February 2018

[in-EV-ih-tuh-buhl] adjective

Something that is inevitable is sure to happen—it cannot be stopped or avoided. The passage of time is inevitable. There is nothing you can do to stop it.

[in-TENT-lee] adverb

To do something intently is to do it with intensity—in other words, to do it with strained or great eagerness and concentration. If Rachel listens intently to what Antonio is saying, she listens very closely, as though she believes what Antonio is saying is extremely important.

The dog in this video is digging intently.

[JUHJ-muhnt] noun

Judgment can refer to a decision or an opinion, as in “What is your judgment of this movie?” Judgment can also refer to the ability to judge—that is, the ability to make a decision or form an opinion. Someone with good judgment usually makes wise decisions and forms sensible opinions. Someone with poor judgment tends to make bad decisions and form senseless opinions.

We’re not too sure about this man’s judgment.

[MAHR-vuhl] noun or verb

To marvel at something is to be filled with wonder by it—to be amazed by it. A marvel is someone or something that causes feelings of wonder and amazement.

You might marvel at a 5-year-old girl who plays the piano like an adult—or you might say that the girl is a marvel.

[STAG-nuhnt] adjective

When stagnant is used to describe water or air, it means “not flowing.” A stagnant pond does not have water flowing into or out of it; the water just sits there. Stagnant can also mean “not changing or advancing.” If Matt says he feels stagnant in his art classes, he means that he doesn’t feel like he’s improving or learning anything new. Stagnant water is often covered in algae—and it’s often kind of smelly too.

[SUH-pres] verb

To suppress something is to hold it back, keep it secret, or use force to put an end to it. You might suppress a yawn during class, or you might suppress your anger to avoid getting into an argument. A company might try to suppress news about something it did wrong. Teachers might suppress a food fight in the cafeteria.