Vocab List #3 Flashcards
(17 cards)
MORPHEME
“He used the absolute morpheme of the definition.”
A word or a part of a word that contains no smaller unit of meaning.
AD HOC
“The groups were on a ad hoc basis.”
For this, created or done when necessary/needed.
SINE QUA NON
“The car key is a sin qua non to start the car.”
An essential condition, a thing that is absolutely necessary.
OBFUSCATE
“It is more likely to obfuscate people rather then enlighten them.”
Obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
BOILERPLATE
“The lyrics are boilerplate.”
A way of writing that does not show any imagination.
ALLUDE, ALLUSION
¨The piece of text was an allusion to Shakespeare.¨
To refer, indirectly to.
CONCEIT
¨The idea of the winds singing is a prime romantic conceit.¨
A fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborated metaphor.
REIFICATION, REIFY
¨He was able to reify his vote for President.¨
The official way to confirm something usually by vote.
ELUCIDATE
¨Work such as their work will work to elucidate the matter.¨
Make something clear, explain something.
CANON, CANONICAL
¨The formation of the biblical canon.¨
A idea in fiction that confirms the reality of a certain ending or interaction that took place.
DE FACTO
¨The vaccine is de facto.¨
In fact, or in effect.
HIGHBROW, LOWBROW
¨He has highbrow about vehicles.¨
Higher showing a higher intellectual high, whilst Low shows a low intellectual low.
TREPIDATION
“The group of men set off in fear and trepidation.”
A feeling of fear that something may happen.
INTERNALIZE
“It took him a while to internalize the way of the paintbrush”
To accept or absorb an idea, opinion, belief, etc.
SUBVERSIVE
“The book contains some subversive literature.”
An intent to disrupt an establishment or institution.
GENESIS
“The tale had it’s genesis in the iceberg stories.”
The origin or mode of formation of something.
PRO FORMA
“He nodded to him in pro forma.”
As a metter of form of politeness.
