2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently aardwolf abdomen ablution n n n / SBrdTwUlf / / SabdETmEn / / ESblVshEn / Afrikaans L > F L a striped hyenalike mammal of region of an insect’s body. the washing of one’s body or part southern and eastern Africa that The three main body parts of an of it as a religious rite. feeds chiefly on carrion and insects. insect are the head, the thorax, and A common example of ablution in Termites are the favorite food of the abdomen. Judaism is washing the hands the aardwolf. before a meal that includes bread. abdominal abacus abolition n abecedarium / SabDkEs / abominable Gk > L abecedarius adj a calculating instrument for n / ESbBm(E)nEbEl / performing arithmetical processes / TCbG(T)sGSda(a)rGEs / L > F > E by sliding counters by hand on rods L worthy of or causing loathing or or in grooves. a poem in which the lines or hatred. The grocer used an abacus instead stanzas begin with the letters of the Charlie’s abominable pretense of of a modern cash register. alphabet in regular order. being attracted to Jane was the Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a famous result of a dare by his friends. abalienation abecedarius. aborigine abalone aberrant n n / TabESrijE(T)nG / / TabESlPnG / aberration L Sp n [Note: Could be confused with a gastropod mollusk that clings to / TabESrCshEn / aborigen.] one of the native people rocks tenaciously with a broad L especially as contrasted with an muscular foot. deviation from the natural state or invading or colonizing people. At the beach, Marta made a from a normal type. Cathy Freeman, an Australian necklace from the shell of an Jane’s outburst at the meeting was aborigine, carried the flame into abalone. a shocking behavior aberration, for the Olympic stadium. her manner is usually so reserved. abandonment abracadabra abeyance n abattoir n / TabrEkESdabrE / n / ESbCEn(t)s / L / SabDTtwBr / L > F + Ecf confused or unintelligible language F [has homonym: obeyance] : nonsense. slaughterhouse. cessation or suspension (as of a Despite the abracadabra in the At the end of the day the battlefield customary practice). poem “Jabberwocky,” its message at Hastings looked like an abattoir. Use of the swimming pool was put is rather clear. in abeyance until a new lifeguard abbot could be hired. abrasion n abbreviate abhor / ESbrCzhEn / L abbreviation abhorrence wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction. abdicate ability Moving glaciers caused abrasion v on Earth’s surface. / SabdETkCt / abiogenist L abrasive relinquish formally, renounce. abjuration The crown prince will abdicate his abrogated throne so that his brother may rule. Page 1 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently abruptly abysmal accessorial adv adj / ESbrEp(t)lG / / ESbizmEl / accidental L Gk > L > E in a manner that produces the effect having the characteristics of an acclimatization of a sudden ending. abyss : bottomless. n George’s mom stopped abruptly at Ahmet jumped his motorcycle over / ETklImEZDSzCshEn / the door of his room when she saw the abysmal gorge. L > F + Ecff his pet python on the floor. the process of adapting to a new abysmally temperature, altitude, environment, abscess or situation. academia The wild fern’s acclimatization to abscissa n Mrs. Bennett’s rock garden amazed n / TakESdGmyE / her. / abSsisE / Gk > L L life and interests associated with a acclivity the horizontal coordinate of a point school especially of higher n in a plane Cartesian coordinate learning. / ESklivEZG / system obtained by measuring Robert prefers academia to the L parallel to the x-axis. business world. an ascending slope (as of a hill). Bill was asked to mark the point on The biker hoped that a downhill the graph at which the abscissa is 4 academic stretch would soon follow what and the ordinate is 7. adj seemed to be an endless acclivity. / TakESdemik / abscond Gk > L > F accolade relating to a school, especially an n abscondence institution of higher education. / SakETlCd / Claudia postponed her academic L > F absence pursuits after learning of her a bestowal of praise. father’s serious illness. Martin received one accolade after abstemious another at the awards banquet. adj acarology / abzStGmGEs / accommodable L accede sparing in eating and drinking. accomplice Evelyn is abstemious by nature and accelerate n never orders dessert. v / ESkBmplDs / / ikSselETrCt / L > F > E abstinence L one that participates with another in add to the speed of or quicken the a crime either as principal or abstractive motion of. accessory. To qualify for the finals, the jogger The juvenile was convicted as an abstruse had to accelerate his pace. accomplice in the robbery. adj / EbzStrVs / accelerator accordionist L [has obsolete variant with similar accentuator accreditation pronunciation: obstruse] difficult to comprehend or understand. acceptance accrescent Mr. Thompson’s abstruse adj calculations covered the accessible / ESkresFnt / blackboard. adj L / ikSsesEbEl / growing continuously; specifically absurdity L : growing larger after flowering. capable of being reached or easily After its flower had fallen away, the abundance approached. plant’s accrescent calyx became Wilbur made sure his restaurant noticeably larger. was accessible to those in wheelchairs. accrual Page 2 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently accrue acicular acquittal adj n accrued / ESsikyElEr / / ESkwiZFl / v L + Ecf L + L > F / ESkrVd / like a needle in shape : slender and [Note: The definition provided is L > F > E pointed. not the one most commonly came by way of increase or Under the microscope, the crystals associated with this word.] release addition. appear as single acicular or discharge from debt or other Helen argued that many structures. liability. advantages have accrued to society Mr. Churchill was deeply involved from the freedom of the press. acknowledge in the game and was too much indebted to it for his acquittal. accumulate acknowledging v acre / ESkyVmyETlCt / acolyte n L n / SCkE(r) / heap up in a mass : pile up. / SakETlIt / E The weather forecaster said that as Gk > L > F > E any of various units of land area. much as two feet of snow might one who attends or assists : Miriam had to cross a 10-acre field accumulate overnight. follower. to get to her favorite swimming Not one acolyte remained after the hole. accurate cult leader’s fall from grace. adj acrimonious / SakyErDt / acorn adj L / TakrESmPnGEs / correct, exact, precise. acoustician L > F The detective prided himself on caustic, biting, or rancorous, making accurate reports of crime acoustics especially in feeling, language, or scenes. n pl manner : bitter. / ESkVstiks / It was obvious that Marjorie’s accusatory Gk comments were acrimonious and the aggregate of qualities (as complaining. acescent absence of echo or reverberation) adj of an enclosure (as an auditorium) acrobat / ESsesFnt / or other area that affects n L production, control, transmission, / SakrETbat / turning sour or tending to turn sour. reception, and perception of sound. Gk > F Natalie spit out the acescent milk. As a result of the renovation, the one who performs gymnastic feats acoustics of the concert hall have or exercises. acetate improved dramatically. Paul is developing the skills of a first-rate acrobat. acetylene acquaintance n n acronym / ESseZFlDn / / ESkwCntFn(t)s / n L + Gk + Gk F > E / SakrETnim / a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon familiarity, experience. Gk + Gk that is explosive when compressed Ruth developed an acquaintance a word formed from the initial but safe if diluted with nitrogen or with Tibetan musical tradition. letter or letters of each of the acetone. successive parts or major parts of a The welder ran out of acetylene acquiesce compound term. while cutting through the ship’s The word radar is an acronym of hull. acquiescence radio detection and ranging. achromatism acropolis Page 3 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently acrostic acuminate adherent n adj n / ESkrOstik / / ESkyVmEnDt / / TadShirEnt / Gk L L a composition usually in verse in tapering to a slender point : a believer in or advocate of a which one or more sets of letters pointed. particular thing, idea, or religion. when taken in order form a word, a Steve found one of his parakeet’s Julia has been an adherent of connected group of words, or the acuminate tail feathers on the floor. Buddhism since 1985. regular sequence of the letters of the alphabet. acupuncture adhesional Mrs. Taylor was not at all pleased with the acrostic her students made adactylous adiaphorism using her name. adage adipose acrylic adagio adjacency actinic n adj / ESdB(T)jP / adjacent / akStinik / (L + L > OProv) > It adj Gk > L + Ecf [Note: The definition provided is / ESjCsFnt / having photochemical properties or not the one most commonly L effects. associated with this word.] a series living nearby or sitting or standing The stars emit actinic rays as well of sustained and perfectly relatively near or close together. as light and heat. controlled dance movements Citizens of Centerville and its displaying balance and grace. adjacent communities banded actuary The wicked fairy performed a together to form a volunteer fire n perfect adagio just before Sleeping department. / SakchETwerG / Beauty appeared. L adjourn one trained in mathematics and adamantine statistics whose business it is to adj adjudicate calculate insurance and annuity / TadESmanTtIn / premiums, reserves, and dividends. Gk > L > E adjunct An actuary uses such factors as age rigidly firm : unyielding. n and health status to determine a Debra’s adamantine chain of logic / SaTjEN(k)t / person’s life insurance premiums. bedazzled her philosophy L professor. something joined or added to aculeate another thing but not essentially a adj addlepated part of it. / ESkyVlGDt / Exercise is an adjunct to a long L adenoidal and healthy life. marked by incisiveness : stinging, adj pointed. / TadFnSOidFl / adjuvant No actor was spared in the Gk reviewer’s aculeate criticisms.