Education blog

PROMULGATE (pruh-MUHL-gayt or PRAHM-ul-gayt)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 12:59:35 PST

To make known,publish,proclaim,make public in an official manner.

Synonyms: announce,advertise,broadcast,disseminate,bruit (like brute).All these words suggest bringing something to the attention of the public,making it widely known.

Corresponding nouns: promulgation,the act of making something public or widely known;promugator,a person who makes something widely known,who proclaims or publicizes it.

Etymology and usage: Promulgate comes from the Latin promulgare,to publish,proclaim.The word applies chiefly to making something known in a formal or official way.

CULL (KUHL,rhymes with gull)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:05:18 PST

To pick out,select from various sources,gather,collect.

Etymology and related words:Cull comes from the Latin colligere,to gather,the source also of collect and collection.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs cull and glen.

ITINERANT (eye-TIN-ur-int)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:30:32 PDT

Wandering,traveling about,moving from place to place,especially to perform work.

Synonyms: migratory,wayfaring,vagrant,nomadic,ambulatory,peripatetic (Level 9,Word 47).

Etymology and related words: Itinerant and itinerary come from the Late Latin verb itinerari,to travel,go on a journey.An itinerary is a route or course taken on a journey,especially a detailed plan or list of places to visit while traveling.

Correponding noun: Itinerant,an itinerant person,a wanderer,wayfarer,someone who travels from place to place.

Usage tip: Itinerary and agenda are not synonymous. An agenda is a list of things to be done or dealt with,especially a list of items to be addresses in a meeting. An itinerary is a list of places to go,a detailed plan for a journey.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words itinerant,nomadic,vagrant,and ambulatory all of which mean moving or traveling about.

AUSPICIOUS (aw-SPISH-us)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:57:10 PDT

favorable,fortunate;marked by favorable circumstances or good fortune;conducive to success;boding well.

Synonyms: propitious.

Etymology: Latin auspicium,the act of predicting the future by observing the flight of birds (from avis,bird,and specere,to look at,observe.

N.B. At this point in the program there is a discussion of the word unique.

Interesting words note: rhinolalia (RY-nuh-LAY-lee-uh),an abnormally strong nasal tone in a person's speech;echolalia (EK-uh-LAY-lee-uh),the habit of repeating what other people say.

ESOTERIC (ES-o-TER-ik)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:01:53 PDT

Intended for or designed to be understood only by a select group,known only by a few people;hence,not public,secret,confidental.

Synonyms: mysterious,impenetrable,inscrutable(Level 3,Word 48),cryptic,abstruse,arcane,recondite (REK-un-dyt).

Antonyms: plain,apparent,accessible,manifest,discernible (Level 3,Word 32),lucid (Level 3,Word 45),perspicuous.The direct antonyms is exoteric

CONVERSANT (kun-VUR-sint)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:01:32 PDT

Meaning:

Familiar,acquainted,well-informed or well-versed.

Etymology and related words: Conversant comes from the Latin conversari,to associate with,the source also of converse and conversation.

N.B. Thid discussion distinguishes the synonyms conversant and versed.

JUXTAPOSE (juks-tuh-POHZ)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:47:53 PDT

To place side by side or close together,especially so as to compare or contrast.

Etymology and related words:Juxtapose comes from the Latin juxta,near,close by,and ponere,to put,place,the source also of position and posit (PAH-zit),to put forward as true,set down as a fact.

Corresponding noun:juxtaposition.

INCORRIGIBLE

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:18:49 PDT

Meaning:

(1) Bad beyond correction or reform,hopeless,irreformable.

Synonyms: irredeemable,irreclaimable,unrepentant,inveterate,unregenerate.

(2) Unruly, unmanageable,difficult to control.

Synonyms: obstinate (Level 1,word 34,)willful,intractable.

Antonym: corrigible,capable of being corrected,amended,or reformed.

CHIMERA ( ky-MEER-uh,also ki-MEER-uh)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:55:56 PDT

Meaning:

A foolish fancy,fantastic notion or idea,figment of the imagination.

Synonyms: whimsy,crotchet,maggot,caprice.

Atymology: In Greek mythology,the Chimera was a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion,the body of a goat,and the tail of a serpent.In modern usage chimera may refer to that fabulous creature or to any absurd and fabulous creation of the mind.

Corresponding adjective: chimerical,imaginary,fantastic,preposterous,absurd.

EFFACE ( i-FAYS )

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:57:25 PDT

Meaning:

(1) To rub out,wipe out,erase.
(2) To withdraw from notice,make oneself inconspicuous.

Synonyms: obliterate,expunge.
Usage tip: Take care to distinguish efface and deface,to spoil the appearance of,ruin,disfigure.

REMONSTRATE (ruh-MAHN-strayt)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:34:54 PDT

Meaning:
To object,protest,reprove,rebuke,argue or plead against.
Synonyms:expostulate.

IMPERVIOUS (im-PUR-vee-us)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:30:05 PDT

Meaning:
Impenetrable,incapable of being entered or passed through;hence,unable to be moved or affected by something.
Synonyms:impassable,impermeable,opaque.
Antoyms:penetrable,passable,accessible,permeable,translucent,diaphanous.

EBULLIENCE (i-BUHL-yints or i-BUUL-yints)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:15:05 PDT

Meaning:
Lively enthusiasm,high spirits,bubbly excitement.
Synonyms:exuberance,exhilaration,effervescence.
Etymology and related words:The Latin ebullire,to boil,bubble is the source of the English words ebullition,ebullient,and ebullience.
Pronunciation tip: In the words ebullience and ebullient,the second syllable,-bul-,may be pronounced either like bul-bulk or in bull.

SUBTERFUGE (SUHB-tur-fyooj)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:17:59 PDT

Meaning:
A deception,trick,underhanded scheme.
Synonyms:stratagem,artifice,ruse (rhymes with fuse and choose)
Usage tip:Subterfuge applies to any secret or illicit plan or activity designed to conceal a motive,escape blame,or avoid somthing unpleasant.
Pronunciation tip:Don't soften the G and say SUHB-tur-fyoozh.The-fuge should rhyme with huge.
***
N.B. At this point in the program there is a discussion of the formation of English plurals for certain problematic words derived from latin and Greek,such as octopus,and whether to use a singular or plural verb with the words media,data,and bacteria.
Pronunciation tip:The word process is pronounced PRAH-ses (the pronunciation PROH-ses is British),and the plural prosesses should be pronounced PRAH-ses-siz,not PRAH-ses-seez.
***

JOVIAL (JOH-vee-ul)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:46:18 PDT

Meaning:
Merry,full of good humor,hearty and fun-loving,jolly.
Synonyms:sociable,jolly,convivial(Level5,Word 46).
Etymology:Jovial comes from the name Jove (also Jupiter),the chief deity in Roman mythology,called Zeus by the ancient Greeks.Jove was renowned for his love of feasting and merriment.

GENTEEL (jen-TEEL)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:42:41 PDT

Meaning:

Refined,polite,well-bred,shophisticated;elegantly stylish or fashionable;pertaining or belonging to high society.
Usage tip: In current usage genteel often suggests an excessive or affected refinement.

CHRYSALIS (KRIS-uh-lis)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:08:33 PDT

Meaning:

(1) The pupa of a butterfly;the stage during which the insect is enclosed in a case or cocoon.
(2) A sheltered and undeveloped state or stage of being.

JUDICIOUS (joo-DISH-us)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:58:43 PDT

meaning:
Wise and careful,having or showing sound judgment.
Synonyms:sensible,levelheaded,prudent(Level 1,Word 47),discreet.
Antonyms:thoughtless,foolhardy,impetuous,temerarious.
Etymology and related words:from the Latin judex, a judge, and judicare, to judge,pass judgment,judicial,judiciary,and judicious.
Spelling tip: Judge has an E at the end,but in American English there is no E in the middle of the judgement (the British spell it judgment).

VERNACULAR (vur-NAK-yuh-lur)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:48:33 PDT

Meaning:
The native language or people ;especially,the common,everyday,informal language of ordinary people.
Corresponding noun:vernacular,of or pertaining to common,everyday language of ordinary people;also,native as opposed to foreign.
Related expression:''In the vernacular'' means in ordinary and unpretentious language.
N.B. The vernacular comprises all language that is common and informal,any word or expression that ordinary people use-whether it is considered bad or good,acceptable or improper.

ACCOLADE (ak-uh-LAYD,but see tip below)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:30:33 PDT

Meaning:
An award; sign of respect or esteem;expression of praise;mark of acknowledgment;anything done or given as a token of appreciation or approval.
Etymology: Accolade comes from the Latin accollare,to embrace,which comes in turn from ad-,meaning''to,''and collum,the neck, the source of the word collar.Originally,an accolade was an embrace,specifically the ritual embrace used in conferring khighthood.
Pronunciation tip: Accolade may also acceptably be pronounced AK-uh-layd,ak-uh-LAHD,and AK-uh-lahd.

ALTRUISM ( AL-troo-iz'm )

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:27:45 PDT

Meaning:
Selflessness,unselfish concern for the welfare of other.
Antonyms: egoism,self-centeredness;specifically, the doctrine that self-interest is the proper goal of the individual.
Usage tip: Egoism is distinguished from egotism,which denotes extreme self-involvement,excessive reference to oneself in speech or writing.
Corresponding noun:altruist, a person who puts the needs of others and society first.

INTRACTABLE (in-TRAK-tuh-buul)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:49:38 PDT

Meaning:
Hard to manage or control,stubborn,unruly.
Antonyms:obedient,compliant,malleable (level2, Word 29),docile,tractable.
Etymology and related words: The antonyms tractable, and the familiar words traction and tractor,come from the Latin tractare, to drag, around,haul;also,to manage,control.

OFFICIOUS (uh-FISH-us)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:22:03 PDT

Meaning:
Meddlesome,nosy,intrusive,interfering,prying;specifically,offering unwanted advice or unnecessary services,especially in a highhanded,overbearing way.
Related word:quidnunc (KWID-nungk),a busybody,nosy person.

ABROGATE (AB-ruh-gayt)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:06:08 PDT

Meaning:
To abolish by legal or authoritative action or decree.
Synonyms:cancel, revoke,repeal,annul,nullify,rescind (Level 3,Word 31).

CONTRITION (kun-TRISH-in)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Ayoub) — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:49:56 PDT

Meaning:
Remorse,penitence,repentance,deep and devastating sorrow for one's sins or for something one has done wrong.
N.B This discussion distinguishes the words penitence,remorse,and contrition.
Corresponding adjective:contrite