Vocab 5 Flashcards
(18 cards)
A priori
A priori – assumed without experience, self-evident
(Latin: from the earlier)
A posteriori
A posteriori – assumed through experience
(Latin: from the later)
Mendacious
Mendacious – lying, dishonest, not telling the truth
(Latin: mendac = lying)
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition – placing concepts side by side to compare & contrast, to show similarities & differences
(Latin: juxta = next; French: poser = to place)
Ubiquitous
Ubiquitous – universal, found everywhere, omnipresent
(Latin: ubique = everywhere)
Savant
Savant – person with high mental capacity & detailed knowledge in specialized field, erudite, also used of autistic genius
Incongruous
Incongruous – out of place, not fitting in location or situation
(Latin: in = not, congruous = agreeing, suitable)
Congruous
Congruous or Congruent – in agreement or harmony
(Latin: congruere = to come together, correspond with)
Dejection
Dejection – sad, depressed state, low spirits
(Latin: dejection = throw down)
Coup de grâce
Coup de grâce – final death stroke/shot, mercy killing, knockout
In art: final touch or brushstroke
(French: stroke of grace)
Cogito ergo sum
Cogito ergo sum – I think, therefore, I am
(Statement by French philosopher René Descartes demonstrating the attainability of certain knowledge in the face of radical doubt.)
Oxymoron
Oxymoron – literary device bringing 2 contradictory terms to establish difference of meaning
(E.g. awfully nice, known secret, wise fool)
(Greek: oxus = sharp + mōros = foolish)
Tenuous
Tenuous – very weak, slight, insubstantial
(Latin: tenuis = thin)
Tedious
Tedious – too long, slow, dull, tiresome or monotonous
Semper Fi
Semper Fi – always faithful or loyal (motto of US marines)
Suffragist
Suffragist – advocate of extension of voting rights to more people, especially to women
(Latin: suffragium = vote/right to vote)
Devout
Devout – deep religious commitment
Advent
Advent – arrival of a notable person or thing
(also first season of Church year, leading up to Christmas including 4 Sundays)
