English 9 Day 1 Vocabulary List
From “Lamb to the Slaughter”
1. placid
Part of
speech
Definition
adjective
pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed
Etymological from L. placidus "pleasing, gentle," from placere "to be acceptable, be liked, be
root
approved," related to placare "to soothe, quiet,"
other words
from same
root
please, placate, pleasure
2. precinct
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
a district, as of a city, marked out for governmental or administrative purposes,
or for police protection.
Etymological from L. præcingere "to gird about, surround," from præ- "before" + cingere "to
root
surround, encircle"
other words
from same
root
cinch, succinct
3. congeal
Part of
speech
Definition
verb
to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or
freezing
Etymological from L. congelare "to freeze together," from com- "together" + gelare "to freeze,"
root
other words
gel, gelato, gelatin
from same
root
4. tranquil
Part of
speech
Definition
adjective
free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm
Etymological L. tranquillus "quiet"
root
other words
quiet, quiescent (at rest), acquiesce (agree peacefully)
from same
root
5. hospitality
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
Etymological from L. hospitalitem "friendliness to guests," from hospes (gen. hospitis) "guest"
root
other words
host, hospital, hostel, hospitable
from same
root
From “The Interlopers”
6. plight
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
noun
a condition, state, or situation, especially an unfavorable or unfortunate one
from Old English pliht “to endanger or put at risk”
play, pledge
7. ambush
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
an act or instance of attacking unexpectedly from a concealed position.
Etymological from O.Fr. en- "in" + busch "wood,"
root
other words
bush, bushes
from same
root
8. interloper
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others;
a person who intrudes into a region or field.
Etymological “inter” = between + Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan to leap, run;
root
other words
from same
root
Leap, lope, elope
9. reconciliation
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
bringing into agreement or harmony; making compatible or consistent;
winning over to friendliness
Etymological from L. re- = “again” + conciliatus, "to bring together, unite in feelings, make friendly,"
root
other words
from same
root
council, counsel, counsellor
10. precipitous
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
adjective
extremely or impassably steep:
from L. præcipitare "to throw or cast down headlong,"
precipitation, precipice
From Cat’s Eye:
11. euphoria
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
noun
a state of intense happiness and self-confidence:
from Gk. euphoros, lit. "bearing well,"
from eu- "well" + pherein "to carry"
phor, fer (to carry): infer, metaphor
eu (good, well): euphony, euphemism, euthanasia
12. quavery
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
ajdective
shaking tremulously; quivering or trembling
From M.E.: blend of quake and waver
quake, earthquake,
13. lethargy
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
Noun
the quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic
from Gk. lethargos "forgetful," originally "inactive through forgetfulness,
from lethe "forgetfulness" + argos "idle."
latent, lethargic
14. silhouette
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
the outline or general shape of something, especially a dark image against a light
background
Etymological from Fr. silhouette, in allusion to Étienne de Silhouette (1709-67), Fr. minister of
root
finance in 1759. Usually said to be so called because it was an inexpensive way
of making a likeness of someone, a derisive reference to Silhouette's petty
economies to finance the Seven Years' War, which
were unpopular among the nobility. But other theories are that it refers to his
other words
from same
root
brief tenure in office, or the story that he decorated his chateau with such
portraits.
No root in language = no family words.
15. warily
Part of
speech
Definition
adverb
In a watchful, careful way; being on one's guard against danger.
Etymological O.E. warian "to guard against," (cf. O.Fris. waria, O.N. vara); related to O.E. wær
"aware"
root
other words
beware, aware
from same
root
“Long, Long After School” words
16. alumni
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
graduates or former students of a specific school, college, or university.
Etymological from L. "a pupil," lit. "foster son," from alere "to nourish"
root
other words
alumni is a plural noun. The singular form is alumnus
from same
root
17. coax
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
verb
to attempt to influence by gentle persuasion, flattery, etc.
originally in slang phrase to make a coax of, from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes "a fool,
ninny, simpleton"
18. incongruous
Part of
adjective
speech
out of place; inappropriate;
Definition
Etymological From L. in = “not” + con = “together” + gruere + “to fall”
root
Literally, “not falling together”
other words
congruent
from same
root
19. legislate
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
verb
to make or enact laws; to control by the use of laws
from L. legis = law
legal, law, legislature
20. unheralded
Part of
speech
Definition
adjective
appearing without fanfare, publicity, or advance acclaim;
not previously announced, notified, or expected
Etymological herald means to give news or tidings of; announce; proclaim
root
Old French herau *heri army + *wald commander
other words
from same
root
“Blue Bead” words
21. nuisance
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
a person or thing that causes annoyance or bother
Etymological from L. nuire "to harm or to hurt"
root
other words
noxious, obnoxious, innocent (“not hurting”), innocuous,
from same
root
22. putrid
Part of
speech
Definition
adjective
in a state of foul decay or decomposition; rotten.
Etymological from L. putrere "to rot,"
root
other words
putrefaction
from same
root
23. antediluvian
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
adjective
very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive
"before Noah's flood,"
from L. ante- "before" + diluvium "a flood"
many words use ante- as a prefix
deluge, dilute.
(luv- or lav- means “to wash” lavatory, latrine, lather)
24. dislodge
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root
verb
to remove or force out of a particular place:
from O.Fr. des- “do the opposite” + loge "hut, cabin, shelter”
literally, “to remove from shelter”
lodge (hotel)
25. juggernaut
Part of
speech
Definition
noun
any large, overpowering, destructive force or object
Etymological fr. Hindi Jagannāth “ lord of the world” (i.e., the god Vishnu or Krishna),
root
equivalent to jagat world + nātha lord
Devotees of the god are said to have thrown themselves under the wheels to be crushed
to death in their frenzies of devotion
other words
from same
root
Part of
speech
Definition
Etymological
root
other words
from same
root