English vocab chapter 8: Finals

Parasite story

"Parasite" derives from greek para ("beside") + sitos ("food", "grain"). Thus, the Greek parasitos was one who ate at the table of another, one who was literally beside the food. From its original meaning of "table companion" parasitos came to mean an "insincere, flattering freeloader." Biologically, "parasite" refers to an organism that lives off of another.

Posthumous story

"Posthumous" comes from Latin postumus meaning "very last" (the superlative form of post, meaning "after"). Since an after-death occurrence is one which is the very last, postumus came to mean "after death". ..."after death" became associated with post ("after") and humus("ground")

Dexterous; story

Adjcetive- skillful, clever "Dexterous comes from Latin dexter ("right, "right-hand")

Candid

Adjective- honest, truthful, straightforward.

Zealous

Adjective- Extremely active, eager, devoted

Ephemeral

Adjective- Short-lived, fleeting, lasting a very short time

Posthumous

Adjective- occuring after death

Sinister;story

Adjective- threatening, wicked, evil "Sinister" from Latin sinister ("left,""on the left-hand side")

Cant story

Cant derives from Latin cantus("song"). Evident;y, people believed that some of medieval clergymen who chanted their prayers were dully repetitious and insincere. Also, the beggars sining at church funeral services were viewed as insincere. These factors account for the negative meaning acquired by "cant" in English by the seventeenth century.

Ephemeral story

Ephemeral derives from Greek epi ("upon") and hemera ("day"). Hence "ephemeral" refers to something that lasts only one day or passes quickly.

Chagrin

Noun- Humiliation, disappointment, irritation

Cant

Noun- Insincere talk; special language of a social class, trade, or profession

Parasite

Noun- Plant or animal that lives on or in another and feeds off this other's body; a person receiving support without giving anything useful or meaningful in return

Enthrall story

Orginally, "thrall" meant "slave" in English... Today when we are enthralled, we are metaphorically in bondage to that which greatly pleases or fascinates.

Candid story

The ancient Romans had two words for "white"- albus for ordinary white (from which comes from our word "albumen," referring to the white of the egg) and candidus for shining white, as in the special gleaming white of new-fallen snow. Candidus was also associated with the spotlessness and purity, as when referring to the honesty of one's character.

Enthrall

Verb- charm, fascinate, please greatly.

Chagrin story

We know that "chagrin" entered the English language from the French chagrin ("distressed") but there is disagreement and uncertainty among etymologists about the earlier history of this word. There is a Turkish word shagri, meaning the "rump or hind part of a horse". From shagri comes the French word chagrin, meaning "rough leather or sharkskin".

Zealous story

Zealous comes form the Greek word zelos, meaning "intense ans passionate devotion or enthusiasm." During the first century A.D., there was a group of Jews called Zealots, who actively opposed Roman rule. From Masada, a rock-fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, the Zealots fought off the Romans for nearly two years. When defeat seemed inevitable, the Zealots, rather that surrender, committed mass suicide.