Chapter 17

Describing Youth and Old Age

The deterioration of mental faculties that comes with aging

In his dotage, Paul nolonger had the attention span to read long novels.

1. dotage -noun

Commanding respect because of old age or dignity

The mayor, a venerable man in his late seventies, was respected for his generous nature.

2. venerable -adj

Acting childish or juvenile

Larkin glared at his neighbor and shouted, “Don’t be so puerile by spitting at me.” Then he

did the same thing back.

3. puerile -adj

Withered or wrinkled with age

Maggie finally took the wizened flower out of the vase and put it in her scrapbook to keep so she could always remember her friend’s caring gesture.

4. Wizened -adj

Having reached puberty

The pubescent young girl was not happy withthe new pimples she was getting all over her face.

5. pubescent -adj

An old woman of high social standing.

Mrs. Kingston, a wealthy old dowager, was asked to pitch the first ball in the new Kingston ballpark, named after her because of her generous donation.

6. dowager -noun

Old age

Having reachedsenescence, theJohnsons decided to take up mountain climbing as a way to stay young.

7. senescence -noun

Immature, lacking adult experience

“Ah, callow youth,”reflected the old manas he watched the kids learning to play his favorite sport as a young man.

8. callow -adj

Ineffective or outmoded because of advanced age.

Because I have a superannuated computer, I am not able to do a power point for my report.

9. superannuated -adj

naïve or innocent young woman

Being an ingénue, Jenny thought the world revolved around her.

10. ingénue -noun

Words AboutCommitment

Chaper 18

Burning passion

Romeo’s ardor for Juliet was so overwhelming that he waited below her balcony in spite of her family’s hatred of him.

1. ardor -noun

A person who feels extreme devotion or passion for a cause

The PETA organization hasmany zealots who will do anything to help animals andkeep them safe.

2. zealot -noun

Passion or attraction for someone

John was so amorous about Jane that he saw hearts in the air wheneverhe looked at her.

3. amorous -adj

Burning with enthusiasm

Lilly’s fervent natureHelped her as she tookTo the streets to promote her latest cause.

4. fervent -adj

Enthusiasm to the point of being irrational

Greg’s wife could no longerput up with his fanatical devotion to watchingfootball games on TV every Saturday, so she went shopping with the girls.

5. fanatical -adj

Passion to the point of madness

Kevin’s passion for old cars bordered on manic.

He had to buy everykind he could.

6. manic -adj

crusading enthusiasm for something

Their anti-war sentiments bordering on the evangelical, the student protesters marched through the streets of Washington with posters and chant, "No more war!”

7. evangelical -adj

An intense emotion or conviction

At his trial, the accused man insisted on his innocence, vehemently denying he had ever seen the victim before.

8. Vehemently -adv

Unrestrained in emotional expression, gushy

Whenever you mention gettingout of school early to Josh, he gets excited and becomes very effusive, saying he feels like he is in heaven.

9. effusive -adj

Recklessly determined to do something

Teddy, hell-bent on making it to the top of the mountain, takes his time in placing each hand and foot just in the right position.

10. hell-bent -adj