Set 14 Flashcards
(12 cards)
anathema
Something that one absolutely and positively cannot stand is anathema. Garlic is anathema to vampires (ditto for stakes and daylight). So is kryptonite to Superman or a silver bullet to a werewolf.Originally the term anathema comes from the Catholic practice of denouncing a particular individual or idea that was antithetical to the Catholic Church. If done to a person, it excommunicated them, meaning they could no longer partake in the church’s sacraments (with presumably pretty poor consequences for the soul.) That’s a lot worse than kryptonite.
coda
A coda is a concluding segment of a piece of music, a dance, or a statement. It’s usually short and adds a final embellishment beyond a natural ending point. Like this.Coda comes from the Italian word couda, and it’s good to think of it as a tail tacked onto something that in and of itself is already a whole. If you tell a story about your crazy experience getting lost in the country and sleeping at a farmer’s house, you might add, as a coda, that the farmer ended up visiting you too, a year later.
ensemble
An ensemble is a group of musicians, dancers, or actors who perform together, like an ensemble which has been playing music together for several years.Ensemble comes from the Middle French word ensemblée, which means “together, at the same time.” Groups of people who perform at the same time are ensembles, so are things that are put together. A collection of short stories or artwork can be an ensemble, but you don’t have to be a writer or artist to be complimented on your ensemble — the outfit you are wearing.
hew
If you’re a lumberjack, the word hew is nothing new. You hew things every day with one swift swing of the axe, chopping and shaping wood.It’s said that Paul Bunyan hewed the Grand Canyon by dragging his giant mythical axe behind him. But usually things are hewn with a little more purpose — with each chop and cut designed to shape, sculpt, or craft a final product. Take the axe out of the picture though, and this word takes on a different meaning. If you’re trying to adhere to rules, stick to a budget, or conform to a certain tradition, you can use hew, too.
licentious
Someone who is licentious behaves or speaks inappropriately, usually in regards to sex.What some might call a licentious senior citizen, others would simply refer to as “a dirty old man” (or woman). We usually talk about licentious behavior, but there also can be licentious photographs. Besides being inappropriate, licentious behavior is also usually regarded as immoral. If at all possible, therefore, licentious is a description you should seek to avoid for yourself.
obloquy
If you are on the receiving end of obloquy, then society has turned against you and you are in a state of disgrace. Poor Hester Prynne who was forced to wear a red “A” on her chest for “adultery” knows all about obloquy.If you break the word obloquy into its two Latin roots, you have ob, meaning “against” and loqui, meaning “to speak” — so obloquy means “to speak against,” in an especially mean way. Obloquy can also be the result of public shame, or criticism. Get scolded in front of the other shoppers by the grocery store manager for knocking over a display of bottles, and you will understand what obloquy is!
overweening
Overweening is a negative term meaning arrogant or excessive. People can be described as having overweening pride or overweening ambition. It’s too much and not good.Confidence and pride are okay in moderation. Overweening means having too much of it though so that it overtakes the rest of your personality, and not in a good way. If your football team has won every game of the season, they need to watch that they don’t become overweening and start playing games as if they have already won.
pander
If a campaigning politician wants to pander to a crowd of pet owners, he might deliver a speech while embracing his own pet poodle. To pander is to appease or gratify, and often in a negative, self-serving way.The word pander began its infamous history as the name of various characters. Pandaro was a character in Boccaccio’s Filostrato. Pandarus was a character in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, as well as in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. These literary works all tell the tale of star-crossed lovers, and the namesake of pander is, essentially, a go-between whose motives don’t seem entirely pure.
pastiche
The next time you see a movie that you think is a cheap imitation of an older, better movie, you can sound like a film critic by dismissing the picture as a thoughtless pastiche.A pastiche is an artwork that copies the style of another work or that combines various, distinct styles together into one work. A pastiche can also be a musical medley, or the piecing together of various songs. Pastiche comes from the Italian word pasticcio, which can refer to a pie containing a mix of ingredients, such as meat and pasta.
populist
Use the noun populist to describe a person — especially a politician or activist — who works to give regular working people a voice in their government.In politics, the word populist refers to someone who puts ordinary people’s rights above those of the wealthy and powerful. It is basically a synonym of democrat, which when spelled with a lower-case d is simply a person who believes in democratic principles of rule by the people, freedom, and equality. The root of populist is the Latin word for “people,” populus.
proverbial
If something is proverbial, it is from a story or saying that is well known. The proverbial Fountain of Youth will make you forever young. The proverbial Pie in the Sky is where your wildest dreams come true.Proverb is the root of proverbial, and proverb comes from the Latin word proverbium, meaning “a common saying.” Proverbs are little stories or expressions that usually teach a lesson. You may have heard of the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Better to seek the proverbial penny saved, because that’s a penny earned. And the proverbial gift horse? Don’t look him in the mouth.
raucous
Raucous means unpleasantly loud, or behaving in a noisy and disorderly way. It can be hard to give an oral report in the front of a classroom when the kids in the back are being raucous.Raucous is often used to refer to loud laughter, loud voices, or a loud party, all of which can be harsh or unpleasant. Near synonyms are strident and rowdy. This adjective is from Latin raucus “hoarse.” Think of raucous as people whose hoarseness can’t come on too soon.
