Vocabulary #6 – Pd. 5
1.
gyrations
jahy-rey-shuh n]
noun
1. the act of gyrating; circular or spiral motion; revolution; rotation;
whirling.
Origin: 1605-15; < Late Latin
2.
vicissitudes vi-sis-i-tood, -tyood] Spell
noun
1.a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
2.interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
3. successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life
or fortune; ups and downs:
They remained friends through the vicissitudes of 40 years.
4.regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.
5.change; mutation; mutability.
Origin
Latin; 1560-1570
3.
doldrums
dohl-druh mz, dol-, dawl-]
noun,
1. state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art:
August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.
2. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.
Origin: 1795-1805;
4.
hauteur [hoh-tur; Fr. oh-tŒR]
–noun
haughty manner or spirit; arrogance.
Origin:
1620–30; < F,
5.
magnanimous
[mag-nan-uh-muh s]
–adjective
1. generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty
resentfulness or vindictiveness: to be magnanimous toward one's
enemies.
2.
high-minded; noble: a just and magnanimous ruler.
3.
proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind,
character, etc.: a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.
Origin: 1575–85; < L
6.
epigram
ep-i-gram]
noun
1. any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.
2. a short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject
and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought.
Origin: 1400-50; late Middle English < Latin
7. effeminate
[ih-fem-uh-nit; v. ih-fem-uh-neyt]
adjective
1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered
feminine, as softness or delicacy.
2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.:
effeminate luxury.
Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L
8. privy [priv-ee]
adjective
1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret
(usually fol. by to ): Many persons were privy to the plot.
2. private; assigned to private uses.
3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, esp. with
reference to a sovereign.
4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.
Origin: 1175–1225; ME
9.
posthumous
pos-chuh-muh s, -choo-] Spell
adjective
1. arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death:
a posthumous award for bravery.
2. published after the death of the author:
a posthumous novel.
3. born after the death of the father.
Origin
Latin
1600-1610
10.
epitomize
ih-pit-uh-mahyz] Spell
verb
to contain or represent in small compass; serve as a typical example
of; typify:
This meadow epitomizes the beauty of the whole area.
Origin
1590-1600