rattle, pester, scintillate, forgo, relinquish: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 67. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. rattle · verb/ˈræt.əl/

   to make a series of short, sharp noises or to cause someone to feel nervous or anxious

   The baby loves to rattle the toy and listen to the sound it makes.

   Synonyms: shake, clatter, unsettle

   Origin: Middle English, from 'ratlen', likely of imitative origin

2. pester · verb/ˈpɛstər/

   to annoy or bother someone persistently

   My little sister loves to pester me when I am trying to study.

   Synonyms: bother, annoy, harass

   Origin: originates from the late Middle English word 'pesteren', based on 'pest', which means nuisance.

3. scintillate · verb/ˈsɪn.tɪ.leɪt/

   to emit sparks or shine brightly

   The stars began to scintillate in the night sky, creating a beautiful display.

   Synonyms: sparkle, twinkle, shine

   Origin: From Latin 'scintillare', meaning 'to sparkle' or 'to emit sparks'

4. forgo · verb/fɔrˈɡoʊ/

   to decide not to do or have something

   I decided to forgo dessert to stay healthy.

   Synonyms: abandon, relinquish, waive

   Origin: From Old English forgan, meaning 'to give up, to forgo'.

5. relinquish · verb/rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/

   to give up or let go of something

   She had to relinquish her old toys to make room for new ones.

   Synonyms: give up, let go, hand over

   Origin: from Latin 'relinquere', meaning 'to leave behind' or 'to abandon'