Vocabulary Workshop Level G Unit 9
bucolic
(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral Comes from the early Greek word boukolos and bous meaning herdsman and ox respectively
chary
(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident Comes from the Old English word cearig meaning sorrowful or anxious
redolent
(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura Latin prefix red- (meaning 'again') + olere (meaning 'smell')
vituperative
(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding comes from the root word vituperation which is a noun that means harsh or bitter language
imperturbable
(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady Derives from English word, perturb - to be disturbed and the negative prefix 'im'
unremitting
(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless un is the prefix which means not to and the latin root of remitting is remettere
refulgent
(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent Latin prefix re + fulgere (to shine out)
paltry
(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy derives from English word, pelt - originally meaning trash, small amount
tyro
(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill In Medieval Latin, a tyro was a new recruit
dilettante
(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial From Italian word dilettare meaning to delight
pedantry
(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details root of the word pedant came from pædagogus
acclamation
(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval Comes from the Latin root acclamtio meaning shout in approval
paroxysym
(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion medieval Latin from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein 'exasperate,' from para- 'beyond' + oxunein 'sharpen'
shibboleth
(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism Hebrew origin - originally meaning ear of corn, the word was used as a test of nationality because of its difficult pronunciation
mandate
(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order Latin: manus - hand; dare - give mandatus - command
increment
(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition increscere - to grow (Latin)
collusion
(n.) secret agreement or cooperation From the Latin word colludore meaning to have a secret agreement
peregrination
(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country late middle English word peregrinacioun which meant to travel abroad
calumniate
(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously Comes the latin word calumnia meaning trickery, cunning, or a fallacy
vacillate
(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will comes from the latin root vacillat which means swayed