Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
100
random Because of dust in the atmosphere, stars twinkle in a random order, not following a pattern.
random What Does It Mean? Something that happens in a random way follows no particular order or purpose.
100
ruthless During raids, Vikings sometimes acted in a ruthless fashion. At other times, they were peaceful.
ruthless What Does It Mean? Someone who is ruthless acts cruelly, without pity or compassion for others.
100
unearthed Remains of Viking settlements have been unearthed, or dug up, in Greenland.
unearthed What Does It Mean? Something that is unearthed has been dug up from the ground.
100
ancestral The descendants of this lord lived on ancestral land that he had owned many generations ago.
What Does It Mean? Something ancestral has to do with ancestors, or family members from long ago
100
forge Viking friends worked to forge, or build, a strong bond by helping each other through hard times.
What Does It Mean? To forge something is to build or create it
200
embodied Viking ships had snake heads carved into their prows. These embodied, or gave form to, the Vikings’ warrior spirit.
What Does It Mean? Something that has embodied an idea or quality gives form or shape to it or represents it in a physical way.
200
artistry Early books had decorated pages that showed the artistry of the illustrator who created them.
What Does It Mean? Artistry is artistic ability or quality.
200
recreational This early chess piece shows that games were one type of recreational activity that Vikings found relaxing.
What Does It Mean? Something recreational is done for relaxation and amusement
200
saga The poem Beowulf tells the saga of a hero. It is a tale of his great deeds.
saga What Does It Mean? A saga is a long story, especially one that tells the history and legendary deeds of heroes.
200
majestic The mountains and inlets of former Viking lands are still a majestic, or impressive, sight.
What Does It Mean? Something majestic impresses with its grandeur or beauty.
300
destiny This stone shows Vikings in Valhalla, a paradise they saw as their destiny, where they would go if they died in battle.
What Does It Mean? What is expected to happen in a person’s future is his or her destiny
300
archaeologists Archaeologists are scientists who study items left behind by cultures from the past.
archaeologists What Does It Mean? Archaeologists are experts who learn about past cultures by examining items that people have left behind.
300
replicas Replicas, or copies, have been made of ancient Chinese pottery and statues.
replicas What Does It Mean? Replicas are copies or reproductions of original works of art.
300
lustrous Chinese royalty wore lustrous silk robes. The material seemed to shine or gleam.
What Does It Mean? Something that reflects back light softly is lustrous
300
elaborate The Great Wall of China was an elaborate building project. It involved a great deal of careful detail.
elaborate What Does It Mean? Something elaborate is planned or made with careful attention or much detail.
400
excavate To learn about ancient China, men and women excavate artifacts that have been buried for centuries.
What Does It Mean? To excavate something is to dig it up from underground.
400
distinct The Chinese writing system has hundreds of distinct, or different, characters.
What Does It Mean? Two things are distinct if they are clearly different and can easily be told apart.
400
dignified Members of the emperor’s court acted in a manner that was dignified, or worthy of honor.
What Does It Mean? To be dignified is to be worthy of honor or respect
400
mythical The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature, one that exists only in the imagination.
mythical What Does It Mean? Something mythical is imaginary and is often part of a myth, or ancient story
400
temperaments According to Chinese astrology, people born in certain years have similar temperaments, or personalities.
What Does It Mean? Temperaments are people’s personalities as shown in the way they feel or act.
500
precede A horseman might precede, or go ahead of, the emperor during his travels.
What Does It Mean? To precede is to come before in order or time.
500
steadfast The Greek hero Odysseus is steadfast. He stays true to his goal of returning home.
steadfast What Does It Mean? Someone steadfast stays focused on a goal and can always be counted on.
500
rash Icarus acts in a rash, or foolish, manner when he chooses to fly close to the sun. The heat melts his wings, and he falls.
rash What Does It Mean? Someone rash acts too quickly and carelessly, without thinking things through.
500
bitterly The hero Heracles fights bitterly, in anger, with a fierce wild boar before he defeats it.
What Does It Mean? To do something bitterly is to do it with intense resentment and dislike probably has happened or will happen.
500
unravels Each day, Penelope weaves a cloth while waiting for Odysseus to return. Each night, she unravels it again.
unravels What Does It Mean? Something unravels when its structure comes apart
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