(11-year-old friendly version – easy words, fun tricks, and a quick quiz at the end!)
Avenge
Easy meaning: To get revenge or settle a score when someone does something mean.
Memory trick: Think “Avenge = Avengers” – the superheroes who get even with the bad guys!
Example: The team wanted to avenge their loss by practicing extra hard and winning the next game.
Cede (SEED)
Easy meaning: To give up or hand something over to someone else.
Memory trick: Sounds like “seed” – you plant a seed and give it away to grow somewhere else.
Example: The king had to cede his land to the new ruler after the battle.
Deluge (DEL-yooj)
Easy meaning: A huge flood or a super heavy downpour of rain.
Memory trick: “Deluge” sounds like “delicious huge” – imagine a huge delicious rain of candy falling from the sky!
Example: The deluge turned the street into a river and we couldn’t even walk outside.
Discretion (dis-KRESH-en)
Easy meaning: Good judgment and being careful with what you say or do.
Memory trick: Think “discretion = secret mission” – you have to be careful and quiet like a spy.
Example: Mom said to use discretion and not tell everyone about the surprise party.
Giddy (GID-ee)
Easy meaning: Dizzy or light-headed, like you’re spinning or super excited.
Memory trick: Sounds like “giggle” – when you’re so happy you feel giddy and can’t stop giggling.
Example: After riding the roller coaster I felt giddy and had to sit down.
Impact (IM-pakt or im-PAKT)
Easy meaning: (noun) The hard hit when two things crash together. (verb) To hit or affect something strongly.
Memory trick: Think of a car “impacting” a wall – big crash!
Example: The impact of the basketball hitting the hoop made it rattle loud.
Intimidate (in-TIM-i-date)
Easy meaning: To scare or bully someone with threats so they feel small.
Memory trick: “Intimidate” starts with “in-timid” – making someone feel tiny and timid.
Example: The big dog tried to intimidate the little puppy by growling.
Liberate (LIB-er-ate)
Easy meaning: To free or rescue someone from being trapped or controlled.
Memory trick: Sounds like “liberty” – setting someone free to enjoy their liberty!
Example: The firefighters worked to liberate the cat stuck in the tree.
Logical (LAJ-i-kul)
Easy meaning: Makes sense and uses good reasoning.
Memory trick: Think “logical = like a robot” – robots always think in a logical, step-by-step way.
Example: It’s logical to wear a jacket when it’s cold outside.
Misrepresent (mis-rep-ri-ZENT)
Easy meaning: To give a false or wrong idea about something on purpose.
Memory trick: “Mis” means wrong, like “mis-take” – so you’re representing it wrong.
Example: Don’t misrepresent the story – tell everyone exactly what happened.
Optional (OP-shuh-nel)
Easy meaning: Something you can choose to do or not – it’s up to you.
Memory trick: Sounds like “option” – you have the option to do it or skip it.
Example: Wearing a hat to school is optional on Fridays.
Outright (OUT-rit)
Easy meaning: Complete or total – no halfway about it.
Memory trick: “Outright” = straight out in the open, nothing hidden.
Example: She won the game outright by beating everyone by a lot.
Rendezvous (RAN-duh-voo)
Easy meaning: To meet up with someone at a planned time and place.
Memory trick: Sounds like “run to you” – you run to meet your friend at the spot!
Example: Let’s rendezvous at the park after school.
Rotund (ro-TUND)
Easy meaning: Rounded and plump, like a chubby belly or a round shape.
Memory trick: Think “round + tubby” = rotund!
Example: The rotund pumpkin was so big we could barely lift it.
Saunter (SON-ter)
Easy meaning: To stroll or walk slowly in a relaxed, easy way.
Memory trick: Sounds like “saunter = summer” – walking slowly and relaxed on a summer day.
Example: We sauntered along the beach looking for shells.
Sluggish (SLUG-ish)
Easy meaning: Slow-moving and lazy, like you don’t have any energy.
Memory trick: Think of a slug – they move super slow and sluggish!
Example: After staying up late I felt sluggish all morning.
Subordinate (suh-BOR-duh-nate)
Easy meaning: (adj) Lower in rank or position. (verb) To put someone in a lower position.
Memory trick: “Sub” means under, like a submarine under water – so you’re under someone else.
Example: The new employee is subordinate to the manager.
Tint (tint)
Easy meaning: A light shade or delicate color.
Memory trick: Think “tint” like the light color on sunglasses – just a hint of color.
Example: The sky had a pink tint at sunset.
Variable
Easy meaning: Likely to change or not stay the same.
Memory trick: “Variable” = varies a lot, like the weather that keeps changing.
Example: The temperature is variable today – it might be hot then cold.
Verge (verj)
Easy meaning: The exact point where something is about to begin or happen.
Memory trick: Sounds like “edge” – you’re right on the verge (edge) of something big.
Example: She was on the verge of laughing when she heard the joke.
Quick Quiz Time! (5 questions – she can answer out loud or write them down)
If you avenge something, are you getting even or giving up?
What does deluge mean – a light sprinkle or a huge flood?
If something is optional, do you have to do it?
Would a sluggish person run super fast or move slowly?
If you liberate a bird from a cage, what are you doing?