It’s Vocab Time!

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Adieu (int.) “Farewell!” (n.) a farewell

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Adieu – from O.Fr. adieu, from phrase a dieu (vous) commant "I commend (you) to God," from a "to" (from L. ad) + dieu "God"

Some people have a hard time saying adieu at the airport. Adieu Mnemonic Some people have a hard time saying adieu at the airport.

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Advent (n.) an arrival; a coming into place or view

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Advent – L. adventus "arrival," from pp. stem of advenire "arrive, come to," from ad- "to" + venire "to come"

Advent Mnemonic The advent of the welcome sign lets you know that you finally reached Las Vegas.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Apex (n.) the highest point, tip

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Apex – L. apex "summit, peak, tip" probably related to apere "to fasten, fix," hence "the tip of anything" (one of the meanings in L. was "small rod at the top of the flamen's cap").

To climb to the apex of a mountain is a goal for many people. Apex Mnemonic To climb to the apex of a mountain is a goal for many people.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Assimilate (v.) to absorb fully or make one’s own; to adopt as one’s own; to adapt fully

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Assimilate – L. assimilatus, pp. of assimilare "to make like," from ad- "to" + simulare "make similar," from similis "like, resembling"

assimilated well and was able to fit in with her new family. Assimilate Mnemonic The adopted child assimilated well and was able to fit in with her new family.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Bogus – (adj.) false, counterfeit

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Bogus – apparently from a slang word applied in Ohio in 1827 to a counterfeiter's apparatus. Some trace this to tantrabobus, a late 18c. colloquial Vermont word for any odd-looking object

Bogus Mnemonic The movie “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” is about Bill and Ted’s escape from hell after their evil twins murder them.    

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Exorbitant (adj.) unreasonably high; excessive

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Exorbitant – L. exorbitantem (nom. exorbitans), prp. of exorbitare "deviate, go out of the track," from ex- "out of" + orbita “wheel track.”

Louis Vuitton purses and luggage are exorbitant in price. Exorbitant Mnemonic Louis Vuitton purses and luggage are exorbitant in price.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Interim (n.) the time between (adj.) temporary, coming between two points in time

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Interim – L. interim "in the meantime," originally "in the midst of that," from inter- "between" + im, ancient adv. from stem of pronoun is “this, that.”

Interim Mnemonic In the interim between now and the AIMS testing days, students should be studying and practicing their best handwriting.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Inundate (v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Inundate – Latin inundatus, past participle of inundare, from in- + unda wave

Parts of New York were inundated with water after Hurricane Sandy. Inundate Mnemonic Parts of New York were inundated with water after Hurricane Sandy.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 malign (v.) to speak evil of, slander (adj.) evil

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 malign – O.Fr. malign "having an evil nature," from L. malignus "wicked, bad-natured," from male "badly" + -gnus "born," from gignere “to bear, beget.”

Malign Mnemonic After being friends for years, Paris and Nicole maligned each other to the press.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 meander (v.) to wander about, wind about (n.) a sharp twist or turn

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 meander – L. meander, from Gk. Maiandros, name of a river in Phrygia, noted for its winding course.

Meander Mnemonic Motorcyclists love to drive on roads that meander through hills and mountains.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 metropolis (n.) a large city; the chief city of an area

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 metropolis – Gk. metropolis "mother city" (from which others have been colonized), from meter "mother" + polis "city"

Metropolis Mnemonic New York City is the largest metropolis in America that is on an island.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 momentous (adj.) very important

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 momentous – L. momentum "movement, moving power," also "instant, importance," contraction of *movimentum, from movere "to move"

Child birth is one of the most momentous occasions in a person’s life. Momentous Mnemonic Child birth is one of the most momentous occasions in a person’s life.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 obstreperous (adj.) noisy; unruly; disorderly

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 obstreperous – L. obstreperus "clamorous," from obstrepere "drown with noise, oppose noisily," from ob "against" + strepere “make a noise.”

Obstreperous Mnemonic Fans can become obstreperous at their favorite concerts.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 pensive (adj.) thoughtful; melancholy

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 pensive – O.Fr. pensif (11c., fem. pensive), from penser "to think," from L. pensare "weigh, consider," freq. of pendere "weigh"

“The Thinker” is a famous statue of a pensive man. Pensive Mnemonic “The Thinker” is a famous statue of a pensive man.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 perilous (adj.) dangerous

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 perilous – O.Fr. perillous (Fr. périlleux) "dangerous, hazardous," from L. periculosus, from periculum "an attempt, risk, danger," with instrumentive suffix -culum and root of ex-peri-ri "to try," cognate with Gk. peria "trial, attempt, experience"

Swimming with sharks is a perilous hobby. Perilous Mnemonic Swimming with sharks is a perilous hobby.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 shoddy – (adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 shoddy – (1832), of uncertain origin from earlier noun meaning "wool made of woolen waste, old rags, etc."

A shoddy haircut can ruin a person’s day. Shoddy Mnemonic A shoddy haircut can ruin a person’s day.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 sprightly – (adj.) lively, full of life; spicy; flavorful

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 sprightly – O.Fr. esprit "spirit," from L. spiritus "soul, courage, vigor, breath," related to spirare "to breathe."

Cheerleaders usually have very sprightly personalities. Sprightly Mnemonic Cheerleaders usually have very sprightly personalities.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 surly (adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 Surly—M.E. sirly “lordly, imperious” (14c.), from sir. The meaning “rude, gruff” is first attested 1670.

Oscar the Grouch is the most surly “Sesame Street” character. Surly Mnemonic Oscar the Grouch is the most surly “Sesame Street” character.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 tirade – (n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 tirade – Fr. tirade "speech, volley, shot, continuation, drawing out" (16c.), from tirer "draw out, endure, suffer," or the Fr. word is perhaps from cognate It. tirata "a volley," from pp. of tirare "to draw.”

Tirade Mnemonic When Mel Gibson was arrested, he allegedly said a tirade against Jews and the police.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 vagrant – (n.) an idle wanderer, tramp (adj.) wandering aimlessly

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 7 vagrant – perhaps an alteration (by influence of L. vagari "wander") of Anglo-Fr. wacrant, prp. of O.Fr. wacrer "to walk or wander," from a Gmc. source (e.g. O.N. valka "wander").

Vagrant Mnemonic A vagrant is a person, usually poor, who meanders from place to place without a home or regular work.  

Don’t forget your words!