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54 Cards in this Set
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Neanderthal (nee-AN-duhr-thol) adjective, also Neandertal
toponym |
1. Of, or pertaining to the extinct Neanderthal man, who lived 100,000 to 30,000 years ago.
2. Boorish, uncivilized. [After Neanderthal (literally, Neander valley) in western Germany near Düsseldorf, where bones of a Neanderthal man were first discovered in 1856.] |
Toponym
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Neanderthal (nee-AN-duhr-thol) noun, also Neandertal
toponym |
1. Neanderthal man.
2. An unenlightened or uncouth man. [After Neanderthal (literally, Neander valley) in western Germany near Düsseldorf, where bones of a Neanderthal man were first discovered in 1856. In 1904 German spelling was regularized so Thal became Tal.] |
Toponym
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zabernism (ZAB-uhr-niz-uhm) noun
toponym |
The misuse of military power; aggression; bullying.
[After Zabern, German name for Saverne, a village in Alsace, France. In 1912, in this village, a German military officer killed a lame cobbler who smiled at him.] |
Toponym
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macedoine (mas-i-DWAN) noun
toponym |
1. A mixture of diced fruits or vegetables, often served as salad, appetizer, or dessert.
2. A medley or mixture. [From French macédoine, from Macédoine (Macedonia), apparently an allusion to the diversity of people in the region.] |
Toponym
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cilice (SIL-is) noun
toponym |
1. An undergarment of haircloth, worn by monks in penance.
2. Haircloth. [From Old English cilic, from Greek kilikios (Cilician). This cloth was originally made of Cilician goats' hair. A region in southeast Asia Minor which later became part of the Roman Empire, now southern Turkey.] |
Toponym
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corinthian (kuh-RIN-thee-uhn) adjective
toponym |
1. Of, or pertaining to the Greek city of Corinth.
2. Of, or relating to the Corinthian order, one of the five classical orders of building design. 3. Highly ornate. 4. Licentious or luxurious. [After Corinth, rich and powerful ancient Greece city.] |
Toponym
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corinthian (kuh-RIN-thee-uhn) noun
toponym |
1. A native or inhabitant of Corinth.
2. A profligate or licentious person. 3. A wealthy amateur, especially a yachtsman. [From Greek Korinthios. After Corinth, a city in Greece, one of the richest and most powerful in ancient Greece.] |
Toponym
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prelude (PREL-yood, PRAYL-, PRAY-lood, PREE-) noun
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1. An introductory event, performance, or action preceding something more important.
2. A musical section, overture, etc. serving as introduction to the main composition. [From Latin prae- (pre-) + ludere (to play). From Indo-European leid- (to play) also delude, elude, illusion, and ludicrous.] |
From Latin
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prelude (PREL-yood, PRAYL-, PRAY-lood, PREE-) verb tr., intr.
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To serve as an introduction to something.
[From Latin prae- (pre-) + ludere (to play). From Indo-European leid- (to play) also allude, collude, delude, elude, illusion, and ludicrous.] |
From Latin
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caprice (kuh-PREES) noun
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1. A sudden, unpredictable change of mind or behavior.
2. Capriccio: a musical composition in free, irregular style. [From French, from Italian capriccio, from caporiccio (head with bristling hair), from capo (head) + riccio (hedgehog, curly) from Latin ericius (hedgehog).] |
From Latin
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protege (PRO-tuh-zhay, pro-tuh-ZHAY) noun
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One who is protected, guided, and supported by somebody older and more experienced.
[From French protéger (to protect), from Latin protegere, from pro- + tegere (cover). From Indo-European (s)teg- (to cover) also tile, thatch, protect, detect, and toga.] |
From Latin
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pinto (PIN-to) adjective
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Marked with patches of white and another color.
[From American Spanish pinto (spotted), from Vulgar Latin pingere (to paint). From Indo-European peig- (to cut, mark) also paint, depict, picture, pigment, pint, and pimento.] |
From Latin
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pinto (PIN-to) noun
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1. Pinto horse: a horse having patches of white and another color.
2. Pinto bean: a variety of kidney beans having mottled seed. [From Vulgar Latin pingere (to paint). From Indo-European peig- (to cut, mark) also paint, depict, picture, pigment, pint, and pimento.] |
From Latin
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tercel (TUR-sel) noun, also tiercel or tercelet
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The male of a hawk, especially of the peregrine falcon or a goshawk.
[From Middle French teréuel, from Vulgar Latin tertius (third). From Indo-European trei- (three) also three, testify (to be the third person), triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13).] |
From Latin
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sylph (silf) noun
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1. A slender, graceful young woman.
2. Any of a race of mythological invisible beings who inhabit air, originally described in theories of Paracelsus. [From New Latin sylpha, apparently a blend of sylva, variant of Latin silva (forest) + nymph.] |
From Latin
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giglet (GIG-lit) noun, also giglot
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A giddy, frolicsome girl.
[From Middle English gigelot.] |
From Middle English
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milady also miladi (mi-LAY-dee) noun
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1. An English gentlewoman or a woman member of the aristocracy.
2. A woman of fashion. [From French, from English my lady.] |
From English
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minx (mingks) noun
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A pert or flirtatious young woman.
[Of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle Dutch or Low German.] |
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feme sole (fem sol) noun, plural femes sole
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A single woman, whether divorced, widowed, or never married.
[From Anglo-French feme soule, from feme (woman) + soule (single).] |
From French
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veridical (vuh-RID-i-kuhl) adjective
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1. Truthful.
2. Real; corresponding to facts; representing reality. [From Latin veridicus, from verus (true) + dicere (to say).] |
From Latin
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entelechy (en-TEL-uh-kee) noun
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1. Perfect realization as opposed to a potentiality.
2. In some philosophies, a vital force that propels one to self-fulfillment. [From Late Latin entelechia, from Greek entelecheia, from enteles (complete), from telos (end, completion) + echein (to have).] |
From Greek
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condign (kuhn-DYN) adjective
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Well-deserved, appropriate.
[From Middle English condigne, from Latin com- (completely) + dignus (worthy). From Indo-European dek- (to take, accept) also deign, dignity, discipline, doctor, decorate, and docile.] |
From Latin
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profluent (PROF-loo-ent) adjective
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Flowing smoothly; flowing in full stream.
[From Middle English, from Latin from pro- (forth) + fluere (to flow). From Indo-European bhleu- (to swell or overflow), also affluent, influence, influenza, fluctuate, fluent, fluid, fluoride, flush, flux, reflux, and superfluous.] |
From Latin
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liniment (LIN-uh-ment) noun
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A liquid preparation (having camphor, alcohol, etc.) for rubbing into the skin to relieve pain or stiffness of a joint.
[From Middle English, from Latin linere (to smear). From Indo-European lei-/slei- (slimy) also slime, lime, slick, slippery, schlep, and oblivion.] |
From Latin
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hie (hy) verb tr., intr.
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To hasten; to go in a hurry.
[From Middle English hien, from Old English higian (to strive).] |
From Old English
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vet (vet) verb tr
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1. To examine: to check for validity, accuracy or authenticity.
2. To subject to veterinary care. [Shortening of veterinarian.] |
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vet (vet) noun
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1. Veterinarian; veterinary.
2. Veteran: a soldier, especially one who has fought in a war. [Shortening of veterinarian or veteran.] |
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sic (sik) verb tr.
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To incite to attack, especially as a command to dog: "Sic 'em!"
[Variant of seek.] |
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sic (sik) adverb
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Thus; so. (Used after an incorrect or unusual word or phrase to indicate that it has been quoted verbatim.)
[From Latin sic.] |
From Latin
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scry (skry) verb intr.
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To predict the future by crystal-gazing.
[Shortening of descry (discover), from Middle English descrien, from Old French descrier (to call or cry out), from dis- + crier (to cry out).] |
From French
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tog (tog) noun
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1. A coat.
2. Togs: Clothes. [From shortening of earlier cant togeman, from Latin toga (toga), ultimately from Indo-European root (s)teg- (to cover) that's also the ancestor of other words such as thatch, deck, tile, and detect.] |
From Latin
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tog (tog) verb tr.
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To dress up for a particular occasion or activity.
[From shortening of earlier cant togeman, from Latin toga (toga), ultimately from Indo-European root (s)teg- (to cover) that's also the ancestor of other words such as thatch, deck, tile, and detect.] |
From Latin
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contango (kuhn-TANG-goh) noun
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A premium paid by the buyer to the seller for deferring payment.
[From alteration of continue or contingent.] |
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Danegeld (DAYN-geld) noun, also Danegelt
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1. An annual tax imposed on English landholders (c. 10-12th century) to buy off Danish invaders, later called tallage.
2. Protection money, or some other coercive payment. [From Middle English Dane + geld (payment, tribute), from Old English.] |
From Middle English
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usance (YOO-zuhns) noun
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1. The customary length of time allowed for the settlement of
a foreign bill. 2. Usage; custom. [From Middle English, from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin usare, from Latin uti (to use).] |
From Latin
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sumptuary (SUMP-choo-er-ee) adjective
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1. Relating to or regulating expenses.
2. Regulating personal habits or behavior on moral or religious grounds. [From Latin sumere (to take up). From Indo- European em- (to take or distribute) also example, assume, consume, prompt, ransom, vintage, and redeem.] |
From Latin
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backwardation (BAK-wuhr-DAY-shuhn) noun
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A premium paid by the seller to the buyer for deferring delivery
of stock or some other product. Opposite of contango. [From backward, from Middle English bakwarde.] |
From Middle English
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crinite (KRY-nyt) adjective
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Hairy.
[From Latin crinitus, from crinis (hair). Ultimately from Indo-European root sker- (to turn or bend) that's also the fount of other words such as curve, crest, arrange, shrink, crow, and crisp.] |
From Latin
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atrichia (ay-TRIK-ee-uh) noun
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Absence of hair, typically congenital. Also called atrichosis.
[From Greek a- (not) + trich- (hair).] |
From Greek
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pileous (PY-lee-uhs, PIL-ee-) adjective
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Covered with hair.
[From Latin pileus, from pilus (hair).] |
From Latin
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lissotrichous (li-SO-tri-kuhs) adjective
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Having straight or smooth hair.
[From Greek lissos (smooth) + trich-, from thrix, (hair). Some cousins of this word are cymotrichous (having wavy hair), trichotillomania (the compulsion to pull out one's hair), and its end result atrichia (baldness).] |
From Greek
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calvity (KAL-vi-ti) also calvities, noun
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Baldness.
[From Latin calvities (baldness), from calv-us (bald).] |
From Latin
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crispin (KRIS-pin) noun
eponym |
A shoemaker.
[After St. Crispin, patron saint of shoemakers. He and his brother St. Crispinian were martyred as Christian missionaries. They made their living as shoemakers.] |
Eponym
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Darwinian (dar-WIN-ee-uhn) adjective
eponym |
1. Relating to Charles Darwin or his theory of natural selection.
2. Marked by competitive behavior, suggesting survival of the fittest. [After Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), English naturalist and author who published his groundbreaking theory of natural selection.] |
Eponym
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Goldwynism (GOLD-wi-niz-em) noun
eponym |
A humorous statement resulting from the use of incongruous or contradictory words, situations, idioms, etc.
[After Samuel Goldwyn (1879-1974), Polish-born US film producer. Born Schmuel Gelbfisz, he changed his name to Samuel Goldfish after he went to UK, and to Samuel Goldwyn after moving to the US.] |
Eponym
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Rasputin (ra-SPYOO-tin) noun
eponym |
A person who holds great but corrupting influence on another.
[After Rasputin, the nickname of Grigori Yefimovich Novykh (c.1871-1916), a Siberian peasant. He was notorious for his debauchery and was later assassinated by Russian noblemen.] |
Eponym
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gallup poll (GAL-uhp pol) noun
eponym |
A survey of public opinion.
[After George Horace Gallup (1901-1984), US statistician, who popularized the use of such surveys.] |
Eponym
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operose (OP-uh-roas) adjective
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1. Tedious; diligent.
2. Requiring great effort. [From Latin operosus (laborious, painstaking; active), from oper-, from opus (work). Ultimately from Indo-European root op- (to work, produce) that is also the ancestor of words such as opera, opulent, optimum, maneuver, and manure.] |
From Latin
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reprobate (REP-ruh-bayt) adjective
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Depraved.
[From Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, from reprobare (to disapprove), from re- + probare (to test, approve), from probus (good).] |
From Latin
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reprobate (REP-ruh-bayt) noun
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A wicked person.
[From Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, from reprobare (to disapprove), from re- + probare (to test, approve), from probus (good).] |
From Latin
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reprobate (REP-ruh-bayt) verb tr.
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To disapprove or condemn.
[From Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, from reprobare (to disapprove), from re- + probare (to test, approve), from probus (good).] |
From Latin
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renitent (re-NYT-uhnt, REN-i-tuhnt) adjective
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Resistant; recalcitrant.
[From Latin renitent-, renitens, present participle of reniti (to resist), from re- + niti (to strive, to struggle).] |
From Latin
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pinguid (PING-gwid) adjective
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Fat; greasy; unctuous.
[From Latin pinguis (fat).] |
From Latin
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wroth (roth) adjective
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Extremely angry.
[From Middle Middle English, from Old English wrath. Ultimately from Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend) that is also the progenitor of words such as wring, weird, writhe, worth, revert, and universe.] |
From Old English
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