It’s Vocab Time

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Brevity (n.) shortness

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Brevity – L. brevitatem (nom. brevitas), from brevis “short, low, little, shallow”

Brevity Mnemonic The brevity of the test pleasantly surprised the students who had thought it would be longer.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Comport (v.) to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Comport – M.Fr. comporter "endure, behave," from L. comportare "to bring together," from com- "together" + portare “to carry”

Comport Mnemonic At prom and other school functions, students should comport themselves with their best behavior.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Concise (adj.) expressing much in a few words

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Concise – L. concisus "cut off, brief," pp. of concidere "to cut off," from com- intensive prefix + caedere "to cut," from PIE *kae-id- “to strike”

The directions were concise and easy to follow on the brownie mix. Concise Mnemonic The directions were concise and easy to follow on the brownie mix.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Demure (adj.) sober or serious in manner, modest

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Demure – O.Fr. meur "discreet," from L. maturus "mature." The de- in this word is of uncertain meaning.

Demure Mnemonic His demure expression indicated that he had gotten bad news from the doctor.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Depreciation (n.) a lessoning in value ; a belittling

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Depreciation – L.L. depretiatus, past participle of depretiare, from L. de- + pretium price, value

Depreciation Mnemonic Getting in a crash will depreciate the value of your car.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Deteriorate (v.) to lower in quality or value; to wear away

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Deteriorate – L.L. deterioratus, pp. of deteriorare "get worse," from L. deterior "worse," contrastive of *deter "bad, lower," from de- "down."

Deteriorate Mnemonic Alzheimer’s disease deteriorates a person's memory and their ability to communicate and carry out daily activities.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Divulge (v.) to tell; to make public

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Divulge – L. divulgare "publish, make common," from dis- "apart" + vulgare "make common property," from vulgus “common people.”

The spy could not divulge the top secret information. Divulge Mnemonic The spy could not divulge the top secret information.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Enlightened (adj.) free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Enlightened – (O.E. had inlihtan), "to remove the dimness or blindness (usually figurative) from one's eyes or heart," from en- + lighten

Enlightened Mnemonic It is best to be enlightened about the issues and the candidates before you go to the polls to vote.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Forestall (v.) to prevent by acting first

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Forestall – O.E. foresteall "an ambush, a waylaying," from fore "before" + steall "standing position"

Some people are trying to forestall stem cell research. Forestall Mnemonic Some people are trying to forestall stem cell research.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Garble (v.) to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Garble – Anglo-Fr. garbeler "to sift," from M.L. and It. garbellare, from Arabic gharbala "to sift and select spices," related to kirbal "sieve," perhaps from L. cribellum, dim. of cribrum "sieve"

Garble Mnemonic Paula Abdul was criticized for garbling her speech on “American Idol” and people thought she was on drugs or drunk while filming.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Proponent (n.) one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Proponent – L. proponentem (nom. proponens), prp. of proponere "put forward"

President Barack Obama is a proponent of health care reform. Proponent Mnemonic President Barack Obama is a proponent of health care reform.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Quaver (v.) to shake, tremble; to trill

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Quaver – probably related to Low Ger. quabbeln "tremble," possibly of imitative origin. Meaning "sing in trills or quavers" first recorded 1538. The noun meaning "musical note" is first recorded 1570.

The earthquake caused the building to quaver and collapse. Quaver Mnemonic The earthquake caused the building to quaver and collapse.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Recoil (v.) to spring back, shrink (n.) the act of springing back

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Recoil – O.Fr. reculer " to go back, recede, retreat, " from V.L. *reculare, from L. re- "back" + culus “backside.”

The Slinky is a very popular toy that can stretch and recoil. Recoil Mnemonic The Slinky is a very popular toy that can stretch and recoil.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Recoup (v.) to make up for, regain

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Recoup – Fr. recouper "to cut back" (12c.), from O.Fr. re- "back" + couper "to cut," from coup "a blow"

Recoup Mnemonic Some people believe that the war in Iraq is a way to recoup the US loss on September 11th.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Reek (n.) an unpleasant smell (v.) to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Reek – O.E. rec (Anglian), riec (W.Saxon), "smoke from burning material," probably from O.N. reykr (cf. Reykjavik, lit. "smoky bay. " Sense of "stench" is attested 1659, via the notion of "that which rises."

Reek Mnemonic Skunks reek when they spray in defense to protect themselves from harm.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Relentless (adj.) unyielding, harsh, without pity

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Relentless – from re-, intensive prefix + L. lentus "slow, viscous, supple." Sense of "become less harsh or cruel" first recorded 1526. The notion is probably of a hard heart melting with pity. Relentless is from 1592.

Relentless Mnemonic Some lawyers and judges can be relentless when the defendant causes harm to an innocent bystander.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Rivulet (n.) a small stream

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Rivulet – It. rivoletto, dim. of rivolo, itself a dim., from L. rivus "stream, brook," from *reiwos, lit. "that which flows," from PIE base *rei- "to flow"

Rivulet Mnemonic When camping in the woods, you might regret placing your tent by a rivulet that breeds mosquitoes.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Squander (v.) to spend foolishly, waste

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Squander – of unknown origin; Shakespeare used it 1593 in "Merchant of Venice" with a sense of "to be scattered over a wide area."

Celebrities are famous for squandering their money on frivolous items. Squander Mnemonic Celebrities are famous for squandering their money on frivolous items.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Staccato (adj.) detached or disconnected in sound or style

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Staccato – It. staccato, lit. "detached, disconnected," from pp. of staccare "to detach," shortened form of distaccare "separate, detach," from M.Fr. destacher, from O.Fr. destachier "to detach"

Staccato Mnemonic The neighbors grew tired of the staccato sound of the drums and called the police.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Statute (n.) a law

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 11 Statute – O.Fr. statut, from L.L. statutum "a law, decree," noun use of neuter pp. of L. statuere "enact, establish," from status "condition, position," from stare "to stand" from PIE base *sta- "to stand"

Statute Mnemonic Mr. Brown, the assistant principals, and security enforce the statutes on Corona’s campus.  

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