Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Vocab Tree

You’re so Vain:
Words to Describe a Know-it-all
Due January 26

Provide the definition for each of the following words that you don’t know. Even if you think you are familiar with the word, you should check its definition to confirm your understanding. For words you need to define, include the dictionary definition and a translation of the dictionary definition into your own words.

Write an original sentence for each word in the list, whether you need to define it or not. Post one sentence as a comment. Please type your work.

1. condescending
2. contemptuous
3. despotic
4. dictatorial
5. disdain
6. haughty
7. imperious
8. patronizing

23 comments:

  1. Does this work for "despotic?" Also, did I use the correct form of "effect?"
    The despotic attitude of the king created a negative effect on his kingdom.
    -Brianna B.

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  2. The use of despotic is correct. To make the phrase "negative effect" correct, I'd say, "The despotic attitude of the king had a negative effect on his kingdom."

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  3. "Stop patronizing me," she shouted, to her brother as he talked to her like she was a child.

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  4. I'm taking a crack at disdain today, so here it goes:
    Slowly she made me feel disdained, I didn't get the attention I used to, and I knew I was just a memory.

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    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure you can just say "disdain" in this scenario, as opposed to "disdained," because disdain is the emotion you are feeling. It's like saying, "she made me feel happy," versus, "she made me feel happied."

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  5. Does this work?

    My cat Sparkle’s condescending attitude towards me makes me suspect that, in his mind at least, he thinks that he’s the owner and I’m the pet.

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  6. When the guests started breaking the party’s protocols, Ms. Rosemary took on a more dictatorial role, making those who disobeyed leave the party.

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  7. When I told my mom I watched two seasons of Scandal in two days, she gave me a condescending look and told me to get my life together. Shut up, Mom, stop acting like you’re better than me.

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  8. The bully patronized dogs by teasing them with cookies and peanut butter.

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  9. She was in a contemptuous mood: she looked at the world as though she hated it.

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  10. The dictatorial puppy, with his huge brown eyes, flowing gold tail and complete control over my mother, unfairly manipulated us all into doing whatever he wanted.

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  11. My mother’s voice was very patronizing when she told me to stop watching Scandal and do my homework.

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  12. The teachers at Gladstone High School are constantly accused of patronizing their students; some were fired for being so outlandishly rude.

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  13. Kyle Roth:

    “The leader’s despotic actions finally invoked the wrath of the men, women, and children who clung to crumbling walls of superficial nationalism.”

    (Despotic)

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  14. Ben's haughty attitude made it so he felt as though he didn't need to work as hard as the other employees.

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  15. Haughty magicians are few and far between because, if an assistant finds the magician just a bit too snobbish, a seeming stroke of misfortune while escaping a piranha-filled pool is just an act of negligence away.

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  16. Her imperious glare shot through her Gucci sunglasses like laser beams.

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  17. He announced his disdain for Scooby Doo fruit snacks; those fruits snacks were for children, not full grown men.

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  18. My dad was a dictator when it came to Friday's and what I was going to be doing.

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  19. The haughty internet disdained the following authors (and their sentences):

    Holli C:
    His contemptuous attitude towards the poor was his downfall in the election.

    Luda V:
    My sister was patronizing my mom over her lack of knowledge on the quadratic formula, in turn my mom made her take her patronizing self to the laundry room -- where she proceeded to brainstorm ways out of her punishment, one laundry load at a time.

    Whitney I:
    Recently, some of my peers have shown rather contemptuous attitudes towards their schoolwork.

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  20. When my mom asks me to do something, she does with a condescending glare.

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  21. Henry spoke as a despotic ruler over his puny subjects, but all the nursery teacher heard were the tiny cries of a solitary child over his stuffed animal assembly.
    -Jackson K.

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