Anchor (ANG-kur)Meaning: A heavy weight that holds a ship in place, or to hold something tight.
Example: We used rocks to anchor the tent so it wouldn't blow away.
Root: Greek ankura (hook).
Astonish (uh-STON-ish)Meaning: To surprise someone very much.
Example: The magician will astonish you with his disappearing coin trick.
Root: Old French estoner (to stun).
Banish (BAN-ish)Meaning: To send someone or something away and tell them not to come back.
Example: Let's banish all the junk food from the pantry!
Root: Old French banir (to proclaim).
Blossom (BLOS-uhm)Meaning: A flower, or the act of a flower opening up.
Example: The pink blossom on the tree smelled like sweet candy.
Root: Old English blostm (flower).
Brisk (BRISK)Meaning: Quick, energetic, and active.
Example: We took a brisk walk in the cold morning air to wake up.
Root: French brusque (lively).
Cautious (KAW-shuhs)Meaning: Being very careful to avoid danger or mistakes.
Example: The cautious turtle peeked out of its shell before moving.
Root: Latin cautio (care).
Clumsy (KLUM-zee)Meaning: Awkward in movement; dropping or bumping into things.
Example: The clumsy puppy tripped over its own big paws.
Root: Middle English clumsen (to be stiff with cold).
Dazzle (DAZ-uhl)Meaning: To blind someone slightly with bright light, or to amaze them.
Example: The dancer's sparkly dress will dazzle the audience.
Root: Old Norse dasa (to make weary).
Defend (dih-FEND)Meaning: To protect someone or something from harm.
Example: The brave knight promised to defend the castle.
Root: Latin defendere (to ward off).
Eager (EE-gur)Meaning: Wanting to do or have something very much.
Example: He was eager to open his presents on his birthday morning.
Root: Old French aigre (sharp, biting).
Enormous (ih-NOR-muhs)Meaning: Very, very big; huge.
Example: The elephant ate an enormous pile of hay for breakfast.
Root: Latin enormis (out of rule, unusual).
Festive (FES-tiv)Meaning: Happy and joyful, like a celebration or party.
Example: The room looked festive with all the balloons and streamers.
Root: Latin festivus (joyous, holiday-like).
Fierce (FEERS)Meaning: Very strong, wild, and sometimes a little scary.
Example: The fierce lion roared loudly across the grassy plains.
Root: Latin ferus (wild, untamed).
Fragile (FRAJ-uhl)Meaning: Easily broken or damaged; delicate.
Example: Please be careful with that glass vase, it is very fragile.
Root: Latin fragilis (breakable).
Gather (GATH-ur)Meaning: To bring things or people together into one place.
Example: We need to gather some dry wood to build the campfire.
Root: Old English gaderian (to bring together).
Genuine (JEN-yoo-in)Meaning: Real, honest, and not fake.
Example: She gave a genuine smile when she saw her best friend.
Root: Latin genuinus (native, natural).
Glisten (GLIS-uhn)Meaning: To shine with a sparkling light, like wet things do.
Example: The morning dew made the grass glisten in the sun.
Root: Old English glisnian (to shine).
Heroic (hi-ROH-ik)Meaning: Very brave and acting like a hero.
Example: The firefighter made a heroic rescue from the tall building.
Root: Greek heros (hero, protector).
Hover (HUV-ur)Meaning: To float or stay in the air in one spot.
Example: The hummingbird can hover right next to the flower.
Root: Middle English hoveren (to float in the air).
Ignite (ig-NYT)Meaning: To catch fire or to start burning.
Example: Dad used a match to ignite the charcoal on the grill.
Root: Latin ignis (fire).
Illustrate (IL-uh-strayt)Meaning: To draw pictures for a book, or to explain something clearly.
Example: I want to write and illustrate my very own comic book.
Root: Latin illustrare (to light up).
Journey (JUR-nee)Meaning: A long trip from one place to another.
Example: The pioneers went on a difficult journey across the mountains.
Root: Old French journee (a day's travel).
Joyous (JOI-uhs)Meaning: Full of joy and happiness.
Example: Winning the spelling bee was a joyous moment for her.
Root: Old French joios (joyful).
Keen (KEEN)Meaning: Sharp, alert, and very aware of things.
Example: The eagle has keen eyesight and can spot a mouse from far away.
Root: Old English cene (bold, brave).
Knot (NOT)Meaning: A place where string or rope is tied tightly together.
Example: I learned how to tie a strong knot for my fishing line.
Root: Old English cnotta (a fastening).
Linger (LING-gur)Meaning: To stay somewhere longer than you need to because you don't want to leave.
Example: We let the sweet smell of cookies linger in the kitchen.
Root: Old English lengan (to delay).
Loyal (LOI-uhl)Meaning: Always supporting your friends, family, or beliefs.
Example: My loyal dog follows me everywhere I go.
Root: Latin legalis (legal, lawful).
Marvel (MAR-vuhl)Meaning: Something amazing, or to look at something with wonder.
Example: The pyramids in Egypt are an ancient marvel.
Root: Latin mirabilia (wonderful things).
Meadow (MED-oh)Meaning: A field covered with tall grass and wildflowers.
Example: We had a picnic on a blanket in the sunny meadow.
Root: Old English mædwe (mown grass).
Noble (NOH-buhl)Meaning: Having excellent character; doing the right and good thing.
Example: It was noble of him to share his lunch with the new student.
Root: Latin nobilis (well-known, excellent).
Nurture (NUR-chur)Meaning: To care for and help someone or something grow.
Example: The gardener will nurture the tiny seeds until they become tall plants.
Root: Latin nutrire (to nourish).
Observe (uhb-ZURV)Meaning: To watch carefully and notice things.
Example: We used binoculars to observe the birds in the trees.
Root: Latin observare (to watch over).
Orchard (OR-churd)Meaning: A piece of land where fruit trees are grown.
Example: In the fall, we picked a big basket of apples from the orchard.
Root: Old English ortgeard (plant yard).
Plunge (PLUNJ)Meaning: To dive or fall quickly into something, usually water.
Example: The brave penguin took a plunge into the icy ocean.
Root: Old French plongier (to thrust down).
Prowl (PROWL)Meaning: To move around quietly and secretly, like an animal hunting.
Example: The tiger began to prowl through the tall jungle grass.
Root: Middle English prowlen (to wander).
Quiver (KWIV-ur)Meaning: To shake slightly because of the cold or strong feelings.
Example: The cold wind made the little puppy quiver.
Root: Old English cwifer (nimble, quick).
Rapid (RAP-id)Meaning: Happening very fast; quick.
Example: The rapid river rushed quickly over the smooth stones.
Root: Latin rapidus (hasty, swift).
Rescue (RES-kyoo)Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: The superhero arrived just in time to rescue the town.
Root: Old French rescoure (to free).
Soar (SOR)Meaning: To fly high up in the air smoothly.
Example: We watched the kite soar all the way up to the clouds.
Root: Old French essorer (to fly up).
Stroll (STROL)Meaning: To walk in a slow, relaxed way.
Example: After dinner, our family took a quiet stroll around the block.
Root: German strollen (to wander).
Tangle (TANG-guhl)Meaning: A twisted mess of string, hair, or wires.
Example: I had to brush a huge tangle out of my hair this morning.
Root: Scandinavian (related to seaweed).
Timid (TIM-id)Meaning: Shy and easily frightened.
Example: The timid little mouse hid in the corner when the cat walked by.
Root: Latin timidus (fearful).
Unique (yoo-NEEK)Meaning: Being the only one of its kind; very special.
Example: Every snowflake is unique and has its own special pattern.
Root: Latin unicus (single, sole).
Urgent (UR-juhnt)Meaning: Very important and needing to be done right away.
Example: He ran an urgent message to the principal's office.
Root: Latin urgere (to press hard).
Vast (VAST)Meaning: Very wide, large, and stretching out far.
Example: The spaceship traveled through the vast emptiness of outer space.
Root: Latin vastus (empty, immense).
Voyage (VOI-ij)Meaning: A long trip, especially on a ship across the ocean.
Example: The sailors packed plenty of food for their long voyage at sea.
Root: Latin viaticum (travel money/provisions).
Wealth (WELTH)Meaning: Having a large amount of money, property, or good things.
Example: The king kept his great wealth of gold coins in a treasure chest.
Root: Old English wela (well-being, riches).
Wonder (WUN-dur)Meaning: A feeling of surprise and amazement, or to ask questions in your mind.
Example: I wonder what makes a rainbow have so many colors?
Root: Old English wundor (marvelous thing).
Zest (ZEST)Meaning: Great enthusiasm and energy, or the colored part of a citrus peel.
Example: He tackled his homework with great zest so he could go outside to play.
Root: French zeste (orange or lemon peel).
Zigzag (ZIG-zag)Meaning: A line or path that has sharp turns back and forth.
Example: We had to walk in a zigzag pattern to get through the crowded room.
Root: French zigzag (alternating direction).