Composure-Conviction Flashcards
Composure sounds like
Camp Pozer
Calmness; equanimity
Composure
Composure mnemonic device
There is a summer camp where the counselors and campers lie down all day long. Everyone is always calm and relaxed. Awards are given out for the longest naps.
Admit reluctantly; yield
Concede
Concede sounds like
Corn seed
Concede
There are two farmers. One is examining something under a magnifying glass and admits that it is a corn seed.
Short and to the point; terse
Concise
Concise sounds like
Kahn’s ice
Concise mnemonic device
A company called Kahn’s ice sells and delivers blocks of ice. The slogan on their truck is “cold”
Agree
Concur
Concur sounds like
Can curl
Concur mnemonic device
Two hairstylists discuss a customer’s hair. “I believe it can curl,” says one. The other concurs, or agrees.
To overlook, excuse, or pardon
Condone
Condone sounds like
Condo one
Condone mnemonic device
The owner of the condominium complex is showing her brother around. At condo one, he notices that the tenants have covered the outside of the building with multicolored aluminum siding, placed a huge neon sign that flashes, “We’re number 1!” in the living room window, and trimmed the shrubs to look like characters from Gilligans Island. When he asks why she would condone those changes she replies, “they pay their rent.”
To mix up (in your own mind) or to confuse someone else
Confound
Confound sounds like
Gun found
Confound mnemonic device
A detective is investigating a murder. The victim was found in a windowless room, the door locked from the inside. The murder weapon, a gun, is found inside a locked cabinet, along with the keys to both the door and the cabinet itself. The detective was very confounded.
A blending of sounds or opinions; harmony; agreement
Consonance
Consonance sounds like
Consonants
Consonance mnemonic device
Three continents from the alphabet are having lunch together. “As far as I am concerned,” says the C, “we are in complete agreement. We are all making the same sounds.”
To complete or make whole
Consummate
Consummate sounds like
Consume mate
Consummate mnemonic device
Black widow spiders have an odd ending to their mating ritual. After mating is complete, the female actually consumes the male. Imagine that the male and female come to this horrible agreement beforehand and they both sign a contract stating that the female will have the male for dinner right after they finish mating. They shake to consummate the deal and have sex, which consummates the mating ritual. Then the female consumes her mate, which consummates this really disgusting law of nature.
To argue a point or position; to struggle for
Contend
Contend sounds like
Can’t end
Contend mnemonic device
A football team, losing 118 to 0, is in the locker room at halftime when the captain speaks up: “we’ve fought back all year and it can’t end here. If we are to be contenders, we cannot give up!”
Dependent on other circumstances; conditional
Contingent
Contingent sounds like
Can tin gent
Contingent mnemonic device
A man is made of tin cans. A friend asks if he is planning to play golf in the tournament next weekend. “It depends,” says the gent, “if it is sunny, I will be there. If it rains, I definitely won’t. I haven’t played in ten years, so I’m rusty enough all ready.
Squeeze together; shrink
Contract
Contract sounds like
Contract (legal document)
Contract mnemonic device
Two business people are making a deal of some kind. After they each sign the contract, the document begins to shrink, as if the paper it is written on is being compressed. One of the signers says, “I thought this deal was going to allow me to expand, but it appears as though it is the exact opposite.”
Sorry; pentinent
Contrite
Contrite sounds like
Canned trout
Contrite mnemonic device
A large overfed cat has been discovered in the pantry after he has opened and devoured 12 cans of trout. As his owner hovers angrily above him, the cat appears to be sorry. His face and body seem to be saying, “I promise, I will never do this again.”
Riddle; mystery
Conundrum
Conundrum sounds like
Cone and drum
Conundrum mnemonic device
A man is playing the drums, but instead of drumsticks, he is using ice cream cones. An observer asks, “How does he play music with those things?” A second observer, “It is a mystery to me.”
Move together to meet at a common point
Converge
Converge sounds like
Can merge
Converge mnemonic device
Two separate highways have been rerouted so that the cars can merge into one flow of traffic. These roads now converge.
An opinion that is strongly held
Conviction
Conviction sounds like
Convict Shawn
Conviction mnemonic device
You are part of a jury working on a trial of a man named Shawn. The prosecutor is addressing his opening remarks to the jury “I believe with all of my heart that Shawn is guilty. I know he committed this terrible crime. When you see the evidence you will also be sure. And you will convict Shawn.”
