Lesson 3
21. alienate- 30. anecdote
21. al-ien-ate
verb
al'-y;;>-nat
or
a'-l e-;;>-nat
[alienare, alienatus (Latin), "estrange," from alius (Latin), "other")
Definition: To cause hostility or indifference where love, friendliness, or
interest formerly existed.
During the years before the Russian Revolution, the increasingly rigid
and oppressive policies of the czarist government alienated many of
those who formerly supported it.
Related Forms: (noun) a lienation: (noun and adjective) alien: (adjectives)
alienable. inaliena ble
Usage Note:
Alien ation denotes a state of estrangement, disaffection , or isolation. In
psychology, the word is used in a special sense to indicate a state of
estrangement between a person and the outside world or between the
differen t parts of the personality.
Synonyms: (verbs) estrange, disaffect, antagonize
Antonyms: (verbs) befriend; captivate
Related Phrases: sever (or break ofO relations with: the generation gap;
catch someone's fancy, ingratiate oneself with
22. al-lege
verb
;;>-lej'
[ad (Latin), "to; toward" + Iegare (Latin). "depute. grant, bequeath")
Definition: To claim that something is true but without offering any
proof.
The men now being held in police cu stody are alleged to h ave robbed
eight supermarkets in the past year.
As an excu se for refusing to lend me the money, she alleged that she
had financial troubles of her own.
Related Forms: (noun) allegation: (adjective) alleged
Usage Note:
The u se of the word aLlege often implies that there is some doubt abou t
the truth of a statement-for example, in the secon d senten ce above. At
other times, the word aLlege is u sed because the speaker wishes to disclaim all responsibility for the truth of whatever follows-for example, in
the phrases "an alleged miracle" or "the alleged visitor from Mars."
Synonyms: (verbs) claim, contend: declare, assert, affirm. avow, asseverate, aver
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23 . al-lude
verb
d-lood'
or al-yood'
(ad (Latin). "to· + ludere (Latin). "play"]
Definition: To refer to indirectly.
During the course of the evening. he alluded to the fact that he had
attended Harvard.
Related Forms: (noun) allusion; (adjective) allusive
Usage Note:
Take care not to confuse the following words:
allude (refer indirectly to) and elude (evade. escape)
allusion (an indirect reference) and iLlusion (a false perception or
impression)
allusive (containing allusions; suggestive) and iLLusory (tending to
deceive) or elusive (difficult to fmd or grasp)
Synonyms: (verbs) hint at, suggest, insinuate, intimate
noun
24. am-bi-ence
am'-be-dns
(ambi (Latin). "around" + iens (Latin), "going," from ire (Latin). "go"]
Definition: The surrounding or pervading atmosphere; the tone and
spirit of an environment.
In the 1920s, the literary and artistic ambience of the Latin Quarter
in Paris attracted many young American writers. such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzger ald.
Related Form:
(adjective) ambient
Synonyms: (nouns) surroundings, milieu, setting; character, flavor
adjective
am-biv'-d-H~nt
(Ambivale112, a German word coined-by Sigmund Freud from ambi (Latin). "both"+
valens. valentis (Latin), "worth")
25. am-biv-a-lent
Definition: Wavering or uncertain because of an inability to make a
choice between two contradictory feelings or viewpoints in regard to a
person, a thing, or a course of action.
My parents have ambivalent feelings about the college I have chosen.
On the on e hand , they are favorably impressed by its academic standards; on the other, they are unhappy a bout its great distance from
ou r home.
Related Form: (noun) ambivalence
Phrases: ambivalent emotions, an ambivalent position
Synonyms: (adjectives) contradictory, opposing. conflicting, equ ivocal:
vacillating
Antonyms: (adjectives) definite, firm, unwavering, steady; clear-cut.
unequivocal
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26.
am-nes-ty
noun
am' -n;;>s-te
Ia (Greek). "not"+ mnasthai (Greek). "remember")
Definition: An official pardon granted to offenders against the government. especially for political offenses.
A new government. seeking to restore normal conditions after a bitter civil war. may grant an amnesty to all who had been guilty of
political offenses.
Synonyms: (nouns) forgiveness, immunity (Word 226). remission (of punishment), absolution (of sin)
27. a-nach-ro-nism
noun
;;>-nak'-r;;>-niz-;;>m
lana (Greek). "backwards" + chronos (Greek). "time")
Definition: The misplacing of an obj ect or event in a period to which it
cannot possibly belong: anything out of its proper time frame.
Cassius's reference to mechanical clocks in Shakespeare's Julius
Caeser is a n anachronism because such devices were unknown in
Roman times.
Someone who lives too much in the past is bound to be considered
something of an anachronism by her or his contemporaries.
Related Forms: (adjective) anachronistic
Synonyms: (nouns) incongruity. inconsistency. contradiction: throwback
28. an-ar-chy
noun
an'-;;>r-ke
lanarchia (Greek). "anarchy." from an (Greek). "without" + archos (Greek). "ruler")
Definition: Absence of governmental authority: general political and social
disorder.
During the famous Year of the Four Emperors (A.D. 69), the Roman
Empire was thrown into a state of almost total anarchy.
A s loppy clerk can easily reduce a filing system to complete anarchy
In no time at all.
Related Forms: (nouns) anarchism. anarchist
Usage Note:
Anarchism is a political doctrine that advocates the abolition of all forms
of government as being oppressive and undesira ble. The word is also
used in an extended sense to indicate active resistance to the state,
including terrorism and guerrilla warfare. An anarchist is a person who
favors the ideas of anarchism or engages in activities aimed at the violent overthrow of an existing government.
Synonyms: (nouns) disorder. chaos. lawlessness. pandemonium (Word
290). turmoil
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29. a-nath-e-ma
noun
;:)-n ath '-;:)-m;:)
[anathema (Late Latin). ·a c urse: from anathema (Greek). "a votive offering"(
Definition:
a. A curse or strong denunciation.
Many an Old Testament prophet did not hesitate to hurl stinging
anathemas at the wayward children of Is rael.
b . The person or thing cursed; more generally, any object of intense
dislike.
Red meat is usually anathema to a vegetarian.
Usage Note:
When anathema occurs without modification after the verb to be (as in
the second example above). it functions more as an adjective than as a
noun. For that reason , it may properly be replaced by such adjectives
as repugnant or abhorrent ra ther than by the corresponding n ouns
(repugnance, abhorrence). Thus, the second example above could also
read:
Red meat is usually repugnant/a bhorrent to a vegetarian.
One of the few nouns that can replace anathema in this situ ation is
abomination (with the indefinite article).
Red meat is usually an abomination to a vegetarian.
Related Forms: (verb) anathematize; (noun) anathematization
Synonyms:
(nouns) malediction, execration, imprecation; abomin ation
Antonyms:
(nouns) blessing, benediction, eulogy, encomium; (verbs)
bless, glorify, praise, extol, cherish
30. an-ec-dote
noun
an'-ik-dot
[anekdota (Greek), "unpublis hed things." from an (Greek), "n ot" + ek (Greek). "out"
+ dotos (Greek), ·given"(
Definition: A brief account of some in teresting or amusing inciden t, espe-
cially one containing biographical or historical details.
The Oxford Boolc of Royal Anecdotes contains amusing true-life s tories about the men and women who have worn th e Englis h crown.
Related Forms: (adjective) anecdotal: (nouns) anecdotist, anecdotage
Usage Note:
Anecdotal means "containing anecdotes." An anecdotist is a person who
tells anecdotes, especially as a hobby or profession. Anecdotage, a blend
of anecdote and dotage, indicates the kind of old age that is accompa -
nied by a tendency to ramble on endlessly about the past.
Synonyms: (nouns) tale, s tory, vignette. s ketch , narrative, reminiscence,
memoir; episode; storyteller, raconteur
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An Amusing Anecdote
Louis Arms trong (1 901 - 1971), known
fa miliarly as "Satchmo," was one of
this na tion's great jazz mus icians . As
a bandlea der a nd s olois t, he did much
to popularize jazz across America during his long career. He als o s ta rred in
several films and was noted for his
sen se of humor.
Many amus ing a necdotes are told
about this color ful figure. Once, for
ins tance. he was asked if he objected
to his fellow performers imitating his
exuberantly extroverted musical style.
"No.·· he replied. ··A lot of cats copy the
Mon a Lisa. bu t people still s tand in
line to see the oliginal!"
Louis Arms trong
Using the Words
Exercise I. Syllabication and Pronunciation
Syllabicate the following words correctly, and place the major
stress mark [ ' ) after the syllable that is accented when the word
is pronounced .
Example: a l-lege'
1. amnesty
2. allude
3. ambience
4. aliena te
5. anarchy
6. anecdote
Exercise II. Words Out of Context
In each of the following groups, select the item tha t bes t ex-presses
the meaning of the numbered word a t the left.
1. ambience
a . formula b . concern c . a tmosph ere
d . schedule
b. imaginary
2 . ambivalent
a . discourteous
c . wealthy
d. conflicting
b . an a bomination
3 . ana thema
a. a throwback
c. a champion
d. an illusion
4. anarchy
a. chaos
b . poverty c. fear d . danger
a . assemblage b. gap c . m anneris m
5. a mnesty
d. pardon
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Exercise Ill. Completing Sentences
Complete each of the following sentences by selecting the most appropriate word from the group of words given below. Make whatever adjustments are necessary to fit the words into the sentences
properly.
allege
anachronism
anecdote
allude
alienate
anarchy
1. During a speech a politician may repeatedly
lo
"pressing economic problems" without actually specifying what
he or she has in mind.
2. A modern-dress production of one of Shakespeare's tragedies
may be full of the most absurd
but still be
quite convincing.
3. The people now being held in police custody are-,---------,-to have committed a series of spectacular bank heists over the
past year.
4. The English writer Fanny Burney's diaries and j ournals are full
of the most interesting stories and
involving
people who were prominent in her lifetime.
5. A supervisor who treats the members of his or her staff with
contempt or indifference will soon
each and
every one of them.
Exercise IV. Synonyms and Antonyms
Classify each of the following pairs of words or phrases as S for
synonyms or A for antonyms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
alienate-antagonize
milieu-ambience
anathema-blessing
anecdote-yarn
claim-allege
Exercise V.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
unequivocal-ambiguous
allude to-hint at
order-anarchy
anachronism- throwback
immunity-amnesty
Framing Sentences
A. Use each of the following words in an original sentence that
clearly illustrates its meaning.
3. amnesty
4. ambivalent
B. Give an adjective form of each of the following words, and u se
it in an original sentence that clearly illustrates its meaning.
1. alienate
2. allude
5. anecdote
6. anarchy
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7. anachronism
8. allege
Exercise VI. Word Roundup
Explain the diffe rence in meaning between the words in each of the
following groups .
1. allude-refer
2. allusion-illusion
3. allusive-elusive
4. elusive-illusory
Dissecting the Words
Prefixes
1. The Lalin prefix ad, meaning "to. toward," a ppears in countless
English words. Sometimes it is disguised when it precedes a root b eginning with a consonant. In su ch cases. the d in ad is often dropped . and
the following consonant doubles. For example, affiuent. meaning "prosperous ." studied in Lesson 2. comes from ad and the Latin verb jluere, meaning "flow." When lhe two parts are joined, the d of ad is replaced by an f
(becau se jluere begins with an .fl. Similarly, ad and knowLedge merge to
become acknowledge; ad and grandize become aggrandize. meaning "to
increase in power or rank."
Thus. ad may appear in a n Englis h word as ac-, af -, ag-, al- , an·, ap-,
ar-, a s -, or at -. This merging, or fusion, of consonants is technically called
assimilation.
2. The Greek preftx a , an , meaning "not." "withou t:· or "opposed to." is
found in two words studied in this lesson: anarchy and anecdote. (Note
that the preftx lakes the form an before a root beginning with a vowel and
usually before h.) Other wor ds derived from this pr eftx include:
anonymous (from an. "without" + onuma, "name")- of unknown author-
s hip
atypicaL-not typical
amorphous (from a. "without"+ morphe "form")-sh apeless. formless
asymmetricaL- n o t symmetrical
amoraL-without moral quality (that is. neither moral nor immoral) ; lacking a sense of morals
Roots
1. The Greek root arch (the ch is pronounced as a lc) has a variety of
meanings. One of them is "government" or "ruler." It a ppears in anarchy.
studied in this lesson . Otl1er English words con taining arch with the same
m eaning include:
monw·chy (from monos, "sole" + archos, "ruler")-a government In which
one person is the s ole and absolu te ruler
oligarchy (from oligos, "few" + arche, "rule")-a government which is
entirely in the h ands of a small group of people or fa mllles
patriarch (from pater, "father"+ archos, "ruler")-a father who is the h ead
of a family or lribe
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As a preftx, arch (here the ch is pronounced tch) means "principal" or
"of the highest rank." English words in which this meaning of arch
appears include:
archbishop-bishop of the highest rank
archenemy-chief enemy
archduke-a nobleman whose ceremonial or social status is the same as
that of a reigning monarch
arctiftend- chief fiend (a name for the devil)
Be careful not to confuse the Greek preftx/root arch with the English
word arch, which means "sly" or "mischievous" (as in "an arch smile").
2. The Latin root voc, voke, meaning "call," forms the basis of the word
advocate (Word 13). Other words containing this root include:
vocation-a profession, trade , or calling
avocation-a hobby (that is, something that a person pursues for pleasure
in addition to his or her regular job)
revoke (literally "to call back")-to withdraw. Noun form: revocation
convoke (literally "to call together")-to a ssemble. Noun form: convocation
invoke-to call upon ("invoke God's blessing") or ask for ( "invoke aid").
Noun form: invocation
provoke-to stir up or cause. Noun form: provocation; adjective form: pro·
vocative. An agent provocateur is a person who deliberately stirs up
trouble or dissension.
vociferous-loud-voiced
evoke-to call forth or elicit
A sample of Old English. A page from
the only surviving manuscript of the
great Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf,
which was probably written in the 8th
century. (The manuscript, however,
only dates from around A.D. 1000.)
Beowulf, which blends both Christian
and pagan elements, gives a r emarkable picture of the life and customs of
the early Germanic peoples.
58
Exercise
1. How does the preftx ad change when added to a root beginning
with a consonant? What is the technical name for this phenomenon? Give six words studied in Lessons 1-3 that illustrate it.
2. Complete the following activities relating to arch.
a. What is an archdiocese? What church official resides in an
archdiocese? Give the adjective form of archdiocese.
b. What is a patriarch? Name the three patriarchs mentioned
in the Bible.
c . What does the word arch mean in such phrases as an arch
smile? What does the preftx arch mean in such phrases as
an archenemy?
d . Add arch to each of the following, and explain how the addition adds stature or dimension to the original word:
angel, dulce, duchess, priest, deacon.
e. Match the word in Column A with its meaning in Column B.
Co lumn A
1. monarchy
2. hierarchy
3. oligarchy
Column B
a . government by the few
b. rule by a single sovereign
c . a ruling body arranged into
series of grades
3. In place of the blank space in each of the following sentences,
supply a word or phrase that clearly shows that you know the
meaning of the Latin root voc, voice.
a . To deliver the invocation at the beginning of your school's
graduation exercises is to
upon God for divine
favor.
b . If something you have done has provoked an argument
with your kid brother, it has _ _ _ __
c . If your bus pass has been revoked, it has been _ _ _ __
d . If a statement by the president of the United States has
evoked a lot of comment, it has _ _ _ __
e.
4.
If you attended a vocational school, you would expect the
school to prepare you for your
in life.
For each of the following defmitions, supply a word beginning
with the Greek prefiX a , an.
a . shapeless or formless
the condition of a countzy without an effective government
c. of unknown authorship
d . lacking a sense of morals
e. a short narrative, often containing biographical details
b.
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5. Occasionally ad appears in a Latin phrase that English h as
borrowed without change. A few such phrases are listed below.
Define each.
d. ad nauseam
a. ad libit um (or a d lib, for short)
e. a d infinitum
b . ad hoc
f. a d valorem
c. ad hominem
Enriching the Lesson
Exercise I. Parlez-Vous Fran9ais?
The word milieu , mentioned in this lesson, is taken wholly and
without change from French. English h as m any other s u ch words
and phrases. A few of them are listed in Column A b elow. With or
without the aid of a dictionary, match each of these expressions
with its m eaning in Column B.
ColumnA
1.
carte blanch e
2. fait accompli
3. savoir-faire
chef d'oeuvre
b ete noir e
faux pas
7. hors d'oeuvres
8. boutique
9. rendezvous
10. cul-de-sac
4.
5.
6.
Column B
a. appetizers
b. an object of strong dislike
c. a meeting or meeting place
d . a small specialty shop
e. full power to act as one sees fit
f. knowing the right or proper thing to do
g . something that cannot b e reversed
h. a blind alley or dead end
i. a social blunder
j. a m asterpiece
Exercise II. Stating the Case
1. Lesson 3 contains two words, allege and allude, that indicate
particular ways of giving information in speech or writing. A
number of other such terms are listed below. With or without
the help of a dictionary, defme each in such a way as to bring
out its distinctive m eaning.
a. intimate (verb)
e. assert
i. avou ch
b . expatiate
f. declaim
j. aver
c. avow
g . enunciate
k. cite
d. insinuate
h. asseverate
I. imply
2. What is the distinction b etween a soliLoquy and a colloquy?
What is a colloquium? a monologist? dialogue?
3. Each of the following colloquial expressions has to do with
talking or keeping silent. Defme each .
a. rap
b . chew the fat
c . clam up
60
d. talk back
e. spiel
f. gab
g . badm outh
h. talk big
i. blurt out
Exercise Ill. Telling a Story
1. What is a fable? How does it differ from an anecdote? an allegory? Give the names of two authors who are famous for writing
fables. In a short paragraph, retell a fable by one of these authors. Why do you think these stories are called fables?
2.
Define the following: tall story, memoir, yarn, parable. How
does each differ from the other? Recount a yarn you have
h eard; a parable from the Bible; a tall story.
3. What is a quip? retort? bon mot? Define each of these words,
and, if possible, supply an anecdotal illustration of the defmition.
4. The noted American painter James McNeill Whistler is as famous for his witty retorts as for his artistic achievement. The
following anecdote shows Whistler in top form:
At a dinner attended by Oscar Wilde and Whistler, Whistler is
said to have remarked: "People will forgive anything but
beauty and talent. So I am doubly unpardonable." Everybody
roared at this observation except Wilde. Wilde, a noted wit in
his own right, looked rather chagrined at Whistler's "score"
and muttered, "I wish I'd said that. " To this, Whistler retorted,
"You will, Oscar-you will!"
Now recount an anecdote by Benjamin Franklin; a witticism
by James Thurber; an example of repartee by Dorothy Parker;
an anecdote about Will Rogers. To do this, you will probably
have to consult biographies a nd other books dealing with these
witty writers.
5. What does the Latin word fabuLa mean? How does tl1e Latin
word contribute to the meanin g of the English word fabulous?
Explain whatfabulous means in the following phrases: a man
offabulous wealth, fabulous exploits, a fabulous party.
Exercise IV. Expanding Your Word Power
The words listed below are not on the Basic Word List, but they
were mentioned in passing in Lesson 3. All of them would make
usefu l additions to your working vocabu lary. Defme each. give its
etymology, lis t two synonyms and two antonyms (where possible),
and use in a short sentence that clearly illustrates its meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
alien
estrange
vacillate
contend
5.
6.
7.
8.
chaos
encomium
affirm
vignette
9. episode
10. extol
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