Words

Pronunciation

 (part of speech)

Word Charge

Word Group

Tact

\TAKT\ (n.)

+ charge APPROPRIATE

consideration in dealing with others, skill in not offending others

We asked Kheisha to talk to the principal about extending our deadlines because, as the most sensible one amongst us, she would ask with the most tact.

Talisman

\TAL iss man\ (n.)

+ charge LUCK

magic object that offers supernatural protection

The shop was selling talismans that were rumored to protect the owner from car accidents.

Tangential

\tan JEN shul\ (adj.)

= charge UNIMPORTANT

digressing, diverting

Your argument is interesting, but it is tangential to the matter at hand, so I suggest we get back to the point.

Tangible

\TAN ji bul\ (adj.)

+ charge DIRECT

able to be sensed, perceptible, measurable

The storming of the castle didn’t bring the soldiers tangible rewards, but it brought them great honor.

Taunt

\TAWNT\ (v.)

– charge CRITICIZE

to ridicule, to mock, insult

Gary sat crying in a corner of the playground because the other children had taunted him for wearing pink polka dot suspenders.

Temerity

\te MEH ri tee\ (n.)

– charge BRAVE

recklessness, fearlessness

We couldn’t believe her temerity as she climbed up the side and looked over the edge of the Hoover Dam.

Temperance

\TEM per unss\ (n.)

+ charge FLEXIBLE

restraint, self-control, moderation

As a reward for the temperance he had demonstrated all week, the athlete indulged in his favorite soft drink and a slice of pizza.

Tenacious

\ten AY shiss\ (adj.)

+ charge STRONG

determined, keeping a firm grip on

After losing his balance during the routine, the gymnast maintained a tenacious grasp on the parallel bars.

Tentative

\TEN tu tiv\ (adj.)

= charge CAUTIOUS

not fully worked out; uncertain

The published meeting schedule is, unfortunately, only a tentative plan.

Testimony

\TESS ti moh nee\ (n.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

statement made under oath

The eyewitness testimony proved decisive as the jury deliberated the verdict.

Therapeutic

\ther uh PYOO tik\ (adj.)

+ charge HELPFUL

medicinal

Trent found the hot springs to be very therapeutic for his aches and pains, so he bathed in them often.

Thicket

\THIK et\ (n.)

= charge HIDDEN

dense bushes

Larry tried catching his neighbor’s kitten that got loose, but it ran into the thicket in back of the house.

Throng

\THRONG\ (n.)

= charge COLLECTED

a large group of people, crowd

Glenda squeezed through the throngs of people trying to reach the box office before it closed.

Thwart

\THWART\ (v.)

– charge STOP

to block or prevent from happening; frustrate

After the tricky winds thwarted his attempts to throw the bag into the box, the chimp retired to the back of his cage in frustration.

Timeless

\TIYM les\ (adj.)

+ charge TIME

eternal, ageless

Although some riches go out of style, the world’s love for diamonds seems to be timeless.

Timorous

\TIM uh rus\ (adj.)

– charge COWARDLY

timid, shy, full of apprehension

Lois, a timorous woman, relied on her children to act for her whenever aggressive behavior was called for.

Toady

\TOH dee\ (n.)

– charge FLATTER

flatterer, hanger on, yes-man

The king was surrounded by toadies who rushed to agree with whatever outrageous comment he made.

Tolerate

\TOL uh rayt\ (v.)

+ charge UNBIASED

to endure, permit; to respect others

Peter was unable to tolerate the noise from below any longer, so he went downstairs to ask his neighbor not to play the drums at four in the morning.

Tonic

\TON ik\ (n.)

+ charge HELPFUL

a promoter of physical or mental health

Lukewarm grapefruit juice was my least favorite of the various tonics prescribed by my grandmother.

Torpid

\TOR pid\ (adj.)

– charge LAZY

lethargic; unable to move; dormant

The torpid surgery patient waited patiently for the anesthesia to wear off.

Touchstone

\TUCH stohn\ (n.)

+ charge UNUSUAL

something used to test the excellence of others, standard

Style and sensibility are the touchstones of a successful movie director.

Tourniquet

\TOOR ni kit\ (n.)

= charge STOP

bandage that pressures an artery in order to stop bleeding

Though advocated in days of old, administering a tourniquet to victims of severe cuts is frowned upon by the medical establishment.

Tractable

\TRAK te bul\ (adj.)

– charge SUBSERVIENT

easily managed or controlled

The social situation seemed awkward at first, but proved tractable after a few carefully chosen words.

Trait

\TRAYT\ (n.)

= charge TYPICAL

distinguishing feature; quality

While Mary Ann and Georgie share many traits, their identical sense of humor stands out most.

Tranquil

\TRAN kwil\ (adj.)

+ charge PEACEABLE

peaceful, calm, composed

The ship’s captain looked over at the tranquil sea, motionless in the sun’s setting sky.

Transcribe

\tran SKRIYB\ (v.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

to copy; reproduce, record

During the meeting a secretary sat on the side transcribing the entire conversation.

Transient

\TRANZ ee ent\ (adj.)

– charge CHANGING

temporary, short-lived, fleeting

The actress’ moment in the spotlight proved to be transient when her play closed due to poor reviews.

Transparent

\trans PAR ent\ (adj.)

= charge CLEAR

see-through, invisible

When the glass door is cleaned, it becomes virtually transparent.

Travesty

\TRA ves tee\ (n.)

– charge WORSEN

parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature

When the pickpocket was sentenced to life in prison, many observers called it a travesty of justice.

Treachery

\TRECH uh ree\ (n.)

– charge FALSE

willful betrayal of trust

When the president’s own advisor turned against him in the revolution, it was the ultimate act of treachery.

Treatise

\TREE tiss\ (n.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

formal discourse on a subject

Darwin’s treatise on evolution prompted much controversy in American schools and courts.

Tremulous

\TREM yoo luss\ (adj.)

– charge COWARDLY

trembling; quivering; fearful, timid

The tremulous stray cat approached cautiously as the boy offered a bowl of milk.

Trigger

\TRIG er\ (v.)

= charge ENCOURAGE

to set off, initiate

Unbeknownst to Homer, his remark about catered lunch triggered a wholesale reformation of the company’s human resources program.

Trivialize

\TRIV ee uh liyz\ (v.)

– charge UNIMPORTANT

cause to appear insignificant

Rather than grant the legitimacy of her opponent’s claims, the politician trivialized the question with a quick joke.

Trove

\TROHV\ (n.)

+ charge COLLECTED

collection of valuable items

Willy’s attic was a treasure trove of weird gadgets because his grandfather had been an amateur inventor.

Truculent

\TRUK yu lent\ (adj.)

– charge HOSTILE

fierce, scathing; disposed to fight

The irate young politician offered a truculent tirade against the town’s council.

Turmoil

\TUR moyl\ (n.)

– charge CHANGING

state of extreme confusion or agitation

In the turmoil of the fire drill, Jackie had forgotten where she left her wallet and cell phone.

Turpitude

\TUR pi tood\ (n.)

– charge UNATTRACTIVE

inherent vileness, foulness, depravity

The utter turpitude of his offenses ensured an immediate dismissal.