The Gene 4 Flashcards
redoubtable
1 : causing fear or alarm : formidable
2 : illustrious, eminent; broadly : worthy of respect
“Physics was taught by Christian Doppler, the redoubtable Austrian scientist who would become Mendel’s mentor, teacher, and idol.” (20)
The word redoubtable is worthy of respect itself, if only for its longevity; it has been used in English for things formidable since at least the 15th century. This “dread”-ful term comes to us through Middle English from the Anglo-French verb reduter, meaning “to dread,” and ultimately derives from duter, meaning “to doubt.” Things or people that are formidable and alarming can also inspire awe and even admiration, however, and it wasn’t long before the meaning of redoubtable was extended from “formidable” to “illustrious” and “worthy of respect.”
MD anglo-french word - reduter
OJ’s redoubtable defense team raised doubt in OJ’s guilt and created self-doubt in the prosecution.
acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone acerbic commentary; an acerbic reviewer
“In 1842, Doppler, a guant, acerbic thirty-nine-year-old, had used mathematical reasoning to argue that the pitch of sound (or the color of light) was not fixed, but depended on the location and velocity of the observer.” (20)
MD acerbus sharp bitter- acetic acid - vinegar
gaunt
excessively thin and angular
Synonym Discussion of gaunt
lean, spare, lank, lanky, gaunt, rawboned, scrawny, skinny mean thin because of an absence of excess flesh. lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. ⟨a lean racehorse⟩ spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. ⟨the gymnast’s spare figure⟩ lank implies tallness as well as leanness. ⟨the lank legs of the heron⟩ lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. ⟨a lanky youth, all arms and legs⟩ gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. ⟨a prisoner’s gaunt face⟩ rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. ⟨a rawboned farmer⟩ scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality. ⟨a scrawny chicken⟩ ⟨skinny street urchins⟩
MD - Gollom Guant
forthright
going straight to the point clearly and firmly
MD - 4 rights
profusion
- lavish display
- great quantity
“Superficially, there seemed to be a profusion of order-or rather a profusion of Orders.” (20)
A profusion is literally a “pouring forth”, so a profusion of gifts is a wealth or abundance of gifts. A profusely illustrated book is filled to overflowing with pictures. A bad social error should be followed by profuse apologies, and profound gratitude should be expressed with profuse thanks.
MD - profusion of asian fusion. 200 egg rolls, 100 california rolls, 50 bowls of green curry.
Order (taxonomy)
A taxonomic rank used in classifying organisms, generally below the class, and comprised of families ..
MD, Kingdom, Phylum, Order in the middle with pig, hippos, girrafes
illustrious
notably or brilliantly outstanding because of dignity or achievements or actions : eminent
Etymology - Illustrious people seem to light up everything around them. The etymology of illustrious makes it clear that a shining glow (both literal and figurative) has long been associated with the word. “Illustrious” ultimately derives from the Latin verb lustrare, which means “to purify” or “to make bright,” and which is related to the noun that gave us “luster.” At one time, “illustrious” was used in the literal sense of “shining brightly with light,” but that meaning is now considered archaic. The word is now almost exclusively used in its figurative application to describe something that stands out brilliantly, much like a bright star stands out in the sky.
MD - luster - bright. Gucci Mane’s Bart Simpson chain with all of its luster symbolize his notably brilliant and outstanding career (in the achievement sense of the word) but not in dignity (poor taste of the chain) or in action sense (multiple stints in prison).
acetic acid
a colorless pungent liquid acid C2H4O2 or CH3COOH that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics)
Lemon juice is on average five to six percent citric acid. Vinegar, on the other hand, is comprised of acetic acid. In terms of percentage, it depends on the vinegar. White vinegar tends to have seven percent acetic acid, which is a higher level than other vinegars. Slightly milder vinegars, such as balsamic and red wine vinegar, have about six percent, and a relatively mild rice wine vinegar is around four and a half percent (none of which you would use for ricotta). In terms of PH, vinegar is slightly more acidic than lemon juice.
Etymology - 1808 (in acetic acid), from French acétique “pertaining to vinegar, sour, having the properties of vinegar,” from Latin acetum “vinegar” (properly vinum acetum “wine turned sour;” see vinegar), originally past participle of acere “be sharp; be sour” (related to acer “sharp”), from PIE *ak-eto-, suffixed form of root *ak- “be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce.
squarely
in a straightforward or honest manner we must squarely face the issue
MD picture from mindbody with head and body. Square in the torso, legs, and face.
dignity
1 : the quality or state of being worthy of honor and respect
2 : a serious and admirable look or way of behaving
the dignified pirate (serious and admirable looking) digs for treasure that is worthy of honor and respect.
