The definitions for my grade 8/9 challenge words from Canspell.com
Grade 8 Challenge Words
1. pigeon (noun)
a) any of a family of birds having a stout body and a small head.
b) (slang) a person who is easily tricked.
2. scholarship (noun)
a) learning from study; the quality of this: his analysis shows good scholarship.
b) a grant of money or other assistance to a student with hight academic performance.
3. scruple (noun)
a) a feeling of uneasiness about doing something that might be wrong: he had scruples about taking the free tickets.
b) to hesitate or be unwilling to do what may be wrong: she does not scruple to lie.
4. affiliation (noun)
a) connected in close association.
5. indelible (adjective)
a) cannot be erased; permanent. The past is indelible.
6. rutabaga (noun)
a) a turnip with a very large yellow root.
7. larynx (noun)
a) the cavity of the upper end of the human windpipe containing vocal cords.
Grade 9 Challenge Words
8. ineffable (adjective)
a) not to be expressed in words or too great to be described.
b) too sacred to be spoken of.
9. fallacy (noun)
a) a false idea: it is a fallacy that riches always bring happiness.
b) a mistake in reasoning.
10. psychoanalysis (noun)
a) a method of treating mental disorders, by bringing to light any subconscious forces that have affected a person's mind.
11. aggrandizement (verb)
a) increase in power, wealth, prestige, etc: to aggrandize oneself at another's expense.
12. rotisserie (noun)
a) a rotating spit for roasting meat or fowl.
13. omniscient (adjective)
a) knowing everything.
14. anticoagulant (noun)
a) a substance that slows down or stops the clotting of blood.
15. conundrum (noun)
a) a riddle or any puzzling problem.
16. infatuate (verb)
a) to inspire with an unreasoning passion.
17. analgesia (noun)
a) inability to feel pain even when conscious.
18. paramecium (plural noun)
a) any of a genus of free-swimming protozoans having a groove along one side leading into the mouth.
19. calisthenics (plural noun)
a) exercises involving no equipment; designed to develop a strong and graceful body.
20. anemone (noun)
a) any of a large genus of small flowers of the buttercup family.
21. cajoleries (plural noun)
a) Coaxing or flattery intended to persuade someone to do something: she uses cajolery, deception, and manipulation to get what she wants.
22. brigadier (noun)
a) A rank of officer in the British army, above colonel and below major general.
