Concept Vocabulary & Word Study: from 'Silent Spring'

Concept Vocabulary

from 'Silent Spring'

blight

maladies

puzzled

stricken

deserted

stillness

Maladies

MAL uh deez) n. illnesses or diseases

Examples:

• He aged with dignity despite kidney disease and other maladies.
• Salversan also proved effective against other maladies such as yaws.

Deserted

(dih ZUR tihd) adj. abandoned; empty

Examples:

• Her eye for detail seems to have deserted her.
• The trains had all been cancelled and the station was deserted.

Blight

(blyt) n. something that spoils, prevents growth, or destroys

Examples:

• She dug up all the roses affected by blight.
• The vines have suffered blight and disease.

Stricken

(STRIHK uhn) adj. very badly affected by trouble or illness

Examples:

• He was stricken with fear at the sight of the wolf.
• Raymond was stricken with grief.

Stillness

(STIHL nihs) n. absence of noise or motion

Example:

• An eerie stillness engulfed the camp.
• A powerful, palpable stillness filled the cool night.

Puzzled

PUHZ uhld) adj. confused and unable to understand something

Examples:

• She had a puzzled look on her face.
• He looked puzzled and angry with him.