It’s Vocab Time!

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Annex (v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate (n.) an attachment or addition

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Annex – O.Fr. annexer "to join," from M.L. annexare, freq. of L. annecetere "to bind to," from ad- "to" + nectere “to tie, bind.”

Siamese twins are annexed together in the womb. Annex Mnemonic Siamese twins are annexed together in the womb.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cleave (v.) to cut or split open; to cling to

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cleave – (1) O.E. cleofan "to split, separate" (class II strong verb, past tense cleaf, past participle clofen), from P.Gmc. *kleubanan, from PIE base *gleubh- "to cut, slice." (2) O.E. clifian, from W.Gmc. *klibajanan, from PIE *gloi- "to stick.”

Cleave Mnemonic Dr. Lawrence Gordon cleaved his leg to escape Jigsaw in the movie “Saw.”  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cordial (adj.) in a friendly manner, hearty; cheery (n.) a liqueur

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cordial – M.Fr. cordial, from M.L. cordialis "of or for the heart," from L. cor (gen. cordis) "heart"

Snow White is very cordial to everyone, even Grumpy! Cordial Mnemonic Snow White is very cordial to everyone, even Grumpy!  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cornerstone (n.) the starting point of a building; a fundamental principle or element

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Cornerstone – O.Fr. corniere, from corne "horn, corner," from V.L. *corna, from L. cornua, pl. of cornu "projecting point, end, horn" Also related to quoin variant of coin (q.v.), originally in other senses of that word, too, including "a wedge."

“Practice makes perfect” is one of Steve Nash’s cornerstones in life. Cornerstone Mnemonic “Practice makes perfect” is one of Steve Nash’s cornerstones in life.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Debacle (n.) an overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Debacle – fig. use of Fr. débâcle "breaking up of ice on a river," extended to the violent flood that follows when the river ice melts in spring, from débâcler "to free," from M.Fr. desbacler "to unbar," from des- "off" + bacler "to bar," from V.L. *bacculare, from L. baculum "stick."

Debacle Mnemonic Before they made it to the Superbowl, some people thought that the AZ Cardinals were a debacle on the football field.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Devitalize (v.) to make weak or lifeless

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Devitalize – de- L. adv. and prep. meaning "down from, off, concerning." + L. vitalis "of or belonging to life," from vita "life," related to vivere “to live.”

Watching golf on television can devitalize a viewer. Devitalize Mnemonic Watching golf on television can devitalize a viewer.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Embroil (v.) to involve in a conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Embroil – Fr. embrouillier (cognate with It. imbrogliare), from en- "in" + brouiller "confuse," from O.Fr. brooillier

Tyler Durden was embroiled in an identity crisis in “Fight Club.” Embroil Mnemonic Tyler Durden was embroiled in an identity crisis in “Fight Club.”  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Exonerate (v.) to clear from a charge or accusation

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Exonerate – L. exoneratus, pp. of exonerare "remove a burden, discharge," from ex- "off" + onus (gen. oneris) “burden.”

Exonerate Mnemonic Gloves were a part of the evidence that exonerated OJ Simpson in his murder trial.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Glib (adj.) ready and fluent in speech; thoughtless, insincere

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Glib – possibly shortening of obsolete glibbery "slippery," from Low Ger. glibberig "smooth, slippery," from M.L.G. glibberich, from glibber “jelly.”

A glib comment can ruin a friendship. Glib Mnemonic A glib comment can ruin a friendship.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Haphazard (adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking order

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Haphazard – from hap (O.N. happ) "chance, luck" + hazard "risk, danger, peril" from O.Fr. hasard "game of chance played with dice."

Bo and Luke Duke drive the General Lee in a haphazard way. Haphazard Mnemonic Bo and Luke Duke drive the General Lee in a haphazard way.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Improvise (v.) to compose or perform without preparation; to construct from available materials

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Improvise – L. improvisus, from in- "not" + provisus "foreseen."

Improvise Mnemonic Some comedians who perform at the Tempe Improv improvise their stand-up routine.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Incite (v.) to rouse, stir up, urge on

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Incite – M.Fr. enciter (14c.), from L. incitare "to put into rapid motion, urge, encourage, stimulate," from in- "on" + citare “move, excite”

Incite Mnemonic “Get Up, Stand Up” is a song that tries to incite the listener to fight for their rights.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Influx (n.) a coming in, inflow

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Influx – L.L. influxus "a flowing in," from influere "to flow in" from in- "in" + fluere “to flow.”

It is always nice to have an influx of money. Influx Mnemonic It is always nice to have an influx of money.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Pallor (n.) an extreme or unnatural paleness

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Pallor – O.Fr. palor "paleness," from L. pallor, from pallere "be pale," related to pallus "dark-colored, dusky," from PIE base *pel- "dark-colored, gray" (cf. Skt. palitah "gray," panduh "whitish, pale," Gk. pelios "livid," polios "gray," O.E. fealo "dull-colored, yellow, brown").

Pallor Mnemonic The pallor of the creature’s skin from the movie “Pan’s Labyrinth” made him even creepier.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Pedigree (n.) a list of ancestors, family tree; the history or origins of something

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Pedigree – from Anglo-Fr. pe de gru, a variant of O.Fr. pied de gru "foot of a crane," from L. pedem "foot" + gruem (nom. grus) "crane," cognate with Gk. geranos, O.E. cran. On old manuscripts, "descent" was indicated by a forked sign resembling the branching lines of a genealogical chart; the sign also happened to look like a bird's footprint. Meaning "ancestral line" is c.1440; of animals, 1608.

Pedigree Mnemonic Many people do not know their pedigree because they do not have a family tree to read.  

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Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Precipitous (adj.) very steep

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Precipitous – L. præcipitium "a steep place," lit. "a fall or leap," from præceps (gen. præcipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from præ- "forth" + caput "head"

Mountain climbers conquer precipitous trails to reach the apex. Precipitous Mnemonic Mountain climbers conquer precipitous trails to reach the apex.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Profuse (adj.) very abundant , given or flowing freely

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Profuse – L. profusus "spread out, lavish, extravagant," lit. "poured forth," prop. pp. of profundere "pour forth," from pro- "forth" + fundere "to pour"

Rapunzel had a profuse amount of hair. Profuse Mnemonic Rapunzel had a profuse amount of hair.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Reconcile (v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign (oneself)

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Reconcile – L. reconcilare "to bring together again," from re- "again" + concilare "make friendly"

Reconcile Mnemonic Demi Moore and Bruce Willis have reconciled their relationship after their divorce for their children’s sake.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Shackle (v.) to put into chains (n.) a chain, fetter

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Shackle – O.E. sceacel, from P.Gmc. *skakula- (cf. M.Du., Du. schakel "link of a chain," O.N. skökull "pole of a carriage"), of uncertain origin. The common notion of "something to fasten or attach" makes a connection with shake unlikely. The verb is first recorded c.1440. Shacklebolt "bolt which passes through the eyes of a shackle" is recorded from 1688.

Shackle Mnemonic Many men say that marriage shackles them with an old ball and chain.  

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Threadbare (adj.) shabby, old and worn

Vocabulary Workshop, Level D Etymologies: Unit 14 Threadbare – O.E. þræd "fine cord, especially when twisted" (related to þrawan "to twist"), from P.Gmc. *thrædus (cf. M.Du. draet, Du. draad, O.H.G. drat, Ger. Draht, O.N. þraðr), from suffixed form of base *thræ- "twist" + O.E. bær "naked, uncovered." Threadbare is recorded from 1362, from the notion of "having the nap worn off," leaving bare the threads.

Threadbare Mnemonic Abercrombie & Fitch sells threadbare jeans at ridiculously high prices because they know people will buy them.   * Macklemore would tell you to save your money and shop at a thrift store.

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