F
fable - (noun) a short fictional story, that often uses animals as characters, to teach a moral lesson
façade - (noun) a false or artificial appearance that is meant to deceive or hide true feelings
facetious – (adjective) humorous comment about a serious topic that is not meant to be taken seriously
facsimile - (noun) an exact copy
fact - (noun) an idea or concept that is known to exist by observation or something that is known to have happened
fallacy - (noun) an error in reasoning due to flawed logic
falling action - (noun) the events that occur after the climax of a story
fastidious - (adjective) excessive attention to detail and insistence on perfection
fatality - (noun) a death caused by an epidemic, accident, or natural disaster
fauna - (noun) the animal life in a particular region or country
favella - (noun) a huge slum that borders many large cities in Brazil
federal government - (noun) a government that is characterized by a central government that shares power with state government
Federalism- (noun) a system of government in which power is distributed between two different levels of government – a national government with specific enumerated powers and states with their own reserved powers
Note- This definition refers specifically to the U.S. form of Federalism.
Federalist- (noun) a person who supported adoption of the new US Constitution of 1787 and a strong national government
feeble - (adjective) physically weak due to illness or advanced age
fertile - (adjective) soil that is rich in nutrients and good for growing crops
Fertile Crescent - (noun) a crescent-shaped area of fertile land that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea coast to Persian Gulf
fervent - (adjective) enthusiastic and passionate; ardent
festoon - (noun) a decorative chain of garland, flowers, or ribbon on a building or monument
feudalism - (noun) a social system, common in medieval western Europe, in which people served powerful land-owners in return for protection and access to land
fiend - (noun) an evil spirit
figurative language - (noun) words that are not meant to be taken literally, but instead, to convey a deeper meaning through exaggeration, comparison, or imagery Examples- metaphor, personification, simile, and hyperbole
filibuster - (noun) a term that describes the actions taken in the United States Senate to delay or block legislation by continuing to speak for an extended period
fish ladder - (noun) small, ascending pools of water that allow fish to get around dams
flag of convenience - (noun) the registration of a vessel in a different country, usually to avoid higher taxes and regulatory restrictions
flashback - (noun ) an interruption in a story or film that looks back at an earlier event
fledgling - (noun) a young bird that has grown feathers and is ready to leave or has recently left the nest
flora - (noun) the plant life in a particular region or country
flute - (noun) a vertical groove in a column Note- A fluted column is one that has many flutes on the shaft.
fodder - (noun) hay and other agricultural crops that are used to feed livestock
forage - (verb) to actively search for food or provisions
foreign policy - (noun) a country's policies and procedures for interacting with foreign countries
foreshadow- (verb) to hint at what is going to happen later in the story
forlorn - (adjective) lonely and sad; forsaken
foundation - (noun) a non-government organization that provides money to support charitable causes
fowl - (noun) a bird, especially one that is raised or hunted for food
fracking (technical name - hydraulic fracturing) - (noun) a method of creating fractures in underground shale (a type of rock) in order to release trapped oil and natural gas
free port - (noun) a port where products can be unloaded, stored, and shipped to another place without to pay import taxes
free verse - (noun) poetry that lacks rhyme or a regular rhythm
freedom of speech - (noun) the legal right to express a view without fear of punishment
fresco - (noun) a painting on a wall or ceiling that was created by applying water-based paint to wet plaster
frieze - (noun) a horizontal band of sculpted decoration that is usually located on a wall above a line of columns or near the ceiling
freshwater - (noun) water that has a low salt content level (usually less than 1%)
frigid - (adjective) very cold (temperature) Note- Frigid can also describe someone who projects a cold or unfriendly personality.
funerary - (adjective) of or relating to a funeral or grave
futile - (adjective) pointless; useless
façade - (noun) a false or artificial appearance that is meant to deceive or hide true feelings
facetious – (adjective) humorous comment about a serious topic that is not meant to be taken seriously
facsimile - (noun) an exact copy
fact - (noun) an idea or concept that is known to exist by observation or something that is known to have happened
fallacy - (noun) an error in reasoning due to flawed logic
falling action - (noun) the events that occur after the climax of a story
fastidious - (adjective) excessive attention to detail and insistence on perfection
fatality - (noun) a death caused by an epidemic, accident, or natural disaster
fauna - (noun) the animal life in a particular region or country
favella - (noun) a huge slum that borders many large cities in Brazil
federal government - (noun) a government that is characterized by a central government that shares power with state government
Federalism- (noun) a system of government in which power is distributed between two different levels of government – a national government with specific enumerated powers and states with their own reserved powers
Note- This definition refers specifically to the U.S. form of Federalism.
Federalist- (noun) a person who supported adoption of the new US Constitution of 1787 and a strong national government
feeble - (adjective) physically weak due to illness or advanced age
fertile - (adjective) soil that is rich in nutrients and good for growing crops
Fertile Crescent - (noun) a crescent-shaped area of fertile land that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea coast to Persian Gulf
fervent - (adjective) enthusiastic and passionate; ardent
festoon - (noun) a decorative chain of garland, flowers, or ribbon on a building or monument
feudalism - (noun) a social system, common in medieval western Europe, in which people served powerful land-owners in return for protection and access to land
fiend - (noun) an evil spirit
figurative language - (noun) words that are not meant to be taken literally, but instead, to convey a deeper meaning through exaggeration, comparison, or imagery Examples- metaphor, personification, simile, and hyperbole
filibuster - (noun) a term that describes the actions taken in the United States Senate to delay or block legislation by continuing to speak for an extended period
fish ladder - (noun) small, ascending pools of water that allow fish to get around dams
flag of convenience - (noun) the registration of a vessel in a different country, usually to avoid higher taxes and regulatory restrictions
flashback - (noun ) an interruption in a story or film that looks back at an earlier event
fledgling - (noun) a young bird that has grown feathers and is ready to leave or has recently left the nest
flora - (noun) the plant life in a particular region or country
flute - (noun) a vertical groove in a column Note- A fluted column is one that has many flutes on the shaft.
fodder - (noun) hay and other agricultural crops that are used to feed livestock
forage - (verb) to actively search for food or provisions
foreign policy - (noun) a country's policies and procedures for interacting with foreign countries
foreshadow- (verb) to hint at what is going to happen later in the story
forlorn - (adjective) lonely and sad; forsaken
foundation - (noun) a non-government organization that provides money to support charitable causes
fowl - (noun) a bird, especially one that is raised or hunted for food
fracking (technical name - hydraulic fracturing) - (noun) a method of creating fractures in underground shale (a type of rock) in order to release trapped oil and natural gas
free port - (noun) a port where products can be unloaded, stored, and shipped to another place without to pay import taxes
free verse - (noun) poetry that lacks rhyme or a regular rhythm
freedom of speech - (noun) the legal right to express a view without fear of punishment
fresco - (noun) a painting on a wall or ceiling that was created by applying water-based paint to wet plaster
frieze - (noun) a horizontal band of sculpted decoration that is usually located on a wall above a line of columns or near the ceiling
freshwater - (noun) water that has a low salt content level (usually less than 1%)
frigid - (adjective) very cold (temperature) Note- Frigid can also describe someone who projects a cold or unfriendly personality.
funerary - (adjective) of or relating to a funeral or grave
futile - (adjective) pointless; useless
G
gallery - (noun) an area above and to side or back of a church nave where people can be seated or musicians can play
game - (noun) animals that are hunted by humans for food or clothing
gaucho- (noun) a cowboy from Argentina
gaudy- (adjective) extravagantly bright and showy in a way that lacks taste
gaunt - (adjective) having a thin and unhealthy appearance due to hunger or disease; emaciated
gemstones - (noun) minerals that are prized for their durability and beauty and frequently used to make jewelry
gentry – (noun) people who hold a high position in society due to their wealth and power; aristocracy
geography - (noun) the study of Earth’s physical, political, and cultural features
“geo” is a word part that means “Earth”
“graph” is a word part that means “ write”
“y” is a word part that means “characterizes by”
gerrymandering - (noun) the practice of drawing new Congressional district boundaries within a state in a manner that gives one political party an advantage
gilt - (adjective) covered with gold leaf or gold paint
gingerly - (adjective) done in a slow or cautious way (usually to prevent damage)
glisten - (verb) to shimmer or sparkle due to the reflection of the sun on a moist surface
global warming - (noun) a gradual increase in the Earth’s temperature due to an increase in carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere
gold leaf - (noun) a very thin sheet of gold that is often used to cover an object
goods - (noun) tangible objects or products that are sold or exchanged with the goal of making a profit
gorge - (noun) a narrow steep-walled canyon
gorget - (noun) a colorful patch of feathers on the neck of a hummingbird
gosling - (noun) a young goose
governor - (noun) the elected head of government at the state level
gregarious - (adjective) liking the company of others; outgoing and sociable
grievance - (noun) a formal complaint about perceived injustices or financial harm
grim - (adjective) unpleasant and gloomy
gross domestic product (GDP) - (noun) the total value of goods and services produced in a country in one year
guano - (noun) the waste droppings from bats and seabirds Note- Guano contains nitrogen and phosphoric acid and is used to produce fertilizer and gunpowder.
gulf - (noun) a large area of sea or ocean that is enclosed on at least two sides and is often entered via a strait
gypsum - (noun) a common mineral, hydrated calcium sulfate, that sometimes appears as a powder or crystal and is used to make plaster
game - (noun) animals that are hunted by humans for food or clothing
gaucho- (noun) a cowboy from Argentina
gaudy- (adjective) extravagantly bright and showy in a way that lacks taste
gaunt - (adjective) having a thin and unhealthy appearance due to hunger or disease; emaciated
gemstones - (noun) minerals that are prized for their durability and beauty and frequently used to make jewelry
gentry – (noun) people who hold a high position in society due to their wealth and power; aristocracy
geography - (noun) the study of Earth’s physical, political, and cultural features
“geo” is a word part that means “Earth”
“graph” is a word part that means “ write”
“y” is a word part that means “characterizes by”
gerrymandering - (noun) the practice of drawing new Congressional district boundaries within a state in a manner that gives one political party an advantage
gilt - (adjective) covered with gold leaf or gold paint
gingerly - (adjective) done in a slow or cautious way (usually to prevent damage)
glisten - (verb) to shimmer or sparkle due to the reflection of the sun on a moist surface
global warming - (noun) a gradual increase in the Earth’s temperature due to an increase in carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere
gold leaf - (noun) a very thin sheet of gold that is often used to cover an object
goods - (noun) tangible objects or products that are sold or exchanged with the goal of making a profit
gorge - (noun) a narrow steep-walled canyon
gorget - (noun) a colorful patch of feathers on the neck of a hummingbird
gosling - (noun) a young goose
governor - (noun) the elected head of government at the state level
gregarious - (adjective) liking the company of others; outgoing and sociable
grievance - (noun) a formal complaint about perceived injustices or financial harm
grim - (adjective) unpleasant and gloomy
gross domestic product (GDP) - (noun) the total value of goods and services produced in a country in one year
guano - (noun) the waste droppings from bats and seabirds Note- Guano contains nitrogen and phosphoric acid and is used to produce fertilizer and gunpowder.
gulf - (noun) a large area of sea or ocean that is enclosed on at least two sides and is often entered via a strait
gypsum - (noun) a common mineral, hydrated calcium sulfate, that sometimes appears as a powder or crystal and is used to make plaster
H
haiku - (noun) a Japanese form of unrhymed poetry that consists of 17 syllables arranged in three lines containing five, seven, and five syllables
haughty - (adjective) possessing or showing superiority towards others; pompous and arrogant
Hegira - (noun) the exodus of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina In 622
heliotropism - (noun) a solar tracking plant that moves or faces the direction of the sun
hemisphere - (noun) half of a sphere (such as the earth)
Note- In geography we usually refer to two specific hemisphere pairs-
- the northern and southern hemispheres that are normally divided by the equator
- the eastern and western hemispheres that are usually divided along the prime meridian
heritage - (noun) the history, culture, and traditions of a particular group in society
herpetologist - (noun) - a person who specializes in the study of amphibians and reptiles
hibakusha - (noun) people who were exposed to radiation in Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
hierarchy - (noun) a classification system that ranks people or items in order from highest to lowest
hieroglyphics - (noun) an ancient Egyptian writing system that was based on pictorial characters Note- The symbols can represent a sound, a group of sounds, or the objects they resemble.
high altar - (noun) the main altar in a church or cathedral
hippodrome - (noun) an ancient Greek oval-shaped stadium that was used for horse and chariot racing
homophone – (noun) two or more words that are pronounced the same, may be spelled differently, but have different meanings
hubris - (noun) excessive pride or arrogance Note- Hubris was a common theme in ancient Greek mythology. There are numerous stories involving powerful men who allowed hubris to get the best of them, only to be put in their place by the gods.
hydroelectric power - (noun) electricity that is produced by moving water (usually at a dam)
hyperbole - (noun) an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally Example- This book weighs a ton!
hypothermia - (noun) a dangerous drop in body temperature below 95° Fahrenheit
haughty - (adjective) possessing or showing superiority towards others; pompous and arrogant
Hegira - (noun) the exodus of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina In 622
heliotropism - (noun) a solar tracking plant that moves or faces the direction of the sun
hemisphere - (noun) half of a sphere (such as the earth)
Note- In geography we usually refer to two specific hemisphere pairs-
- the northern and southern hemispheres that are normally divided by the equator
- the eastern and western hemispheres that are usually divided along the prime meridian
heritage - (noun) the history, culture, and traditions of a particular group in society
herpetologist - (noun) - a person who specializes in the study of amphibians and reptiles
hibakusha - (noun) people who were exposed to radiation in Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
hierarchy - (noun) a classification system that ranks people or items in order from highest to lowest
hieroglyphics - (noun) an ancient Egyptian writing system that was based on pictorial characters Note- The symbols can represent a sound, a group of sounds, or the objects they resemble.
high altar - (noun) the main altar in a church or cathedral
hippodrome - (noun) an ancient Greek oval-shaped stadium that was used for horse and chariot racing
homophone – (noun) two or more words that are pronounced the same, may be spelled differently, but have different meanings
hubris - (noun) excessive pride or arrogance Note- Hubris was a common theme in ancient Greek mythology. There are numerous stories involving powerful men who allowed hubris to get the best of them, only to be put in their place by the gods.
hydroelectric power - (noun) electricity that is produced by moving water (usually at a dam)
hyperbole - (noun) an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally Example- This book weighs a ton!
hypothermia - (noun) a dangerous drop in body temperature below 95° Fahrenheit
I
ice shelf - (noun) a sheet of ice that floats on polar coastal waters and is connected to land
iconoclast - (noun) a person who opposes traditional ideas or popular beliefs
idiom - (noun) an expression that over time has developed a different meaning than the literal meaning of the individual words
immigrate - (verb) to enter a country with the intention of living there permanently
immortal - (adjective) living or existing forever
impeccable - (adjective) flawless; perfect
implore - (verb) to beg or request earnestly
import - (verb) to bring a product or resource from foreign country into your own country to be sold for a profit
improvisation - (noun) unplanned performance made by a speaker, actor, or musician without
impudent - (adjective) rude and disrespectful, especially to a person in authority
inalienable - (noun) not able to be taken away or transferred Note- This modern form of this word is unalienable. The final version of the U.S. Constitution used unalienable to describe the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
incessant - (adjective) constant; non-stop in an annoying way
incredulous - (adjective) unwilling to believe or accept the truth; skeptical
incumbent - (noun) a person who currently holds a government position usually as a result of an election
indefinite pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that lacks an antecedent and does not refer to a specific amount, person or thing Examples- another, anybody, no one, neither, both, few, many, all, any, more, none, some, and most
indigenous - (adjective) native to a particular area
indignant - (adjective) feeling or showing anger due to perceived unfair treatment
Industrial Revolution - (noun) a major transformation of the economy due to the introduction of machines (such as the steam engine) and the mass production of goods
inept - (adjective) lacking skill or knowledge
inertia - (noun) one of the properties of matter in which objects in motion remain in motion unless outside forces act to change the motion
infer – (verb) to make an educated guess about what is happening in a story
inference - (noun) an educated guess about what is happening in a story that has not explicitly stated (noun)
infrastructure - (noun) the physical structures and systems in a society that are needed to operate a modern economy and improve the lives of people Examples- utilities, buildings, communication networks, and transportation systems
inhospitable - (adjective) characterized by harsh or extreme environmental conditions
innocuous – (adjective) harmless; not likely to offend
innovation - (noun) a new idea, product, or way of doing something better
inquisitive - (adjective) eager to understand and learn new things
intangible - (adjective) something that lacks physical substance and cannot be touched Examples of intangible cultural heritage may include: craftsmanship skills, cultural practices, knowledge, language, oral traditions, performances, rituals, and songs
integrity - (noun) possession of firm moral principles and honesty
intensive pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that emphasizes the preceding pronoun or noun and ends in either self or selves Note- Intensive pronouns are not critical to the sentence. If you remove the intensive pronoun from your sentence it will still make sense.
inter - (verb) to place a dead body in a grave or tomb
intermediate directions - (noun) the directions that are halfway between the four cardinal directions NOTE- In basic geography that usually refers to as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest (NE, SE, SW, NW)
international - (noun) related to or involving interactions between countries
International Date Line - (noun) an invisible line located at 180° longitude that runs between Earth's polar regions and separates two consecutive calendar dates Note- The International Date Line is not entirely located at 180° because it zig zags around national borders.
internally displaced persons - (noun) people who have fled their homes due to natural disasters or war and are forced to live in another part of the same country
interrogative pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that indicates to the listener or reader that a question will follow Examples- who, whom, whose, which, and what
intimidate - (verb) to frighten someone in order to compel or deter them from doing something
intrepid - (adjective) fearless and persistent in the pursuit of something
inundate - (verb) to overflow and flood with water
invasive species - (adjective) animals that have been introduced to a new ecosystem where they compete with native animals and often lack sufficient predators
irony - (noun) a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens in a story
irrigation - (noun) the watering of dry land in order to grow crops
isolated - (adjective) located far away from other people or towns; remote
isolationism - (noun) a national policy of avoiding interactions with other nations
isogonic lines - (noun) lines on a map or chart that join together areas of equal magnetic declination
isthmus - (noun) a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land masses
itinerate - (verb) to move from place on a circuit
Note- Itinerate usually refers to judges, ministers, or salespeople who travel from location to location.
iconoclast - (noun) a person who opposes traditional ideas or popular beliefs
idiom - (noun) an expression that over time has developed a different meaning than the literal meaning of the individual words
immigrate - (verb) to enter a country with the intention of living there permanently
immortal - (adjective) living or existing forever
impeccable - (adjective) flawless; perfect
implore - (verb) to beg or request earnestly
import - (verb) to bring a product or resource from foreign country into your own country to be sold for a profit
improvisation - (noun) unplanned performance made by a speaker, actor, or musician without
impudent - (adjective) rude and disrespectful, especially to a person in authority
inalienable - (noun) not able to be taken away or transferred Note- This modern form of this word is unalienable. The final version of the U.S. Constitution used unalienable to describe the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
incessant - (adjective) constant; non-stop in an annoying way
incredulous - (adjective) unwilling to believe or accept the truth; skeptical
incumbent - (noun) a person who currently holds a government position usually as a result of an election
indefinite pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that lacks an antecedent and does not refer to a specific amount, person or thing Examples- another, anybody, no one, neither, both, few, many, all, any, more, none, some, and most
indigenous - (adjective) native to a particular area
indignant - (adjective) feeling or showing anger due to perceived unfair treatment
Industrial Revolution - (noun) a major transformation of the economy due to the introduction of machines (such as the steam engine) and the mass production of goods
inept - (adjective) lacking skill or knowledge
inertia - (noun) one of the properties of matter in which objects in motion remain in motion unless outside forces act to change the motion
infer – (verb) to make an educated guess about what is happening in a story
inference - (noun) an educated guess about what is happening in a story that has not explicitly stated (noun)
infrastructure - (noun) the physical structures and systems in a society that are needed to operate a modern economy and improve the lives of people Examples- utilities, buildings, communication networks, and transportation systems
inhospitable - (adjective) characterized by harsh or extreme environmental conditions
innocuous – (adjective) harmless; not likely to offend
innovation - (noun) a new idea, product, or way of doing something better
inquisitive - (adjective) eager to understand and learn new things
intangible - (adjective) something that lacks physical substance and cannot be touched Examples of intangible cultural heritage may include: craftsmanship skills, cultural practices, knowledge, language, oral traditions, performances, rituals, and songs
integrity - (noun) possession of firm moral principles and honesty
intensive pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that emphasizes the preceding pronoun or noun and ends in either self or selves Note- Intensive pronouns are not critical to the sentence. If you remove the intensive pronoun from your sentence it will still make sense.
inter - (verb) to place a dead body in a grave or tomb
intermediate directions - (noun) the directions that are halfway between the four cardinal directions NOTE- In basic geography that usually refers to as northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest (NE, SE, SW, NW)
international - (noun) related to or involving interactions between countries
International Date Line - (noun) an invisible line located at 180° longitude that runs between Earth's polar regions and separates two consecutive calendar dates Note- The International Date Line is not entirely located at 180° because it zig zags around national borders.
internally displaced persons - (noun) people who have fled their homes due to natural disasters or war and are forced to live in another part of the same country
interrogative pronoun - (noun) a pronoun that indicates to the listener or reader that a question will follow Examples- who, whom, whose, which, and what
intimidate - (verb) to frighten someone in order to compel or deter them from doing something
intrepid - (adjective) fearless and persistent in the pursuit of something
inundate - (verb) to overflow and flood with water
invasive species - (adjective) animals that have been introduced to a new ecosystem where they compete with native animals and often lack sufficient predators
irony - (noun) a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens in a story
irrigation - (noun) the watering of dry land in order to grow crops
isolated - (adjective) located far away from other people or towns; remote
isolationism - (noun) a national policy of avoiding interactions with other nations
isogonic lines - (noun) lines on a map or chart that join together areas of equal magnetic declination
isthmus - (noun) a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land masses
itinerate - (verb) to move from place on a circuit
Note- Itinerate usually refers to judges, ministers, or salespeople who travel from location to location.
J
joint session of Congress - (noun) a gathering of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for special occasions such as the President's State of the Union Address or to count electoral votes after an election Note- Joint sessions are held in the House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House usually presides over the sessions. The only exception to this occurs when electoral votes are being counted and the President of the Senate presides over the count.
judicial review – (noun) the power of courts to strike down laws or executive actions that are determined to be unconstitutional
junk - (noun) a Chinese sailing vessel that is powered by sails and has been used for hundreds of years
jury - (noun) a group of citizens chosen to participate in a trial and decide whether a defendant is innocent or guilty
judicial review – (noun) the power of courts to strike down laws or executive actions that are determined to be unconstitutional
junk - (noun) a Chinese sailing vessel that is powered by sails and has been used for hundreds of years
jury - (noun) a group of citizens chosen to participate in a trial and decide whether a defendant is innocent or guilty
K
ka - (noun) the life force that was said to exist in living people and departed the body when they died (in ancient Egyptian)
katabatic winds - (noun) wind produced by the downward flow of cold dense air over a glacier or ice cap
keffiyeh - (noun) an Arab headdress for males that is made of a square piece of cloth and held in place by a chord
Kente cloth - (noun) a brightly colored, patterned, and hand-woven cloth originating with the Ashanti people of Ghana (generally worn for special cultural or religious occasions)
kindling - (noun) small sticks and natural material that is used to start a fire
kosher – (noun) a term that is used to refer to food that fit to eat under Jewish dietary laws
krill - (noun) tiny shrimp-like marine animals that are an important food for larger marine fauna
kulak - (noun) a Russian peasant farmer who was comparatively wealthy and could afford to hire farm workers and buy machinery
katabatic winds - (noun) wind produced by the downward flow of cold dense air over a glacier or ice cap
keffiyeh - (noun) an Arab headdress for males that is made of a square piece of cloth and held in place by a chord
Kente cloth - (noun) a brightly colored, patterned, and hand-woven cloth originating with the Ashanti people of Ghana (generally worn for special cultural or religious occasions)
kindling - (noun) small sticks and natural material that is used to start a fire
kosher – (noun) a term that is used to refer to food that fit to eat under Jewish dietary laws
krill - (noun) tiny shrimp-like marine animals that are an important food for larger marine fauna
kulak - (noun) a Russian peasant farmer who was comparatively wealthy and could afford to hire farm workers and buy machinery
L
laborious - (adjective) characterized by strenuous and difficult effort; arduous
laconic - (adjective) using few words to express an idea; concise
lament - (verb) to express sorrow, sadness, or regret about something
landlocked - (adjective) completely surrounded by land with no direct access to the ocean
larder – (noun) an area that is used for storing food; pantry
latent - (adjective) existing but not yet visible; symptomatic
latitude - (noun) imaginary grid lines that run east-west and measure distance north and south of the equator (lines of latitude are sometimes referred to as parallels)
law of supply and demand - (noun) an economic theory suggesting that the price of a product will rise or fall based on the supply of a product and the amount that the product is demanded by the consumer Note- Products normally increase in price if there is a shortage of supply. The price of products will normally drop if there is a lot of product available for the consumer to choose from.
legacy - (noun) the long-term impact of a past event or the lasting impression of a person’s life
legend - (noun) a story that has been handed down over generations that may be based on actual people or events Note- Native American tribes use legends that include personification in the form of animals or forces of nature.
legislature - (noun) an elected government body at the national or state level that is responsible for making laws
legitimate - (adjective) able to defended with logical reasoning or explanation
lethal - (adjective) related to or capable of causing death; deadly
lethargic - (adjective) characterized by a lack of energy; sluggish
levee - (noun) a large wall, usually made of dirt, built along rivers to prevent flooding
limited government - (noun) the idea that government is limited by powers granted to it in the constitution
linger - (verb) to leave slowly or remain longer than necessary due to a reluctance to leave
lingua franca - (noun) a common language that is used to communicate by people whose native languages are different
liquefaction - (noun) the saturation of loose soil following an earthquake which results in water rising above the surface and surface objects sinking
liquefied natural gas (LNG) - (noun) natural gas that has been cooled to approximately -260°Fahrenheit so that it can transported in bulk Note- Cooling natural gas to -260°Fahrenheit transforms it from a gaseous state to liquid state and reduces the volume to 1/600 of its gaseous state.
literacy rate - (noun) the percentage of the population that can read and write by a specified age (age 15 in the U.S.A.)
literary device - (noun) a technique used by writers to add meaning and complexity to the text Examples- alliteration, flashbacks, foreshadowing, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, etc...
literate - (adjective) able to read and write
littoral - (adjective) of or related to a coast's shoreline
loaded language - (noun) words or phrases that have strong positive or negative connotations
loess – (noun) yellow to brown loosely packed dust and silt that blows across parts of China (and other parts of the world)
longitude - (noun) imaginary grid lines that run between the north and south poles
loquacious - (adjective) tending to talk a lot; very talkative
loyalist - (noun) a person who remains loyal to their country or leader during a crisis
lucrative - (adjective) profitable; able to make money
laconic - (adjective) using few words to express an idea; concise
lament - (verb) to express sorrow, sadness, or regret about something
landlocked - (adjective) completely surrounded by land with no direct access to the ocean
larder – (noun) an area that is used for storing food; pantry
latent - (adjective) existing but not yet visible; symptomatic
latitude - (noun) imaginary grid lines that run east-west and measure distance north and south of the equator (lines of latitude are sometimes referred to as parallels)
law of supply and demand - (noun) an economic theory suggesting that the price of a product will rise or fall based on the supply of a product and the amount that the product is demanded by the consumer Note- Products normally increase in price if there is a shortage of supply. The price of products will normally drop if there is a lot of product available for the consumer to choose from.
legacy - (noun) the long-term impact of a past event or the lasting impression of a person’s life
legend - (noun) a story that has been handed down over generations that may be based on actual people or events Note- Native American tribes use legends that include personification in the form of animals or forces of nature.
legislature - (noun) an elected government body at the national or state level that is responsible for making laws
legitimate - (adjective) able to defended with logical reasoning or explanation
lethal - (adjective) related to or capable of causing death; deadly
lethargic - (adjective) characterized by a lack of energy; sluggish
levee - (noun) a large wall, usually made of dirt, built along rivers to prevent flooding
limited government - (noun) the idea that government is limited by powers granted to it in the constitution
linger - (verb) to leave slowly or remain longer than necessary due to a reluctance to leave
lingua franca - (noun) a common language that is used to communicate by people whose native languages are different
liquefaction - (noun) the saturation of loose soil following an earthquake which results in water rising above the surface and surface objects sinking
liquefied natural gas (LNG) - (noun) natural gas that has been cooled to approximately -260°Fahrenheit so that it can transported in bulk Note- Cooling natural gas to -260°Fahrenheit transforms it from a gaseous state to liquid state and reduces the volume to 1/600 of its gaseous state.
literacy rate - (noun) the percentage of the population that can read and write by a specified age (age 15 in the U.S.A.)
literary device - (noun) a technique used by writers to add meaning and complexity to the text Examples- alliteration, flashbacks, foreshadowing, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, etc...
literate - (adjective) able to read and write
littoral - (adjective) of or related to a coast's shoreline
loaded language - (noun) words or phrases that have strong positive or negative connotations
loess – (noun) yellow to brown loosely packed dust and silt that blows across parts of China (and other parts of the world)
longitude - (noun) imaginary grid lines that run between the north and south poles
loquacious - (adjective) tending to talk a lot; very talkative
loyalist - (noun) a person who remains loyal to their country or leader during a crisis
lucrative - (adjective) profitable; able to make money