A words - Easy Flashcards
able
Language of Origin: Latin, French, English
Definition: capable of doing something
I’m not able to do this homework myself.
Etymology: Middle English able, abill, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin habilis “easily handled or adjusted, adaptable,” from habēre “to have, hold” + -ilis, alteration (by haplology before labial consonants) of -ibilis -ible — more at 1give
ace
**Language of Origin: **Latin, English, French
Definition: a playing card marked in its center with one large pip and usually having the index A in its corners
I played an ace and won the game!
Etymology: Middle English as, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin ass-, ās “copper money piece (at first a pound, but progressively reduced to a half-ounce), pound unit of weight, unit”
acid
Language of Origin: Latin, French
Definition: ** sharp or biting to the taste**
She ate an acid apple.
Etymology: borrowed from French & Latin; French acide, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin acidus, adjective derivative from the base of acēre “to be sour” — more at acetic
after
Language of Origin: English, German
Definition: coming next
We saw the elphants after the giraffes at the zoo.
Etymology: Middle English after, efter, going back to Old English æfter, going back to Germanic *after- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German aftar “after, behind,” Old Norse eptir, Gothic aptaro), perhaps from Indo-European *h1epi-, *h1opi- “on, at” + *-ter-, suffix of separation and distinctness — more at opistho-
agog
Language of Origin: French
Definition: full of intense interest, ardent anticipation, or extreme excitement
The book ended on an agog scene.
Etymology: borrowed from Middle French en gogues “in good humor, mirthful,” from en “in” + gogues, plural of gogue “good humor, joking, pleasantry, mockery,” going back to a Gallo-Romance expressive base *gog-
agree
Language of Origin: English, French, Latin
Definition: to concur in (as an opinion) : admit
We agreed that that was what had happened.
Etmyology: Middle English agreen, from Middle French agreer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + gré will, pleasure, from Latin gratum, neuter of gratus beloved, dear, agreeable — more at grace
alert
Language of Origin: Italian
Definition: marked by careful zealous watchfulness and promptness to counter threats and dangers and to cope with emergencies
We were alert while playing “spy.””
Etymology: Italian all’erta on the watch, literally, on the ascent
anger
Language of Origin: English, Old Norse, German, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit
Definition: a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism
Sophia felt much anger when she found out her sister had broken her Nintendo switch.
Etymology: Middle English, affliction, anger, from Old Norse angr grief, sorrow; akin to Old English enge narrow, Old High German engi, Old Norse öngr, Gothic angwus, Latin angor strangling, anguish, angere to strangle, distress, Greek anchein to strangle, Sanskrit aṁhas anxiety
apple
Language of Origin: English, German, Old Norse, Old Irish
Definition: the pome fruit of any tree of the genus Malus being important economically especially in North America, Europe, and Australasia and markedly variable but usually round in shape and red, yellow, or greenish in color
I ate an apple upon coming home from school.
Etymology: Middle English appel, from Old English æppel; akin to Old High German apful, afful, Old Norse apall, epli, Crimean Gothic apel, Old Irish ubull, Old Slavic ablŭko, jablŭko
army
Language of Origin: English, French, Latin
Definition: a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land
The U.S. army fought in the war.
Etymology: Middle English armee, from Middle French armée, from Medieval Latin armata army, fleet — more at armada
auto
Language of Origin: by shortening
Definition: automobile
We hopped into the auto to go to the store.
Etymology: by shortening automobile
avid
Language of Origin: French or Latin, Greek, Sanskrit
Definition: craving eagerly : desirous to the point of greed
I was avid to see the new Mario movie.
Etymology: French or Latin; French avide, from Latin avidus, from avēre to long for; akin to Gothic awiliuth thanks, Greek enēēs gentle, Sanskrit avati he favors
