#39 epigram ~ erudite Flashcards
epigram
/ˈɛpɪˌɡræm/
n. a brief and usually witty or satirical saying
An epigram is epigrammatic.
epigraph
/ˈɛpɪˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf/
n. an apt quotation placed at the beginning of a book or essay
epitaph
/ˈɛpɪˌtæf, -ˌtɑf/
n. a commemorative inscription on a grave
- Most of us would prefer a more generous epitaph when we leave this world.
epithet
/ˈɛpəˌθɛt/
n. a term used to characterize the nature of sth; sometimes a disparaging term used to describe a person
- The epithet “pretty boy” has haunted him all his life.
- Strictly speaking, an epithet is not necessarily derogatory.
epitome
/ɪˈpɪtəmi/
n. a brief summary that captures the meaning of the whole; the perfect example of sth.; a paradigm
- The first paragraph of the new novel is an epitome of the entire book; you can read it and understand what the author is trying to get across. It epitomizes the entire work.
- Luke’s freshman year was the epitome of a college experience; he made friends, joined a fraternity, and ate too much pizza.
- Eating corn dogs and drinking root beer is the epitome of the good life, as far as Wilson is concerned.
equanimity
/ˌikwəˈnɪmɪti, ˌɛkwə-/
n. composure; calm
- The entire apartment building was crumbling, but Rachel faced the disaster with equanimity. She ducked out of the way of a falling beam and continued searching for an exit.
- John’s mother looked at the broken glass on the floor with equanimity; at least he didn’t hurt himself when he knocked over the vase.
equitable
/ˈɛkwɪtəbəl/
adj. fair
- King Solomon’s decision was certainly equitable; each mother would receive half the child.
- The pirates distributed the loot equitably among themselves, so that each pirate received the same share as every other pirate.
- The divorce settlement was quite equitable. Sheila got the right half of the house, and Tom got the left half.
Equity is fairness; inequity is unfairness. Iniquity and inequity both mean unfair, but iniquity implies wickedness as well.
equivocal
/ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/
adj. ambiguous; intentionally confusing; capable of being interpreted in more than one way
Ambiguous means unclear. To be equivocal is to be intentionally ambiguous.
- Joe’s response was equivocal; we couldn’t tell whether he meant yes or no, which is precisely what Joe wanted.
- Dr. Festen’s equivocal diagnosis made us think that he had no idea what Mrs. Johnson died.
equivocate
/ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/
v. to mislead by saying confusing or ambiguous things
- When we asked Harold whether that was his car that was parked in the middle of the hardware store, he equivocated and asked, “In which aisle?”
erudite
/ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt/
adj. scholarly; deeply learned
- The professor said such erudite things that none of us had the slightest idea of what he was saying.
- The erudite biologist was viewed by many of his colleagues as a likely winner of the Nobel Prize.
erudition
/ˌɛryʊˈdɪʃən, ˌɛrʊ-/
n. extensive knowledge
- Mr. Fernicola’s vast library was an indication of his erudition.
