5 • Lesson 1 Word List

accustom

(v) To make familiar.
Every fall the students accustom themselves to the new schedule.

accustomed (adj) 1. Usual.
We sat in our accustomed places.

2. Used to.
My eyes soon became accustomed to the dark.

alert

(adj) Watchful; wide-awake.
The shortstop was not alert and missed the catch.

(v) To warn to be ready.
A sign alerted drivers to the flooded road ahead.

(n) A warning signal.
Because of the forest fires, the nearby towns have a fire alert.

assign*

(v) 1. To select for a position or for what has to be done.
For this year's basketball team, the coach assigned me to play as a forward.

2. To give out, as a piece of work to be done.
Our science teacher usually assigns two chapters a week as homework.

assignment (n) Whatever is given out as work to be done.
What was the assignment for tomorrow's history class?

budge

(v) To move or shift.
The old metal trunk was so heavy we could not budge it.

burly

(adj) Big and strongly built.
Most football players are quite burly.

companion

(n) One who spends time with or does things with another.
My grandmother was always an interesting companion when we went to the city for the day.

compatible

(adj) Getting along well together.
Julie and I didn't mind sharing a room, because we were so compatible.

concept*

(n) A general idea or thought about something.
For our project, we started with the concept of helping our community.

distract

(v) To draw one's thoughts or attention away from the subject at hand.
The police sirens distracted me, so I didn't hear what you said.

distraction (n) Something that draws one's thoughts or attention away.
I do my homework during study period when there are no distractions.

jostle

(v) To push or shove.
I dropped my phone when someone in the crowd jostled me.

obedient

(adj) Doing what one is asked or told.
When giving orders, my mother expects all of us to be obedient.

obedience (n) The state or condition of doing what one is told.
We are trying to teach obedience to our new puppy.

obstacle

(n) Something that prevents one from moving forward.
The obstacle holding up traffic was a tree blown over by last night's storm.

patient

(adj) Willing to wait without complaining.
The audience was very patient even though the show started thirty minutes late.

(n) A person in a doctor's care.
The patients in this part of the hospital are recovering from operations.

patience (n) A willingness to wait for someone or something without complaining.
Having to stand in line for an hour to buy tickets really tested my patience.

pedestrian

(n) A person who is walking; someone traveling on foot.
Pedestrians should use the crosswalk to avoid accidents.

retire

(v) 1. To stop working because one has reached a certain age.
My grandfather wishes he could quit his job and retire, but he needs to work a few more years.

2. To go to bed.
I was not feeling well, so I retired early.

retirement (n) The state of no longer working.
Uncle Eli regularly saved money for his retirement.

accountability the idea that leaders must explain their actions and can be held responsible by the people

citizenry the people who are citizens of a country or community and have the rights and responsibilities of participation in civic life

constituents people who live in a specific area and are represented by an elected official

decentralized a system where power or decision-making is spread across multiple levels or locations rather than held in one central authority

effective successful in producing the intended result or achieving a desired goal

legitimacy the belief that a government or its decisions are accepted as rightful and deserve to be followed

social contract the idea that people agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for protection and order from a government

voter registration the process of signing up to be eligible to vote in elections

contextual relating to the specific circumstances, background, or situation in which something occurs or is understood

disinformation false or misleading information that is intentionally created and spread to deceive people

civics the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how government works

ignorant lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about a particular topic or issue

jurisdiction the official authority of a court or government to make legal decisions and enforce laws in a specific area