Flashcards - 4
Forage
: grasses and other plants that are eaten by animals (such as cows)
Full Definition
1 : food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing
2 [2forage] : the act of foraging : search for provisions
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from fuerre, foer fodder, straw, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fuotar food, fodder — more at food.
First use: 14th century
2forage
of an animal : to eat growing grass or other plants
: to search forsomething (such as food or supplies)
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to strip of provisions : collect forage from
2 : to secure by foraging
intransitive verb
1 : to wander in search of forage or food
2 : to secure forage (as for horses) by stripping the country
3 : ravage, raid
4 : to make a search : rummage
Other forms: for·aged; for·ag·ing
for·ag·er noun
Examples
The grass serves as forage for livestock.
a good forage crop
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: browse, 1graze, pasture, rustle
Forfeit
: something that is lost or given up as punishment or because of a rule or law
Full Definition
1 : something forfeited or subject to being forfeited (as for a crime, offense, or neglect of duty) : penalty
2 : forfeiture especially of civil rights
3 a : something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine
b plural : a game in which forfeits are exacted
Origin: Middle English forfait, from Anglo-French, from past participle of forfaire, forsfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from fors outside (from Latin foris) + faire to do, from Latin facere — more at forum, do.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: damages, fine, forfeiture, mulct, penalty
2forfeit
transitive verb
: to lose or give up (something) as a punishment or because of a rule or law
Full Definition
1 : to lose or lose the right to especially by some error, offense, or crime
2 : to subject to confiscation as a forfeit; also : abandon, give up
for·feit·able -fə-tə-bəl\ adjective
for·feit·er noun
Examples
The judge declared the property a forfeit.
They were required to pay a forfeit.
We won the game by forfeit.
First use: 14th century
3forfeit
adjective
: given up or taken away as a punishment or because of a rule or law
Full Definition
: forfeited or subject to forfeiture
Examples
If the money is not claimed within six months, it will be forfeit to the town.
Schism
: a division among the members of a group that occurs because they disagree on something
Full Definition
1 : division, separation; also : discord, disharmony <a>
2 a : formal division in or separation from a church or religious body
b : the offense of promoting schism
Examples
a schism between leading members of the party
The controversy created a schism in the group.
The church was divided by schism.
Origin: Middle English scisme, from Anglo-French scisme, cisme, from Late Latin schismat-, schisma, from Greek, cleft, division, from schizein to split — more at shed.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, discord, strife, variance, war, warfare
Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace</a>
Deflect
: to cause (something that is moving) to change direction
: to hit something and suddenly change direction
: to keep (something, such as a question) from affecting or being directed at a person or thing
Full Definition
transitive verb
: to turn aside especially from a straight course or fixed directionintransitive verb
: to turn aside : deviate
de·flect·able -ˈflek-tə-bəl\ adjective
de·flec·tive -tiv\ adjective
de·flec·tor -tər\ noun
Examples
the wind deflected the Frisbee just as I was about to lunge for it
Origin: Latin deflectere to bend down, turn aside, from de- + flectere to bend.
First use: circa 1555
Synonyms: turn, divert, redirect, swing, veer, wheel, whip
Self-righteous
self–righ·teous\-ˈrī-chəs\ adjective \: having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong Full Definition \: convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others : narrow-mindedly moralistic self–righ·teous·ly adverb self–righ·teous·ness noun First use: circa 1680
Brandish
: to wave or swing (something, such as a weapon) in a threatening or excited manner
Full Definition
1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
2 : to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner
synonyms see swing
Origin: Middle English braundisshen, from Anglo-French brandiss-, stem of brandir, from brant, braund sword, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English brand.
First use: 14th century
2brandish
noun
: an act or instance of brandishing
First use: 1599
Menace
: a dangerous or possibly harmful person or thing
: someone who causes trouble or annoyance
: a dangerous or threatening quality
Full Definition
1 : a show of intention to inflict harm : threat
2 a : one that represents a threat : danger
b : an annoying person
Origin: Middle English manace, from Anglo-French manace, menace, from Latin minacia, from minac-, minax threatening, from minari to threaten — more at mount.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: hazard, imminence, danger, peril, pitfall, risk, threat, trouble
2menace
: to threaten harm to (someone or something)
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to make a show of intention to harm
2 : to represent or pose a threat to : endanger
intransitive verb
: to act in a threatening manner
Other forms: men·aced; men·ac·ing
men·ac·ing·ly -nə-siŋ-lē\ adverb
Examples
She was menaced by a man with a knife.
a country menaced by war
He gave her a menacing look.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: adventure, compromise, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopard, jeopardize, endanger, peril, risk, venture
Flout
\: to break or ignore (a law, rule, etc.) without hiding what you are doing or showing fear or shame Full Definition transitive verb \: to treat with contemptuous disregard : scorn intransitive verb \: to indulge in scornful behavior synonyms see scoff usage see flaunt flout·er noun Origin: probably from Middle English flouten to play the flute, from floute flute. First use: 1551 Synonyms: despise, disregard, scorn
Cynicism
cyn·i·cism\ˈsi-nə-ˌsi-zəm\
noun
: cynical beliefs : beliefs that people are generally selfish and dishonest
Full Definition
1 capitalized : the doctrine of the Cynics
2 : cynical attitude or quality; also : a cynical comment or act
First use: 1663
Strategic
: of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal in war, politics, etc., usually over a long period of time
: useful or important in achieving a plan or strategy
Full Definition
1 : of, relating to, or marked by strategy <a>
2 a : necessary to or important in the initiation, conduct, or completion of a strategic plan
b : required for the conduct of war and not available in adequate quantities domestically
c : of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect
3 : designed or trained to strike an enemy at the sources of its military, economic, or political power <a></a></a>
Posthumous
post·hu·mous\ˈpäs-chə-məs also -tə-, -tyə-, -thə-; päst-ˈhyü-məs, ˈpōst-, -ˈyü-\
adjective
: happening, done, or published after someone’s death
Full Definition
1 : born after the death of the father
2 : published after the death of the author
3 : following or occurring after death
post·hu·mous·ly adverb
post·hu·mous·ness noun
Examples
the soldier was awarded a posthumous medal for valor
Origin: Latin posthumus, alteration of postumus late-born, posthumous, from superl. of posterus coming after — more at posterior.
First use: 1619
Synonyms: postmortem
Antonyms: antemortem
Terse
: brief and direct in a way that may seem rude or unfriendly
Full Definition
1 : smoothly elegant : polished
2 : using few words : devoid of superfluity <a>; also : short, brusque
synonyms see concise
Other forms: ters·er; ters·est
terse·ly adverb
terse·ness noun
Examples
a terse statement/sentence/summary
She gave me a few terse instructions and promptly left the room.
a tersely worded reply
Origin: Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to wipe off.
First use: 1601
Synonyms: aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, concise, thumbnail
Antonyms: circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy</a>
Antedate
: a date assigned to an event or document earlier than the actual date of the event or document
First use: 15th century
2an·te·date\ˈan-ti-ˌdāt, ˌan-ti-ˈ\
transitive verb
: to give an earlier date rather than the actual date to (something)
: to be earlier or older than (something)
Full Definition
1 a : to date as of a time prior to that of execution
b : to assign to a date prior to that of actual occurrence
2 archaic : anticipate
3 : to precede in time
First use: 1572
Cloak
: a piece of clothing that is used as a coat, that has no sleeves, and that is worn over the shoulders and attached at the neck
: a thing that hides or covers someone or something
Full Definition
1 : a loose outer garment
2 : something likened to an outer garment: as
a : something that envelops or conceals <a>
b : a distinctive character or role
Examples
The soldiers began their attack under (the) cloak of darkness.
Their plans were shrouded in a cloak of secrecy.
Origin: Middle English cloke, from Anglo-French cloque bell, cloak, from Medieval Latin clocca bell; from its shape.
First use: 13th century
Synonyms: blanket, cope, cover, covering, coverture, cover-up, curtain, hood, mantle, mask, pall, penumbra, robe, shroud, veil, wraps
2cloak
transitive verb
: to cover (someone or something)
: to hide or disguise (something)
Full Definition
: to cover or hide with or as if with a cloak
synonyms see disguise
Examples
a field cloaked in snow
His caring personality was cloaked by shyness.
The plans were cloaked
First use: 1509</a>
Notoriety
: the condition of being famous or well-known especially for something bad : the state of being notorious
Full Definition
1 : the quality or state of being notorious
2 : a notorious person
Other forms: plural no·to·ri·e·ties
Examples
a television show featuring a rogues’ gallery of notorieties from 20 years of overhyped scandals
a lawyer of notoriety for the huge awards he’s won in medical malpractice cases
Origin: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French notorieté, from Medieval Latin notorietat-, notorietas, from notorius.
First use: circa 1650
Synonyms: big name, cause célèbre (also cause celebre), celeb, figure, icon (also ikon), light, luminary, megastar, name, notability, notable, celebrity, personage, personality, somebody, standout, star, superstar, VIP
Acquisitive
ac·quis·i·tive\ə-ˈkwi-zə-tiv\
adjective
: having a strong desire to own or acquire more things
Full Definition
: strongly desirous of acquiring and possessing
synonyms see covetous
ac·quis·i·tive·ly adverb
ac·quis·i·tive·ness noun
Examples
acquisitive developers are trying to tear down the historic home and build a shopping mall
First use: 1835
Synonyms: greedy, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious
Tendentious/ tendencious
ten·den·tious\ten-ˈden(t)-shəs\ adjective \: strongly favoring a particular point of view in a way that may cause argument : expressing a strong opinion Full Definition \: marked by a tendency in favor of a particular point of view : biased ten·den·tious·ly adverb ten·den·tious·ness noun First use: 1900
Phylogeny
1 : the evolutionary history of a kind of organism
2 : the evolution of a genetically related group of organisms as distinguished from the development of the individual organism
3 : the history or course of the development of something (as a word or custom)
Other forms: plural phy·log·e·nies
Origin: International Scientific Vocabulary.
First use: circa 1872
Profundity
pro·fun·di·ty\prə-ˈfən-də-tē\
noun
1 a : intellectual depth
b : something profound or abstruse
2 : the quality or state of being profound or deep
Other forms: plural pro·fun·di·ties
Examples
a philosopher who is widely respected for the profundity of her thinking
Origin: Middle English profundite, from Latin profunditat-, profunditas depth, from profundus.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: deepness, profoundness, depth
Populous
\: having a large population Full Definition 1 a : densely populated b : having a large population 2 a : numerous b : filled to capacity pop·u·lous·ly adverb pop·u·lous·ness noun Origin: Middle English, from Latin populosus, from populus people. First use: 15th century
Delinquency
de·lin·quen·cy\di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē, -ˈlin-\
noun
: crimes or other morally wrong acts : illegal or immoral behavior especially by young people
: the condition of someone who owes money and is not making payments at the required or expected time
Full Definition
1 a : a delinquent act
b : conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law; especially : juvenile delinquency
2 : a debt on which payment is overdue
Other forms: plural de·lin·quen·cies
Examples
we received a notice in the mail informing us of our delinquency in paying our utility bill
delinquency of our mortgage payment meant that we would have to pay a surcharge
First use: 1625
Synonyms: default, failure, dereliction, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight
Antonyms: earliness, prematureness, prematurity
Befall
of something bad or unpleasant : to happen to (someone or something)
Full Definition
intransitive verb
: to happen especially as if by fatetransitive verb
: to happen to
Other forms: be·fell-ˈfel\; be·fall·en-ˈfȯ-lən\
Examples
whatever befalls, we’ll make the best of it and carry on
First use: 13th century
Synonyms: be, happen, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go down [slang], go on, hap, occur, pass, transpire
Mendacity
: lack of honesty : the condition of being mendacious
Full Definition
1 : the quality or state of being mendacious
2 : lie
Other forms: plural men·dac·i·ties
Examples
highly fictionalized “memoirs” in which the facts were few and the mendacities many
you need to overcome this deplorable mendacity, or no one will ever believe anything you say
First use: 1646
Synonyms: fable, fabrication, fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, lie, prevarication, story, tale, taradiddle (or tarradiddle), untruth, whopper
Devout
de·vout\di-ˈvau̇t\
adjective
: deeply religious : devoted to a particular religion
: loyal to something : devoted to a particular belief, organization, person, etc.
: serious and sincere
Full Definition
1 : devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises
2 : expressing devotion or piety <a>
3 a : devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior : serious, earnest <a>
b : warmly sincere <a>
de·vout·ly adverb
de·vout·ness noun
Examples
devout Red Sox fans never lost faith during the long World Series drought
devout monks living a life of prayer and solitude
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin devotus, from Latin, past participle of devovēre.
First use: 13th century
Synonyms: constant, dedicated, devoted, faithful, down-the-line, fast, good, loyal, pious, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true, true-blue
Antonyms: disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue</a></a></a>
Penitent
: feeling or showing sorrow and regret because you have done something wrong
Full Definition
: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant
pen·i·tent·ly adverb
Origin: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: apologetic, compunctious, contrite, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry
Antonyms: impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant
2penitent
noun
: a person who is sorry for doing something wrong and asks for forgiveness : a penitent person
Full Definition
1 : a person who repents of sin
2 : a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor
Examples
penitents seeking God’s forgiveness
Desultory
: not having a plan or purpose
: done without serious effort
Full Definition
1 : marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose <a>
2 : not connected with the main subject
3 : disappointing in progress, performance, or quality <a> <a>
des·ul·to·ri·ly \ˌde-səl-ˈtȯr-ə-lē\ adverb
des·ul·to·ri·ness \ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē-nəs\ noun
Examples
a desultory search for something of interest on TV
a desultory discussion about the news of the day
Origin: Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to leap — more at sally.
First use: 1581
Synonyms: aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, random, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, scattered, slapdash, stray
Antonyms: methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized</a></a></a>
Polemic
: a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc.
: the art or practice of using language to defend or harshly criticize something or someone
Full Definition
1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy — usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
2 : an aggressive controversialist : disputant
po·lem·i·cist -ˈle-mə-sist\ noun
Origin: French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful.
Pugnacious
pug·na·cious\ˌpəg-ˈnā-shəs\
adjective
: showing a readiness or desire to fight or argue
Full Definition
: having a quarrelsome or combative nature : truculent
synonyms see belligerent
pug·na·cious·ly adverb
pug·na·cious·ness noun
pug·nac·i·ty -ˈna-sə-tē\ noun
Examples
a movie reviewer who is spirited, even pugnacious, when defending her opinions
Origin: Latin pugnac-, pugnax, from pugnare to fight — more at pungent.
First use: 1642
Synonyms: aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, belligerent, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike
Antonyms: nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious
Skulk
: to move or hide in a secret way especially because you are planning to do something bad
Full Definition
1 : to move in a stealthy or furtive manner
2 a : to hide or conceal something (as oneself) often out of cowardice or fear or with sinister intent
b chiefly British : malinger
synonyms see lurk
skulk·er noun
Origin: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect skulka to lie in wait, lurk.
First use: 13th century
2skulk
noun
1 : one that skulks
2 : a group of foxes
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: lurker, sneak, skulker, slyboots, sneaker
Whimsical
whim·si·cal\ˈhwim-zi-kəl, ˈwim-\
adjective
: unusual in a playful or amusing way : not serious
Full Definition
1 : full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims (see whim ))
2 a : resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; especially : lightly fanciful
b : subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change
whim·si·cal·i·ty \ˌhwim-zə-ˈka-lə-tē, ˌwim-\ noun
whim·si·cal·ly \ˈhwim-zi-k(ə-)lē, ˈwim-\ adverb
whim·si·cal·ness -kəl-nəs\ noun
Examples
it’s hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend
Origin: whimsy.
First use: 1653
Synonyms: capricious, freakish, impulsive
Oblivious
obliv·i·ous\ə-ˈbli-vē-əs\
adjective
: not conscious or aware of someone or something
Full Definition
1 : lacking remembrance, memory, or mindful attention
2 : lacking active conscious knowledge or awareness — usually used with of or to
obliv·i·ous·ly adverb
obliv·i·ous·ness noun
Examples
the out-of-state motorist claimed to be oblivious of the local speed limit, even though the signs must have been hard to miss
Origin: (see oblivion ).
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: clueless, incognizant, innocent, insensible, nescient, ignorant, unacquainted, unaware, unconscious, uninformed, unknowing, unmindful, unwitting
Antonyms: acquainted, aware, cognizant, conscious, conversant, grounded, informed, knowing, mindful, witting
Impotent
: lacking power or strength
of a man : unable to have sex : unable to get or keep an erection
Full Definition
1 a : not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : helpless
b : unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection; broadly : sterile
2 obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable
impotent noun
im·po·tent·ly adverb
Examples
most mules are impotent
an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- + potent-, potens potent.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: barren, fruitless, sterile, infertile, unfruitful
Antonyms: fat, fertile, fruitful
Gullible
: easily fooled or cheated ; especially : quick to believe something that is not true
Full Definition
: easily duped or cheated
gull·ibil·i·ty \ˌgə-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
gull·ibly \ˈgə-lə-blē\ adverb
Examples
he thought his grandmother was gullible simply because she was elderly, but she was sharper than he was in many ways
Variants: also gull·able \ˈgə-lə-bəl\
First use: 1818
Synonyms: dewy-eyed, exploitable, easy (also gullable), naive (or naïve), susceptible, trusting, unwary, wide-eyed
Foster
—used to describe a situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by people who are not the child’s parents
Full Definition
: affording, receiving, or sharing nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties
Origin: Middle English, from Old English fōstor-, from fōstor food, feeding; akin to Old English fōda food.
First use: before 12th century
2foster
transitive verb
: to help (something) grow or develop
: to provide the care that a parent usually gives to a child : to be or become the foster parent of a child
Full Definition
1 : to give parental care to : nurture
2 : to promote the growth or development of : encourage
Other forms: fos·tered; fos·ter·ing -t(ə-)riŋ\
fos·ter·er -tər-ər\ noun
Examples
They are foster parents to three foster children.
She’s in foster care. = She’s in a foster home.
Paramount
\: very important : of highest rank or importance Full Definition \: superior to all others : supreme <a> synonyms see dominant par·a·mount·cy \-ˌmau̇n(t)-sē\ noun par·a·mount·ly \-ˌmau̇nt-lē\ adverb Origin: Anglo-French paramont, from par by (from Latin per) + amunt above, from a to (from Latin ad) + munt mountain — more at for, at, mount. First use: 1531 Synonyms: arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, foremost, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme Antonyms: last, least 2paramount noun \: a supreme ruler
Reclamation
: the act or process of reclaiming: as
a : reformation, rehabilitation
b : restoration to use : recovery
Examples
pumped water out of the field as part of the land reclamation program designed to provide farmers with more farmland
Origin: French réclamation, from Latin reclamation-, reclamatio, from reclamare.
First use: 1633
Synonyms: recapture, recovery, recoupment, repossession, retrieval
Coup
verb
chiefly Scottish
: overturn, upset
Origin: Middle English, to strike, from Anglo-French couper — more at cope.
First use: circa 1572
2coup\ˈkü\
noun
: an impressive victory or achievement that usually is difficult or unexpected
Full Definition
1 : a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act
2 : coup d’état
Other forms: plural coups \ˈküz\
Origin: French, blow, stroke — more at cope.
First use: 1791
Synonyms: achievement, acquirement, attainment, baby, accomplishment, success, triumph
Paltry
: very small or too small in amount
: having little meaning, importance, or worth
Full Definition
1 : inferior, trashy
2 : mean, despicable <a>
3 : trivial <a>
4 : meager, measly
Other forms: pal·tri·er; pal·tri·est
pal·tri·ness noun
Examples
a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired
the hotel’s shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
just some paltry ruse to bilk the system
Origin: obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag.
First use: 1570
Synonyms: cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, nasty, contemptible, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched
Antonyms: admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy</a></a>
Poignant
: causing a strong feeling of sadness
Full Definition
1 : pungently pervasive <a>
2 a (1) : painfully affecting the feelings : piercing (2) : deeply affecting : touching
b : designed to make an impression : cutting
3 a : pleasurably stimulating
b : being to the point : apt
synonyms see pungent, moving
poi·gnant·ly adverb
Examples
a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy
a poignant truthfulness to the author’s observations on marriage
Origin: Middle English poynaunt, from Anglo-French poinant, poignant, present participle of poindre to prick, sting, from Latin pungere — more at pungent.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, moving, stirring, touching
Antonyms: unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive</a>
Circumspect
cir·cum·spect\ˈsər-kəm-ˌspekt\
adjective
: thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something
Full Definition
: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent
synonyms see cautious
cir·cum·spec·tion \ˌsər-kəm-ˈspek-shən\ noun
cir·cum·spect·ly \ˈsər-kəm-ˌspek(t)-lē\ adverb
Examples
she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse
Origin: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French circonspect, from Latin circumspectus, from past participle of circumspicere to look around, be cautious, from circum- + specere to look — more at spy.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: alert, cautious, chary, careful, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary
Antonyms: careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary
