definition

to bring a feeling into existence,

sample sentence

When the principle announced that students cannot wear sneakers to school it, engender anger in the student body.

word family

(engenders, engendered, engendering)

definition

to ease someone's anger;

sample sentence

calm someone down After dropping her cell phone in the muddy puddle, I tried to pacify my friend by offering her a big, warm hug.

word family

(pacified, pacifying, pacifies, pacifist)

sample sentence

 enthusiastic support

definition

Being an ardent Bills fan, Mark painted his face half red and half blue to show his love for the team.

word family

(ardently)

definition 

to make something bad even worse

sample sentence

The singer's terrible voice was exacerbated by the awful pianist who didn't know how to accompany her.

word family

(exacerbates, exacerbating, exacerbated, exacerbating)

definition

good judgement; shrewd

sample sentence

Samuel Westing Jr. III had always been a sagacious business man known for his shrewd negotiating style.

word family

(sagaciously)

sample sentence

the disintegration or decomposition of something

definition

The Alka-seltzer tablet dissolution was instant once it fell into the glass of water and virtually disappeared.

word family

(dissolutions)

sample sentence

the spreading of a disease or idea from one person to another through close contact

definition

Once the idea of storming the Bastille took hold, it spread like a contagion among the people.

word family

(contagions)

definition

a fatal epidemic disease, especially the bubonic plague

sample sentence

The Ebola virus is a horrific pestilence that was just as easily spread as the bubonic plague.

word family

(pestilences)

definition

make continual twisting movements of the body.

sample sentence

The majestic lion writhed in pain, its body twisting in strange patterns, after being shot with a tranquilizer gun at close range.

word family

(writhes, writhing, writhed)

definition

of crucial importance in relation to the success of something else.

sample sentence

Graduating from high school was a huge achievement in Hank's life and a pivotal moment in the life of his mother as well.

word family

(pivot, pivoting, pivots, pivoted)