Ample (AM-puhl)Meaning: More than enough.
Example: We have ample time to finish the puzzle before dinner.
Root: Latin amplus (large).
Benevolent (buh-NEV-uh-luhnt)Meaning: Kind and generous.
Example: The benevolent queen gave gold to the poor.
Root: Latin bene (good) + velle (to wish).
Cacophony (kuh-KOF-uh-nee)Meaning: A harsh, mixed-up mixture of sounds.
Example: The dropping of pans created a loud cacophony in the kitchen.
Root: Greek kakos (bad) + phone (sound).
Diligent (DIL-uh-juhnt)Meaning: Working hard and carefully.
Example: The diligent ant collected food all summer long.
Root: Latin diligere (to value highly).
Eloquent (EL-uh-kwuhnt)Meaning: Speaking or writing in a beautiful, clear way.
Example: The mayor gave an eloquent speech that made everyone cheer.
Root: Latin loqui (to speak).
Frivolous (FRIV-uh-luhs)Meaning: Silly and not important.
Example: Buying a tiny hat for a pet frog is a frivolous idea.
Root: Latin frivolus (silly, empty).
Gregarious (gri-GAIR-ee-uhs)Meaning: Very friendly and liking to be with others.
Example: The gregarious puppy licked everyone at the park.
Root: Latin grex (flock).
Harmonious (har-MOH-nee-uhs)Meaning: Fitting together nicely; peaceful.
Example: The birds sang a harmonious song in the morning.
Root: Greek harmonia (agreement).
Inquisitive (in-KWIZ-uh-tiv)Meaning: Very curious and asking lots of questions.
Example: The inquisitive girl took apart the clock to see how it worked.
Root: Latin quaerere (to seek).
Jubilant (JOO-buh-luhnt)Meaning: Feeling very happy and joyful.
Example: We were jubilant when our team won the trophy!
Root: Latin jubilare (to shout for joy).
Kinship (KIN-ship)Meaning: A strong connection or family relationship.
Example: The two friends felt a kinship because they both loved dinosaurs.
Root: Old English cynn (family) + -ship.
Luminous (LOO-muh-nuhs)Meaning: Shining brightly, glowing in the dark.
Example: The fireflies made the garden look luminous at night.
Root: Latin lumen (light).
Meticulous (muh-TIK-yuh-luhs)Meaning: Paying very close attention to small details.
Example: The artist was meticulous when painting the tiny stars.
Root: Latin metus (fear - originally meaning fearful).
Nostalgic (nah-STAL-jik)Meaning: Wishing for happy times from the past.
Example: Grandma felt nostalgic looking at her old childhood photos.
Root: Greek nostos (return home) + algos (pain).
Obscure (uhb-SKYOOR)Meaning: Hard to see, understand, or find.
Example: The secret door was hidden in an obscure corner of the castle.
Root: Latin obscurus (dark).
Pristine (PRIS-teen)Meaning: Completely clean and untouched.
Example: The snow on the mountain was pristine before anyone stepped on it.
Root: Latin pristinus (former, early).
Quaint (KWAYNT)Meaning: Cute and charming in an old-fashioned way.
Example: We stayed in a quaint little cottage with a thatched roof.
Root: Old French cointe (clever).
Resilient (ri-ZIL-yuhnt)Meaning: Able to bounce back after a tough time.
Example: The resilient flower survived the harsh winter snow.
Root: Latin resilire (to leap back).
Serene (suh-REEN)Meaning: Very calm, peaceful, and quiet.
Example: The lake was completely serene before the wind started to blow.
Root: Latin serenus (clear, fair).
Tenacious (tuh-NAY-shuhs)Meaning: Not giving up easily; holding on tight.
Example: The tenacious climber finally reached the top of the wall.
Root: Latin tenere (to hold).
Unison (YOO-nuh-suhn)Meaning: Doing something together at the exact same time.
Example: The children shouted "Surprise!" in perfect unison.
Root: Latin uni (one) + sonus (sound).
Voracious (vaw-RAY-shuhs)Meaning: Extremely hungry or eager for something.
Example: He was a voracious reader and read a whole book every night.
Root: Latin vorare (to devour).
Whimsical (HWIM-zi-kuhl)Meaning: Playful, funny, and full of magical ideas.
Example: Her whimsical painting featured flying pigs and purple trees.
Root: Origin uncertain; related to "whim" (a sudden desire).
Yearn (YURN)Meaning: To want something very badly.
Example: The dog would yearn for a treat every time the jar opened.
Root: Old English giernan (to desire).
Zealous (ZEL-uhs)Meaning: Showing strong excitement and energy for a cause.
Example: The zealous fans painted their faces in their team's colors.
Root: Greek zelos (jealousy, zeal).
Abundant (uh-BUN-duhnt)Meaning: Existing in large amounts.
Example: The apple tree had an abundant harvest this autumn.
Root: Latin abundare (to overflow).
Baffle (BAF-uhl)Meaning: To completely confuse someone.
Example: The complex riddle managed to baffle the entire class.
Root: Unknown, possibly from Scottish bauchle.
Camouflage (KAM-uh-flahzh)Meaning: A disguise that lets someone or something blend in.
Example: The chameleon used its camouflage to hide from predators.
Root: French camoufler (to disguise).
Deceive (dih-SEEV)Meaning: To trick someone into believing a lie.
Example: The villain tried to deceive the hero with a fake map.
Root: Latin decipere (to ensnare).
Ecstatic (ek-STAT-ik)Meaning: Overwhelmingly happy.
Example: She was ecstatic when she got a new bicycle for her birthday.
Root: Greek ekstasis (standing outside oneself).
Fatigue (fuh-TEEG)Meaning: Extreme tiredness.
Example: After the long hike, a deep fatigue settled over the campers.
Root: Latin fatigare (to tire out).
Gargantuan (gar-GAN-choo-uhn)Meaning: Absolutely massive; huge.
Example: The dinosaur left a gargantuan footprint in the mud.
Root: From Gargantua, a giant in a French story.
Humble (HUM-buhl)Meaning: Modest, not thinking you are better than others.
Example: Even though he was the best player, he remained humble.
Root: Latin humilis (lowly).
Immaculate (ih-MAK-yuh-lit)Meaning: Perfectly clean and tidy.
Example: His room was immaculate after he spent all day cleaning it.
Root: Latin macula (spot, blemish).
Jovial (JOH-vee-uhl)Meaning: Cheerful and friendly.
Example: Our jovial neighbor always waves and smiles at us.
Root: Latin Jovialis (of Jupiter - the happy planet).
Knack (NAK)Meaning: A natural skill or talent for doing something.
Example: My little sister has a knack for finding hidden Easter eggs.
Root: Middle English knak (sharp blow, trick).
Lucid (LOO-sid)Meaning: Very clear and easy to understand.
Example: The teacher gave a lucid explanation of the math problem.
Root: Latin lucidus (clear, bright).
Magnificent (mag-NIF-uh-suhnt)Meaning: Beautiful, impressive, and grand.
Example: The fireworks displayed a magnificent array of colors.
Root: Latin magnus (great) + facere (to make).
Nimble (NIM-buhl)Meaning: Quick and light in movement.
Example: The nimble cat jumped gracefully onto the high fence.
Root: Old English næmel (quick to grasp).
Optimistic (op-tuh-MIS-tik)Meaning: Hopeful and expecting good things to happen.
Example: She felt optimistic that it wouldn't rain on her picnic.
Root: Latin optimus (best).
Ponder (PON-dur)Meaning: To think about something very carefully.
Example: He sat by the window to ponder which book to read next.
Root: Latin ponderare (to weigh).
Quirk (KWURK)Meaning: A strange or funny habit.
Example: Eating pizza backwards is her favorite little quirk.
Root: Unknown, possibly from German zwerch (slanting).
Radiant (RAY-dee-uhnt)Meaning: Sending out light; glowing with happiness.
Example: The bride had a radiant smile on her wedding day.
Root: Latin radiare (to shine).
Skeptical (SKEP-ti-kuhl)Meaning: Having doubts; not easily convinced.
Example: I was skeptical when he said he saw a flying saucer.
Root: Greek skeptikos (thoughtful, inquiring).
Triumph (TRY-uhmf)Meaning: A great victory or success.
Example: Finishing the 1000-piece puzzle was a huge triumph.
Root: Latin triumphus (victory procession).
Uplift (up-LIFT)Meaning: To make someone feel happier or more hopeful.
Example: Singing her favorite song helped to uplift her spirits.
Root: Old English up + Old Norse lypta.
Vigilant (VIJ-uh-luhnt)Meaning: Keeping careful watch for danger or problems.
Example: The vigilant guard dog barked at the stranger.
Root: Latin vigil (awake).
Wander (WON-dur)Meaning: To walk around slowly without a clear purpose.
Example: We love to wander through the forest looking at trees.
Root: Old English wandrian (to move aimlessly).
Yield (YEELD)Meaning: To give way or to produce something.
Example: The farm will yield a lot of corn this year.
Root: Old English gieldan (to pay, reward).
Zenith (ZEE-nith)Meaning: The highest point or the peak.
Example: The sun reached its zenith at exactly noon.
Root: Arabic samt (path over the head).