Advanced English 10: Vocabulary Unit 2
Word Origins and Etymology
Vocabulary Word
Language of Origin
Original Root(s)
Original/Changed Meaning
Adroit
L
Directus
Amicable
L
Averse
L
Amicus/amare
Avertere
Ab + vertere
Belligerent
L
Bellum + Gerere
“straight”
“friend”
“To love”
“to turn or drive away”
“from, away” + “to turn”
“war” + “to bear or carry”
(wage)
Benevolent
L
Bene + Volens
“Well” + “Wishing”
Cursory
L
“To run”
Duplicity
L
Currere
Duplex
Duplicis
Extol
L
Ex + Tollere
“Up” + “To raise”
Feasible
L
Facere
“Do, Perform”
Grimace
Old French/Old English
Grima
Holocaust
Greek
Holo + Kaustos
Impervious
L
In + Pervius
In + Per + Via
“Mask, Helmet”
“Whole” + “To Burn”
**Originally found in the
Hebrew Bible, meaning a burnt
offering found pleasing to God
“Not letting things through”
“Not a road through”
“Twofold”
“into, upon” + “rush at or aim
Impetus
L
In + Petere
for”
“To attack from within”
Jeopardy
Old French/Old English
Jeu Parti
“A divided game”
Meticulous
L
Metus
Nostalgia
Greek
Nostos + Algos
Quintessence
Medieval French/Latin
Quinte Essence
“Fear, dread, anxiety”
“Homecoming” + “Pain,
grief”
“Fifth Essence”
Something already
balanced/spiritual/heavenly
Retrogress
L
Retro + gradi
Scrutinize
L
Scruta
“Backward” + “To Step”
“To search through trash; to
cut or scrape”
Tepid
L
Tepere
“Be Warm” – original
meaning was more intense
Synonym and Antonym Studies: Your book has a number of synonyms and antonyms listed for each (or most) of your vocabulary
words. For each word, look at the word and its synonyms and group them according to connotation (positive, negative, or neutral). If
there is a word that your book lists as a synonym but you feel it does not truly fit the meaning of the word, explain why you feel this is
the case. Three of your words are missing antonyms or both synonyms and antonyms. For these three words, come up with at least
one example in each category and explain why you feel it is an appropriate choice.
1.
Adroit – Clever (+/-), Deft (n/+), Slick (-), Dexterous (n)
2.
Amicable – Congenial (n/+), Neighborly (n/+), Cordial (n/+)
3. Averse – Disinclined (n/-), Loath (-)
4. Belligerent – Assertive (n/+), Truculent (-),
Pugnacious (-)
12. Impervious – Impenetrable (n/+), Resistant (n), Proof
against (n)
5. Benevolent – Benign (n/+), Well-meaning (n/+)
13. Impetus – Impulse (n), Spur (n)
6. Cursory – Quick (n/+), Superficial (-), Perfunctory (n/-)
14. Jeopardy – Risk (n/-), Hazard (-), Peril (-)
7. Duplicity – Double-dealing (-), Chicanery (-)
15. Meticulous – Fastidious (+/n/-), Fussy (-)
8. Extol – Glorify (+), Applaud (n/+), Acclaim (+),
16. Nostalgia – No Synonyms Given
Hail (n/+)
17. Quintessence – Paragon (+), Exemplar (n)
9. Feasible – Workable (n/+), Viable (n/+)
18. Retrogress – Revert (n), Degenerate (-), Decline (-)
10. Grimace – Pained Expression (-), Facial Contortion (n/-)
19. Scrutinize – Inspect (n/+), Pore Over (n)
11. Holocaust – Conflagration (n/-), Devastation (-),
Annihilation (-)
20. Tepid – Insipid (-), Halfhearted (-)