The document defines and provides examples for 14 vocabulary words: astute, authentic, delicacy, derogatory, devour, figment, mythical, plumage, predatory, prior, scavenge, slaughter, solitude, and vulnerable. Each entry includes the part of speech, definition, a clue, example sentence using the word, and other examples.

1. astute (adj) wise in a clever
or practical way
[uh-stoot, uh-styoot]
Clue: astute student
An astute student studies in
advance for tests and uses
practical study strategies.
Ex: the astute shopper; the
astute scientist; the astute
engineer

2. authentic – (adj) genuine;
true
[aw-then-tik]
Clue: authentic = the real
thing
An authority on old maps
declared that the sixteenth-
century chart of the Florida
Keys is authentic.
Ex: authentic painting; the
authenticity of the signature;
an expert authenticated the
painting

3. delicacy (n) A choice item of
food. 2. Great
consideration for the
feeling of others.
[del-i-kuh-see]
delicacy= handle with care
Smoked salmon is a delicacy.
Discussing her mistake will
embarrass her unless you handle
the matter with delicacy.
Ex: caviar is a delicacy

4. derogatory (adj) expressing
a low opinion; intended
to hurt the reputation
of a person or thing
[dih-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
derogatory = degrade
His habit of making derogatory
comments about his co-workers
made him unpopular.
Ex: derogatory remarks;
derogatory statements

5. devour- (v) 1. to eat up
hungrily; 2. to take in
eagerly with the eyes or
ears
[dih-vour]
devour = eat it up
The wolf was about to devour
Little Red Riding Hood when the
woodcutter arrived.
The children devoured comic
books when they were younger.
Ex: devour a meal; devour books

6. figment (n) something that is
made up in the mind but
that has no connection
with reality.
[fig-muhnt]
Clue: figment = not really
there
The monster in the closet is
a figment of the child’s
imagination.
Ex: figment in his mind

7. mythical (adj) imaginary; not
real
[mith-i-kuhl]
Clue: mythical = Zeus was
not real
Unicorns are mythical
creatures.
Ex: mythical gods; mythical
stories; mythical monsters

8. plumage - (n) bird feathers
[ploo-mij]
Clue: plumage = feathers
Parrots have brightly colored
plumage.
Ex: colorful plumage;
peacock plumage

9. predatory (adj) 1. living by
killing and eating other
animals; 2. living by
robbing or stealing from
others
[pred-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
Clue: predatory = prey +
hunting
Crocodiles are predatory
reptiles.
Predatory bands of pirates one
sailed the Mediterranean seeking
victims.
Ex: predatory creatures

10. prior (adj) 1. coming earlier
in time 2. coming
before in order or
importance
[prahy-er]
Clue: prior = before
Mark Prior I was unable to see you this
morning because I had a
prior to prior appointment.
releasing the
ball Ex: prior engagement; prior
offense

11. scavenge (v) to search
through or pick over;
looking for something
usable.
scavenger (n) 1. someone who
scavenges 2. an animal
that feeds on dead or
decaying matter.
[skav-inj]
Clue: scavenge = pick through the
leftovers
After the tornadoes, the people
scavenged through the wreckage
looking for their valuables.

12. slaughter (v) 1. to kill in order to
obtain meat. 2. to kill
people or animals in large
numbers of in a cruel way
(n) the killing of an animal
for food
[slaw-ter]
Clue: slaughter = kill
For centuries, whales were
slaughtered for their oil and
other valuable products.
Ex: slaughter the hog; slaughter
the cattle

13. solitude (n) the condition of
being alone or at some
distance from people
[sol-i-tood, -tyood]
Clue: solitude = solo
We enjoyed the solitude of a
walk on the deserted beach.
Ex: solitude confinement;
solitude and quiet

14. ungainly (adj) moving in a
clumsy or awkward way
[uhn-geyn-lee]
Clue: ungainly = clumsy
Walruses, graceful in the
water, are ungainly creatures
on land.
Ex: ungainly athlete; ungainly
giant; ungainly dancer

15. vulnerable- (adj) open to
attack; easily injured
physically or emotionally
[vuhl-ner-uh-buhl]
Clue: vulnerable = easily hurt
Starving people are more
vulnerable to disease than
those who are well fed.
Ex: vulnerable young animals;
vulnerable young children