cryptic

(adj) - Something that is cryptic has a meaning that is mysterious or not easily understood.

• Synonyms: dark, evasive, hidden, inconspicuous, mystifying, secretive, vague
• Antonyms: clear, obvious, plain, conspicuous
• Etymology: 1630s Greek, from kryptos meaning "hidden"
• Morphology: crypt, encrypt
• Example: The Mysterious Benedict Society had to give and receive cryptic messages to Mr. Benedict in order to avoid revealing that they are secret agents inside the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.

How well do you know Morse Code?

Click on the image below to reveal the cryptic messages... then use it to write your own!

For your post today, write a cryptic message in Morse Code!

Don't forget to ..- ... .   - --- -.. .- -.-- ...  .-- --- .-. -.. !

rendezvous

(n.) - A rendezvous is an arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place, often secretly; a place where two or more people have arranged to meet.
*This can also be used as a verb.

• Synonyms: (n.) - appointment, meeting, date (v.) - assemble, meet, gather
• Etymology: 1591 French, from rendre meaning "present" + vous meaning "you."
• Example: After recess this afternoon, we will rendezvous in the room for a science activity.

Click here to help the kingdom rendezvous at the castle in Computation Castle!

squelch

(v) - To squelch something is to stop it from continuing to develop or spread. Also, squelch can be used to describe the sucking sound made by walking or moving in something soft and wet.

• Synonyms: squish, hold down, hold back, hamper, smother
• Antonyms: allow, release, encourage
• Etymology: 1620s English, meaning "to fall, drop, or stomp on something (soft) with crushing force," possibly an onomatopoeia because of the sound made. The use of this word to mean "squash" was first recorded in 1864.
• Example: Art teachers have to be very careful when showing examples so that they don't squelch their students' own creativity.

invincible

(adj) - Someone or something that is invincible is too strong to be destroyed or defeated.

• Synonyms: indestructible, bulletproof, unbeatable, untouchable, powerful
• Antonyms: vunlerable, breakable, endangered
• Etymology: Early 15th Century Latin, from in- meaning "not" + vincibilis meaning "conquerable," which comes from vincere meaning "to overcome" (which is also where we get the word victory)
• Morphology: invincibility - n
• Example: Many superheroes in movies, television, and books are supposed to be invincible.

strive

(v) - If you strive to do something, you make a great effort to achieve it.

• Synonyms: try, aim, contend, reach, work
• Antonyms: forget, skip, sit back
• Etymology: 1200 Old French, from estriver meaning "to quarrel, dispute," which comes from estrif meaning "quarrel" (which is also where we get the word strife)
• Morphology: striven - past tense verb
• Example: If you truly have ambition, you will work hard and strive for success.

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"