Lesson 11
101. connoisseur -
101. con-nois-seur
115. cynical
noun
kon-d-sur'
[connoisseur [obsolete French). "expert"; from connoistre (Old French). "know";
from co. a form of cum (Latin). "thoroughly" + (g)noscere (Latln}. "know")
Definition: Someone wilh informed and discriminating judgment, especially in matters of arl. lilerature, or taste.
Though the exhibition was by no means a popular success, it caused
a sensation a mong connoisseurs and scholars.
I don't know anything about quiches or souffles, but I'm a true connoisseur when it comes to pizza.
Synonyms: (nouns) expert. authority. specialisl. pundit, savant, maven,
devotee: judge. critic. arbiter: (plural noun) cognoscenti
Antonyms: (nouns) beginner. novice, neophyte. greenhom, tenderfoot,
tyro: amateur, dilettante
Usage Note:
Amateur and dilettante both refer to someone who studies or practices
an art for his or her own amusement. Dilettante also suggests the Idea
of dabbling or not being very serious about the pursuit. A connoisseur,
on the other hand, has s ufficient knowledge or expertise to serve as a
competent judge or critic.
102. con-sen-sus
noun
kdn-sen '-sds
[consensus (Latin). "general agreement"; from con. a form of cum (Latin},"together"
+ sentire. sensus (Latin). "feei"J
Definition: Collective uniformity of opinion: general agr eement in feeling
or belief.
Though everyone in our club agreed that we had a problem. there
was n o group consensus on how to solve it.
Usage Note:
Adding the phrase "of opinion" to consensus is frowned upon by most
authorities because the idea that these words express is already Included in the m eaning of consensus.
Synonyms: (nouns) unanimity. like-mindedness. concord, harmony. accord. unity. concurrence
Antonyms: (nouns) d iscord. disagreement, disunity. disharmony, d is sen t. conflict. diversity, dissidence
Related Phrases: in accord with. in unison, of the same mind
153
103. con-strue
verb
kdn-stroo'
[con. a form of cum (Latin). ··together" + struere (Latin). "heap up"l
Definition: To analyze, expla in, interpret, or understand.
As you h ave already learned, the word agenda may be construed as
either singular or plural.
"Am I to construe your s ilence as an admission of guilt?" Dad asked.
(verb) misconstrue; (adj ective) con struable; (nouns)
construction, misconstruction
Related Forms:
Synonyms: (verbs) dedu ce, infer, translate. gather, take to mean
Antonyms: (verbs) misinterpret, rrusunders tand
104. con-sum-mate
adjective: kdn-siim'-It
verb: k6n'-sd-mat
[con. a form of cum (Latln). "together" + summa (Latin). " highest. suprem e"!
Definition:
a. (adjective) Complete or perfect in the hig hest degree.
The soprano may lack the consummate artistry of a great sin ging
actress s u ch as Callas, but she is still a remarkable performer.
b. (verb) To bring to completion or perfection.
Though there are still a few minor details to iron out. we expect to
consummate the deal sometime this week.
Related Forms:
(noun) consummation; (adverb) consummately
Synonyms: (adjectives) superlative, s upreme; transcendent, surpassing,
matchless; finished , total; masterful, virtuoso; (verbs) clinch , conclude
Antonyms: (adjectives) mediocre, indifferent, run -of-th e-mill, ord inary;
inept, incompetent, inadequate; (verbs) begin, start, initiate, launch
105. co-pi-ous
adjective
k<Y-pe-ds
[copiosus (Latin), "plentiful." from copia (Lalin). "plen ty"!
Definition: Large in number or quantity; fu ll.
In no time at all. the gu ests reduced th e copious supply of edibles to a
mere memory.
A long epic poem s uch as Dante's Divine Comedy is equally the pr oduct
of a copious mind a nd a fertile imagination.
Related Forms: (nouns) copiousness, copiosity; (adverb) copiously
Synonyms: (adjectives) abundant, plentiful, ample. boun tiful, bounteous.
profuse. lavish, numerous; extensive, comprehensive
Antonyms: (adjectives) meager, scanty, scar ce, sparse; inadequate,
insufficient; empty. vacant, vacuous, barren
154
Cornucopia
A Greek mylh tells how Zeus.
having been nursed in infancy
by the nymph-goat Almathea.
s howed his g ra titude by a gift
of a miraculous horn. This
horn. or cornucopia (Latin,
cornu. "horn" + copiae. "of
plenty") furnis hed the possessor with an inexha ustible
s upply of food and other good
things. A horn overOowing
with fruits and ears of grain
has come to be used as an
emblem of plen ty in the decorative arts. as well as a general symbol of abundance and
prosperity.
106. cor-pu-lent
adjective
k6r'-py;:)-lent
(corpulentus (Latin). "fat. .. from corpus (La tin). "body")
Fat and bulky.
As I grew older and less active, I became decided ly more corpulent.
On paydays my wallet becomes pretty corpulent; the rest of the week it
looks as if it's on a very sti;ngent diet.
Definition:
Related Forms:
Synonyms:
(nouns) corpulence. corpulency
(adjectives) chubby, plump. husky. burly. portly. stout.
rotund. obese
Antonyms: (adjectives) lean. lanky. thin, wiry, scrawny. gaunt
107. cor-rob-o-rate
verb
k;:)'-rob-;:)-rat
or
ko-rob'-6-rat
(corroborare. corroboratus (Latin ). "strengthen": from cor. a form of cum (Latin).
"U1oroughly" + robur. roboris (Latin). "oak: str engU1"]
Definition: To confirm lhe truth or accuracy of.
The defendant's a libi may sound far-fetched , but highly reliable evidence corroborates every last word of it.
Only lime can corroborate some predictions.
(nouns) corroboration. corroborator; (adjectives) corroborative. corroboratory
Related Forms:
Synonyms: (verbs) verify. s ubstantiate. su pport. back up. b ear out
Antonyms:
(verbs) contradict. refute, rebut, confute, discredit, impugn
155
108. coun-sel
kaun'-s;::)l
noun and verb
[conseil (French). "advice," from consilium (Latin). "deliber a tion")
Definition:
a.
(noun) Advice secured through consultation.
At frrst I ignored my grandmother's advice. but as l grew older. I
came to appreciate the wisdom of her counsel.
b.
(noun) An adviser. especially a legal adviser.
Under a landmark Supreme Court ruling, every defendant
in a criminal case is assured of representation by legal counsel.
c.
(verb) To advise or recommend as a course of action.
"Before you make your final choice." my faculty adviser counseled,
"visit each of the colleges to which you've a pplied ."
Usage Note:
Do not confuse counsel with either council (a group assembled to give
advice or exchange opinions) or consul (an official appointed to represent a government in a foreign country. especially in commercial
matters).
Related Form: (noun) counselor
Phrases: keep one's own counsel. on advice of counsel. a camp counselor
Synonyms: (nouns) guidance. direction. recommendation; attorney, law-
yer; (verbs) guide, instruct. urge. exhort, admonish, caution
109. cred-i-bil-i-ty
noun
kred-;::)-bil' -;::)-te
[credibilis (Latin) "believable," from credere (Latin). "believe" + abi[is, abile (Latin).
"abl e to")
The ability to inspire belief or trust.
"The secretary's public statements are often a t odds with official pronouncements," the reporter observed. "This has seriously impaired his
credibility as a reliable spokesman for the a dministration ."
Definition:
Related Forms:
(noun) credibleness; (adjective) credible; (adverb) credi-
bly
Usage Notes:
a. Do not confuse credibility, which indicates the ability to inspire belief or trust. with cred ence, which indicates the belief or trust that
h as been inspired.
b . Note too the difference between credible, which means "worthy of
belief." and credi.table, which means "worthy of prai.se."
c . The phrase credibility gap refers to a general public s kepticism
about the truth or accuracy of official claims or statements.
Synonyms: (nouns) reliability, believability, plau sibility, trustworthiness,
dependability; (adjective) plausible
Antonyms: (nouns) unreliability, undependability
156
110. cri-te-ri-on
I/criterion (Greek).
noun
kri-tir '-e-;m
"means of judging:· from /crinein (Greek). 'judge"!
Definition: A s tandard or principle on wh ich to base a j udgme nt or
decision.
Usefu lness is not the only cri terion for including words in lhis book,
but it is the prima ry one.
Usage No te:
The plura l of criterion is criteria (or sometimes criterions). Under no circumstances is the form ending in a acceptable as the s ingular.
Synonyms:
111. cru-cial
(nouns) yardstick. touchstone, guideline. gauge, canon , ru le
adjective
k roo' -shdl
!crucial (Old French). "cross-shaped.- from crux. crucis (LaUn) . "cross")
Definition: At a point tha t will determine the fina l outcome; of s upreme
impor tance.
"The next few months are crucial,.. President Harry S. Truman once
said. "What we do now will affect our American way of life for decades
to com e."
Related Fo rm: (adverb) cr ucially
Syno nyms: (adjectives) critical, decisive, momentous, pivotal. vital
Antonyms: (adj ectives) insignificant, unimportant. inconsequenlial
Related Phrases: the crux of the matter, reach the cris is point
11 2. cul-pa-ble
adjective
kul'-p;:)-b;:)l
!culp abilis (LaUn), "blameworthy.'' from culpa (LaUn). ·guilt; fault")
Definitio n: At fa u lt; bla meworthy .
"I should have kept a closer eye on the project. .. the s upervisor con fessed. "In th is regard. I'm as culpable as those who actual ly botched
the job."
Phrases: culpa ble stupidity. culpable neglect (or negligence)
Relate d Forms: (nouns) culpa bility, cu lpableness. cu lprit
Usage Note:
Culpable is stronger lhan blameworthy bu t less severe than guilty. As
the example above indicates, it is u sually reserved for a fault lhat is the
result of an error of omission, lack of sound judgment, negligence, or
ignorance, ra ther than actual criminal intent.
Synonyms: (adjectives) guilty, delinquent, peccant. wanting; b lama ble,
censurable. rel?rehens ible
Antonyms: (adjectives) innocent, blameless; la udable, commendable,
meritoriou s, praiseworthy
157
113. cur-so-ry
adjective
kilr'-s;;>-re
(cursolitzs (Late Latin) ... pertaining to running:· from currere. cursus (Latin). ··run "l
Hasty and superficial.
''I was so pressed for time that I couldn't give the lengthy r eport more
than a cursory reading," the busy executive confessed.
Definition:
Phrases: a cursory examination, a cursory report, in a cursory fashion
Related Forms:
(noun) cursoriness; (adverb) cursorily
Synonyms: (adjectives) hurried, perfunctory, quick, summary, careless.
unmethodica l. casual. slapdash
(adjectives) thorough, exhaustive, comprehensive. in-depth,
systematic. painstaking. careful, meticulous
Antonyms:
114. cur-tail
verb
k;;>r-ta.J.'
!from obsolete English to make a curtal of (a curtal being a horse with s hortened
ears and tail): from curtus (Latin), "shortened"!
Definition: To shorten or reduce.
When problems arose at the office, I was forced to curtail my vacation
and hurry back to the city.
Over th e centuries, the powers of the British monarch have been greatly
curtailed.
Related Form: (noun) curtailment
(verbs) abridge, abbreviate, truncate, lessen. diminish, cut
short, cut back, dock, pare down, trim
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
(verbs) increase, enlarge, augment, an1plil)r, expand, extend
115. cyn-i-cal
adjective
sin' -I-k ;;>l
llcynilcos (Greek) ... doglike. currish.- from kyon (Greek), "dog .. l
Inclined to doubt or deny the virtuousness or honesty of
human motives: s neeringly bitter or negative.
"As you say, my view of the world may be far too rosy," I admitted.
"On the other hand. yours is perhaps a bit too cynical."
Definition:
Related Forms:
(nouns) cynic, cynicism; (adverb) cynically
(adjectives) skeptical, suspicious, doubtful; pessimistic, m isanthropic; derisive, scornful; caustic (Word 81). sardonic, acerbic
Synonyms:
Antonyms: (adjectives) optimistic, sanguine, positive; naive, starry-eyed,
romantic. idealistic
Related Phrase: view the world through rose-colored glasses
158
Oiogenes of Sinope (left):
Alexander the Great (above)
Cynic
The Cynics were a group of ancient Greek philosophers who followed the
teachings of Antisthenes of Athens (ca. 444-{~~L 371 B.c.). Antisthenes. a pupil
of Socrates. believed tha t virtue was the only good and that human happiness
consisted in trying to be virtuous . In order to become virtuous. he argued, a
person must reduce hls or her dependence on the outside world. Tha t meant
living in poverty. scorning pleasure, and ignoring social conventions. As you
can see. this was a high -minded but essentially negative program.
Of course. it wasn't long before the Cynics were s neering at people and
their motives as well as at things. For instance. Diogenes of Sinope (ca.
4 12-323 B.c.). a pupil of Antisthenes. showed his contempt for worldly goods
by living naked in a tub. He expressed his disdain for the average human
being (and his or her motives) in an equally dra matic way. During the daytime. he went around Athens shining a lantern in people's faces and looking
at them intently. When asked why he did this, he replied ha ughtily that he
was "looking for an honest man."
Diogenes even sneered a t Alexander the Great and his ach ievements. For
instance, once Alexander asked Diogenes, "Can I do anything for you?" "Only
get out of my sunshine!" Diogenes sarcastically replied.
It is from such contemptuous attitudes toward people and their motives
that our modern words cynic and cynical tal(e their meanings.
By the way. the ancient Greeks probably nicknamed these philosophers
Kynilcoi (tha t is. "doglike") because of the bad manners U1ey displayed. The
name was ironically appropriate because the gymnasium at which
Antisthenes taugh t happened to be named the Kynosarges. To the Greeks.
the first sylla ble of this name appeared to contain a form of the Greek word
for dog (lcyon).
159
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. Two answers are correct in two instances.
1. connoisseur
2 . consensu s
3. consummate
4 . corroborate
5. counsel
6. credibility
7. culp able
8. cursory
9. cynical
Exercise II. Words Out of Context
In each of the followin g groups, select the item that b est expresses
the meaning of the numbered word at the left.
1. connoisseur
a . bystander b. expert c. foreigner
d . advocate e. beginner
2. copious
a. some b. few c. none d. one
e. many
3. coun sel
a . a dvise b. refuse c . order
d. control e. question
4.
criterion
a. n eedle b . thimble c. pincushion
d. yardstick e . scissors
5. culpable
a. in unison b . on target c. at fault
d . by heart e. off guard
6 . consummate
a . complete b . plump c . empty
d. relia ble e. mediocre
7. cursory
a . positive b. different c . innocent
d . hasty e . abundant
Exercise Ill. Completing Sentences
Complete each of th e following sentences or pairs of sen tences by
selecting the most appropriate word from the group of words given
below. Use each word only once. Make any adjustments that are
n ecessary to fit the words into the senten ces properly.
corpulent
consensus
corroborate
construe
cynical
credibility
connoisseur
curtail
crucial
1. The country is so deeply divided over the issu e that no n ational
_ _ _ _ _ on how to handle the matter a ppears likely or
even possible.
160
2. ''The facts of the matter don't appear to
your s u spicions," Grace said. "Can you offer any evidence to back up
your ideas?"
3. The official's absurd excuses for covering up his involvemen t in
the unsavory affair have completely destroyed his _ _ __ _
even among his warmest supporters.
4. "I d on 't know wh at to make of their recen t behavior," Jack admitted. "How s hould it be
?"
5. Selling arms to both sides in a civil war strik es me as a heartless and
exploitation of a n unfortunate s ituation.
6. "I realize th at this d ecision is by no means inconsequ ential,"
Mom told me. "Still, I don't believe it is as
as you
ma ke out."
7. I'd describe some of my classmates as lean or lanky; others I'd
call a bit _ _ _ __
8. Though her job responsibilities h ave been greatly enlarged this
year, mine have by no m eans b een _ _ _ __
Exercise IV. Synonyms and Antonyms
Classify each of the following pa irs of words as S for synonyms or
A for antonyms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
disprove-corroborate
copious-plen tiful
cru cia l- ins ignificant
unanimi ty-con sensus
untrustworthiness-credibility
c u lpable-blameless
portly-corpulen t
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
connoisseur- n ovice
cynical-star ry-eyed
infer- construe
truncate-curtail
cursory-thorou gh
lawyer-cou nsel
consummate-clin ch
Exercise V. Word Roundup
1. Wha t is the diffe ren ce b etween a dilettante and connoisseur?
2. Why s houldn't the p hrase of opinion b e a dde d to th e word
consensus?
3. What is the d ifferen ce in meaning between burly and husky?
chubby and obese?
4. Briefly explain the background behin d the words cornucopia
and cynic.
5. Tell the difference between the words in th e followin g pairs.
c . credibility-cr eden ce
a. counsel-cou ncil
d . credible-creditable
b . cou nsel-consul
6. Give the p lural of criterion. (Two forms are possible.)
16 1
7. Define each of the following words or phrases.
a. greenhorn
d. the crux of the matter
b . credibili ty gap
e. view the world through
c. in unison
rose-colored glasses
Exercise VI. Framing Sentences
A. Use each of the following words in an original illustrative sen-
tence
1. connoisseur
2. consensu s
3. construe
4. counsel
5. criterion
6. credibility
7. consummate
8. cursory
9. curtail
B. Give a noun form of each of these words, and use it in an
illustrative sentence.
1. corpulent
2. corroborate
3. culpable
C. Give an adverb form of each of these words. and use it in an
original sentence.
1. cynical
2. crucial
3. copious
Amy Tan
Amy Tan is one of the most successful
Asian American \vriters working today.
Born in Oakland, Californja, in 1952,
the daughter of Chinese parents who
had Oed the communist revolution in
their homeland. Amy Tan earned a
degree in linguistics and then began a
career as a business and marketing
writer. At the same time she began to
create language programs for developmentally impaired children. In 1987
she and her mother visited China to
explore the people and places that had
played so large a part in her mother's
life. Her experiences in China were so
powerful that she used them and her
mother's life as the basis for her frrst
novel, The Joy Luck Club ( 1989). Since
then she has published several other
novels and some children's books.
162
Dissecting the Words
Prefix
Co, col, com, con, and cor are all combining forms of the Latin preposition
cum. meaning "with," ''together," or "completely ... These elements appear in
all the basic words studied in Lesson 10 and many of those studied in this
lesson. Note how each is used.
a. Co, a shortened form of com, occurs before Latin words beginning
with h, gn, or (usually) a vowel. It is also used to coin new words,
in which case it may be attached to words beginning with other
consonants.
coherent (co, "together" + haerere, "stick")-sticking together
cogn izance (co, "completely"+ gnoscere, "know")-conscious knowledge or recognition of something
coalesce (co, "together" + alescere, "grow")-to fuse or merge
coeducational (co. "together" + educationaO- attended or participated
in by both male and female students
cobelligerent (co, "with" + belligerent)-a partner in a war
b . Col is used before Latin words beginning with l.
colloquial (coL. "together" + loqui, "speak")-acceptable only in familiar conversation
collusion (col, "together" + ludere. "play")-cooperation, usually
secret, in some fraudulent or evil enterprise
c.
Com, the basic combining form of cum, appears before Latin words
beginning with b, m, p, and sometimes i.
combat (com, "together" + battere, "fight")-battle
commemorate (com, "completely" + memmorare, "mention, be mindful
of')- to serve as a memorial of
commiserate (com, "together with"+ miserari, miseratus, "pity")- to
sympathize with; to feel pity or sorrow for
compete (com, "with" + petere, "strive")-to vie or contend with
d.
Con is used before all consonants except b, h, l, m, r; and w.
contagious (con, "together"+ tangere, "touch")-transmitted by direct
or indirect contact
construct (con, "together" + struere, "pile up")- to build or erect
conjugal (con, "together" +jugum. "yoke")-relating to marriage
conform (con, "together" + formare, "shape")-to have the same form
or character; to act in the same way
e.
Cor is used before Latin words beginning with r.
corrode (cor, "completely" + rodere, "gnaw")-to dissolve or wear away
by chemical action
correlate (cor, "together" + relatus, "carried back")-to show a logical
relationship among different elements
163
Exercise
1. For each of the following definitions, give an English word that
contains a form of the Latin preposition cum.
a . work together
f. existing a t birth
b . meet together
g . stick together
c. j oin together
h. agree together
d. fall down completely
I. squeeze together
e . unite into a compact mass
j. destroy the virtu e of
2. With or without the help of a dictionary, give the meanings of
the component parts of the words listed below. Then defme
each word, and use it in a short illustrative sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.
coauthor
commu tation
compatible
corrugate
e. coordinate
f. commingle
g. confederate
h. coexistence
I.
j.
k.
I.
compunction
concurrent
constrain
contemplate
H . L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken (1 880-1 956) was one of the most colorful and influential
figures in the history of American linguis tics. Though Mencken was a
working journalist and magazine editor all of h is life, he found time to
compile a monumental study of American English called The American
Language. First published in 191 9 and subsequ ently revised or expanded
on several occasions, The A merican Language deals with all aspects of
American English from its beginnings in the 17th century to developments in the 1930s and 1940s. The lively , often caustic style in which this
and other works were written influenced s uch notable 20th-century
American writers as Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, and Sherwood
Anderson. Indeed, the word Menclcenese, coined to describe Mencken's
pungent, vigorous style, has found a lasting place in our language.
Working with Context Clues
Sentence-Completion Exercises. Today, practically every standardized vocabulary test contains at least one section involving sentence-completion
exercises. A sentence-completion exercise (sometimes called a cloze exercise) asks a student to complete a sentence or group of sentences from
which one or two words have been removed. The student is to do this by
selecting one of the four or five possible answers that are supplied. Here is
a sample sentence-completion exercise. See whether you can figure out
which word belongs in the blank.
Faithfully reading a weekly news magazine such as Time or Newsweelc
not only broadens my knowledge of current events but also _ _ _ __
my vocabulary.
a. decreases b . fragments c. expands d. demolishes e . contains
Sentence-completion exercises test a student's ability to perceive a
meaningful connection between the words in a sentence or between the
sentences in a paragraph. They also test a student's knowledge of the
meanings of specific words and the proper use of these words in an appropriate context. Thus, sentence-completion exercises are excellent tools for
ascertaining a student's knowledge of the vocabulary of Modern English.
Of course, every sentence-completion exercise provides the student with
enough information to make the correct choice without going beyond what
is actually given. This is done through the use of context clues. As their
name implies, c ontext clues are verbal or logical hints that have been carefully sewn into the context that surrounds the blank for the missing word.
Sometimes these hints are quite concrete-a word or a phrase that gives
away the correct answer. Other times, they depend more on an appreciation
of the whole situation that is outlined in the passage. In either case, context
clues point the student unmistakably toward the correct choice. Here, for
example, are the context clues in the sample sentence-completion exercise
given above. They have been underlined so you can spot them easily.
Faithfully reading a weekly news magazine such as Time or Newsweelc
not only broadens my knowledge of current events but also _ _ _ __ _
my vocabulary.
Now can you figure out which of the five choices given above belongs in
the blank? The answer, of course, is choice c, expands. Here's why.
If you look at the part of the sentence that follows the word but, you will
realize that a verb is missing. This tells you that the kind of word you want
is a verb.
Next you may notice that the sentence contains the phrase not only .. .
but also. This is the type of conjunction that binds two parallel or similar
parts of a sentence together. Accordingly, the verb that is missing after the
words but also must mean something like the verb that follows the words
not only. And what is the verb that follows not only? It is broadens.
Now you know that you need a verb that means more or less the same
as broadens. And what is that verb? It is e>..pands, which is the only one of
the choices that means anything close to broadens.
165
As you can see, completing this type of exercise successfully boils down
to a search for the context clues that point to the correct choice. This, in
turn, involves knowing what general types of clues are usually employed
in such exercises. These general types will be discussed in the "Working
with Context Clues" sections of the next few lessons.
Exercise I
Three sample sentence-completion exercises are given below. The
con text clues that each contains have been underlined. Using
these context clues as guideposts, choose the word that correctly
completes each exercise.
l . Only one word can adequately describe the lawlessness that
prevails when a governmen t collapses: _ _ __ _
a. asylum
b. anarchy c. avarice d . bureaucracy
e. confrontation
2. Criticism can be caring and constructive, but too often it is
and destructive.
a . cogent b. avid c . caustic d . banal e. chronic
3. If you know little abou t art, consult a (n)
before
paying a large sum of money for a painting.
a. academic b. agenda c . charlatan d. advocate
e . connoisseur
Exercise II
Three more sample sentence-completion exercises are given below.
The correct answer has been underlined in each case. Using the
answer as a guidepost, underline the context clues that each of the
samples contains.
l . When pupils are in a very
mood, teachers have to
d iscipline them for th eir loud and rowdy behavior.
a . copious b . boisterous c . bleak d. clandestine
e . ambivalent
2. Although politicians are not always open and accessible, they
are usually
when campaigning for office.
a . abject b . concise c. bland d. affable e . agile
3. If Congress wants to reduce federal governmen t spending, it will
have to
the expansion of already existing programs.
a . curtail b . abet c. censor d . coerce e. accede
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Enriching the Lesson
Exercise I. The Greeks Had a Word for It
Even though you have probably never studied Greek, you may actually know some. Th at is because English h as borrowed quite a few
words and phrases with little or no change from Greek (allowing, of
course. for the difference in alphabets). On e of these items is criterion, studied in this lesson. Some others are listed below. With or
without the aid of a dictionary, define each . Then choose any five,
and for each compose a short illustrative sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
path os
aroma
plethora
ethos
panacea
genesis
phenomenon
aegis
hoi polloi
synopsis
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19 .
20.
dilemma
climax
diagnosis
psyche
crisis
catastr oph e
stigma
acme
metamorphosis
nemesis
21 .
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
dogma
antithesis
catharsis
hubris
trauma
hypothesis
a potheosis
ch arisma
iota
paralysis
Exercise II. Linguistic Shortcuts
A. Abbreviations. A good many abbreviations for Latin phrases
commonly turn up in written English. Some of these ite ms are
listed below. With or without the h elp of a dictionary. define each,
and give the full Latin phrase for which the abbreviation stands.
Then, ch oose any five of the items, and u se each in a short illustrative senten ce.
1. etc.
7. op.cit.
13. ca. or c.
8. e.g.
14 . A.D.
2. et al.
15. cf.
3. q.v.
9. i.e.
4. ibid.
10. N.B.
16. viz.
17. fl.
11. A.M.
5. Joe. cit.
6. P.S.
12. sc.
18. vs.
B. Acronyms. Anoth er type of linguistic shortcut is called an
acronym. Acronyms are pronounceable words th at are made up
of the initial letters (or sometimes syllables) of a multiword phrase.
Since so many of our modern-day organizations, agencies, and
products h ave fa irly long formal names, acronyms are usually
devised for them. This saves people the time and trouble of saying
or writing the full name. For example, NATO (pronounced ml'-to) is
an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Similarly,
Nabisco (pronounced nd-bi'-sk6 ) is an acronym for the National
Biscuit Company. Good acronyms become so common th at soon
everybody understands what is meant, and the long formal name
may become quite scarce in everyday usage.
167
Below are listed a number of common acronyms. With or without the h elp of a dictionary, define each. Then give the phrase or
formal name for which the acronym stands .
13. SALT
1. NASA
7. ASAP
2. CORE
8. NIMBY
14. radar
15. scu ba
3. NOW
9. WASP
16. son ar
4. SEATO
10. AWOL
17. laser
5. VISTA
11 . ZIP code
18. ATM
6. UNESCO
12. OPEC
Exercise Ill. Philosophical and Religious Positions
The word cynical, studied in this lesson, s u ggests a philosophical
pos ition or a gen eral attitude toward life. English is rich in s u ch
words. Some of them are listed below. With or without the aid of a
dictionary, d efme each . Then choose any five , a nd use each in a
s hort illustrative sen ten ce.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
mate rialist
h edonist
idealist
empiricist
a theist
agnostic
pragmatist
epicurean
freethinJ<e r
misanthrope
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
romantic
stoic
humanis t
egotist
mystic
optimist
realist
egalitarian
mis ogynist
humanitarian
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
s keptic
monotheist
h er etic
a ltruist
racist
pessimist
la Utudinarian
utilita rian
funda me ntalist
iconoclas t
Exercise IV. Expanding Your Word Power
The words listed below are n ot on the Basic Word List, but they
were mentioned in passing in Lesson ll . All of them would make
useful a dditions lo your working vocabulary. Define each , give its
etymology, list two syn onyms and two antonyms (where possible).
and use in a shorl illustrative senten ce.
1. tyro
6. profuse
11. canon
2. discord
7. plausible
12 . pivotal
3. deduce
8. gaunt
13. me ticulous
4. derisive
9. rebu t
14. abridge
5. initiate
10. a dmonish
15. acerbic
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