Unfamiliar Words Flashcards
1
Q
Etymology
A
: the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Ex: After a bit of research, I found the etymology associated with my name and discovered my name’s meaning.
Similar word - Entomology: Entomon means “insect” in Greek, and entomology is the study of bugs.
Etymon means “origin of a word” in Latin, and comes from the Greek word etymon, meaning “literal meaning of a word according to its origin.”
2
Q
Gabelle
A
: a tax on salt levied in France prior to 1790
Ex: The Gabelle, which led to several rebellions, was not abolished until the Revolution .
Middle English gabell, borrowed from Middle French gabelle, going back to Old French, “tax on certain commodities,” borrowed from Italian gabella, borrowed from Arabic qabāla “tribute,” derivative of qabila “receive”
3
Q
Incontrovertible
A
: not open to question
Ex: incontrovertible facts that left the jury with no choice but to convict
4
Q
Ignominy
A
: deep personal humiliation and disgrace
ex: She had to endure the ignominy of being forced to resign.
Middle French ignominie, from Latin ignominia, from ig- (as in ignorare to be ignorant of, ignore) + nomin-, nomen name, repute
5
Q
Ensue
A
: to strive to attain
ex: I wander, seeking peace, and ensuing it
Middle English, from Anglo-French ensivre (3rd singular ensiut), from en- + sivre to follow
6
Q
Putative
A
: commonly accepted or supposed
ex: This has always been a nation willing to sell out its past for putative progress.
Middle English, from Late Latin putativus, from Latin putatus, past participle of putare to think
7
Q
Sectarian
A
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian. a narrow or bigoted person
ex: there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate
8
Q
Opulently
A
: amply or plentifully provided or fashioned often to the point of ostentation. having a large estate or property : WEALTHY
ex: an opulent mansion filled with priceless art and antiques
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin opulentus “abounding in resources, wealthy,” from op-, *ops “power, ability, wealth” + -ulentus “having in quantity, full of” (probably dissimilated from *-o-u̯ent-os, with Indo-European *-u̯ent-, suffix of possession)
9
Q
Riposte
A
: a fencer’s quick return thrust following a parry. a retaliatory verbal sally : RETORT. a retaliatory maneuver or measure.
ex: he’s known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult
French, modification of Italian risposta, literally, answer, from rispondere to respond, from Latin respondēre
10
Q
Harried
A
: beset by problems : HARASSED
ex: Despite all the data that points to a harried group of individuals, working parents are still largely underserved in the workplace.
11
Q
Endemic
A
: belonging or native to a particular people or country. characteristic of or prevalent in a particular field, area, or environment.
ex: the self-indulgence endemic in the film industry
borrowed from French & New Latin; French endémique, borrowed from New Latin endēmicus, from Medieval Latin *endēmia “disease fixed in one locality” + New Latin -icus -IC entry 1; Medieval Latin *endēmia, probably from Greek éndēmos “at home, living in a place, native, confined to one area (of a disease, in GALEN)” (from en- EN- entry 2 + -dēmos, adjective derivative of dêmos “district, country, people”) on the model of epidēmia “disease affecting a large number of individuals”
12
Q
Neophyte
A
: a new convert. novice. beginner.
exs: a neophyte when it comes to computers
neophytes fresh from graduate schools of business
Middle English neophite, borrowed from Late Latin neophytus, borrowed from Greek neóphytos “newly planted” (in New Testament and patristic Greek, “newly converted, new convert”), from neo- NEO- + -phytos, verbal adjective of phýein “to bring forth, produce”
13
Q
Ravaged
A
: violently destructive effect. to wreak havoc on : affect destructively.
ex: Hurricane Andrew ravaged Louisiana and Florida in 1992, causing $19 billion in damage.
borrowed from French, “destruction, damage (by human or animal agency, or by natural or nonmaterial causes, as disease or age),” going back to Middle French, “destruction by human agency, pillage, violent flood of water,” from ravir “to seize forcefully, plunder, sweep along” (going back to Old French) + -age AGE
14
Q
Malady
A
: a disease or disorder of the animal body. an unwholesome or disordered condition
ex: told by his physicians that he had a fatal malady
Middle English maladie, from Anglo-French, from malade sick, from Latin male habitus in bad condition
15
Q
Noisome
A
: offensive to the senses and especially to the sense of smell. highly obnoxious or objectionable
ex: it’s no fun having asthma and living in an area with noisome smog
Middle English noysome, from noy annoyance, alteration of anoi, from Anglo-French anui, from anuier to harass, annoy
16
Q
Pulchritudinous
A
: physical comeliness
ex:Why, at this moment celebrating body positivity and diversity, the natural pulchritude of all figures, do women continue to wrap wire around their breasts, hoisting them inches above their innate resting position?
Middle English, from Latin pulchritudin-, pulchritudo, from pulchr-, pulcher beautiful
17
Q
Penury
A
: a cramping and oppressive lack of resources (such as money)
especially : severe poverty. extreme and often stingy frugality
ex: Looking at the data, two things can make the difference between comfort and penury.
ex: Middle English, from Latin penuria, paenuria want; perhaps akin to Latin paene almost
18
Q
Sanguine
A
: marked by eager hopefulness : confidently optimistic. consisting of or relating to blood. a moderate to strong red.
ex: He has been strangely sanguine about this, blandly ignoring the mounting evidence that dissident elements in the police are stirring trouble.
19
Q
Ascertain
A
: to find out or learn with certainty. to make certain, exact, or precise.
ex: The number of people listening from nearby yachts could not be ascertained.
Middle English acertainen to inform, give assurance to, from Anglo-French acerteiner, from a- (from Latin ad-) + certein, certain certain
20
Q
Assay
A
: to analyze (something, such as an ore) for one or more specific components. to judge the worth of : ESTIMATE. TRY, ATTEMPT
ex: They assayed the gold to determine its purity.
21
Q
Peruse
A
: to examine or consider with attention and in detail : STUDY.
ex: I’ve even found myself idly perusing the Yellow Pages, not frantic for a plumber, just browsing.
Middle English, to use up, deal with in sequence, from Latin per- thoroughly + Middle English usen to use
22
Q
Homograph
A
: one of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation (such as the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow)
ex: Should someone make a phishing website with a homograph of your domain, your business can take a major hit.
23
Q
Euphony
A
: pleasing or sweet sound. a harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound.
ex: For all the euphony and alliteration of the phrase, winter white is more of a squirrel-meat gray.
24
Q
Epigram
A
: a concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought. a terse, sage, or witty and often paradoxical saying.
ex: Unlike those, an epigram has a flash of pleasing humor in it.
Middle English epigrame, borrowed from Latin epigrammat-, epigramma “inscription, epitaph, epigram,” borrowed from Greek epigrammat-, epígramma “inscription on a tomb, monument or work of art” (Late Greek, “short poem, epigram”), from epigráphein “to mark the surface of, graze, scratch a mark on, inscribe” (from epi- EPI- + gráphein “to cut into, scratch, inscribe, write”) + -mat-, -ma, resultative noun suffix — more at CARVE
25
Phonetics
: the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages
ex: The book also includes an index of terms with phonetics and color coding.
26
Homonym
one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning (such as the noun quail and the verb quail). a taxonomic designation rejected as invalid because the identical term has been used to designate another group of the same rank.
ex: The noun “bear” and the verb “bear” are homonyms.
Latin homonymum, from Greek homōnymon, from neuter of homōnymos
27
Polyphony
: a style of musical composition employing two or more simultaneous but relatively independent melodic lines : COUNTERPOINT
ex: Over that electronic polyphony, accompanists on period instruments, including the theorbo (a long-necked lute), improvised sometimes plangent, sometimes dissonant improvisations.
Greek polyphōnia variety of tones, from polyphōnos having many tones or voices, from poly- + phōnē voice — more at BAN entry 1
28
Graphite
: a soft black lustrous form of carbon that conducts electricity and is used in lead pencils and electrolytic anodes, as a lubricant, and as a moderator in nuclear reactors. a composite material in which carbon fibers are the reinforcing material.
ex: The show includes landscapes, stars, flowers, portraits and nudes made from charcoal, watercolor, pastel and graphite.
German Graphit, from Greek graphein to write
29
Choleric
: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered.
ex: watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk
30
Bilious
: of or relating to a yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and that aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats : of or relating to bile. of or indicative of a peevish ill-natured disposition. sickeningly unpleasant.
ex: a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone
Middle French bilieux, from Latin biliosus, from bilis
31
Phlegmatic
: resembling, consisting of, or producing the humor phlegm. having or showing a slow and stolid temperament.
ex: a strangely phlegmatic response to what should have been happy news
32
Melancholic
: of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : DEPRESSED. tending to depress the spirits : SADDENING.
ex: she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life
Middle English malencolic, melancolyk "consisting of or caused by black bile, irascible, gloomy," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French melancolique, borrowed from Latin melancholicus, borrowed from Greek melancholikós, from melancholía "black bile
33
Aver
: to declare positively. o verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause. to allege or assert in pleading.
ex: He averred that he was innocent.
Middle English averren, from Anglo-French averer, from Medieval Latin adverare to confirm as authentic, from Latin ad- + verus true
34
Avert
: to turn away or aside (the eyes, one's gaze, etc.) in avoidance. to see coming and ward off.
ex: He sped up and averted an accident.
Middle English, from Middle French avertir, from Latin avertere, from ab- + vertere to turn
35
Embellish
: to make beautiful with ornamentation : DECORATE. to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details.
ex: He embellished his speech with a few quotations.
Middle English, from Anglo-French embeliss-, stem of embelir, from en- + bel beautiful — more at BEAUTY
36
Protagonist
: the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story). the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc. an active participant in an event.
ex: She was a leading protagonist in the civil rights movement.
Greek prōtagōnistēs, from prōt- prot- + agōnistēs competitor at games, actor, from agōnizesthai to compete, from agōn contest, competition at games — more at AGONY
37
Adumbrate
: to foreshadow vaguely : INTIMATE. to suggest, disclose, or outline partially.
ex: the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow
borrowed from Latin adumbrātus, past participle of adumbrāre "to shade, represent by means of light and shade, sketch, outline," from ad- AD- + -umbrāre, verbal derivative of umbra "shadow" — more at UMBRAGE
38
Insouciant
: lighthearted unconcern : NONCHALANCE.
ex: wandered into the meeting with complete insouciance to the fact that she was late
French, from in- + soucier to trouble, disturb, from Old French, from Latin sollicitare — more at SOLICIT
39
Moribund
: being in the state of dying : approaching death. being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence
ex: an actor who is trying to revive his moribund career
Latin moribundus, from mori to die — more at MURDER
40
Discountenance
: to look with disfavor on : discourage by evidence of disapproval.
ex: a social philosopher who discountenanced all programs for helping the needy, claiming that society should encourage survival of the fittest
41
Attenuate
: to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of : WEAKEN.
: to reduce the severity, virulence, or vitality of .
ex: Earplugs will attenuate the loud sounds of the machinery.
Middle English attenuat, from Latin attenuatus, past participle of attenuare to make thin, from ad- + tenuis thin — more at THIN
42
Exalt
: to raise in rank, power, or character. to elevate by praise or in estimation : GLORIFY
ex: His behavior has exalted the power and prestige of his office.
Middle English, from Latin exaltare, from ex- + altus high — more at OLD
43
Commiserate
: to feel or express sympathy : CONDOLE
ex: The players commiserated over their loss in the championship game.
Latin commiseratus, past participle of commiserari, from com- + miserari to pity, from miser wretched
44
Reproves
: to scold or correct usually gently or with kindly intent. to express disapproval of : CENSURE.
ex: The teacher reproved the student for being late.
Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-French reprover, from Late Latin reprobare to disapprove, condemn, from Latin re- + probare to test, approve — more at PROVE
45
Castigating
: to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism.
ex: The author castigated the prime minister as an ineffective leader.
Latin castigatus, past participle of castigare — more at CHASTEN
46
Bemused
: marked by confusion or bewilderment : DAZED. lost in thought or reverie.
ex: Casey Stoney seems bemused by the fuss over teens playing in the NWSL.
47
Flagging
LANGUID, WEAK. becoming progressively less : DWINDLING.
ex: That, coupled with the tabloids’ focus on his flagging health, frustrated him.
48
Enervated
: lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor : ENERVATED. to lessen the vitality or strength of
ex: This relationship, when successful, tends to enervate mediating institutions that thwart the immediate desires of both the populist leader and the public.
Latin enervatus, past participle of enervare, from e- + nervus sinew — more at NERVE
49
Indubitably
: too evident to be doubted : UNQUESTIONABLE.
ex: the indubitable fact that there are no more woolly mammoths or saber-toothed tigers around
Middle English indubitabyll, from Latin indubitabilis, from in- + dubitabilis dubitable
50
Galvanize
: to subject to the action of an electric current especially for the purpose of stimulating physiologically. to coat (iron or steel) with zinc.
ex: The group is hoping to galvanize public opinion against the proposed law.
borrowed from French galvaniser, from Luigi GALVANI (who conducted pioneering experiments in bioelectricity) + -iser -IZE
51
Affable
: being pleasant and at ease in talking to others. characterized by ease and friendliness.
ex: In repose, he can be affable and quite funny. But woe betide anyone who crosses him or who fails to perform to his demanding standards.
Middle English affabyl, borrowed from Anglo-French affable, borrowed from Latin affābilis, from affārī "to speak to, address" (from ad- AD- + fārī "to speak") + -bilis "capable of (being acted upon)" — more at BAN entry 1, -ABLE
52
Salutary
: producing a beneficial effect : REMEDIAL. promoting health : CURATIVE.
ex: The accident should be a salutary lesson to be more careful.
Middle French salutaire, from Latin salutaris, from salut-, salus health
53
Abstain
: to choose not to do or have something : to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice. to choose not to vote.
ex: Ten members voted for the proposal, six members voted against it, and two abstained.
Middle English absteinen, abstenen, borrowed from Anglo-French asteign-, absteign-, stem of astenir, abstenir, borrowed (with conjugation change, conformed to tenir) from Latin abstinēre "to keep from, hold back, refrain, withhold oneself from," from abs- (variant of ab- AB- before c- and t-) + tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" — more at TENANT entry 1
54
Apathy
: lack of feeling or emotion : IMPASSIVENESS.
ex: The result could well be further inequality of political information, with avid followers of politics becoming ever more knowledgeable while the rest of the public slips deeper into political apathy.
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French apathie, borrowed from Latin apathīa, borrowed from Greek apatheîa, noun derivative of apathḗs "not suffering, without passion or feeling, impassive," from a- A- entry 2 + -pathēs, adjective derivative of páthos "experience, misfortune, emotion" — more at PATHOS
55
Capricious
: governed or characterized by caprice : IMPULSIVE, UNPREDICTABLE
ex: every balloon voyage is a race between capricious winds and the amount of fuel on board.
borrowed from Middle French capricieux, borrowed from Italian capriccioso, from capriccio CAPRICE + -oso -OUS
56
Engender
: BEGET, PROCREATE. to cause to exist or to develop : PRODUCE.
ex: a suggestion to go out for pizza that didn't seem to engender any interest
Middle English engendren, from Anglo-French engendrer, from Latin ingenerare, from in- + generare to generate
57
Laudable
: worthy of praise : COMMENDABLE.
ex: Improving the schools is a laudable goal.
58
Placate
: to soothe or mollify especially by concessions : APPEASE.
ex: Mason falls on his sword for concealing the murder weapon, earning a four-month jail sentence and placating the judge.
Latin placatus, past participle of placare — more at PLEASE
59
Prodigal
: characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : LAVISH. recklessly spendthrift. yielding abundantly : LUXURIANT —often used with of. : one who has returned after an absence.
ex: We sipped our beers and wondered at one another, at what was left of all that and of those prodigal days.
Latin prodigus, from prodigere to drive away, squander, from pro-, prod- forth + agere to drive — more at PRO-, AGENT
60
Adulterate
: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element. especially : to prepare for sale by replacing more valuable with less valuable or inert ingredients.
ex: the pharmacist was convicted of selling adulterate drugs in order to maximize profits
borrowed from Latin adulterātus, past participle of adulterāre "to defile by adultery, commit adultery with, mix with another substance, pollute," from ad- AD- + -alterāre, verbal derivative of alter "second, other" — more at ALTER
61
Assuage
: to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : EASE. to put an end to by satisfying : APPEASE, QUENCH.
ex: Life contains sorrows that cannot be assuaged, and it is important to be honest in acknowledging this.
Middle English aswagen, from Anglo-French asuager, from Vulgar Latin *assuaviare, from Latin ad- + suavis sweet — more at SWEET
62
Corroborate
: to support with evidence or authority : make more certain
ex: Evidence like this is rarely conclusive, but it can help police corroborate testimony …
Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare, from com- + robor-, robur strength
63
Erudite
: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying : possessing or displaying erudition
ex: He wasn't bashful about showing himself to be feverishly erudite, … terminally droll, and a wizard phrasemaker.
Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus, from past participle of erudire to instruct, from e- + rudis rude, ignorant
64
Loquacious
: full of excessive talk : WORDY. given to fluent or excessive talk.
ex: With a wonderful memory for detail, this talkative woman—who my father said never forgets anything—became truly loquacious.
Latin loquāc-, loquāx "talkative, verbose" (from loquī "to talk, speak" + -āc-, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance) + -IOUS — more at ELOQUENT, AUDACIOUS
65
Opaque
: blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity. hard to understand or explain. OBTUSE, THICKHEADED.
ex: somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics
Latin opacus — see OPACITY
66
Zeal
: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something : FERVOR
ex: He showed his anatomical zeal by robbing a wayside gibbet, smuggling the bones back home and reconstructing the skeleton.
Middle English zele, from Late Latin zelus, from Greek zēlos
67
Audacious
: intrepidly daring : ADVENTUROUS. recklessly bold : RASH. contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : INSOLENT.
ex: This is an audacious claim, and Kramer anticipates, even encourages, the controversy it might provoke.
borrowed from Middle French audacieux, from audace "daring, recklessness" (borrowed from Latin audācia, from audāc-, audāx "daring, bold, excessively daring, reckless" + -ia -IA entry 1) + -ieux -IOUS; audāx from audēre "to intend, dare, venture" (verbal derivative of avidus "ardent, eager, greedy") + -āc-,-āx, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance (probably going back to Indo-European *-eh2, noun ending + *-k-, suffixal formative) — more at AVID
68
Desiccate
: to dry up. to preserve (a food) by drying : DEHYDRATE. to drain of emotional or intellectual vitality.
ex: As central Spain's Tirez Lagoon dried up over 20 years, becoming entirely desiccated by 2015, its barren landscape began to evoke arid Martian plains.
Latin desiccatus, past participle of desiccare to dry up, from de- + siccare to dry, from siccus dry — more at SACK
69
Ephemeral
: lasting a very short time. lasting one day only.
ex: the autumnal blaze of colors is always to be treasured, all the more so because it is so ephemeral
Greek ephēmeros lasting a day, daily, from epi- + hēmera day
70
Fervid
: very hot : BURNING. marked by often extreme fervor
ex: at the school board meeting the librarian delivered a fervid speech defending the classic novel against would-be censors
Latin fervidus, from fervēre
71
Laconic
: using or involving the use of a minimum of words : concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
ex: The closest anyone comes to announcing his destination is a laconic "Guess I'll head on in."
Latin laconicus Spartan, from Greek lakōnikos; from the Spartan reputation for terseness of speech
72
Pedant
: one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge
ex: All too often, science fiction provokes the pedant in professional scientists, for whom a beautiful story can be ruined by a single petty error.
Middle French, from Italian pedante
73
Vacillate
: to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses. to sway through lack of equilibrium.
ex: She has vacillated on this issue.
borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin
74
Obscure
: shrouded in or hidden by darkness. not clearly seen or easily distinguished : FAINT. not readily understood or clearly expressed. relatively unknown: such as.
ex:Many people shared an obscure sense of gratification that [Dylan] Thomas had died young, as a poet should.
Middle English, "dark, unenlightened, incomprehensible," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French oscur, obscur "dark, dull, enigmatic," borrowed from Latin obscūrus "dim, dark, appearing faintly, imperfectly known, concealed from knowledge, incomprehensible," of uncertain origin
75
Consummate
: extremely skilled and accomplished. complete in every detail : PERFECT. to make (marital union) complete by sexual intercourse.
ex:To thrive in science, you must be both a consummate collaborator and a relentless competitor.
Middle English consummat fulfilled, from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare to sum up, finish, from com- + summa sum
76
Dogma
: something held as an established opinion. a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds. a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.
ex: He was known for his ability to burst the bubble of generally accepted dogma, to puncture it with data and detached observations.
Latin dogmat-, dogma, from Greek, from dokein to seem — more at DECENT
77
Tenet
: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true.
ex: one of the basic tenets of the fashion industry
borrowed from Latin, "(s/he) holds," 3rd person singular present tense of tenēre "to hold, possess" — more at TENANT entry 1
78
Polity
: political organization.
ex: the polities of medieval Italy
probably borrowed from Late Latin polītīa "citizenship, political organization, constitution of a state, administrative direction," with ending conformed to -ITY — more at POLICE entry 1
79
Spurious
: born to parents not married to each other. outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities : FALSE. of a deceitful nature or quality.
ex: Of all the potentially spurious phrases regularly found lurking on book jackets, none should be approached with greater wariness than "This is his first novel."
Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin spurius false, from Latin, of illegitimate birth, from spurius, noun, bastard
80
Terse
: using few words : devoid of superfluity. smoothly elegant : POLISHED.
ex: This vicious cycle was captured succinctly in Gandhi's terse warning that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to wipe off
81
Fallacious
: tending to deceive or mislead : DELUSIVE
ex: it's fallacious to say that something must exist because science hasn't proven its nonexistence
82
Bellicose
: favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
ex: His evident calm, which always infuriated the opposition, must have irritated the bellicose colonel to a point at which he could control himself no longer.
Middle English, from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus of war, from bellum war
83
Blithe
: lacking due thought or consideration : CASUAL, HEEDLESS. of a happy lighthearted character or disposition.
ex: He showed blithe disregard for the rights of others.
Middle English, from Old English blīthe; akin to Old High German blīdi joyous
84
Extol
: to praise highly : GLORIFY
ex: The health benefits of exercise are widely extolled.
Middle English, from Latin extollere, from ex- + tollere to lift up — more at TOLERATE
85
Deprecate
: to express disapproval of. PLAY DOWN : make little of. BELITTLE, DISPARAGE. to withdraw official support for or discourage the use of (something, such as a software product) in favor of a newer or better alternative. to pray against (something, such as an evil).
ex: movie critics tried to outdo one another in deprecating the comedy as the stupidest movie of the year
Latin deprecatus, past participle of deprecari to avert by prayer, from de- + precari to pray — more at PRAY
86
Spurn
: to reject with disdain or contempt : SCORN. to tread sharply or heavily upon : TRAMPLE. to reject something disdainfully.
ex: fiercely independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help
Middle English, from Old English spurnan; akin to Old High German spurnan to kick, Latin spernere to spurn, Greek spairein to quiver
87
Eulogize
: to speak or write in high praise of : EXTOL
ex: He was eulogized at his funeral as a great actor and a good friend.
88
Pseudo Intellectuals
: a person who wants to be thought of as having a lot of intelligence and knowledge but who is not really intelligent or knowledgeable
89
Inane
: lacking significance, meaning, or point : SILLY. EMPTY, INSUBSTANTIAL.
ex: All around us swirls the battering of gargantuan films, Styrofoam epics with megatons of special effects, gleefully inane adolescent films, horror films that really are horrible.
Latin inanis
90
Inferences
: something that is inferred. the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former.
ex:The writer of science fiction extends or projects or draws inferences from what is known and accepted.
91
Paleolithic
: of or relating to the earliest period of the Stone Age characterized by rough or chipped stone implements
ex: Rather, it was meant to animate the engravings as a form of Paleolithic entertainment.
92
Inimical
: being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence. having the disposition of an enemy : HOSTILE
ex: laws designed to enhance national security that some regard as inimical to cherished freedoms
Late Latin inimicalis, from Latin inimicus enemy — more at ENEMY
93
Decimate
: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of. to exact a tax of 10 percent from.
ex: This kind of moth is responsible for decimating thousands of trees in our town.
Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare, from decimus tenth, from decem ten
94
Posit
: to dispose or set firmly : FIX. to assume or affirm the existence of : POSTULATE. to propose as an explanation : SUGGES/
ex: Like the paintings of Jasper Johns, Johnson’s work posits itself in relation to conventions and then frames, distorts and satirizes them.
Latin positus, past participle of ponere
95
Ingratiating
: intended or adopted in order to gain favor : FLATTERING. capable of winning favor : PLEASING.
ex:one of the orphans had a most ingratiating smile
96
Enumerate
: to ascertain the number of : COUNT. to specify one after another : LIST.
ex: Let me enumerate my reasons for doing this.
Latin enumeratus, past participle of enumerare, from e- + numerare to count, from numerus number
97
Invective
: insulting or abusive language : VITUPERATION.
ex: hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic
Middle English invectif, from Middle French, from Latin invectivus, from invectus, past participle of invehere
98
Laden
: carrying a load or burden
ex: Early Wednesday, tugboats laden with evacuees zipped across the water to Saudi naval ships.
99
Petulant
: insolent or rude in speech or behavior. characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : PEEVISH.
ex: In the hot, petulant little cockpit she was triumphant—drunk with anger, defiance, and the beginnings of relief.
Latin or Middle French; Middle French, from Latin petulant-, petulans; akin to Latin petere to go to, attack, seek — more at FEATHER
100
Tempestuous
: of, relating to, or resembling a tempest : TURBULENT, STORMY.
ex: in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history
Middle English tempestuous, Latinization of tempestous, borrowed from Anglo-French, re-formation of Late Latin tempestuōsus, from tempestu-, probably extracted from Latin tempestūt-, tempestūs, archaic variant of tempestāt-, tempestās "stretch of time, season, weather, TEMPEST entry 1" + -ōsus -OUS
101
Placid
: serenely free of interruption or disturbance.
ex: a person with a sunny, placid disposition
Latin placidus, from placēre to please — more at PLEASE
102
Mercurial
: of, relating to, or born under the planet Mercury. having qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or to the influence of the planet Mercury. characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood.
ex: Few moments in English history have been more hungry for the future, its mercurial possibilities and its hope of richness, than the spring of 1603.
103
Pliant
: easily influenced : YIELDING. suitable for varied uses.
ex: a pliant Congress that will do whatever the President wants
Middle English pliaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French pliant, plyaunt "able to be bent or folded, obedient, compliant," from present participle of plier "to fold, bend" — more at PLY entry 3
104
Intrinsic
: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing. originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part. being or relating to a semiconductor in which the concentration of charge carriers is characteristic of the material itself instead of the content of any impurities it contains.
ex:Subatomic particles have an intrinsic orientation known as spin, which can point in one of two directions, conventionally called "up" and "down."
French intrinsèque internal, from Late Latin intrinsecus, from Latin, adverb, inwardly; akin to Latin intra within — more at INTRA-
105
Frenetic
: marked by fast and energetic, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity
ex: the frenetic rush to get every member of the cast in place before the curtain went up
Middle English frenetik, frentik, frantike "temporarily deranged, delirious," borrowed from Anglo-French frenetic, frenetique, borrowed from Latin phrenēticus "suffering from madness," borrowed from Greek phrenētikós, late variant of phrenītikós, from phrenîtis "inflammation of the brain, delirium, insanity" (from phren-, phrḗn "midriff, seat of the passions, mind, wit" —of uncertain origin— + -ītis -ITIS) + -ikos
106
Arrogates
: to claim or seize without justification
ex: They've arrogated to themselves the power to change the rules arbitrarily.
borrowed from Latin arrogātus, past participle of arrogāre "to appoint along with (another magistrate), lay claim to, claim to possess, make undue claims, be conceited," from ar-, assimilated form of ad- AD- + rogāre "to ask, request"
107
Eschew
: to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : SHUN
ex:They now eschew the violence of their past.
Middle English, from Anglo-French eschiver (3rd present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at SHY
108
Inter
: to deposit (a dead body) in the earth or in a tomb. between : among : in the midst.
ex: a burial site where people have been interred for over a thousand years
Middle English enteren, from Anglo-French enterrer, from Vulgar Latin *interrare, from in- + Latin terra earth —
109
Imbue
: to permeate or influence as if by dyeing.
ex: A feeling of optimism imbues her works.
110
Interpolate
: to alter or corrupt (something, such as a text) by inserting new or foreign matter. to estimate values of (data or a function) between two known values
ex:He interpolated a very critical comment in the discussion.
Latin interpolatus, past participle of interpolare to refurbish, alter, interpolate, from inter- + -polare (from polire to polish)
111
Apogee
: the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth. the farthest or highest point : CULMINATION
ex: shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated
French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogeios, apogaios far from the earth, from apo- + gē, gaia earth
112
Capitulate
: to surrender often after negotiation of terms. to cease resisting.
ex:The country still refuses to capitulate despite its weakening army and dwindling resources.
Medieval Latin capitulatus, past participle of capitulare to distinguish by heads or chapters, from Late Latin capitulum
113
Impugn
: to assail by words or arguments : oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity
ex:He impugned his rival's character.
Middle English, from Anglo-French empugner, from Latin inpugnare, from in- + pugnare to fight
114
Acrimony
: anger and bitterness : harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or feelings
ex: The dispute began again with increased acrimony.
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French acrimonie, borrowed from Latin ācrimōnia, from ācr-, ācer "sharp, biting, keen" + -mōnia, suffix of abstract nouns (going back to the Indo-European noun-forming suffix *-mĕ̄n-/*-mŏ̄n- + the abstract noun formative *-i-)
115
Cacophony
: harsh or jarring sound : DISSONANCE.
: an incongruous or chaotic mixture : a striking combination
ex: Shell casings littered the highway, where a cacophony of car alarms and sobbing rent the winter air.
borrowed from French & New Latin; French cacophonie, going back to Middle French, borrowed from New Latin cacophōnia, borrowed from Greek kakophōnía, from kakóphōnos "disagreeable-sounding,
116
Sinecure
: an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income. an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.
ex:Rather than give him a sinecure, Netanyahu named him the national-security minister.
Medieval Latin sine cura without cure (of souls)
117
Paltry
: INFERIOR, TRASHY.
ex: the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag
118
Abhorrent
: causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred : being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism. not agreeable : CONTRARY.
ex: The abhorrent behavior described in the report requires clear and strong action.
borrowed from Latin abhorrent-, abhorrens, present participle of abhorrēre
119
Desultory
: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose. not connected with the main subject. disappointing in progress, performance, or quality.
ex: a desultory search for something of interest on TV
Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to leap
120
Parsimonious
: frugal to the point of stinginess. SPARING, RESTRAINED.
ex: A society that is parsimonious in its personal charity (in terms of both time and money) will require more government welfare.
121
Truculent
: aggressively self-assertive : BELLIGERENT. feeling or displaying ferocity.
ex: Milton—in his prose an opinionated and truculent writer—remains a magnet for opinionated and truculent criticism.
Latin truculentus, from truc-, trux savage; perhaps akin to Middle Irish trú doomed person
122
Circumnavigate
: to go completely around especially by water BYPASS.
ex: The ship circumnavigated the world.
Latin circumnavigatus, past participle of circumnavigare to sail around, from circum- + navigare to navigate
123
Circumvent
: to manage to get around especially by ingenuity. to hem in. to make a circuit around.
ex: His appreciation of this finer side of life is circumvented by a cynicism that he tells me is common to Eastern Europeans.
Latin circumventus, past participle of circumvenire, from circum- + venire to come —
124
Sacrosanct
: most sacred or holy : INVIOLABLE.
ex: The tradition is regarded as sacrosanct.
Latin sacrosanctus, probably from sacro sanctus hallowed by a sacred rite
125
Injudicious
: not judicious : INDISCREET, UNWISE
ex: He made several injudicious comments to the press.
126
Postulated
: to assume or claim as true, existent, or necessary : depend upon or start from the postulate of. a hypothesis advanced as an essential presupposition, condition, or premise of a train of reasoning.
ex: To solve that mystery, other theorists have postulated that PS1-10jh’s black hole–hugging accretion disk was not actually being directly observed.
Latin postulatus, past participle of postulare; akin to Latin poscere to ask, Old High German forscōn to search, Sanskrit pṛcchati he asks
127
Pestilential
: causing or tending to cause pestilence : DEADLY. morally harmful. giving rise to vexation or annoyance : IRRITATING
ex:
Pigeons are viewed as grimy, poopy, pestilential.
128
Annex
: to incorporate (an additional geographic area) within the domain of a country, state, etc. to add (something) to something earlier, larger, or more important —often used with to. to obtain or take (something) for oneself.
ex: The government planned to annex the islands.
Middle English, from Anglo-French annexer, from annexe attached, from Latin annexus, past participle of annectere to bind to, from ad- + nectere to bind
129
Enmity
: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
ex: Bin Laden may no longer be supplying directions and funding, but his ethos of enmity lives on.
Middle English enmite, from Anglo-French enemité, enemisté, from enemi enemy
130
Approbation
: COMMENDATION, PRAISE. an act of approving formally or officially
ex: The company has even received the approbation of its former critics.
131
Largess
: liberal giving (as of money) to or as if to an inferior. GENEROSITY.
ex: He relied on the largesse of friends after he lost his job.
Middle English largesse, from Anglo-French, from large
132
Repudiate
: to refuse to accept. to divorce or separate formally from (a woman to whom one is betrothed or married).
ex: When witnessing abuse, boys will identify with the seemingly powerful father who appears to be a "winner" and will repudiate the mother, who seems to be the "loser."
Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare, from repudium rejection of a prospective spouse, divorce, probably from re- + pudēre to shame
133
Orator
: one distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker
ex: According to an insider, Curry was chosen to speak for his role as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and his talent as a wonderful orator.
134
Miscreant
: UNBELIEVING, HERETICAL.
: one who behaves criminally or viciously. DEPRAVED, VILLAINOUS.
ex; He supports tough penalties against corporate miscreants.
Middle English miscreaunt, from Anglo-French mescreant, present participle of mescreire to disbelieve, from mes- + creire to believe, from Latin credere
135
Interloper
: one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity. an illegal or unlicensed trader
ex: I had hoped to help my neighbors, but they regarded me as an interloper.
136
Duress
: forcible restraint or restriction. compulsion by threat
ex: He gave the information under duress.
Middle English duresse, from Anglo-French duresce hardness, severity, from Latin duritia, from durus
137
Ebullience
: the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings : EXUBERANCE
ex: Here in gray turtleneck and trademark self-dramatizing ebullience, he’s promoted from supporting crustacean to leading mammal.
138
Egregious
: conspicuously bad : FLAGRANT. DISTINGUISHED
ex:the student's theme was marred by a number of egregious errors in spelling
Latin egregius, from e- + greg-, grex herd
139
Inscrutable
: not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood : MYSTERIOUS
ex: Supersymmetry is a magic mirror, and everything in what we imagine to be the real world has its ghostly, inscrutable mirror image.
Middle English, from Late Latin inscrutabilis, from Latin in- + scrutari to search
140
Mercenary
: one that serves merely for wages. hired for service in the army of a foreign country
ex: His motives in choosing a career were purely mercenary.
Middle English, from Latin mercenarius, irregular from merced-, merces wages
141
Draconian
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him.CRUEL.
ex: The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken to control the spread of the disease.
Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn Draco (Athenian lawgiver)
142
Insipid
: lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : DULL, FLAT. lacking taste or savor : TASTELESS
ex: While it is fashionable to write off that decade as an insipid time, one long pajama party, the '50s, in sport at least, were a revolutionary age.
French & Late Latin; French insipide, from Late Latin insipidus, from Latin in- + sapidus savory, from sapere to taste
143
Prolocutor
: one who speaks for another : SPOKESMAN. presiding officer : CHAIRMAN.
ex: There are many notable individuals worthy of that kind of invite, but Mitchell is a fantastic choice, a powerful prolocutor for college grads who need to hear and be fortified by what the man offers.
Middle English, from Latin, from pro- for + locutor speaker, from loqui to speak
144
Despot
: a ruler with absolute power and authority.
ex: He was a successful basketball coach, but many people regarded him as a petty despot.
Middle French despote, from Greek despotēs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potēs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house
145
Conciliatory
: intended to gain goodwill or favor or to reduce hostility : tending or intended to conciliate
ex: The statement, in an interview with the Associated Press published on Wednesday, is the latest in a series of conciliatory gestures by Pope Francis toward gay people.
146
Cantankerous
: difficult or irritating to deal with
ex:There are those who contend the hockey maven is a cantankerous old coot—rife with unpopular opinions and quick to assert them
perhaps irregular from obsolete contack contention
147
Inscrutable
: not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood : MYSTERIOUS
ex: Of all the myths that have grown up around Alan Greenspan, the most powerful is the idea that he's willfully inscrutable.
Middle English, from Late Latin inscrutabilis, from Latin in- + scrutari to search
148
Contentious
: likely to cause disagreement or argument
ex: Historians, admittedly a contentious lot, have failed even to agree on what to call King Philip's War.
Middle English contenciose "quarrelsome," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French contencieux "subject to disagreement," borrowed from Latin contentiōsus "persistent, obstinate, argumentative, quarrelsome," from contentiō "exertion, competition
149
Ignoble
: characterized by baseness, lowness, or meanness. of low birth or common origin : PLEBEIAN.
ex:
an ignoble child who would one day grow up to be a prince among playwrights
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ignobilis, from in- + Old Latin gnobilis noble
150
Precarious
: dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments. dependent on uncertain premises : DUBIOUS
ex: Such folks led a precarious existence, their homes routinely destroyed in pursuit of a scorched earth policy whenever Florence came under siege.
Latin precārius "given as a favor, depending on the pleasure or mercy of others, of questionable force or permanence, uncertain"
151
Facetious
: joking or jesting often inappropriately : WAGGISH
ex: This turns the fairy tale facetious.
borrowed from Middle French facetieux, facecieux, from facetie "joke, jesting remark" (borrowed from Latin facētia, facētiae "cleverness, wit," in plural sense, "amusing things, jests") + -eux (going back to Latin -ōsus -OUS)
152
Altruistic
having or showing an unselfish concern for the welfare of others.
ex: Yasmin was surprised at the amount of joy this altruistic decision brought her.
153
Baneful
: productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful
ex: The legislation could have a baneful effect on the poor.
154
Benevolent
: marked by or disposed to doing good
ex: Trees that size are like whales, sort of benevolent in their huge bulk
Middle English, from Latin benevolent-, benevolens, from bene + volent-, volens, present participle of velle to wish
155
Vociferous
: marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry
ex: He is her most vociferous critic.
156
Detractors
: to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness of something —often used with from
ex: They are fixed, unchanging, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Middle English, from Latin detractus, past participle of detrahere to pull down, disparage, from de- + trahere to draw
157
The cognoscenti
: the people who know a lot about something
158
Connoisseurs
: one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge. one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties
ex: It was apple juice. Ortiz watched him drink it with all the delicacy of a wine connoisseur sampling new bordeaux.
obsolete French (now connaisseur), from Old French connoisseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere
159
Malcontents
: one who bears a grudge from a sense of grievance or thwarted ambition. one who is in active opposition to an established order or government : REBEL
ex:He complained so much that he got a reputation for being a malcontent.
Middle French, from mal- + content content
160
Seminal
: of, relating to, or consisting of seed or semen.
ex: First as the lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs, then as an acclaimed solo artist, Merchant was one of the seminal members of the alternative and indie scene.
Middle English, from Latin seminalis, from semin-, semen seed — more at SEMEN
161
Canonical
: conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure : ORTHODOX
ex: But this time, the culprit is an unquestionably canonical producer.
162
Antithetical
: being in direct and unequivocal opposition : directly opposite or opposed
ex: spiritual concerns and ideals that are antithetical to the materialism embraced by modern society
163
Candor
: unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : FORTHRIGHTNESS. freedom from prejudice or malice : FAIRNESS. BRIGHTNESS, BRILLIANCE
ex: People are human; they are fallible. I concede with painful candor and a heavy heart that the adage applies to me and to my generation of American leadership regarding Vietnam.
French & Latin; French candeur, from Latin candor, from candēre
164
Falsehood
: an untrue statement : LIE
ex: the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics
165
Impetuous
: marked by impulsive vehemence or passion. marked by force and violence of movement or action
ex: Men who don't wear hats are generally youthful, vigorous, impetuous, and have a devil-may-care glint in their eyes.
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin impetuosus, from Latin impetus
166
Inchoate
: being only partly in existence or operation : INCIPIENT. imperfectly formed or formulated : FORMLESS, INCOHERENT
ex: inchoate feelings of affection for a man whom she had, up till now, thought of as only a friend
borrowed from Latin incohātus, inchoātus "only begun, unfinished, imperfect," from past participle of incohāre "to start work on, begin, initiate," perhaps, if the original sense was "to yoke a plow to a team of oxen," from in- IN- entry 2 + -cohāre, verbal derivative of cohum "hollow in the middle of a yoke into which a pole is fitted" or "strap used to attach the pole to the yoke," of uncertain origin
167
Incipient
: beginning to come into being or to become apparent
ex: The project is still in its incipient stages.
Latin incipient-, incipiens, present participle of incipere to begin — more at INCEPTION
168
Stalwart
: marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit
ex: the stalwart soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great, who willingly followed him to the ends of the known world
Middle English, alteration of stalworth, from Old English stǣlwierthe serviceable
169
Stout
: strong of character. broad in proportion to length. a very dark, full-bodied ale with a distinctive malty flavor that is typically brewed with unmalted roasted barley
ex: His lawyer put up a stout defense in court.
Middle English, from Anglo-French estut, estout, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stolz proud; perhaps akin to Old High German stelza stilt
170
Irrefragable
: impossible to refute. impossible to break or alter
ex: the prosecutor painstakingly built an irrefragable case
Late Latin irrefragabilis, from Latin in- + refragari to oppose, from re- + -fragari (as in suffragari to vote for); akin to Latin suffragium suffrage
171
Tottering
: being in an unstable condition. lacking firmness or stability : INSECURE
ex: after the accident, she was only able to take a few tottering steps at a time
172
Fecund
: fruitful in offspring or vegetation : PROLIFIC
ex: a fecund breed of cattle
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fecundus
173
Transient
: passing especially quickly into and out of existence : TRANSITORY. passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn. affecting something or producing results beyond itself
ex: The mountain lies between his residence and the main road, and occludes the expectation of transient visits.
Latin transeunt-, transiens, present participle of transire to cross, pass by, from trans- + ire to go
174
Incessant
continuing or following without interruption : UNCEASING
ex: the incessant noise from an outside repair crew was a real distraction during the test
Middle English incessaunt, from Late Latin incessant-, incessans, from Latin in- + cessant-, cessans, present participle of cessare to delay
175
Elocution
: a style of speaking especially in public
ex: He took lessons in elocution.
Middle English ellocucioun "oratorical or literary style," borrowed from Latin ēlocūtiōn-, ēlocūtiō "expression of an idea in words, manner of expressing oneself," from ēlocū-, variant stem of ēloquī "to utter, put into words" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ELOQUENT
176
Paean
: a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph. a work that praises or honors its subject : ENCOMIUM, TRIBUTE
ex: his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company
Latin, hymn of thanksgiving especially addressed to Apollo, from Greek paian, paiōn, from Paian, Paiōn, epithet of Apollo in the hymn
177
Oratory
: a place of prayer. the art of speaking in public eloquently or effectively
ex: But if Churchill's thesis on the power of oratory is correct, then history is likely to assign outsized credit to the role Zelensky's words have played.
Middle English oratorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin oratorium, from Latin orare
178
Panegyric
: a eulogistic oration or writing. formal or elaborate praise.
ex: wrote a panegyric on the centennial of the Nobel laureate's birth
Latin panegyricus, from Greek panēgyrikos, from panēgyrikos of or for a festival assembly, from panēgyris festival assembly, from pan- + agyris assembly; akin to Greek ageirein to gather
179
Diatribe
: a bitter and abusive speech or piece of writing. ironic or satirical criticism
ex: I looked … and listened to her ahistorical and apolitical diatribe. Her comments were a more extreme form of the kind of Black bashing I've often heard …
Latin diatriba, from Greek diatribē pastime, discourse, from diatribein to spend (time), wear away, from dia- + tribein to rub — more at THROW
180
Harangue
: a speech addressed to a public assembly
ex: He delivered a long harangue about the evils of popular culture.
Middle French arenge, from Old Italian aringa, from aringare to speak in public, from aringo public assembly, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hring ring
181
Exculpatory
: tending or serving to exculpate
ex: That is easy to do when only one side gets to present evidence, call witnesses and disregard potentially exculpatory evidence.
182
Lionized
: to treat as an object of great interest or importance
ex: She was lionized everywhere after her novel won the Pulitzer Prize.
183
Intractable
: not easily governed, managed, or directed. not easily relieved or cured
ex: Sepsis, which is what happens to the body when an infection goes bad, is one of mankind's oldest and most intractable foes.
Latin intractabilis, from in- + tractabilis tractable
184
Obstinate
: stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion. not easily subdued, remedied, or removed
ex: When my father finished telling the story, he looked at me, then looked away. A moment of silence lodged between us, an old and obstinate silence.
Middle English, from Anglo-French obstinat, Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare to be resolved, from ob- in the way + -stinare (akin to stare to stand)
185
Diffident
: hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence. DISTRUSTFUL
ex: Being suspicious of conventions, demotic equals were often at a loss in their daily encounters: shall one act diffident or clamant of one's rights?
Middle English, borrowed from Latin diffīdent-, diffīdens "distrustful, lacking in confidence," from present participle of diffīdere "to lack confidence (in), have no trust (in)," from dif-, assimilated form of dis- DIS- + fīdere "to trust, have confidence (in)," going back to Indo-European *bhei̯dh- "trust, entrust"
186
Hapless
: having no luck : UNFORTUNATE
ex: She plays the hapless heroine who is unlucky in love.
Middle English happelesse, from happe "luck, fortune,
187
Guileless
: INNOCENT, NAIVE
ex: Not just because it’s set in a period-perfect 1970, but also because the characters — tween girls trying to figure out life (good luck) — are so guileless, so devoid of irony and smarmy, precocious insults.
188
Duplicitous
: marked by duplicity : deceptive in words or action
ex: Is any other home good so extremely duplicitous?
189
Artless
: lacking art, knowledge, or skill : UNCULTURED. made without skill : CRUDE. free from artificiality : NATURAL.
ex: Her simple artless charm won us over instantly.
190
Mendacious
: given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth
ex: Indeed, the racist and Malthusian elements in Darwin's work are subjects on which the new secularists are either silent, delicate, or mendacious.
Latin mendac-, mendax
191
Delineate
: to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail. to indicate or represent by drawn or painted lines. to mark the outline of.
ex: He plants his skates millimeters outside the blue-tinted 44-square-foot arena that delineates the crease and refuses to budge …
borrowed from Latin dēlīneātus, past participle of dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of," from dē- DE- + līneāre "to make straight, mark with lines," derivative of līnea "string, cord,
192
Instantiation
: to represent (an abstraction) by a concrete instance
ex: his imposing mansion is intended to instantiate for visitors his staggering success as an entrepreneur
instanti-, form in derivation of INSTANCE + -ATE
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Unabated
: not abated : being at full strength or force
ex: The four remaining siblings can continue to compete for leadership of the cable empire and the series can continue in crisis after crisis unabated.
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Vicissitudes
: the quality or state of being changeable : MUTABILITY. natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs. a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition. a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one's control
ex: How should those future retirees be investing today to best weather the vicissitudes of tomorrow?
Middle French, from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim in turn, from vicis change, alternation
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Birfurcation
