Caesar’s English
Lesson 18
1.
2.
3.
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apprehension: fear
superfluous: extra
tangible: touchable
lurid: sensational
pervade: spread throughout
Apprehension – At first when we notice that the English noun apprehension can
mean both understanding and fear, we might sense a problem, because these
definitions seem like two very different things. But when we look closely at the
Latin elements that compose the word, we being to understand. Apprehension
contains ap (a form of ad) meaning toward, pre, meaning before, and hend, to
grasp. In fact, the Latin word apprehendere meant to grasp. Apprehension means
gripped by fear or apprehend means that someone can grasp a concept.
Superfluous – Our English adjective superfluous comes straight from the Roman
Latin, where it was spelled superfluus. Superfluous means extra, more than
needed, excessive, unnecessary.
Tangible – In ancient Rome, the Latin verb tangere meant to touch, and today we
extend this word into new life with English words such as tangent and tangible.
The adjective tangible means touchable, and its opposite intangible refers to things
that cannot be touched.
Lurid – Our English adjective lurid is a modern echo of the ancient Latin luridus,
which meant sallow or ghastly. Something that is lurid is horrible, gruesome, or
sensational. We also use lurid to describe something that glows unnaturally, or that
is garishly red.
Pervade – The English verb pervade comes from the Latin pervadere, to pass
through. Per meant through, and vadere meant go or walk. We use pervade when
something spreads throughout something, or permeates it.