Unfamiliar Words Flashcards
Etymology
: 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.”
Gabelle
: 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”
Incontrovertible
: not open to question
Ex: incontrovertible facts that left the jury with no choice but to convict
Ignominy
: 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
Ensue
: 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
Putative
: 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
Sectarian
: 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
Opulently
: 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)
Riposte
: 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
Harried
: 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.
Endemic
: 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”
Neophyte
: 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”
Ravaged
: 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
Malady
: 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
Noisome
: 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
Pulchritudinous
: 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
Penury
: 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
Sanguine
: 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.
Ascertain
: 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
Assay
: 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.
Peruse
: 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
Homograph
: 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.
Euphony
: 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.
Epigram
: 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
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.
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
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
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
Choleric
: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered.
ex: watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Flagging
LANGUID, WEAK. becoming progressively less : DWINDLING.
ex: That, coupled with the tabloids’ focus on his flagging health, frustrated him.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Laudable
: worthy of praise : COMMENDABLE.
ex: Improving the schools is a laudable goal.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
