or relating to a mark or visible geostrophic sign left by something dead, lost, or adj gestation no longer present. / TjGPSstrBfik / n The fog gave commonplace objects Gk / jeSstCshEn / a ghostly appearance. of or relating to deflective force L due to the rotation of Earth. the carrying of young usually in the giantess Geostrophic winds in the upper uterus from conception to delivery : troposphere often reach high pregnancy. gibbet velocities. The Indian elephant’s period of n gestation can be as long as 22 / SjibDt / gerenuk months. F > E n a frame usually of two upright / SgerETnUk / geta posts and a crossbeam from which Somali n pl is suspended the rope with which a long-necked antelope native to / Sge(T)tB / criminals are executed by hanging. eastern Africa. Jpn Only through the queen’s mercy The film showed a gerenuk Japanese wooden clogs for outdoor was the pirate able to escape the gracefully rising on its hind legs to wear. gibbet. reach the leaves it feeds on. Yukio wore his clunky geta to the public baths. gibbon geriatrician n n getaway / SgibEn / / TjerGEStrishEn / F Gk gethsemane any of a genus of tailless apes of a specialist in a branch of medicine southeastern Asia that are the that deals with the problems and geusioleptic smallest of the arboreal anthropoid diseases of old age and aging adj apes. people. / TgyVzGPSleptik / Its powerful upper limbs enable the A geriatrician was consulted to find Gk gibbon to swing from tree to tree out how to treat Grandpa’s having or characterized by pleasant through the forest canopy. grumpiness and loss of appetite. flavor. Drug companies have put much gibbosity germicidal effort into producing geusioleptic medicines for children.

Page 113 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency Gibraltar gigue gitano n n n / jDSbrOltE(r) / / SzhGg / / hGStB(T)nP / Iberian geog name F Gk geog name > L > Sp an impregnable stronghold. [Note: Could be confused with a Spanish male gypsy. Louis viewed his private club as a jig.] a lively dance movement A strolling gitano played folk songs Gibraltar of civility. having compound triple rhythm and on his violin for the restaurant consisting of two sections, each of patrons. gibus which is repeated. n The gigue is a major part of several giusto / SjIbEs / European folk dances. F name glaciarium a man’s collapsible top hat—called gilded also “opera hat.” adj gladdened In the 19th century, men often wore / SgildDd / v a gibus to formal occasions. E / SgladFnd / covered or tinged with gold or a E giddily golden color. made happy or cheerful. The gilded icons in the church’s The aging king was gladdened by giddiness transepts were ruined by vandals the birth of an heir. n last weekend. / SgidGnDs / gland E gimbal the quality or state of being n glandular exuberant, impulsive, or / SgimbEl / thoughtless. L > F > E glare The soccer team’s giddiness [has homonym: gimble] a v resulted from winning the match. contrivance that permits a body to / Sgla(a)(E)r / incline freely in any direction or E gigabyte suspends something so that it will shine especially by reflection with remain level when its support is a harsh uncomfortably brilliant gigahertz tipped. light. n A rusty gimbal caused the compass Late afternoon sun tends o glare off / SgigEThErts / to remain fixed while the boat the windows across from Joan’s Gk > ISV + G name listed. apartment. a unit of frequency equal to 1 billion cycles per second. ginger glary A radio signal with a frequency of adj adj 1 gigahertz lies in the microwave / SjinjE(r) / / Sgla(a)rG / range. Skt? > Gk > L > E E having the reddish brown color of shining with or reflecting a harsh gigantean the spice ginger. uncomfortably bright light. Mrs. Collins would die if anyone Jeremy had a difficult time driving giggle knew that her ginger hair is east in the glary early morning v actually gray. hours. / SgigEl / imit girder gleam laugh in an affected or silly v manner. gisarme / SglGm / Although she could not see the E boys, Mrs. Rowe heard them giggle gist shine with subdued emitted or behind the sofa. reflected light. Captain Cook watched the moon gleam on the water in the harbor.

glean

gleanings

Page 114 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency gleefully gloom glutton n glengarry / SglVm / glyceride n E / glenSgarG / an appearance or atmosphere of glycerinated Scot geog name melancholy and despondency. v a woolen cap of Scottish origin The overhanging trees cast a gloom / Sglis(E)rDTnCZDd / typically having a crease in the over the dilapidated house. Gk + F + Ecf crown from front to back and edges treated with or preserved in bound with ribbon that ends in the glossolalia glycerin. back in two small streamers. n The ointment contained gelatin that Each bagpiper was wearing a / TglBsPSlClGE / had been glycerinated. glengarry, a kilt, a sporran, and Gk + Gk spats. ecstatic speech that is usually glycogenolysis unintelligible to hearers and is n glessite uttered in worship services of / TglIkEjESnBlEsDs / various contemporary religious Gk glint groups laying great stress on the breakdown of animal starch v religious excitation and emotional especially to glucose in the animal / Sglint / fervor. body. E Both glossolalia and healing by the Low blood sugar triggers shine usually by reflection : laying on of hands were glycogenolysis in the liver, which sparkle. commonplace at the tent revival. produces the needed glucose. Some rhinestones glint almost as brightly as diamonds. glossopathy glycolytic adj glitch glottalize / TglIkESliZik / Gk glittering Gloucester of, relating to, or inducing the adj n enzymatic breakdown of glucose / SgliZEriN / / SglBstE(r) / and other carbohydrates, with the ON > E E geog name release of energy. resplendent, brilliant. a hard cheese resembling derby. Athletes often eat foods like pasta Maxine’s glittering Mardi Gras Garrett topped his ham sandwich to counter glycolytic effects. mask was the hit of the party. with a slice of Gloucester. glyph gloaming glummest n adj glyptic / SglPmiN / / SglEmDst / n E E / Sgliptik / twilight, dusk. most dismal, dreary, or gloomy. Gk Bart heard the robins singing in the At his glummest, Terry could still the art or process of carving or gloaming. crack a joke. engraving especially on gems. The amber was enhanced by a globalization glut beautiful example of glyptic. n / TglPbElDSzCshEn / gluten gnarled L + Ecff the act of making something glutinous gnarly worldwide in scope or application. adj One of the nation’s goals is the / SglVt(F)nEs / gnash globalization of democracy. L having the physical properties of gnat glue. When Matthew’s mother told him gnatcatcher to eat his stewed okra, he dropped his fork in the glutinous mass and burst into tears.

Page 115 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency gnathic goateed Goldwynism adj adj n / Snathik / / (T)gPStGd / / SgPldwDTnizEm / Gk E US name of or relating to the jaw. having a small trim pointed or a phrase or expression (as include The zoology students compared the tufted beard on the chin. me out) involving a grotesque use gnathic features of various The portly, goateed restaurant of a word. animals. owner stopped by each table to ask One well-known Goldwynism is the how everything was. saying “A verbal contract isn’t gnathonic worth the paper it’s printed on.” goatherd gnawed golgotha goblet n gneiss / gBlSgBthE / n goblins Heb > Aram> Gk > L / SnIs / n pl a place of burial : cemetery. G / SgBblDnz / A chill ran down Henrietta’s spine [has homonym: nice] a laminated Gk > L > F > E as she walked through the old or foliated metamorphic rock ugly or grotesque sprites. golgotha. corresponding in composition to Remembering all the stories of granite. ghosts and goblins influenced his gomphosis The geologist easily identified the imagination to run wild. rock sample as a form of gneiss. goneness gobo gnomonics n goner n pl / SgP(T)bP / / nPSmBniks / unknown gonitis Gk a portable black cloth-covered the art of using or making dials, screen used to shield a camera from goodies especially sundials. unwanted light. Gnomonics had its beginning when Flora adjusted the gobo before the gooey the ancient Egyptians started using next take. shadows for measuring time. googolplex goddess gnostic n gopher adj / SgBdDs / n / SnBstik / E / SgPfE(r) / Gk a female god. unknown of or relating to knowledge or The Hindu goddess Devi was the any of several burrowing rodents. cognition : intellectual. subject of a recent exhibit at the “The old man was as spry as a Georgina’s teacher said that her Smithsonian. gopher,” said his grandson. gnostic abilities were far greater than her grades indicated. godsend goracco gnu goggles gorge n / Sn(y)V / goldenfleece gorgio Bushman [has homonym: new] any of goldfinch gorgon several large African antelopes with a head like that of an ox, short goshenite mane, long tail, and horns that curve downward and outward and gossoon then up. The brindled gnu, sometimes called gouache a wildebeest, is one of the fastest animals in southern Africa. goad

Page 116 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency Gouda graduate Grandisonian n adj adj / SgVdE / / Sgraj(E)wDt / / TgrandESsPnGEn / Netherlands geog name L E name a whole-milk mild-flavored cheese of, relating to, or engaged in studies of, relating to, or befitting a model shaped in flattened spheres and that go beyond the first or gentleman of the 18th century. usually covered by a red protective bachelor’s degree and are usually In a wig and knee britches, coating. specialized or professional. Jonathan played the part of the The Gouda and grapes were a hit Although he is only a junior in Grandisonian earl perfectly. at Marcy’s party. college, Cecil is taking several courses on the graduate level. grandomania gourmand gradus granitic government adj Grail / graSniZik / governor n L > It + Ecf / SgrCl / resembling an igneous crystalline grabble L > F > E rock formation in austere v the cup or platter which according inflexibility. / SgrabEl / to medieval legend was used by Rowan’s boss has a terrifying D Christ at the Last Supper, was granitic personality. move the hand (as in searching) in brought to Britain, and thereafter a groping fashion. became the object of knightly granivorous Every morning Tiffany has to quests. adj grabble for her glasses. The Holy Grail is sometimes / grESniv(E)rEs / referred to as “the silver chalice.” L gracefully grainy feeding on seeds or grain. adv Ursula reinforced the silo to / SgrCsfElG / graminivorous protect it from granivorous pests. L + Ecff in a manner marked by fitness and grammatical granular proportion of line or movement. Fred Astaire danced gracefully up grampus granulation the wall and across the ceiling. n n / SgrampEs / / TgranyESlCshEn / gracilis L > F > E L n a cetacean of temperate and the act or process of forming or / SgrasElDs / tropical seas having a blunt snout crystallizing into grains or small L and teeth in the lower jaw only. masses. the most superficial muscle of the Squid and octopus are the main The granulation of sugar is an inside of the thigh. foods of the grampus. important development in the At the bodybuilding contest the history of food. judges were so critical that they granary insisted on seeing if every muscle, grapefruit including the gracilis, was grandee developed. graphic grandeeship adj gracioso / Sgrafik / grandiloquent Gk gradeability adj written, drawn, or engraved. / granSdilEkwEnt / The graphic symbols of Linear A, a L Cretan script, have not yet been marked by a lofty, extravagantly deciphered. colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language. The senator dedicated the monument with an entertainingly grandiloquent speech.

Page 117 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency graphologist graustark gravy n n / graSfBlEjDst / Graustarkian / SgrCvG / Gk adj F > E a specialist in the study of / graUSstBrkGEn / any of several thickened sauces handwriting especially for the fictional name served especially with meat or purpose of character analysis. of or relating to an imaginary place potatoes. When Claire signed the form, she of high romance. The so-called “red-eye” gravy was not told that a graphologist Dr. Furter’s castle was far from the often served with ham and biscuits would be analyzing her signature. Graustarkian ideal. is usually made with strong coffee or cola. graphorrhea grave adj graywacke grasp / SgrCv / v L > F graze / Sgrasp / having a serious, sedate, and E dignified appearance or demeanor. great comprehend : understand. The judge appeared grave and Victor was able to grasp the new impassive as she pronounced greave concept the first time it was sentence on the convicted felon. n presented. / SgrGv / gravid E grasshopper adj [has homonym: grieve] armor for / SgravDd / the leg below the knee. grateful L Memnon removed the soldier’s pregnant. greave, exposing the wound graticulation The gravid mare seemed to give a underneath. sigh of relief as her rider gratis dismounted. grebe adv / SgraZDs / gravimetry Grecian L n adj without charge or recompense. / grESvimEtrG / / SgrGshEn / Some restaurants no longer provide L + Gk + Ecf Gk > L water gratis. the measurement of weight or of, relating to, or characteristic of density. Greeks. gratitude Arleen’s physics book has a Grecian cuisine famously includes n chapter devoted to the study of octopus and squid. / SgraZETtVd / gravimetry. L grecize thankfulness. gravitational v Tim’s parents make many sacrifices adj / SgrGTsIz / so that he can train for the / TgravEStCshEnFl / Gk > L > F Olympics, but he shows them little L make Greek or Hellenistic in gratitude. of or relating to a force manifested quality, traits, or cultural by acceleration towards each other characteristics. grattoir of two free material particles or The locals wouldn’t allow invaders bodies. to grecize their culture. gratuitously If the gravitational force of Earth adv were turned off momentarily, we greedy / grEStVEZEslG / would all get a free ride into space. L greenbrier without involving a return benefit, gravity compensation, or consideration. greengage The travel agency gratuitously gravure provided the family with greenhouse transportation to and from the airport.

Page 118 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency greenness griffonage grope n n v / SgrGnnDs / / grifESnBzh / / SgrPp / E F E the quality or state of being green. [Note: Could be confused with search about blindly or uncertainly. The clear little stream ran quite griffinage.] careless handwriting : a The daydreaming student had to merrily along on its narrow way crude or illegible scrawl. grope for an answer when the through the luscious damp The pharmacist assured us that teacher asked him a question. greenness. what looked like griffonage was simply a string of Latin gross gremlin abbreviations. n / SgrPs / grenade grimy L > F > E [has near homonym: grows] an grenadierial grip aggregate of 12 dozen things; n specifically : a lot made up of 12 grenadine / Sgrip / dozen usually relatively small and E substantially identical commercial griddle [Note: The definition provided is objects. n not the one most commonly Mrs. Lin ordered a gross of gel / SgridFl / associated with this word. In pens to use for special rewards. L > F > E addition, word has homonym: a flat surface on which food is grippe.] a worker who moves the grotesqueness placed to be cooked by dry heat. scenes in a theater. n Dad makes buttermilk pancakes on Til worked as a grip at the Country / grPStesknDs / the griddle every Sunday morning. Dinner Playhouse. F&It the quality or state of being gridiron grippe comically incongruous or n ridiculously ugly. / SgriTdI(E)rn / grisard Each horror movie seems to be (L > F > E) + E trying to outdo the others in [Note: Although the definition griseofulvin grotesqueness. provided is the original sense, it is not the one most commonly grissino grotto associated with this word.] a grated n metal frame for grilling food over / grDSsG(T)nP / grottoed coals. It adj Sara’s hot dog rolled off the a long slender crusty breadstick / SgrBZPd / gridiron and fell on the ground. usually of Italian style or origin. L > It For a mid-afternoon snack, a enclosed in or made into a natural grievances grissino was all that Amelia covered opening in the earth. n pl needed. The gangsters fled to their grottoed / SgrGvEn(t)sDz / hideaway. F > E grivoiserie causes of uneasiness or distress felt grouchiness to afford rightful reason for grobianism reproach, complaint, or resistance. groundless During his new-employee grok orientation, Stan was briefed on the v groundsel procedure for filing grievances. / SgrBk / n US literary name / SgraUn(d)sEl / understand profoundly and E intuitively : establish deep an herb of the genus Senecio compassionate rapport with. sometimes used for medicinal Robert Heinlein’s most popular purposes. books are about a character who Groundsel is found in swamps and could grok his friends in a meadows from Newfoundland to profound way. Ontario.

Page 119 of 289 2004 Scripps National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing with Moderate Frequency grouper gudgeon gulag n n grouse / SgEjEn / / SgVTlBg / L > F > E Russ acronym grout an iron pin for fastening together the penal system of the former n blocks of stone. Soviet Union consisting of a / SgraUt / The stoneworker selected a heavy network of labor camps. E gauge of iron for the gudgeon that Stalin chose a 15th-century thin mortar fluid enough to be would hold together the parts of the monastery as the site for the first poured and used for filling in granite park bench. labor camp of the gulag. spaces as in the joints of masonry or brickwork. guenon gules Randy carefully spread new grout n n and set the tiles into the counter / gESnPM / / SgyVlz / top. F F > E any of various long-tailed chiefly the heraldic color red. growthy arboreal African monkeys. One is never allowed to change a The guenon is a favorite zoo coat of arms, since even the use of grubstake monkey because of its bright gules has a certain meaning. markings, good nature, and its grudgingness habit of grimacing at observers. gulp n n / SgrEjiNnDs / guest / SgElp / Gmc > F > E D or G > E the quality or state of being guichet the amount taken in a single large unwilling, reluctant, or ungenerous. swallow. With some grudgingness, Ron came guidance Soot took the entire half of a to accept Sam as his daughter’s buttered crumpet and decided to fiance. guilelessness swallow it all joyfully in one gulp. n gruine / SgI(E)llDsnDs / gumdrop Gmc > F > E + Ecff gryllus the quality or state of being gunpowder innocent, naïve, and gryposis unsophisticated. gunrunning n Mrs. Waldron said that she loved / grDSpPsDs / teaching young children because of guppy Gk their natural guilelessness. abnormal curvature especially of gurgitation the fingernail. guiltsick When one of Sarah’s fingernails gurry exhibited gryposis, her doctor guilty n removed it surgically. / SgErG / guinea unknown guarantee [has homonym: ghurry] the refuse Guinean from cutting up a whale and guaranteed adj extracting the oil. v / SginGEn / The captain ordered the younger / TgarEnStGd / African geog name crewmen to clear the deck of gurry. Gmc > F of, relating to, or characteristic of given or furnished security to. the region of Guinea, West Africa. Results are not guaranteed, but if Guinea pigs are paradoxically not not perfectly satisfied, your wasted Guinean animals: They originate time will be refunded. in South America.

guise

guitarist

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