rash

*NOT the noun!
(adj) - If you are rash, you do things too quickly, without thinking carefully about whether they are sensible or not.

• Synonyms: careless, impulsive, daring, reckless
• Antonyms: careful, cautious, thoughtful
• Etymology: 1300 Scottish, perhaps from the Old English word -ræsc meaning "nimble, quick, vigorous" 
• Morphology: rascal - n
• Example: As a lifelong learner, it is so important that you take your time and don't make rash decisions that could affect your future!

reminisce

(v.) - To reminisce is to talk or think about pleasant events in your past.

• Synonyms: recall, recollect, remember
• Antonyms: forget, regret
• Etymology: 1589 Latin, from re- meaning "again" + minisci meaning "to remember," which comes from Ancient European base men- meaning "think"
• Morphology: reminiscent - adj
• Example: At the end of each quarter, it's always fun to reminisce about the fun things we have done so far this year.

ambition

(n) - Ambition is a strong desire for success or achievement.

• Synonyms: drive, enthusiasm, initiative, spirit
• Antonyms: laziness, indifference, nonchalance, apathy
• Etymology: Mid 14th Century Latin, from ambire meaning "to go around" (which is where we get the word ambient)
• Morphology: ambitious - adj
• Example: Thinking back, I am pretty sure my ambition was always to become a teacher.

Is ambition always good?

 

elaborate

(v) -  If you elaborate, you give more details or new information about something.
(adj) - Something that is elaborate has a lot of small parts or details put together in a complicated way.

• Synonyms: verb- clarify, comment, add details, explain, enhance; adjective- complex, complicated, detailed, sophisticated
• Antonyms: verb- simplify, make simple; adjective- general, plain, generic
• Etymology: 1590 Latin, from ex- meaning"out" + laborare meaning "to labor"
• Morphology: labor - n, elaboration - n, collaborate - v
• Example: When writing your constructed response task answers, be sure to elaborate on your main ideas.

It's hard to imagine anything more elaborate than our own solar system, but it's clear that we are just a tiny part of the picture!

evasive

(adj) - If someone is being evasive, they are not willing to answer questions directly. If someone is taking evasive action, they are moving or doing something quickly to avoid someone being hurt.

• Synonyms: deceptive, sneaky, tricky, slippery, vague, misleading
• Antonyms: honest, truthful, straightforward
• Etymology: 1725, from French évasif, which comes from Latin evadere meaning "to escape"

scrutinize

(v.) - If you scrutinize someone or something, you examine it (or them) very carefully.

• Synonyms: analyze, study, consider, think about, assess
• Antonyms: ignore
• Etymology: 1415 Latin, from scrutari meaning "to examine, search" (as through trash), which comes from scruta meaning "trash, rags."
• Morphology: scrutiny - n
• Example: It is essential that you scrutinize the weekly assessment stories and questions very carefully if you want to get the answers right.

unison

(n.) - If people speak or do something in unison, they say the same words at the same time or do the same thing at the same time.
*This word is used with the word in: in unison

• Synonyms: agreement, alliance, unity, at the same time
• Antonyms: discord, disagreement
• Etymoloy: 1574 Latin, from uni- meaning "one" + sonus meaning "sound"
• Example: When I say, “Class!” you reply, “Yes!” in unison.

Click here to go to NASA's JPL kids' site!

console

(v) – If you do things to make someone feel better when they are feeling sad or disappointed, your words or actions console them.

• Synonyms: relieve, comfort, calm, encourage, support
• Antonyms: annoy, antagonize, depress, disturb, upset
• Etymology: 1690s Latin, from com- meaning “with” + solari meaning "to comfort" (as in solace!)
• Morphology: consolation - n, consoled – v, consoling - adj
• Example: Even though our winter break is long over, we can console ourselves with the idea that part one of spring break is just a couple of weeks away.

*There is also a noun form of this word, but its meaning is quite unrelated. A console is either a flat board that contains the controls for a machine (like a television or computer), or a piece of furninture (like a TV stand).

marvel

(n) - A marvel is something or someone that is extremely useful or skillful.
(v) - To marvel is to feel or express great surprise or admiration at something, especially someone's behavior.

• Synonyms (n): wonder, curiosity, miracle, phenomenon, sensation
• Antonym: expectation, normalcy
• Etymology: 1300 Old French, from merveille meaning "a wonder, surprise, miracle," which came from Latin mirus meaning "wonderful"
• Morphology: marvelous - adj
• Example: The first spacecraft, Sputnik, was a marvel of science.

Click here to learn more about the marvel of the Space Age!

qualms

(n) - Qualms are feelings of slight worry or doubt because you are not sure that what you are doing is right.

• Synonyms: anxiety, hesitation, indecision, insecurity, misgiving, mistrust, nervousness, reluctance, suspicion, twinge, uncertainty, unease
• Antonyms: approval, comfort, contentedness
• Etymology: The true date of origin is unknown, but it was Old English, from cwelan meaning "to die." This word took on its current sense of "feeling of faintness" in the 1520s.
• Morphology: quandary - n
• Example: I would definitely have qualms about going into outer space!