Lesson 4
Which is the fastest tempo – andante, allegretto, or adagio?
Is fortissimo a title given to a high-ranking officer?
Does libretto refer to the words or the music?
Which requires more than one note, a crescendo or an arpeggio?
Which indicates musical skill – bravura, intaglio, or imbroglio?
1. adagio – slowly, in music. The plural, adagios, refers to a slow movement in music or a slow ballet dance requiring skillful balancing.
2. andante – moderate in tempo. This is a musical direction faster than adagio but slower than allegretto. A slightly faster tempo is given the diminutive andantino.
3. arpeggio – the playing of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.
4. bravura – in music, a florid passage requiring great skill and spirit in the performer; a display of daring; a brilliant performance (used as a noun and as an adjective).
5. contralto – the lowest female voice or part, between a soprano and a tenor; a woman having such a voice.
6. crescendo – a gradual increase in the volume or intensity of sound; a music passage played in crescendo. Crescendo is also used as a verb.
7. falsetto - a typically male singing voice, the result of artificially produced tones in an upper register that go beyond the voice’s normal range.
8. fortissimo – a very loud passage, sound or tone. The word is also used as an adverb.
9. imbroglio – a confused or difficult situation; a confused heap or tangle. The original Latin word describes the situation best – inbroglio (“entangled in a bush”)
10. intaglio – a figure or design cut beneath the surface of a hard metal or stone; the art of carving in this manner; a gemstone carved in intaglio. Intaglio is in contrast with cameo, where the design is raised and differs in color from the background.
11. largo – in a slow, solemn manner (a direction in music); a slow, broad movement (noun).
12. libretto – the text of an opera or other dramatic musical work. It is the Italian diminutive of libro (“book”).
13. salvo – a simultaneous discharge of firearms; a sudden outburst of cheers or the like. It is not surprising to find that words like salutation, salutary, salve, and salvation are related to salvo since the Latin salve (“hail”), and salvus (“safe or well”), form the ancestry of both strands of meaning.
14. staccato – music performed with a crisp, sharp attack to simulate rests between successive tones; composed of abrupt, distinct, emphatic parts or sounds. This word is from the Old French word destachier(“detach”) and is contrasted with legato.
15. vendetta – blood feud; a prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility. This is the Italian word for revenge and is related to vindicate, our meaning for which is “to avenge.”
Exercises:
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind.
1. A musical direction
(largo, falsetto, contralto)
2. A volley of rockets
(salvo, adagio, andante)
3. An embarrassing situation
(fortissimo, libretto, imbroglio)
4. A scrawny boy seeking to get even with a bully
(vendetta, bravura, arpeggio)
5. Machine-gun fire
(crescendo, intaglio, staccato)
6. I’m going to get you for that
(largo, vendetta, fortissimo)
7. The story of Carmen
(libretto, arpeggio, falsetto)
8. Sudden loud music drowned out our conversation
(fortissimo, staccato, andante)
9. A female singer with a surprisingly deep voice
(bravura, falsetto, contralto)
10. A carved gemstone
(imbroglio, intaglio, adagio)
II. True or False?
In the space provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
____ 1. A contralto has a higher-pitched voice than a soprano.
____ 2. If the direction read andante, the music should be played slowly.
____ 3. A man singing in falsetto has probably hit a wrong note.
____ 4. An intaglio design is cut below the surface.
____ 5. A participant in a vendetta tends to harbor unreasonable hatred.
____ 6. A sergeant barked out his commands in staccato fashion.
____ 7. With a salvo of fireworks, the celebration ended.
____ 8. I requested a largo tempo because the music was too slow and solemn.
____ 9. Applause for the winning candidate reached a crescendo.
____ 10. Parents were called to school to settle the imbroglio that had developed between
their children.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Words About Groups
Lesson 3
1. cabal – a clique; a small group joined in a secret intrigue; a conspiracy. This French word was formed from the initials of Charles II’s ministers (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, Lauderdale); cabal ultimately derives from the Hebrew word qabbalah, which referred to a mystical interpretation of the Scripture.
2. camaraderie – comradeship; good fellowship. Two soldiers sharing the same room (in German, kammer) usually developed a loyal and warm friendship. The Communist Party adopted the word comrade to denote a fellow member.
3. caste – a distinct social class or system. Hindu society is traditionally divided into four major hereditary castes, each class separated from the others by restrictions in marriage and occupation.
4. cortege – a group of attendants accompanying a person; a ceremonial procession. It is not surprising that cortege is related to court, a place where followers and ceremonies abound.
5. detente – a relaxing or easing, especially of international tension. After the Cold War years following World War II, the U.S. embarked on a policy of closer ties with Russia; hence was born the policy of détente.
6. echelon – a level of command or authority or rank; a steplike formation of ships, troops, or planes. Coming to English through several languages, the word echelon has descended a ladder starting with the Latin word scale, which indeed means ladder, and explains why we still “scale a ladder”
7. ecumenical – universal; general; fostering Christian unity throughout the world. The idea of ecumenism, as well as the spirit of brotherhood, was fostered by the far-reaching policies of Pope John XXIII
8. elite – the best or most skilled members of a given social group. The word is related to elect and suggest that some people are born with “a silver spoon in their mouth” or at least, are entitled to special privileges. Elite is also used as an adjective.
9. esprit de corps – a sense of union and of common interests and responsibilities. The French expression literally means “spirit of feeling as one body.” It implies not only a camaraderie but a sense of pride or honor shared by those involved in an undertaking.
10. freemasonry – secret or tacit brotherhood; instinctive sympathy. The Freemasons is an international fraternity for the promotion of brotherly love among its members, as well as a mutual assistance. It began in the Middle Ages as a class of skilled stoneworkers who possessed secret signs and passwords, a ritual that is still preserved today.
11. genealogy – lineage; science of family descent. Though our hereditary character is transmitted through genes in our chromosomes, that does not assure us that our genealogy has provided us with the most desirable traits. Much can and does happen as the generations pass.
12. hierarchy – a group of persons or things arranged in order, rank, or grade; a system of church government by clergymen in graded ranks. The Greek word hierarkhes meant “high priest.” From there it was a small step to the designation of the entire church leadership as a hierarchy. With the loss of temporal power by the church after the Middle Ages, the word now refers to any arrangement by authority or position.
13. hobnob – to associate on very friendly terms. The title of the novel To Have and Have Not is an exact translation of the original meaning of hobnob. This word was formed by a combination of the Old English words habban (to have) and navban (not to have). The modern meaning suggests the egalitarian idea of friendship not based on one’s possessions.
14. liaison – the contact maintained between military or naval units in order to undertake concerted action; a similar connection between the units of any organization; an illicit relationship between a man and a woman. This word is a cousin to ligature, a connection on the physical level similar to the connection made on an informational level by a liaison.
15. rapprochement – a reestablishing of cordial relations. If there is to be an end to war, people and nations must learn to meet each other, to approach each other, on common grounds. That is what this word implies, a coming together in friendship and trust.
Exercises
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind
1. The superpowers agree to a mutual reduction of nuclear stockpiles
(cabal, echelon, rapprochement)
2. A young man breaks the engagement because his fiancé cannot afford a dowry
(caste, liaison, hierarchy)
3. Firemen risk their lives to rescue a trapped buddy (cortege, camaraderie, genealogy)
4. He associates informally with our town’s high society (détente, freemasonry, hobnob)
5. The sermon ended with a call for universal brotherhood and recognition of individual
worth (ecumenical, elite, esprit de corps)
6. A funeral procession of hundreds of mourners (cortege, freemasonry, cabal)
7. Police arrest a group of men who were plotting an assassination
(cabal, rapprochement, détente)
8. You receive an offer of a framed history of your ancestors (echelon, genealogy, caste)
9. Speaking a foreign language made the French student invaluable as a link between our two countries (esprit de corps, liaison, hierarchy)
10. Stepping in between the two warring factions, we got them to agree to a cease-fire
(elite, hobnob, détente)
II. True or False?
In the spaces provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
__1. The cabal holds a public forum to discuss the issue
__2. Detente involves risks and compromises by both sides.
__3. A member of the elite feels that the world is his oyster.
__4. Esprit de corps denotes a stronger bond than camaraderie.
__5. A liaison serves a purpose similar to that of a go-between.
__6. The gossip columnist frequently hobnobs with movie stars.
__7. We paid an expert to research our family’s genealogy.
__8. Entering into a rapprochement, the cousins continued their bitter fight.
__9. The producer wanted a young caste for his new musical.
__10. Arnold joined his company’s hierarchy when he became a vice-president.
III. Fill in the Blank
Insert one of the new words in the proper space in each sentence below.
1. At the highest ______in our company sit the founder and his two trusted advisers.
2. We formed a _______ group to avoid needless duplication among the three committees.
3. The former society reporter used to _______with the rich and famous.
4. Baseball managers strive to develop a winning ________in their locker room lectures.
5. Laden with floral displays, the funeral ____________ wound its way into the cemetery.
6. All members of the failed _________were arrested last night.
7. I picked up the phone in order to bring about a _________ with my twin sister.
8. A study of our __________revealed our descent from Spanish royalty.
9. Promoted to cardinal, the bishop became part of the church’s ________
10. As a member of the _____________group, Hedley was invited everywhere.
IV. What’s the Antonym?
Which of the new words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the one provided?
1. commoners ____________
2. dissension ____________
3. hostility ____________
4. parochial ____________
5. withdraw ____________
6. breaking off ____________
7. disorganization ____________
8. equality ____________
9. ill will ____________
10. unaffiliated ____________
1. cabal – a clique; a small group joined in a secret intrigue; a conspiracy. This French word was formed from the initials of Charles II’s ministers (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, Lauderdale); cabal ultimately derives from the Hebrew word qabbalah, which referred to a mystical interpretation of the Scripture.
2. camaraderie – comradeship; good fellowship. Two soldiers sharing the same room (in German, kammer) usually developed a loyal and warm friendship. The Communist Party adopted the word comrade to denote a fellow member.
3. caste – a distinct social class or system. Hindu society is traditionally divided into four major hereditary castes, each class separated from the others by restrictions in marriage and occupation.
4. cortege – a group of attendants accompanying a person; a ceremonial procession. It is not surprising that cortege is related to court, a place where followers and ceremonies abound.
5. detente – a relaxing or easing, especially of international tension. After the Cold War years following World War II, the U.S. embarked on a policy of closer ties with Russia; hence was born the policy of détente.
6. echelon – a level of command or authority or rank; a steplike formation of ships, troops, or planes. Coming to English through several languages, the word echelon has descended a ladder starting with the Latin word scale, which indeed means ladder, and explains why we still “scale a ladder”
7. ecumenical – universal; general; fostering Christian unity throughout the world. The idea of ecumenism, as well as the spirit of brotherhood, was fostered by the far-reaching policies of Pope John XXIII
8. elite – the best or most skilled members of a given social group. The word is related to elect and suggest that some people are born with “a silver spoon in their mouth” or at least, are entitled to special privileges. Elite is also used as an adjective.
9. esprit de corps – a sense of union and of common interests and responsibilities. The French expression literally means “spirit of feeling as one body.” It implies not only a camaraderie but a sense of pride or honor shared by those involved in an undertaking.
10. freemasonry – secret or tacit brotherhood; instinctive sympathy. The Freemasons is an international fraternity for the promotion of brotherly love among its members, as well as a mutual assistance. It began in the Middle Ages as a class of skilled stoneworkers who possessed secret signs and passwords, a ritual that is still preserved today.
11. genealogy – lineage; science of family descent. Though our hereditary character is transmitted through genes in our chromosomes, that does not assure us that our genealogy has provided us with the most desirable traits. Much can and does happen as the generations pass.
12. hierarchy – a group of persons or things arranged in order, rank, or grade; a system of church government by clergymen in graded ranks. The Greek word hierarkhes meant “high priest.” From there it was a small step to the designation of the entire church leadership as a hierarchy. With the loss of temporal power by the church after the Middle Ages, the word now refers to any arrangement by authority or position.
13. hobnob – to associate on very friendly terms. The title of the novel To Have and Have Not is an exact translation of the original meaning of hobnob. This word was formed by a combination of the Old English words habban (to have) and navban (not to have). The modern meaning suggests the egalitarian idea of friendship not based on one’s possessions.
14. liaison – the contact maintained between military or naval units in order to undertake concerted action; a similar connection between the units of any organization; an illicit relationship between a man and a woman. This word is a cousin to ligature, a connection on the physical level similar to the connection made on an informational level by a liaison.
15. rapprochement – a reestablishing of cordial relations. If there is to be an end to war, people and nations must learn to meet each other, to approach each other, on common grounds. That is what this word implies, a coming together in friendship and trust.
Exercises
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind
1. The superpowers agree to a mutual reduction of nuclear stockpiles
(cabal, echelon, rapprochement)
2. A young man breaks the engagement because his fiancé cannot afford a dowry
(caste, liaison, hierarchy)
3. Firemen risk their lives to rescue a trapped buddy (cortege, camaraderie, genealogy)
4. He associates informally with our town’s high society (détente, freemasonry, hobnob)
5. The sermon ended with a call for universal brotherhood and recognition of individual
worth (ecumenical, elite, esprit de corps)
6. A funeral procession of hundreds of mourners (cortege, freemasonry, cabal)
7. Police arrest a group of men who were plotting an assassination
(cabal, rapprochement, détente)
8. You receive an offer of a framed history of your ancestors (echelon, genealogy, caste)
9. Speaking a foreign language made the French student invaluable as a link between our two countries (esprit de corps, liaison, hierarchy)
10. Stepping in between the two warring factions, we got them to agree to a cease-fire
(elite, hobnob, détente)
II. True or False?
In the spaces provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
__1. The cabal holds a public forum to discuss the issue
__2. Detente involves risks and compromises by both sides.
__3. A member of the elite feels that the world is his oyster.
__4. Esprit de corps denotes a stronger bond than camaraderie.
__5. A liaison serves a purpose similar to that of a go-between.
__6. The gossip columnist frequently hobnobs with movie stars.
__7. We paid an expert to research our family’s genealogy.
__8. Entering into a rapprochement, the cousins continued their bitter fight.
__9. The producer wanted a young caste for his new musical.
__10. Arnold joined his company’s hierarchy when he became a vice-president.
III. Fill in the Blank
Insert one of the new words in the proper space in each sentence below.
1. At the highest ______in our company sit the founder and his two trusted advisers.
2. We formed a _______ group to avoid needless duplication among the three committees.
3. The former society reporter used to _______with the rich and famous.
4. Baseball managers strive to develop a winning ________in their locker room lectures.
5. Laden with floral displays, the funeral ____________ wound its way into the cemetery.
6. All members of the failed _________were arrested last night.
7. I picked up the phone in order to bring about a _________ with my twin sister.
8. A study of our __________revealed our descent from Spanish royalty.
9. Promoted to cardinal, the bishop became part of the church’s ________
10. As a member of the _____________group, Hedley was invited everywhere.
IV. What’s the Antonym?
Which of the new words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the one provided?
1. commoners ____________
2. dissension ____________
3. hostility ____________
4. parochial ____________
5. withdraw ____________
6. breaking off ____________
7. disorganization ____________
8. equality ____________
9. ill will ____________
10. unaffiliated ____________
Appearances and Attitudes
Lesson 2
1. Acidulous: somewhat acid or sour
2. Baleful: deadly; sinister.
3. Bellicose: warlike; of a quarrelsome nature
4. Bilious: bad-tempered; bitter. It comes form the French word bilis (“bile”), the fluid secreted by the liver
5. Bumptious: arrogant; disagreeably conceited.
6. Captious: critical; quick to find fault; quibbling.
7. Churlish: boorish; surly. This adjective comes from “churl,” the old word for a peasant.
8. Complaisant: willing to please; tending to consent to others’ wishes.
9. Contrite: crushed in spirit by a feeling of guilt.
10. Convivial: festive; sociable.
11. Craven: cowardly
12. Debonair: courteous, gracious and having a sophisticated charm; suave; urbane. In Old French the words were de bon aire (“of a good race or breed”)
13. Dyspeptic: grouchy; gloomy; a person who suffers from dyspepsia or indigestion.
14. Lachrymose: sad; mournful; inclined to shed many tears.
15. Neurasthenic: having emotional conflicts that lead to weakness and depression.
Exercises
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind
1. A defendant’s attitude that impresses the jury (debonair, contrite, acidulous)
2. An ill-tempered waiter (complaisant, craven, churlish)
3. Physical ailments that stem from worry (baleful, neurasthenic, bumptious)
4. A person suffering from indigestion (dyspeptic, bellicose, captious)
5. An angry boss insulting his workers (lachrymose, bilious, convivial)
6. Someone with a chip on his or her shoulder (bellicose, craven, complaisant)
7. A tearful movie (captious, lachrymose, churlish)
8. Stealing from the blind man (bumptious, craven, dyspeptic)
9. After the prank, the college boys apologize (contrite, convivial, bilious)
10. Giving someone a hotfoot as a practical joke (churlish, debonair, acidulous)
II. True or False?
In the spaces provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
__1. A craven leader inspires respect in his followers.
__2. Citizens are pleased to see a criminal who is contrite.
__3. Captious people often split hairs.
__4. It’s difficult for a gawky 14-year-old to look debonair.
__5. By displaying proper etiquette, one can expect to be praised for one’s churlishness.
__6. The children’s lachrymose behavior at the funeral was understandable.
__7. Arthur’s bumptious remarks at the dinner embarrassed his roommate.
__8. We always maintained a bellicose relationship with our good neighbor, Canada.
__9. The acidulous reviews led the producers to close the play after two performances.
__10. The tone at most New Years parties is quite convivial.
III. Fill in the Blank
Insert one of the new words in the proper space in each sentence below.
1. The entire audience was sobbing as the curtain came down on the __________ending.
2. Some patriots labeled the refusal to join the army as a _________action.
3. I hate dining with ________people who criticize everything the chef prepares.
4. Our normally peaceful terrier turns ________whenever the letter carrier arrives.
5. The choral singing and the beautiful decorations lent a ________flavor to our party.
6. Mel was told that a psychiatrist might cure his _________symptoms.
7. Benjy’s __________attitude endeared him to his teammates.
8. At game time, the nervous coach displayed a ________ demeanor.
9. Rocco’s _______ glare intimidated me.
10. I like to tease __________ characters who are swollen by their imagined importance.
IV. What’s the Antonym?
Which of the new words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the one provided?
1. peaceful ____________
2. happy ____________
3. congenial ____________
4. contrary ____________
5. polite ____________
6. sweet-tempered ____________
7. humble ____________
8. well-mannered ____________
9. heroic ____________
10. well-adjusted ____________
1. Acidulous: somewhat acid or sour
2. Baleful: deadly; sinister.
3. Bellicose: warlike; of a quarrelsome nature
4. Bilious: bad-tempered; bitter. It comes form the French word bilis (“bile”), the fluid secreted by the liver
5. Bumptious: arrogant; disagreeably conceited.
6. Captious: critical; quick to find fault; quibbling.
7. Churlish: boorish; surly. This adjective comes from “churl,” the old word for a peasant.
8. Complaisant: willing to please; tending to consent to others’ wishes.
9. Contrite: crushed in spirit by a feeling of guilt.
10. Convivial: festive; sociable.
11. Craven: cowardly
12. Debonair: courteous, gracious and having a sophisticated charm; suave; urbane. In Old French the words were de bon aire (“of a good race or breed”)
13. Dyspeptic: grouchy; gloomy; a person who suffers from dyspepsia or indigestion.
14. Lachrymose: sad; mournful; inclined to shed many tears.
15. Neurasthenic: having emotional conflicts that lead to weakness and depression.
Exercises
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind
1. A defendant’s attitude that impresses the jury (debonair, contrite, acidulous)
2. An ill-tempered waiter (complaisant, craven, churlish)
3. Physical ailments that stem from worry (baleful, neurasthenic, bumptious)
4. A person suffering from indigestion (dyspeptic, bellicose, captious)
5. An angry boss insulting his workers (lachrymose, bilious, convivial)
6. Someone with a chip on his or her shoulder (bellicose, craven, complaisant)
7. A tearful movie (captious, lachrymose, churlish)
8. Stealing from the blind man (bumptious, craven, dyspeptic)
9. After the prank, the college boys apologize (contrite, convivial, bilious)
10. Giving someone a hotfoot as a practical joke (churlish, debonair, acidulous)
II. True or False?
In the spaces provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
__1. A craven leader inspires respect in his followers.
__2. Citizens are pleased to see a criminal who is contrite.
__3. Captious people often split hairs.
__4. It’s difficult for a gawky 14-year-old to look debonair.
__5. By displaying proper etiquette, one can expect to be praised for one’s churlishness.
__6. The children’s lachrymose behavior at the funeral was understandable.
__7. Arthur’s bumptious remarks at the dinner embarrassed his roommate.
__8. We always maintained a bellicose relationship with our good neighbor, Canada.
__9. The acidulous reviews led the producers to close the play after two performances.
__10. The tone at most New Years parties is quite convivial.
III. Fill in the Blank
Insert one of the new words in the proper space in each sentence below.
1. The entire audience was sobbing as the curtain came down on the __________ending.
2. Some patriots labeled the refusal to join the army as a _________action.
3. I hate dining with ________people who criticize everything the chef prepares.
4. Our normally peaceful terrier turns ________whenever the letter carrier arrives.
5. The choral singing and the beautiful decorations lent a ________flavor to our party.
6. Mel was told that a psychiatrist might cure his _________symptoms.
7. Benjy’s __________attitude endeared him to his teammates.
8. At game time, the nervous coach displayed a ________ demeanor.
9. Rocco’s _______ glare intimidated me.
10. I like to tease __________ characters who are swollen by their imagined importance.
IV. What’s the Antonym?
Which of the new words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the one provided?
1. peaceful ____________
2. happy ____________
3. congenial ____________
4. contrary ____________
5. polite ____________
6. sweet-tempered ____________
7. humble ____________
8. well-mannered ____________
9. heroic ____________
10. well-adjusted ____________
Words from Proper Names
Unit 1
Lesson 1
1. Jingoist: One who boasts about his patriotism and favors a warlike foreign policy. In 1877, British Prime Minister Disraeli sent the fleet to Gallipoli to slow up the Russians. A singer wrote a ditty called “By Jingo” in honor of that action.
2. Lothario: rake; seducer; lover. Lothario was an amorous character in an eighteenth-century play. The Fair Penitent.
3. Maverick: one who acts independently. Samuel Maverick was a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle as others were doing.
4. Nemesis: Agent of retribution; just punishment. In Greek mythology, the goddess Nemesis punished pretentiousness with her swords and avenging wings.
5. Philanderer: one who makes love insincerely; one who engages in passing love affairs. The word comes from the Greek philandros (“man loving”) but gained its current usage because many English playwrights gave the name to their romantic leads.
6. Philippic: Bitter verbal attack. Philip II of Macedon wanted to make Greece into a monarchy. He was opposed by the great orator, Demosthenes, who denounced Philip in devastating speeches that came to be known as philippics.
7. Procrustean: designed to secure conformity; drastic. An ancient Greek robber named Procrustes tied his victims to a bed and then, to make them fit the bed, stretched the short ones and hacked off the limbs of the taller ones.
8. Protean: changeable; taking on different forms. In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god who could change his appearance at will.
9. Pyrrhic victory: a victory that is exceptionally costly. Pyrrhus defeated the Romans in 279 B.C. but his losses were terribly heavy.
10. Quixotic: romantically idealistic; impractical. The Spanish novelist, Cervantes, brought this word into our language when he wrote Don Quixote. His hero went forth foolishly to tilt against windmills and help the downtrodden.
11. Saturnine: sluggish; gloomy; grave. The planet Saturn is so far form the sun that it was thought to be cold and dismal.
12. Solecism: substandard use of words; violation of good manners. This word derives form the Greek inhabitants of the colony of Soloi who used a slangy dialect.
13. Spoonerism: an unintentional exchange of sounds. Reverend Spooner of New College, Oxford occasionally twisted his words around when he got excited so that “conquering kings: came out as “kinkering congs”
14. Sybarite: one who is fond of luxury and soft living. Sybaris was a fabulously wealthy Italian city, symbolic of the good life.
15. Tawdry: cheap; gaudy; showy. This word can be terraced to St. Audrey. Scarves called “St. Audrey’s laces” were sold in England where the local people changed the pronunciation to tawdry. The quality of the scarves, which at first was good, deteriorated, when they were mass produced for the peasant trade.
Lesson 1
1. Jingoist: One who boasts about his patriotism and favors a warlike foreign policy. In 1877, British Prime Minister Disraeli sent the fleet to Gallipoli to slow up the Russians. A singer wrote a ditty called “By Jingo” in honor of that action.
2. Lothario: rake; seducer; lover. Lothario was an amorous character in an eighteenth-century play. The Fair Penitent.
3. Maverick: one who acts independently. Samuel Maverick was a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle as others were doing.
4. Nemesis: Agent of retribution; just punishment. In Greek mythology, the goddess Nemesis punished pretentiousness with her swords and avenging wings.
5. Philanderer: one who makes love insincerely; one who engages in passing love affairs. The word comes from the Greek philandros (“man loving”) but gained its current usage because many English playwrights gave the name to their romantic leads.
6. Philippic: Bitter verbal attack. Philip II of Macedon wanted to make Greece into a monarchy. He was opposed by the great orator, Demosthenes, who denounced Philip in devastating speeches that came to be known as philippics.
7. Procrustean: designed to secure conformity; drastic. An ancient Greek robber named Procrustes tied his victims to a bed and then, to make them fit the bed, stretched the short ones and hacked off the limbs of the taller ones.
8. Protean: changeable; taking on different forms. In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god who could change his appearance at will.
9. Pyrrhic victory: a victory that is exceptionally costly. Pyrrhus defeated the Romans in 279 B.C. but his losses were terribly heavy.
10. Quixotic: romantically idealistic; impractical. The Spanish novelist, Cervantes, brought this word into our language when he wrote Don Quixote. His hero went forth foolishly to tilt against windmills and help the downtrodden.
11. Saturnine: sluggish; gloomy; grave. The planet Saturn is so far form the sun that it was thought to be cold and dismal.
12. Solecism: substandard use of words; violation of good manners. This word derives form the Greek inhabitants of the colony of Soloi who used a slangy dialect.
13. Spoonerism: an unintentional exchange of sounds. Reverend Spooner of New College, Oxford occasionally twisted his words around when he got excited so that “conquering kings: came out as “kinkering congs”
14. Sybarite: one who is fond of luxury and soft living. Sybaris was a fabulously wealthy Italian city, symbolic of the good life.
15. Tawdry: cheap; gaudy; showy. This word can be terraced to St. Audrey. Scarves called “St. Audrey’s laces” were sold in England where the local people changed the pronunciation to tawdry. The quality of the scarves, which at first was good, deteriorated, when they were mass produced for the peasant trade.
Words from Proper Names
Unit 1
Lesson 1
1. Jingoist: One who boasts about his patriotism and favors a warlike foreign policy. In 1877, British Prime Minister Disraeli sent the fleet to Gallipoli to slow up the Russians. A singer wrote a ditty called “By Jingo” in honor of that action.
2. Lothario: rake; seducer; lover. Lothario was an amorous character in an eighteenth-century play. The Fair Penitent.
3. Maverick: one who acts independently. Samuel Maverick was a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle as others were doing.
4. Nemesis: Agent of retribution; just punishment. In Greek mythology, the goddess Nemesis punished pretentiousness with her swords and avenging wings.
5. Philanderer: one who makes love insincerely; one who engages in passing love affairs. The word comes from the Greek philandros (“man loving”) but gained its current usage because many English playwrights gave the name to their romantic leads.
6. Philippic: Bitter verbal attack. Philip II of Macedon wanted to make Greece into a monarchy. He was opposed by the great orator, Demosthenes, who denounced Philip in devastating speeches that came to be known as philippics.
7. Procrustean: designed to secure conformity; drastic. An ancient Greek robber named Procrustes tied his victims to a bed and then, to make them fit the bed, stretched the short ones and hacked off the limbs of the taller ones.
8. Protean: changeable; taking on different forms. In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god who could change his appearance at will.
9. Pyrrhic victory: a victory that is exceptionally costly. Pyrrhus defeated the Romans in 279 B.C. but his losses were terribly heavy.
10. Quixotic: romantically idealistic; impractical. The Spanish novelist, Cervantes, brought this word into our language when he wrote Don Quixote. His hero went forth foolishly to tilt against windmills and help the downtrodden.
11. Saturnine: sluggish; gloomy; grave. The planet Saturn is so far form the sun that it was thought to be cold and dismal.
12. Solecism: substandard use of words; violation of good manners. This word derives form the Greek inhabitants of the colony of Soloi who used a slangy dialect.
13. Spoonerism: an unintentional exchange of sounds. Reverend Spooner of New College, Oxford occasionally twisted his words around when he got excited so that “conquering kings: came out as “kinkering congs”
14. Sybarite: one who is fond of luxury and soft living. Sybaris was a fabulously wealthy Italian city, symbolic of the good life.
15. Tawdry: cheap; gaudy; showy. This word can be terraced to St. Audrey. Scarves called “St. Audrey’s laces” were sold in England where the local people changed the pronunciation to tawdry. The quality of the scarves, which at first was good, deteriorated, when they were mass produced for the peasant trade.
Lesson 1
1. Jingoist: One who boasts about his patriotism and favors a warlike foreign policy. In 1877, British Prime Minister Disraeli sent the fleet to Gallipoli to slow up the Russians. A singer wrote a ditty called “By Jingo” in honor of that action.
2. Lothario: rake; seducer; lover. Lothario was an amorous character in an eighteenth-century play. The Fair Penitent.
3. Maverick: one who acts independently. Samuel Maverick was a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle as others were doing.
4. Nemesis: Agent of retribution; just punishment. In Greek mythology, the goddess Nemesis punished pretentiousness with her swords and avenging wings.
5. Philanderer: one who makes love insincerely; one who engages in passing love affairs. The word comes from the Greek philandros (“man loving”) but gained its current usage because many English playwrights gave the name to their romantic leads.
6. Philippic: Bitter verbal attack. Philip II of Macedon wanted to make Greece into a monarchy. He was opposed by the great orator, Demosthenes, who denounced Philip in devastating speeches that came to be known as philippics.
7. Procrustean: designed to secure conformity; drastic. An ancient Greek robber named Procrustes tied his victims to a bed and then, to make them fit the bed, stretched the short ones and hacked off the limbs of the taller ones.
8. Protean: changeable; taking on different forms. In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god who could change his appearance at will.
9. Pyrrhic victory: a victory that is exceptionally costly. Pyrrhus defeated the Romans in 279 B.C. but his losses were terribly heavy.
10. Quixotic: romantically idealistic; impractical. The Spanish novelist, Cervantes, brought this word into our language when he wrote Don Quixote. His hero went forth foolishly to tilt against windmills and help the downtrodden.
11. Saturnine: sluggish; gloomy; grave. The planet Saturn is so far form the sun that it was thought to be cold and dismal.
12. Solecism: substandard use of words; violation of good manners. This word derives form the Greek inhabitants of the colony of Soloi who used a slangy dialect.
13. Spoonerism: an unintentional exchange of sounds. Reverend Spooner of New College, Oxford occasionally twisted his words around when he got excited so that “conquering kings: came out as “kinkering congs”
14. Sybarite: one who is fond of luxury and soft living. Sybaris was a fabulously wealthy Italian city, symbolic of the good life.
15. Tawdry: cheap; gaudy; showy. This word can be terraced to St. Audrey. Scarves called “St. Audrey’s laces” were sold in England where the local people changed the pronunciation to tawdry. The quality of the scarves, which at first was good, deteriorated, when they were mass produced for the peasant trade.
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