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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PETITIONER

DEFINITION:
A person who pleads with a governmental institution for a legal remedy or a redress of grievances, through the use of a petition.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
While presenting the citizens’ petition for debate at the April 11 Spring Town Meeting, petitioners argued that ICE operations in Plymouth have “created fear” and “disrupted lives” among the immigrant community, leading to what they call a distrust of local police.
The Boston Herald, 04/20/2026

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Words in the News Quiz
5 High School Words

Click on the correct answer in the quiz below.
Then see if you can find the word in your newspaper -- the print edition, the website or the digital edition and copy the sentence for context. NOTE: High School words are much harder to find!


1. Taxonomy

Division into ordered groups or categories.

Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.

To bring under control; conquer.

A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.


2. Nonsectarian

To bring under control; conquer.

A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.

To seize another’s place, authority, or possession wrongfully.

Not limited to or associated with a particular religious denomination.


3. Moiety

Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others.

A part, portion, or share.

To increase the positive charge or valence of (an element) by removing electrons.


4. Tempestuous

Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.

Tumultuous; stormy.

Something done or paid to compensate or make amends.

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.


5. Gamete

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.

A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.

Everyday; commonplace.

A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes, especially a mature sperm or egg capable of fusing with a gamete of the opposite sex to produce the fertilized egg.


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Common Core State Standard
LS.CCS.4/5/6 Grades 3-12: Students are asked to determine the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words through multiple choice vocabulary quizzes. Quizzes are designed to help students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in words, acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words, and gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. Students are then asked to find the words within the newspaper and copy the sentence for context to its overall meaning or function in a sentence.