Vocabulary

It is time for twelve new vocabulary words.  Challenge yourself to learn them, use them when speaking in English with your teacher and with your friends, and use them in your writing!

phantasm (N.  Adj: phantasmal) something apparently seen, but without any true physical presence; an illusion of the brain; a ghost or spirit
Despite the reaction from others, Paula wasn't sure if she was experiencing a real explanation for what had happened, or just a phantasm of her imagination.

semblance (N.  Adj: semblable)  outward appearance; a representation or a copy of something else
Although the students were very excited, the principal was able to get them into some semblance of order.

short-lived (Adj.)  living or lasting only a short while; fleeting
The team's two-point lead was short-lived, for soon the other team got two baskets in a row.

transient (Adj.) passing in time, remaining or existing only briefly
When I was growing up, my family led a transient life.

transient (N.)  one who passes through without permanent bonds
When I was growing up as a transient, we moved to a new place every two or three years.

transiently (Adv.)  moving from place to place fairly often
The homeless person lived transiently, one night at a shelter and other nights flopping with a friend.

whimsy (N.  Adj: whimsical Adv: whimsically) a whim or an odd or fanciful idea; sometimes a quaint or unorthodox idea.
Acting upon mere whimsy, Francis went to talk to the principal, and his plans were, surprisingly, approved.

contingent (Adj.  N: contingency) (1) liable to occur, but not with certainty; possible, (2) dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established
(1) Today's weather forecast includes a contingent chance of showers by evening.
(2) My cousin is a contingent worker; she works for a temporary employment agency.

episodic (Adj.  Adv: episodically)  relating to or happening in episodes
The made-for-television movie was episodic; that is, it was broadcast in sections rather than all in one night.

incidental (Adj.  Adv: incidentally) apt to occur in a minor or unpredictable manner
It was an incidental bother; only rarely did the turn signal stick while I was driving.

intermittent (Adj.  N: intermittence  Adv: intermittently)  stopping and starting at intervals
The news about the disaster was intermittent; the network fed the public information only a little at a time.

interrupt (V.  Adj: interrupted  N: interruption)  to break the rhythm or continuity; to stop the momentum or continuum
Because of the lightning, the officials had to interrupt the game.

oscillate (V.  N: oscillation  Adj: oscillating)  to move back and forth; to waver or doubt a decision
Amy was accepted to both Harvard and Yale and she oscillated between the two for a couple of weeks before she made her decision.

periodic (Adj.  Adv: periodically)  chracterized by a repeating cycle or repetition of intervals; appearing or occurring from time to time
Her visits to her grandmother are periodic.  Although there is no formal agreement between them, she visits nearly every other weekend.