6th Grade Vocabulary Unit 8

affluence

(n.) wealth, riches, prosperity; great abudance, plenty

arrears

(n.,pl.) unpaid or overdue debts; an unfinished duty

cascade

(n.) a steep, narrow waterfall; something falling or rushing forward in quantity; (v.) to flow downward (like a waterfall)

cringe

to shrink back or hide in fear or submissiveness

crotchety

cranky, ill-tempered; full of odd whims

format

the size, shape, or arrangement of something

immobile

not movable; not moving

innovation

(n.) something new, a change; the act of introducing a new method, idea, device, etc.

impassable

blocked so that nothing can go through

jovial

good-humored, in high spirits; merry

manacle

(n., usually pl.) a handcuff, anything that chains or confines; (v.) to chain or restrain (as with handcuffs)

martial

(adj.) warlike, fond of fighting; relating to war, the army, or military life

minimum

(n.) the smallest possible amount; (adj.) the lowest permissible or possible

nimble

(adj.) quick and skillful in movement, agile; clever

onset

the beginning, start; an attack, assault

partition

something that divides (such as a wall); the act of dividing something into parts or sections; to divide or subdivide into parts or shares

perishable

likely to spoil or decay

retrieve

(v.) to find and bring back, get back; to put right, make good

sinister

appearing evil or dangerous

taut

tightly drawn, tense; neat, in good order