1. Vocabulary Weeks 11-12

2. Words Weeks 11-12 1. decimate (v.) 2. fiasco (n.) 3. idiosyncrasy (n.)
4. incumbent (n.)
5. narcissism (n.)
6. odyssey (n.)
7. protean (adj.)
8. quintessential (adj.)
9. rankle (v.)
10. succumb (v.)

3. 1.decimate (v.) Definition: destroy or kill a large part of
Origins: Latin decem “ten” / Romans punished own troops and enemy by killing every tenth soldier
Example: New Orleans was decimated by hurricane Katrina.

4. 2. fiasco (n.) Definition: complete or ridiculous failure
Origins:Italian for “flask” far fiasco – to make a bottle or to make a mess, to flop, fail
Example: His performance was a fiasco because he did not rehearse.

5. 3. idiosyncrasy (n.) Definition: personal peculiarity
Origins: from the Greek idio – peculiar, one’s own
Example: Twirling her hair was just one of her idiosyncrasies.

6. 4. incumbent (n/adj.)
Definition: (n.) holder of an office or position – (adj.) resting as a duty or obligation, required
Origins:Latin cumbere -occupy
Example:Zack Wamp is the incumbent in the upcoming election.

7. 5. narcissism (n.) Definition: extreme self-love or self-admiration
Origins:Greek mythology - Narcissus
Example: His narcissism is so bad that he can’t pass a mirror without gazing at himself.

8. 6. odyssey (n.) Definition: long, adventurous journey
Origins: Ancient Greek - Odysseus
Example: The trip around the world in the hot air balloon became quite an Odyssey.

9. 7. protean (adj.) Definition: readily changing form or character
Origins:Ancient Greek god Proteus (could readily change form)
Example: Her protean nature made her difficult to read.

10. 8. quintessential (adj..)
Definition: most essential part or quality; perfect example
Origins:Ancient Greek quinta esentia essential fifth element
Example: She was the quintessence of a beauty queen.

11. 9. rankle (v.) Definition: cause bitterness, hatred, resentment
Origins: Greek dracunculus to French rancler -to be devoured by little dragons or festering irritation
Example: The invasion of their village rankled the townspeople.

12. 10. succumb (v.) Definition: give in; give up; yield; die
Origins: Latin cumbere – occupy or lie down
Example: The dog succumbed to the temptation to eat the steak on the table.

13. Foreign Phrases
1. joie de vivre- joy of living, joy of life, zest for life
2. caveat emptor- let the buyer beware
3. tabula rasa- blank slate
4. hoi polloi- the many, the majority, the masses, the people