Unit 3

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural, pastoral, "a pleasant bucolic scene" As an adjective, bucolic refers to an ideal country life that many yearn for. If your parents wanted to raise you in a bucolic environment, you may find yourself living 45 minutes away from the nearest movie theater or person your age. Not ideal. You wouldn't know it to look at it, but bucolic is a distant relation of cow, and all bucolic's meanings can be connected to the bovine creature. Bucolic ultimately comes from the Greek boukolos, cowherd or herdsman. A bucolic could be a short poem about pastoral (cow) life or a country person, who is stereotyped as a cowherd. Used as an adjective, bucolic can refer to an idealized rural life (think life with cows) or to herdsmen (more cows). And that's no bull.

trite

(adj.) commonplace; overused, stale. SYNONYMS: banal, hackneyed, corny. ANTONYMS: original, innovative.

belligerent

(adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, "a belligerent tone" aggressive; (n.) one at war, one engaged in war, combatant "belligerent (or warring) nations" "Othniel Charles Marsh, who collected the fossil, was one of the chief belligerents in the U.S.'s early "Bone Wars."" If someone is belligerent, they're eager to fight. It's a good idea to avoid hardcore hockey fans after their team loses — they tend to be belligerent. Belligerent comes from the Latin word bellum, for "war." You can use it to talk about actual wars — the nations taking part in a war are called belligerents — but usually belligerent describes a psychological disposition. If you're running a school for aggressive boys, do plenty of arts and crafts to prevent them from becoming too belligerent. The stress is on the second syllable: bə-LIJ-ə-rənt.

bellicose

(adj.) having or showing a ready disposition to fight,warlike "bellicose young officers" "They are concerned that Mr. Trump's bellicose trade policy will disrupt corporate America's supply chains and push up costs." Bellicose means eager for war.Bellicose is from Latin bellum "war." A near synonym is belligerent, from the same Latin noun. You may wonder if they're connected to the Latin bellus "pretty, handsome," which gives us the names Bella or Isabella, as well as belle "a beautiful woman." They're not. War and beauty are not related, except in the case of Helen of Troy.

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; "arms sales contingent on the approval of congress" ""the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain"- George Eliot" (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body "each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the Olympics" The adjective contingent can be used to describe something that can occur only when something else happens first. Making money is contingent on finding a good-paying job.When an event or situation is contingent, it means that it depends on some other event or fact. For example, sometimes buying a new house has to be contingent upon someone else buying your old house first. That way you don't end up owning two houses! As a noun, contingent means either "a group of soldiers that joins a larger force," like a contingent of British troops sent to assist American soldiers, or "a group of people with something in common," like the contingent of folks dressed as Batman at Comic-Con.

boisterous

(adj.) rough and noisy in a cheerful way; high-spirited "Boisterous practical jokes" "A boisterous crowd" "Boisterous winds and waves" "Assault is not an effect of boisterous, school kid enthusiasm." Boisterous is a word used to describe someone spirited, loud, and slightly out of control — like someone with a spring in their step and a song in their heart singing to strangers on the street. Boisterous means "loud, clamorous, and unrestrained." Think of children on a playground or a popular restaurant or a litter of puppies as boisterous. This word, which comes from Middle English, can also refer to very intense storms. You could call a hurricane boisterous, but you will most likely hear this word used to describe people.

dudgeon

(n.) a feeling of offense or deep resentment,umbrage Her dudgeon rose only when something vital was at stake.

veneer

(n.) a thin outer layer; a surface appearance or decoration; "Those new things sometimes wear a vintage veneer". (v.) to cover with a thin layer. "veneer the furniture to protect it" You know how some furniture looks like solid oak or maple until it gets chipped and reveals itself to be nothing more than some cheap particle-board covered with a thin layer of fancy wood? That thin layer is called a veneer. A veneer can be anything that makes something look more elegant or attractive than it is. Originally it was a furniture word, but over time its meaning expanded. If someone smiles at you while making some passive-aggressive remark, like, "Gee, you actually look really nice today," you could say that her inner meanness is showing through her veneer of sweetness.

umbrage

(n.) offense, a feeling of anger caused by being offended "I think a lot of the eruption of racism is the umbrage people took at not being able to express it openly." When someone takes umbrage at something, they find it offensive, and it probably makes them angry. Umbrage comes from the same source as umbrella, the Latin umbra, "shade, shadow." The umbrella was invented to keep you in shade, and when you take umbrage at something, you're casting a shadow over the person or thing responsible for the offense. I take umbrage at the suggestion that I'm not a nice person: it's offensive and infuriating. After having devoted my life to helping animals, I might take umbrage at the notion that I've been doing it for publicity purposes: I resent the idea that it was for any other reason than my love of animals.

upbraid

(v.) to blame, scold, find fault with, admonish, reproach ''Shoaib took a risk walking into the saloon where in the end he had to upbraid the drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.'' No, upbraid isn't what girls get done at a salon before prom. When you upbraid people, you scold them, tell them off, and criticize them. (You could, however, upbraid your stylist after a bad haircut.) ''''It's admirable that Orrin Hatch upbraided a rude agitator with the advice to "grow up."'''''

circumvent

(v.) to get around; to bypass; to avoid To circumvent (v.) is to avoid. Someone who trains elephants but somehow gets out of picking up after them has found a way to circumvent the cleaning of the circus tent. Circum in Latin means "around" or "round about," and vent- comes from venire, "to come," but painting a picture from these two parts of the word helps. Picture someone circling around a barrier instead of climbing over it. That's what you do when you circumvent. You find a smart way around rules or barriers, or avoid doing something unpleasant altogether. "North Korea is turning to cryptocurrency scams to raise money and circumvent sanctions, a new report says." "One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that doesn't require GRE score."

contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan "They contrived to murder their boss" When you contrive, you make a plan or a plot. It may take you longer to contrive your way out of doing your homework than would to actually do it. Even though contrive often has a false or cunning feel to it, it is not always a bad thing. Mental effort is always required though, as contrive is often used in connection with inventing schemes and plans to make something happen.

bolster

(v.) to support, give a boost to; (n.) a long pillow or cushion; a supporting post, prop up with a pillow, prop, prop up, shore, shore up "The Jets bolstered their roster this week by signing Rishard Matthews, a former Tennessee Titans wide receiver." When you cheer up a friend who's feeling down, you bolster them. To bolster is to offer support or strengthen. A bolster is also the name of a long pillow you might use to make your back feel better. And the two uses are not dissimilar. When you bolster your friends, you support them and prop them up, just like the pillow does for your back. When you're trying to bolster your credibility, you find people and/or documents that support you or your view. Bolster efforts to learn this word!

banal

Synonyms: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse, commonplace, hackneyed, trite, If something is boring and unoriginal, it's banal(adj.). Banal things are dull as dishwater. Ever notice how some TV shows, songs, and even phrases are boring and unoriginal? It's like you've seen or heard the same thing a million times. Anything that's unoriginal and dull is banal — a fancy word for things that bore you to tears. When you're writing, try not to be banal. Clichés and dull topics are banal. New ideas, fresh language, and unusual subject matter can keep your writing from being dreary and banal. A banality is a trite, boring, or overused remark. That includes clichés like "life is short" and your basic small talk about the weather. Banalities are sayings that almost everyone uses, and because they're so well-known, they've lost all their power. These expressions are clichéd and many people find them annoying. "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade" is one good example. When you're writing or speaking, you're much better off trying to find fresh language because one tends to hear the same old banalities again and again.

brazen

Synonyms: audacious,(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass "brazen arrogance" "brazen it out" ''That incident was widely slammed as a sign of Hasina's brazen willingness to abuse power'' With brazen disregard for the sign that said "no cellphones please" the woman took a long call in the doctor's office waiting room. Brazen refers to something shocking, done shamelessly. The Middle English word was brasen "made of brass," from Old English bræsen, from bræs "brass." In fact a near synonym of brazen is our English word brassy, which has the additional meaning of being loud and showy.

conspicuous

Synonyms: blatant, blazing,unconcealed attention-getting, eye-catching, conspicuous, lacking discretion Antonyms: inconspicuous, invisible not prominent or readily noticeable "a tower conspicuous at a great distance" "wore conspicuous neckties" "made herself conspicuous by her exhibitionistic preening" "They are at least smaller than most competitors, and I personally think they look better and less conspicuous than the Air Pods." Keep your eye on the adjective conspicuous for something that stands out so much you notice it right away — like that zit in the center of your friend's forehead. Conspicuous comes from the adjectival form of the Latin verb, conspicere, meaning "to look at." Conspicuous can mean either very obvious to the eye (like something that is conspicuous from a distance) or attracting attention (like conspicuous consumption). If you are doing something wrong, it's wise not to be conspicuous about it!

blatant

Synonyms: blazing, conspicuous, without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious, "Blatant (adj.) disregard of the law" "A blatant appeal to vanity" Something blatant is very obvious and offensive. Don't get caught in a blatant lie, because you won't be able to weasel your way out of it. Blatant acts are done without trying to hide them. The camp is perhaps the most blatant example of the "Final Solution," the Nazi plot to rid Europe of its Jews.

venal

Synonyms: bribable, corruptible, dishonest, purchasable corrupt ,open to or marked by bribery or corruption Someone with venal motives is corrupt and maybe a little evil. Nobody wants to be thought of as venal. Venal (adj.) actions include taking bribes, giving jobs to your friends, and cheating. Venal means about the same thing as "corrupt" or "corruptible." Venal people are considered sleazy and untrustworthy. They're often criminals. No one is perfect, and most of us have venal motives at some point. Venality(n.) UEFA Champions League is not immune to venality.

calumny

Synonyms: calumniation, defamation, hatchet job, Use the noun calumny to characterize verbal attacks that are meant to destroy reputations or friendships. You've probably seen political ads during election time that rely on calumny to move voters. Calumny comes from the Latin word calvi, meaning "to trick, deceive," which is why it can also describe falsely accusing someone or quoting them out of context with the intent to do them harm. Some political candidates use this tactic against opponents in the hope that voters will be tricked into thinking that the accusations are true. ''As presidential election well underway ,the air is thick with calumny and mud waist high''

chortle

Synonyms: chuckle(n.), to laugh softly(v.) A chortle is a joyful, partly muffled laugh. If you have a toddler, you will recognize the sound of a delighted chortle, sort of louder and a bit more raucous than a giggle. Experts consider the word a blend of the words chuckle and snort and the laugh itself is also a cross between the two. You may chortle in glee if you find out your work nemesis just got a new job in another office — out of state.

confound

Synonyms: confuse,mistake If you have an identical twin, you've probably tried dressing alike so that people confound you with, or mistake you for, one another. You've also probably learned that, unfortunately, this trick doesn't work on your mom. The verb confound means both "to mistake" and "to confuse." If you decide to treat yourself to a delicious dessert, you might find yourself confounded by the overwhelming number of choices. If you end up ordering the chocolate cake but the waiter brings you chocolate mousse, the waiter has somehow confounded those two options. Another meaning you may come across in literature is "to damn," as in "Confound it! You are the most exasperating person on the planet."

expound

Synonyms: to explain in detail; to clarify If your grandmother's handwritten pie recipe calls for "some sugar," "plenty of butter," and "sliced apples," you might ask her to expound by adding measurements of how much of each to use. When you expound, you explain or provide details. Expound (v.) came into English from a 14th-century French word espondre meaning "to elaborate" or "put forth." Often when you expound something you are clarifying or giving the particulars. A more formal way to expound is to offer exposition, often going line by line to explain precise meanings in a text or legal document.

burgeon

Use the verb burgeon to describe something that is growing, expanding, and flourishing. If you have a green thumb, in the spring your flower gardens may burgeon. If you don't have a green thumb, your collection of plastic plants may burgeon. Although burgeon means to grow and flourish, it doesn't necessarily have to apply only to plants. Your town can have burgeoning downtown development. Your tiny retirement account can burgeon into an excellent emergency fund if you invest even a small amount each month. You may have a burgeoning career as a villain if you overthrow a planet by using your mind-controlling ray gun on the populace.

guffaw

a loud and boisterous laugh A guffaw is a belly laugh: a laugh that bubbles up with good feeling and plenty of volume. At the end of a stressful day of work, it's good to have some guffaws with your friends. Guffaw operates just like the word laugh: you can give a guffaw(n.) , or you can guffaw (v). It comes from the Scottish word gawf, which is onomatopoetic, meaning that it's spelled the way it sounds. Imagine a big happy Scotsman snorting "gawf, gawf, gawf" at the end of a joke, and you'll know what a guffaw is. Refined ladies and gentlemen don't guffaw--and are much the worse for it.

constituent

an essential part; a voter who elects a representative. Constituent means part of a whole, as in "we'll break this down into its constituent parts." The word comes up often in political contexts: constituents are the people politicians have been elected to represent. To understand constituent, look at constitute, which means to make up. A politician's electorate is constituted of individual constituent voters. Chex Party Mix is constituted of a delightful mix of constituent parts: Chex cereal, pretzels, cheese doodles and those little orange stick things no one has a name for.

belie

contradict; give a false impression To belie (v.) means to contradict. If you are 93 but look like you are 53, then your young looks belie your age. We get belie from the Old English beleogan, which meant "to deceive by lying." It suggests characteristics or behavior that inadvertently or deliberately hide the truth. To remember it, just think "be lying." Snow White's decision to barge into the Seven Dwarfs' home without invitation belied (v.) her gentle nature.

contrite

feeling regret for having committed some wrongdoing "I felt so contrite when I saw the disappointment in his eyes." We are sorry to inform you that the adjective contrite means regretful, remorseful, or even guilty. Someone who feels remorse or guilt is contrite and in addition to feeling sorry, part of the definition includes wanting to atone for having done something wrong. The word comes from the Latin roots com- meaning "together" and terere which means "to rub." It's also related to the Latin word conterere and is defined as "to bruise." In the field of theology being contrite is "being remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin."

censure

to criticize harshly Censure is a noun referring to very strong criticism; the verb means to criticize very strongly. If you take your dad's car without telling him, you can expect him to censure you severely, and maybe even ground you as well. A censor hides information. A censure is harsh criticism. They're both judgments and they both stink. The noun and verb are most closely associated with official expressions of disapproval, as when Congress censures a senator. The noun is from Latin cēnsūra "censorship," from cēnsor "an ancient Roman censor." The job of a Roman censor was to take the census and to supervise public morals and behavior. Our English word censor--which means to suppress speech or other forms of expression--is from this Latin word.

construe

to interpret If you interpret something or make sense of it, you construe its meaning. If the new girl in your class asks to sit with you at lunch, you could construe that she wants to be friends. To make an assumption based on evidence is to construe. You could construe that eating an entire box of cookies might make you feel a bit sick. And you might not want to eat them again for a very long time. The opposite of construe is misconstrue, which means to falsely or wrongly interpret. If you get a poor grade on an essay, you shouldn't construe that your teacher dislikes you. If you do, you misconstrue your work for his feelings.

altruistic

unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others Someone who is altruistic always puts others first. An altruistic firefighter risks his life to save another's life, while an altruistic mom gives up the last bite of pie so her kid will be happy.