W7
Vocabulary
Let’s go over the new vocabulary for this week.
Ghost Towns of the American West
mystery (n.)
something that is difficult or impossible to explain
The castle on the hill was a mystery that no one in town could explain.
swirls (v./n.)
move in a twisting or spiraling pattern
2
The wind swirls the leaves into little spinning piles every autumn.
joyous (adj.)
full of happiness and joy
3
We were joyous when we found out school was closed for a holiday.
tumbledown (adj.)
falling or fallen into ruin
4
The children peeked inside the tumbledown barn and imagined it was a pirate’s hideout.
lonesome (adj.)
solitary or lonely
5
The puppy felt lonesome after its owner left for school.
stake(n.)
a strong wooden or metal post driven into the ground as part of a fence
6
They hammered a wooden stake into the ground to mark their fort’s entrance.
virtually (adv.)
nearly, almost
7
After practicing every day, she was virtually perfect at playing her song.
relics (n.)
an object surviving from an earlier time
8
The museum displayed ancient relics from long ago civilizations.
evidence (n.)
the available information indicating whether something is true or valid
9
The detective found evidence that helped solve the missing-book mystery.
fortune (n.)
a large amount of money or assets
10
Grandma said we should save a fortune for a rainy day.
settlement (n.)
a place where people come to live or the process of settling in such a place
11
The first settlers built a settlement near the river for fresh water.
sprawling (adj.)
(of a city) covered with buildings across a large area, often ones that have been added gradually over a period of time
12
The city kept sprawling outward as more people moved there each year.
frontier (n.)
the extreme limit of land into which settlers have moved, especially in the western U.S. during the wave of expansion
13
In the past, explorers traveled to the far frontier where no maps existed.
community (n.)
a group of people living in the same place
14
The whole community gathered to plant trees in the park.
boom (n.)
a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth
15
There was a boom in new technology, and everyone wanted the latest gadgets.
precious (adj.)
of great value
16
That necklace is very precious to her because it belonged to her grandmother.
ore(n.)
a naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or mineral can be extracted
17
Miners dug deep into the ground to collect valuable ore.
lumber (n.)
timber sawn into rough planks or partly prepared
18
The builders bought lumber to make the new playground.
prairie(n.)
a large open area of grassland
19
The horse ran fast across the wide, open prairie.
prosperity (n.)
the state of being successful and having a lot of money
20
Good schools and jobs brought prosperity to the small town.
Abandoned�(adj)
having been deserted or left
21
The abandoned house looked spooky at night.
merchants (n.)
a person or company involved in wholesale trade
22
The merchant sold colorful fabrics at the market stall.
declared (adj.)
openly or formally announced
23
The mayor declared next Friday a school-free day.
millrace (n.)
the channel carrying the swift current of water that drives a mill wheel
24
Water rushed through the millrace to turn the old grain mill’s wheel.
ditch (n.)
a narrow channel dug at the side of a road or field.
25
A deep ditch ran along the side of the road to collect rainwater.
squatter (n.)
a person who occupies property with no legal claim to the property
26
The squatter built a tiny shelter on land he did not own.
ragged (adj.)
old or torn clothes or having a rough or irregular surface or edge
27
The kitten had ragged fur that needed brushing.
good-natured (adj.)
good, friendly, and patient
28
Our good-natured coach always smiled, even during practice.
billow (v.)
fill with air and swell outwards
29
Smoke began to billow from the chimney after the fire was lit.
trail-weary (adj.)
tired or exhausted from traveling a long distance
30
After hiking all day, the trail-weary group finally saw the campsite.