2015-2016 W.O.W. – Middle School (Year 1, 2012; Year 4, 2015) Date Word Definition Sentence Prompt #1 Prompt #2 9/8 Acclimate To adapt to a new As the school year begins, What are you doing to How do certain animals environment (v.) students will acclimate to their acclimate from summer acclimate to weather new schedule. vacation to school? changes? 9/15 Diligent Persistent in The diligent student studied for What does a diligent How would an athlete accomplishing a goal or a couple nights for the upcoming student look like? work diligently to make task (adj.) test. the Olympics? 9/21 Lackadaisical Lacking spirit or His teachers did not approve of What are some Would a lackadaisical determination (adj.) his lackadaisical approach to characteristics of a student be successful in homework. lackadaisical student? school, why? 9/28 Enigma Something hard to The neighbors regarded him as What is an enigma that Would an artist want their understand or explain (n.) something of an enigma you’ve encountered? work to be considered an because of his unexplainable enigma? behavior. 10/5 Refute To prove wrong by The lawyer refuted the What would cause a Have you ever had to argument or evidence (v.) testimony of the witness. teacher to refute a refute a claim made by a student’s statement? friend? 10/12 Repudiate To refuse to have She says she has evidence which Would students repudiate How do you repudiate anything to do with (v.) repudiates the allegations, gossiping even when a mean rumors? clearing her of any wrongdoing. teacher was not present? 10/19 Insurmountable Incapable of being The science final seemed What would seem Have you ever had a overcome (adj.) insurmountable because of the insurmountable, climbing problem that seemed student’s lack of test Mt. Everest or learning a insurmountable? preparation. new language? 10/26 Malicious Showing a desire to The student was offended by the Is it a good idea to be Do you like when cause harm to someone malicious spread of gossip. malicious to your someone acts maliciously (adj.) neighbor? toward you? 11/2 Debacle A general breakdown (n.) A political debate could become Have you ever gone on a How would a debacle in a debacle if the candidates were vacation that turned into a school make you feel? to scream and throw dinner rolls debacle? at each other. 11/9 Facetious Not to be taken seriously; Alfi was sent to the principal’s Were you being facetious What would a facetious humorous (adj.) office for making a facetious when you promised me a excuse be for not doing remark about the morning pony? your homework? announcements. 11/16 Faux pas An embarrassing mistake The student didn’t realize that What is the worst fashion What would you consider in a social situation (n.) wearing a swimsuit to school faux pas you have ever to be a cell phone faux was a fashion faux pas. seen? pas? 12/1 Impervious Not affected or I may be wearing a fashion faux In what situations would Why would an influenced by something pas, but I’m impervious to you want to be impervious underground tunnel have (adj.) public opinion. to criticism? to be impervious? 12/7 Incognito Having one’s identity Justin Bieber, wearing a dark In what situation would Who might need to be concealed (adjective, wig and sunglasses, was walking you need to be incognito? incognito and why? adverb, or noun through Berwyn incognito. depending on usage.) 12/14 Plethora A large number; more While I had a plethora of In what country would you What items would you like than you would need (n.) pencils in September, I don’t find a plethora of camels? to have a plethora of and have a single one to use now! why? 1/4 Rhetorical Not expecting an answer I didn’t answer the teacher What is a rhetorical What is a rhetorical to a question (adj.) because I thought her question question you would ask question your parents was rhetorical. your parents? would ask you? 1/11 Panacea Something that cures There is no panacea for the What panacea would you What would be your best everything (n.) world’s economic problems. suggest for curing the panacea for a boring blues? summer day? 1/19 Advocate To speak in favor of a Teachers would like students to Think of a situation where Why is it important that position (v.) advocate for themselves. you would have to you, as a student, advocate advocate for yourself. for yourself? 1/25 Conspicuous Easily noticed or obvious Due to his incredible height, Why might you want to be How could you keep from (adj.) Hagrid was conspicuous among conspicuous in school? looking conspicuous in a the students. crowd and yet keep your individuality? 2/1 Fabricate Invent or concoct When asked about the broken What might be the Have you ever discovered (something), typically vase, Robert fabricated the consequences if you that a friend fabricated with deceitful intent (v.) most incredible tale. fabricate a story to your something about you to parents? someone else? 2/8 Rambunctious extremely active and During the dance-off, the kids Does too much candy In what setting do children noisy (adj.) became rambunctious when make you rambunctious? tend to act they heard their favorite song. rambunctiously? 2/16 Obsequious obedient and compliant Cinderella was the obsequious Is it better to be Would you rather have a (adj.) servant to her evil step-sisters. obsequious or overly friend who is obsequious confident? or demanding? 2/22 Amorous showing or expressing Mara received an amorous The most amorous To whom do you show love (adj.) letter from her secret admirer. wedding destination is...? your amorous feelings?

2/29 Discord Disagreement; difference When discord between two Why do siblings As a teenager do you feel of opinion (n.) players erupted, the umpire experience discord? discord between yourself stepped in to resolve it. and your parents?

3/7 Depraved Morally corrupt (adj.) The depraved man stole all of Why does bullying How can peer pressure the money from the charity. deprave the safety of our deprave you of doing school? what’s right? 3/14 Déjà vu The feeling that As Jack pulled up to the beach Have you ever Why do you think déjà vu something has happened house, he thought he had been experienced déjà vu? occurs? before, even though it there before, but it was just déjà Have you ever has not (n.) vu. experienced déjà vu? 3/29 Intransigent Refusing to agree or The intransigent mule refused In what situation are you Does having a substitute comply (adj.) to follow his guide, James, most intransigent? teacher cause your along to the barn. classmates to become . more intransigent? 4/4 Obstinate stubborn (adj.) Obstinate voters refused to be What are you the most Have you ever witnessed swayed by the opposing party. obstinate about? an obstinate toddler? 4/11 Obfuscate To obscure or confuse Politicians tend to obfuscate the Was there a time when Come up with a word or (v.) issues to avoid a clear answer. you purposefully phrase that could act as a obfuscated the truth? synonym for obfuscate. 4/18 Benevolent Organized for the Bill Gates should be applauded Can you name someone What would a benevolent purpose of doing good for his benevolent contributions from history who is known act look like? (adj.) to combat world diseases. for his/her benevolence? 4/25 Benign Harmless or gentle (adj.) Despite his gruff exterior, What characterizes a Which animals would you Charles Gordon turned out to person who is benign? characterize as benign in have a benign disposition. the zoo? 5/2 Benefactor A person who helps Mark Cuban, owner of the Why would someone What is the connection someone or something, Dallas Mavericks, was become a benefactor? between the prefix “ben” especially by giving appreciated for his role as a and the word benefactor? money (n.) benefactor.

5/9 Malignant Tending to produce death The malignant figure What other Which recent word of the or deterioration (adj.) approached Jeremy with an diseases/ailments besides week is an antonym for antique sickle. cancer tend to be malignant? malignant? 5/16 Malady A disease, sickness, or The doctor provided a remedy Describe the worst malady How do you best cure the condition (n.) for the patient’s malady. you have experienced. malady of a common cold?

5/23 Malevolent Showing spite, ill will, or After a hard foul, the point Who is a malevolent What makes that character hatred (adj.) guard stared down his opponent character from a movie or malevolent? with a malevolent look. book?

5/31 Sublime The very best, wonderful, The sunset provided a moment Draw a picture of Is there a difference or heavenly (adj.) of sublime reflection. something that you would between sublime and consider sublime. pretty?

6/6 Subservient Acting like a servant, The major is subservient to the Describe a people from Describe two conditions of obedient (adj.) general. history who have been their subservience. forced to be subservient. 6/13 Subjugate To bring under control After his first day of obedience How does the prefix “sub” What is one way that you (v.) school, Carl was subjugated to relate to the meaning of have been subjugated his master’s wishes. subjugate? during your time in middle school?