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.
