Chapter One Vocabulary List

Chapter One Vocabulary List

elaborate: to explain in detail
gamut: the full or complete range of things
vision: a dream
realization: to make something real
frustration: a feeling arising when hindered in trying to reach a goal
security: feeling safe and certain; no apprehension or anxiety
discrimination: wrongful treatment of a person (or group) due to a bias or prejudice
achievement: accomplishing something rewarding
fanatic: someone excessively devoted to or enthusiastic about a cause or activity
excess: more of something than is necessary
flaunt: to exhibit something (an achievement or prize) a little too proudly
prima donna: an overly vain person
integrity: free from corruption or vice; honesty
humility: a lack of false pride; feeling modest or unassuming
intuition: instinctive knowing; a feeling that something might happen; second sight
impulsive: actions typified by a lack of planning or preparing
procrastination: putting an assignment or task off until a later time; dawdling
compliant: easily persuaded or swayed; submissive
rational: logical or sensible
interchangeable: being able to change places or replace something else

Chapter Two Vocabulary List

aesthetic: relating to beauty; artistic
forthright: going straight to the point
forceful: full of force; powerful
authoritative: official; conclusive
influencing: to alter something in an indirect or even sneaky way
spontaneous: an action arising from a whim or sudden impulse
amiable: friendly; good-natured; sociable; pleasant
methodical: systematic, following a definite method
analytical: characterized by division of a problem into separate parts for study
meticulous: great care shown to details
diplomatic: using tact, especially in stressful circumstances; smooth
systematic: methodical thoroughness
submissive: submitting to others; obedient
charismatic: exhibiting a dynamic personality
empathy: having compassion or understanding for the pain or struggles of another
innovative: on the cutting edge; creative
perseverance: steadfastness; doggedness
versatile: able to move from one activity or situation to another easily; adaptable
synthesize: combine parts or pieces into a whole
negotiate: bargain; make terms

Chapter Three Vocabulary List

self-actualization: to fully realize your potential
esteem: worth; value; admiration
survival: the process of staying alive
capable: qualified; competent
necessity: something that is essential or indispensable
satisfaction: a state of being having all your need or want; contentment
hierarchy: a series levels or ranks; power structure
legacy: something passed on from one generation to another; something left behind
acknowledgement: recognition for a notable deed
epitaph: an account meant to summarize the life of a dead person; commemoration
lifestyle: typical way in which someone chooses to live
sociology: the scientific study of society, its institutions, and the relationships within
psychology: the scientific study of the mind and behavior
component: a piece, part, or ingredient
contemplation: to study in your mind; reflection
spiritual: relating to sacred things
recuperate: to get back health or strength; recover
external: existing on the outside; an external force
internal: existing inside the mind
priority: something of the utmost importance

Chapter Four Vocabulary List

privacy: free from unwanted intrusion; seclusion
commitment: a promise or pledge to do something
profile: the amount to which someone demonstrates specific traits as arrived at through inventories or tests
widow: a woman whose husband has died and who, generally, has not remarried
aristocrat: a member of the aristocracy; a nobleman
affordability: the point at which a person can manage to buy something
variable: susceptible to changes; likely to vary
extensive: having wide or considerable extent
liberal: generous; ample; full
reallocate: to designate or earmark again
poverty: having a shortage of the necessary money or material possessions for comfortable living
conscious: deliberate; purposeful
traits: a characteristic or quality
minimum: the smallest amount possible
windfall: an unexpected or unforeseen gain
arrogant: overstating your own importance in a haughty way; egotistical
persistence: being tenacious; determination
dividends: a bonus or payoff
inducement: the stimulus that motivates a person to act
interpretation: explanation or definition

Chapter Five Vocabulary List

category: a classification or grouping
characteristics: traits or attributes
environment: your surroundings; the setting in which you live or work
frequent: to hang out at a place regularly
acquaintances: a person you know but who is not a close friend
isolation: being detached or far removed from others
variety: many different forms or types of something
compatible: able to live or work together in harmony
flexible: adaptable to new, changing, or developing circumstances
potential: hidden talent or possibility
incentive: motive; something that provokes action
option: a choice; an alternative way of arriving at something
composite: a combination of several different parts
free lance: a person who works within a profession but with no fixed long-term responsibility to any one company
sequential: one after another
anxiety: uneasiness; a feeling of impending doom
tolerance: open-mindedness; understanding someone else’s beliefs even if they are unlike your own
entrepreneur: someone who establishes and runs a business or company
capital: the money invested to start or maintain a business
status: a person’s position in relation to others

Chapter Six Vocabulary List

artistic: creative or imaginative skill in the arts
accommodate: to adjust or adapt
protective: to guard or shield
humanitarian: a person working for the welfare of all humans
occupation: a person’s chosen work; vocation
tentative: not fully developed or worked out
excursion: a brief trip
attributes: inherent traits
visualization: the process of producing visual images in your mind
typical: regular; normal
mesh: to fit or function together
consult: to ask someone for their opinion or advice; confer
accurate: no mistakes correct
explicit: clear or specific; leaving no room for misinterpretation
decisive: resolute; determined
gregarious: liking to be around other people; friendly
contagious: catching; arousing the same emotions in others
patient: dealing with problems without becoming anxious
conscientious: careful; painstaking
prominent: well-known; distinguished

Chapter Seven Vocabulary List

alma mater: the school, college, or university someone attended
automatic: something done without the need for thought; unconscious
issue: to put out or deliver, usually officially
logical: capable of reason
evaluate: to measure the value of something
differentiate: to distinguish between at least two things
essential: indispensable; a part so important to a thing that to remove to would destroy the thing itself
gratification: satisfaction or enjoyment
long-term: taking place over a long period of time
pro: an argument for a certain course of action
con: an argument against a certain course of action
probability: something that is likely to come to pass
analyze: to study all the parts of something in order to understand it
apprenticeship: someone who is learning through work experience with people skilled in an specific art or trade
certification: being certified, as in a trade or skill
expedite: to take care of right away
agonize: struggle or suffer
fret: to worry
avoidance: the act of evading something
tendency: a inclination toward a certain type of action or behavior

Chapter Eight Vocabulary List

opportunities: a good chance for promotion or growth
flatter: to praise inordinately especially when inspired by self-interest
courage: bravery; nerve; guts
reputation: recognition of other people of some quality or characteristic
motivation: the driving force; incentive
technique: how details are treated in a certain trade or art; methodology
temporary: lasting for only a short or limited time
abstract: theoretical; hypothetical
postpone: put off the execution of some task
struggle: to move forward with trouble or against obstacles
joyous: full of joy
temptation: enticement; something tempting
wishful: having to do with wishes and not reality
privy: being “in on” a secret
discipline: self-control
destructive: intended to destroy; ruinous
goal: the purpose for which effort is exerted; aim
objective: crucial position to be attained; goal; aim
diagram: a drawing that explains something
beliefs: confidence in the truth of something

Chapter Nine Vocabulary List

detour: deviating from the usual or more direct route
challenge: a task or problem
ironic: when the expected result is contrary to the actual result
affliction: great struggling or suffering
paraplegic: the state of having the lower half of the body paralyzed
debilitate: to weaken
orator: a skillful or powerful public speaker
serenity: being peaceful
solution: the answer to a problem
median: being in the middle; as many above as below
consideration: careful thought
obligation: something that ties a person to a certain course of action, such as a promise or vow; duty
valedictorian: the student in a graduating class with the highest rank
ambition: a strong desire to achieve a certain goal
evidence: an outward sign; indication
obstacle: an impediment to progress or achievement
concentration: focused attention on a single object or task
confront: to oppose or challenge
confident: certain of your own skills or capabilities
progressive: making use of new ideas; broad-minded

Chapter Ten Vocabulary List

attitude: how you feel toward something
pretend: to make believe; feign
affirmation: a positive assertion; confirmation
effective: to accomplish a task in a competent manner
reverse: to completely turn around
capable: able to perform a certain task
excellence: the quality of being exceptional or extraordinary
expectation: an anticipated result or performance
enthusiasm: a strong excitement or eagerness
prophecies: predicting something that is to come
livelihood: means of making a living or providing financial support
enterprise: a purposeful undertaking
efficient: effective; productive; without waste
ethic: a set of principles or values
aggression: a forceful action for the purpose of overpowering or conquering
tardy: late
elapse: to slip away; expire
global: involving the entire world
enormous: extraordinarily big
dignity: self-respect

Chapter Eleven Vocabulary List

principles: a basic belief or idea
publication: a published work
resume: summary of a person’s professional or work experience
summary: an abridgment of something
original: not a copy or reproduction
chronological: listed in the order of time elapsed
honesty: dealing only in the truth
references: someone who can answer questions regarding your character or ability
draft: a preliminary version; make a rough sketch
polite: courteous; respectful
impression: a striking perception
vaccination: inoculating someone so as to create an immunity to something
misdemeanor: a crime that is not as serious as a felony
felony: under federal law, a crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year
appropriate: fitting; suitable given the circumstances
rejection: being turned down
mentor: a trusted tutor, coach, or guide
inspirational: something that spurs you on
tragedy: a disastrous event; calamity
negotiable: open to bargaining or debate

Chapter Twelve Vocabulary List

overwhelming: something so awesome it overpowers your thoughts or feelings
alternative: a choice or option
misfortune: an unhappy situation
alienate: to make unfriendly or cause someone to withdraw
despotism: a government where the ruler has unlimited power
solace: to lend comfort; soothe
chasten: to punish; discipline
virtue: a good quality
duration: the length of time that something lasts
perspective: point of view
patience: the act of being patient
surmount: to overcome; to prevail over
muff: to bungle or fumble
fantasies: daydreams
impress: to dazzle; to “blow away”
genius: someone of extraordinary intellect
niche: a place, group, or job where a person is best fitted
respect: high regard or admiration
appreciation: gratefulness or thankfulness
success: attainment of an auspicious or desired outcome