A Power Word Vocabulary List

 Contingent/contingency

Dependent on chance.

My scholarship was contingent on my grade point average.

 Former/latter

Of two choices: the first and the second

John was given two choices. Pay the fine or go to jail. He couldn’t afford the former so he served the         latter.

Preclude

To make impossible in advance.

Mack’s rotator cuff injury precluded a major league career at shortstop.

Theory/reality

Two positions: the possible and the actual.

In theory, Mary could be a doctor. In reality, her science and math grades precluded entry into med             school.

Imperative

Necessary or urgent

If you want to write well, it’s imperative to read often and much.

Cognition/cognitive

The process of knowing or thinking

The accounting program did not fit Zach’s cognitive style.

Discern

To perceive or recognize clearly

To be a good art collector you have to discern the difference between the      authentic and the fake.

Dissonance     

An inharmonious combination of sounds. Any lack of harmony or agreement.

The cognitive dissonance between what Jane said and what she did angered her friends.

Germane

truly relevant or pertinent

Why you were late is not germane to our discussion of your tardiness.

Misconstrue

Misinterpret

Please don’t misconstrue my intentions when I say that I think you have beautiful eyes.

Convey

Transport or carry

My words may not convey my true meaning.

Contrive

To think up or devise

My reasons for quitting are not contrived. They are based on facts.

Extrapolate

To estimate something unknown on the basis of known facts.

A midwife could easily extrapolate her knowledge of birthing to the animal world.

Prohibitive

To prevent or hinder.

The cost of a mink coat is prohibitive to the average wage earner.

Evasion, evasive

Avoiding by deceit or cleverness

Jeremy’s answers were so evasive, I had to conclude he was hiding something.

Complimentary/Complementary

Offering praise or giving something free /or to make complete.

The teacher complimented the student on a good test.

Rachel had to contact the company for her complimentary prize.

After buying the laptop, Jim couldn’t find the complementary charger.

Articulate – jointed, to bend, distinct speech, to express oneself clearly and well

The crane articulates at three joints.

It’s important to articulate all the consonants in a word.

Barack Obama is very articulate.

Chronological

Of or about time.

I described my trip in chronological sequence.

Power Word Challenge Worksheet

Find the right word to complete each sentence…

 Extrapolate  Theory  Preclude  Complimentary  Cognitive  Germane  Misconstrue  Contingent  Dissonance Imperative  Convey  Complementary  Former  Contrive  Prohibitive  Discern  Evasive  Chronological  Latter Reality

I was asked to describe my life in _____________________sequence.

My scholarship was __________________________ on my grade point average.

John was given two choices. Pay the fine or go to jail. He couldn’t afford the __________________so he served the________________________________.

In ______________________, Mary could be a doctor. In______________________ , her science and math grades precluded entry into med school.

Mack’s rotator cuff injury _____________________ a major league career at shortstop.

If you want to write well, it’s ___________________________ to read often and much.

The accounting program did not fit Zach’s _________________________________style.

To be a good art collector you have to ___________________ the difference between the authentic and the fake.

The cognitive________________________ between what Jane said and what she did angered her friends.

Why you were late is not __________________________ to our discussion of your tardiness.

Rachel had to contact the company for her _____________________________ prize.

Please don’t ________________________ my intentions when I say that I think you have beautiful eyes.

My words may not ____________________________ my true meaning.

My reasons for quitting are not _________________________. They are based on facts.

After buying the laptop, Jim couldn’t find the ________________________________charger.

A midwife could easily __________________________ her knowledge of birthing to the animal world.

The cost of a mink coat is ____________________________ to the average wage earner.

Jeremy’s answers were so________________________, I had to conclude he was hiding something.

The coach’s remarks to his players were not very __________________________ after they lost.