U2Z - vocab Flashcards
Uncanny
Uncanny
Mysterious; strange
If something is uncanny, it is so mysterious, strange, or unfamiliar that it seems supernatural. If you hear strange music echoing through your attic, you might refer to it as positively uncanny.
You can also use uncanny to refer to something that is so remarkable that it is beyond what is natural: as in “uncanny abilities.” This adjective was formed in English from the prefix un- “not” and canny “fortunate, safe.” The current meaning of English canny is “careful and clever, especially in handling money.”
Undulating
Undulating
Moving in waves
Undulate describes a wave-like pattern. If a sound increases and decreases in pitch or volume like waves, you can say the sound is undulating. When searching for the lost boy, the rescuers’ cries undulated through the forest.
The verb undulate comes from the Latin word undula, which means “wavelet” (unda means “wave”). So any action shown with the verb undulate has that waving sense to it. If something moves in a wavy, pattern, for example, it is said to undulate. The wind might cause prairie grass to undulate, or music might cause hips to undulate.
Unfeigned
Unfeigned
Not false; not made up; genuine
Feign means to fake, or pretend, so unfeigned means sincere. If you greet a friend with unfeigned joy, she’ll know you are happy to see her.
Unfeigned is a delightful word, pertaining as it often does to young, innocent, and trusting people––the ones who cannot hide their feelings. Who wants fake laughs when you can have unfeigned laughter? Or fake tears when unfeigned sorrow is so much more affecting? When spelling unfeigned, remember the poem: “‘i’ before ‘e,’ except after ‘c,’ or when sounding like ‘a,’ as in ‘neighbor’ or ‘weigh’.” Or unfeigned.
Untenable
Untenable
Indefensible
If something is untenable, you can’t defend it or justify it. If your disagreement with your teacher puts you in an untenable position, you better just admit you made a mistake and get on with it.
When untenable entered English in the 17th century it meant “unable to be held against attack.” That sense still holds true: you can use the adjective untenable to describe any situation, position, or theory that simply can’t be defended. Untenable is a great word to use when you want to criticize something, whether it’s a flawed system or a referee’s bad call.
Untoward
Untoward
Not favorable; troublesome; adverse; unruly
The adjective untoward describes something offensive or inappropriate, like the rumors of untoward behavior that can shatter a Hollywood icon’s reputation.
Untoward also describes things that are not good for you, such as untoward advice from someone your parents always said was a bad influence. Think about what you do when you move toward something: you get closer to it. Suppose you’re moving toward a goal. You are, as they say, “on the right path.” But when you add the prefix un- you reverse that, and you’re no longer on the path to that goal — you’re untoward.
Usury
Usury
Practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
Usury means lending money at exorbitant interest rates. Credit-card companies charging annual interest rates of 29% are guilty of usury, as far as I’m concerned.
A good way to remember the meaning of usury is that you can hear the word use in there. Think of charging too much interest as a way of “using” someone. The sad thing about high interest is that it’s always the people who can least afford it who are charged rates so high that it amounts to usury. In the old days, if someone was found guilty of usury, they’d be flogged in the town square. Too bad the credit-card companies can’t be dragged out of their holes, because they’d surely get a similar beating.
Vacillate
Vacillate
To waver; oscillate
Vacillate means to waver back and forth, unable to decide. You might vacillate between ordering waffles and pancakes at your favorite diner — it’s hard to pick just one when both are so tasty!
Something that vacillates sways or fluctuates, often quite unsteadily. So use this verb to describe the staggering motions of a person who has had too much to drink, as well as the opinions of someone who can’t make up her mind. Synonyms include vibrate, hesitate, and waver. A wise Ethiopian proverb advises, “Do not vacillate or you will be left in between doing something, having something, and being nothing.”
Vacuous
Vacuous
Empty; void; lacking intelligence; purposeless
Reserved for the harmlessly stupid and truly meaningless, vacuous is a smart-sounding way to describe something dumb. Celebrity gossip and reality TV is usually pretty vacuous, even if it’s fun.
If someone smiles at you in a way that seems fake or empty, you could describe the smile as vacuous. An example of a vacuous comment would be a politician promising to make things better without explaining how. If something is vacuous, it’s like a vacuum — hollow, empty, devoid of substance.
Valedictory
Valedictory
Pertaining to a farewell
A valedictory is a speech expressing farewell, as at a school graduation. The adjective valedictory relates to saying good-bye, but almost always refers to a speech or address.
Many people think of a valedictory address as the graduation speech given by the kid who got the highest grades in school — and often it is — but valedictory words don’t have to have anything to do with schools or grades or throwing your cap in the air. They’re all about taking one’s leave or saying farewell, whether it’s the president leaving office or a worker reaching retirement or a friend at a going-away party.
Vapid
Vapid
Tasteless; dull
Reserve the adjective vapid for the airhead in your office that brings nothing to the table, except maybe the doughnuts. Vapid is an adjective to describe someone or something that is dull or uninspiring.
“We prefer not to consider the shockingly vapid and primitive comments uttered by athletes in postcontest interviews,” David Foster Wallace wrote. The word was originally used in English in a much more literal sense, describing beverages that lacked flavor. It comes from the Latin word vapidus, literally “having exhaled its vapor.”
Variegated
Variegated
Varied; marked with different colors
Something variegated has many different colors, as in the trees of autumn or the feathers of a peacock. Whenever you see “vari” at the beginning of a word, you know that the idea of difference or change is involved.
Using vari is a good way to start thinking about this word. It’s the same root as in various, variable, varied, and variety. All these words mean something similar: lots of different versions of something. The scales of a fish can appear quite variegated from one angle and then strangely uniform from another. A tiger’s variegated coat helps it stay hidden.
Vaunt
Vaunt
To boast; brag
To vaunt is to brag and boast and flaunt and go on and on about how great something is. It’s over-the-top showing off, and when you taunt and exaggerate your greatness, you vaunt to the point of no longer seeming so great.
From the Latin vānitāre — which comes from vānus, meaning “vain” or “empty” — vaunt is a verb for taking praise too far or talking something up too much. Even if it’s earned or deserved bragging, vaunting about something gets old and loses it impact. Other times, vaunt, as a noun, is a sure sign that a hard sell is going on — someone is talking big but can’t deliver.
Venal
Venal
Bribable; mercenary; corruptible
Someone with venal motives is corrupt and maybe a little evil. Nobody wants to be thought of as venal.
Venal actions include taking bribes, giving jobs to your friends, and cheating. Venal means about the same thing as “corrupt” or “corruptible.” Venal people are considered sleazy and untrustworthy. They’re often criminals. No one is perfect, and most of us have venal motives at some point.
Vendetta
Vendetta
Prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility
A vendetta is blood feud, a quest for revenge. In Corsica, a vendetta will separate families for generations, with members of one family murdering those of the other, all to satisfy an ancient grudge.
If a friend of yours breaks into your locker and fills it with crumpled up newspaper, you will not be able to hold your head up until you have carried out a vendetta. Perhaps you can tie his shoes together during French class without his noticing?
Venerate
Venerate
“V. to adore; honor; respect, adj. respected because of age, character, or position”
To venerate is to worship, adore, be in awe of. You probably don’t venerate your teacher or boss; however, you may act like you do!
The word hasn’t come far from its Latin roots in venerari, “to worship.” Although you can certainly venerate a deity, a person can deserve it, too. Find part of the word Venus in there, meaning “love, desire” and dang, if someone venerates you, you’re doing okay. We don’t usually venerate our sweethearts; we often save it for those higher powers, or for remarkable people we’re in awe of. Mother Teresa was venerated for her work with the poor, and Gandhi was venerated for his efforts for peace, but most people aren’t venerated for normal stuff, like being someone’s sweetie.
