Words of the Week!


Week of November 23rd and 30th, 2009
connoisseur \kah-nuh-SER\ (noun) What does it mean? : a person qualified to act as a judge in matters of taste and appreciation How do you use it? He was a coffee connoisseur who could tell you what each variety of coffee bean tasted like and how best to brew it. Are you a word wiz? "Connoisseur" traces ultimately to Latin. What does the Latin root of "connoisseur" mean? A. coffee-drinker B. loud C. to know D. to be an expert in If you chose C, you're in the know! "Connoisseur" was taken into English directly from French, from the now-obsolete French word "connoisseur," meaning "expert." (The modern French word is "connoisseur.") French "connoisseur" came from a medieval French verb meaning "to know," and it in turn was derived from the Latin verb "cognoscere," which means "to become acquainted with" or "to know." The word "connoisseur" first entered English in the early 1700s.
characteristic \ kair-ik-tuh-RISS-tik\ (adjective) What does it mean? : serving to stress some special quality of an individual or group : typical How do you use it? "'I'm Anne of Green Gables,' said the small visitor tremulously, clasping her hands with her characteristic gesture, 'and I've come to confess, if you please.'" (Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables) Are you a word wiz? "Characteristic" has roots in the Greek word "charassein." What do you think "charassein" means? A. to scratch, engrave B. to heal, protect C. to drive, lead D. to complete, equip The Greek word "charassein" means "to scratch, engrave." Not surprisingly, "charassein" also figures in the origins of the word "character." We can see the relationship of "character" and "charassein" in the use of "character" to mean "a mark or symbol (as a letter or numeral) used in writing or printing." The idea of being marked in some way carries over to the noun "characteristic" which refers to the special quality or appearance that makes an individual or group different from others. And that brings us to the adjective "characteristic" which applies to something that marks or identifies a person or thing or a class.
Week of November 16th, 2009
bluster \BLUSS-ter\ (verb) What does it mean? : to talk or act in a noisy, boastful way How do you use it? "'Yes, he's quoted in the article in there,' said Sirius, nodding at the paper. 'Blustering on about how bad Bertha's memory is.'" (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) Are you a word wiz? "Bluster" has another meaning besides the one we've given. What's another meaning of "bluster"? A. "to fire a blunderbuss" B. "to blow violently and noisily" C. "to break something" D. "to make shiny" If you chose B, you're right! The verb "bluster" first entered English in the 1400s, having derived from Middle English "blustren" and probably from Middle Low German "blüsteren." Both the sense "to talk in a noisy, boastful way" and the sense "to blow violently and noisily" appear to have developed about at the same time. The "blow violently and noisily" sense is in use today (as in "the wind blustered through the night"), though the adjective "blustery" is somewhat more common.
biosphere \BYE-uh-sfeer\ (noun) What does it mean? : the part of the world in which life can exist How do you use it? Students will be studying different parts of the terrestrial biosphere including deserts, tundras, wetlands, grasslands, tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests. Are you a word wiz? "Biosphere" resulted from combining the word "sphere," which can be used to refer to a globe-shaped body as well as a model of the earth, and the combining form "bio-." What do you think the "bio-" in "biosphere" means? A. an area of knowledge that is an object of study : science B. life : living organisms or tissue C. land as distinguished from air and sea : ground D. origin : basic source or cause The "bio-" in "biosphere" means "life" or "living organisms or tissue." This combining form, which is sometimes in the form "bi-," can also mean "biographical." Between these two meanings "bi-" or "bio-" plays a part in a number of words including "biology" and "biography." "Sphere" plays a part in words like "atmosphere" and "hemisphere."
Week of November 9th, 2009
allegiance \uh-LEE-junss\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : loyalty and obedience owed to one's country or government 2 : devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause How do you use it? "I myself am a savage; owning no allegiance but to the King of the Cannibals; and ready at any moment to rebel against him." (Herman Melville, Moby Dick) Are you a word wiz? What do you think was happening around the time the word "allegiance" first appeared in English? A. The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag was first published (late 1800s). B. One-time American Revolutionary hero Benedict Arnold switched his allegiance to the British crown (late 1700s). C. Henry IV seized the throne of England despite having failed to win the allegiance of many powerful nobles (late 1300s). D. Harold II swore his allegiance to William of Normandy, whom he would later fight at the Battle of Hastings (mid-1000s). "Allegiance" first appeared in English the late 1300s and, like English politics of that time, it has a rather complicated history. "Allegiance" stems from Anglo-French, the French language used in medieval England. Specifically, "allegiance" traces to the Anglo-French term "lige," meaning "liege," which first referred to a person in the Middle Ages who received protection and land from a lord in return for loyalty and service, and later also referred to the lord receiving the service. "Lige" became "ligeance" and then "allegeance" before passing into Middle English as "aligeaunce" in the 14th century.
augur \AW-gur\ (verb) What does it mean? 1 : to predict from signs or omens 2 : to give promise of How do you use it? "'I may augur, from the silence of my family, that they object to the resolution I have taken.'" (Charles Dickens, David Copperfield) Are you a word wiz? If you predicted that there would be a quiz today, you were right. Around when do you think the word "augur" entered English? A. the early 1600s, when discoveries by Galileo, Kepler, and Newton forecasted changes in human understanding B. the early 1700s, when predictions were made about the advances of the English Industrial Revolution C. the early 1800s, when there were signs that Napoleon would again draw England and France into war D. the early 1900s, when suffrage movements around the world presaged greater voting rights for women All signs point to A! The verb "augur" was first used in English in the early 1600s, around the time Galileo, Kepler, and Newton made discoveries that forever changed our understanding of science and math. Two other words having to do with predictions made their way into English in the early 1600s: the verb "vaticinate," meaning "prophesy, predict," and the noun "bodement," meaning "omen, foretelling." Today's Buzzword "augur" came to us from the much older noun "augur," which dates to the 1300s and means "a person (as in ancient Rome) who foretells the future by omens."
Week of November 2nd, 2009
stalwart \STAWL-wert\ (adjective) What does it mean? : marked by outstanding strength and vigor of mind, body, or spirit How do you use it? In spite of the heat, rain and mosquitoes, the stalwart hikers kept going until they reached their campsite. Are you a word wiz? Which one of these words do you think is a synonym of "stalwart"? A. sturdy B. conceited C. uncertain D. excited You've got strong word skills if you picked answer A. While "stalwart" suggests firm dependability (as in "stalwart firefighters"), "sturdy" implies strength that comes from determination or solid construction ("sturdy independence," "a sturdy table"). "Stout," another synonym, suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way ("stout hiking boots"), and "tough" implies great firmness and the ability to adjust, recover, or change ("a tough opponent"). Finally, "tenacious" indicates strength in seizing, keeping, clinging to, or holding something ("tenacious farmers clinging to a traditional lifestyle").
scruple \SKROO-pul\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : a moral consideration or rule of conduct that makes one uneasy or makes action difficult 2 : a sense of guilt felt when one does wrong How do you use it? Acting without scruple, Hannah lied about breaking the window and blamed it on her sister. Are you a word wiz? The word "scruple" comes from the Latin word "scrupus." Remember that scruples prick your conscience, then answer this question. What does "scrupus" mean? A. deadly snake B. sharp stone C. warm air D. heavy burden Having a sharp stone in your shoe can be painful enough to keep you from walking until you remove it. That fact was well known by the ancient Romans, who regularly wore sandals. "Scruple" comes from their Latin word "scrupus," which originally meant "a small sharp stone." The ancient Romans also used "scrupus" to refer to a feeling of uneasiness that might keep someone from doing something much in the same way that a sharp stone in the shoe might keep someone from walking. French speakers adopted "scrupus" as "scrupule," and English speakers picked up the word from them.
Week of October 19th, 2009
epidemic \ep-uh-DEM-ik\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : an outbreak of disease that spreads wildly and affects many individuals at one time 2 : a sudden rapidly spreading outbreak or growth How do you use it? "In August the yellow-fever had reached its extremest height. Daily, hundreds fell a sacrifice to the terrible epidemic." (Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi) Are you a word wiz? The English word "epidemic" comes from two Greek roots: "epi-" and "demos." What do "epi-" and "demos" mean? A. "on" or "at" and "people" B. "around" and "fever" C. "evil" and "do" D. "sharp" and "hand" The English word "epidemic" traces back to Greek "epi-," meaning "on," "at," "beside," or "after," and "demos," meaning "people." In Greek, the two words combined to make "epidemos" which means "affecting a large number of people." This word was borrowed into Latin, and then French, and then into English as the adjective "epidemic." The noun "epidemic" showed up in English about 100 years after the adjective, in the mid-1700s. Both Greek roots have very common ancestors in English. "Epi-" was taken straight into English as a prefix and appears in words like "epidemic" and "epicenter." "Demos" is the root for words like "democracy" and "demagogue."
equilibrium \ee-kwuh-LIB-ree-um\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions 2 : the normal balanced state of the body of an animal that is maintained in relation to the forces (as gravity) acting on it and to things in the environment (as the surface on which life is lived) and that is sensed and checked by the inner ear of vertebrates including human beings How do you use it? It took Dad a few minutes to regain his equilibrium after the super loopy roller coaster ride. Are you a word wiz? "Equilibrium" is made up of two Latin roots: "aequi-," meaning "equal," and "libra," meaning "weight, balance." Which answer below contains two other words that have "libra" as a root? A. deliver, liberate B. livery, love C. library, libel D. deliberate, level You've got a level head if you chose D! "Deliberate," "level," and "equilibrium" all share the root "libra," meaning "weight" or "balance." Can you see how "libra" comes into play in each word? "Equilibrium" comes from two Latin roots that together translate to "equal balance." "Level," a tool that shows that a surface is balanced, comes from "libra." And "deliberate" comes from a combination of Latin "de-" and "libra," which forms the verb "delibrare," meaning "to consider or weigh in the balance."
Week of October 12th, 2009
steadfast \STED-fast\ (adjective) What does it mean? 1 a : firmly fixed in place b : not subject to change 2 : firm in belief, determination, or allegiance How do you use it? "See how steadfast in beauty [the mountains] all are in their going. Look again and again how the rough, dusty boulders and sand of disintegration from the upper ledges wreathe in beauty . . ." (John Muir, Steep Trails) Are you a word wiz? Naturalist John Muir used "steadfast" to describe the unchanging beauty of mountains, even as the mountains themselves change. Which of the following sentences do you think shows another correct use of "steadfast"? A. Most of the club's members supported steadfast the changes allowing more people to join. B. The changes allowing more people to join the club were steadfasted by most of the club's members. C. Most of the club's members were steadfast in their support of the changes allowing more people to join. D. The changes allowing more people to join the club had the steadfast of most club members. Because of our steadfast belief in the value of good grammar, we'll tell you that C is the correct answer. "Steadfast" is an adjective, which means that it describes a noun or pronoun; in C "steadfast" describes the noun "members." In A, "steadfast" describes the verb "supported," so it's functioning incorrectly as an adverb. In B, "steadfast" expresses action, which means it's completely out of line acting as a verb. Sentence D has "steadfast" acting as the object of the verb "had," which means it's a noun—something "steadfast" can't be.
succumb \suh-KUM\ (verb) What does it mean? 1 : to yield to force or pressure 2 : die How do you use it? Mom had already made dinner and so she refused to succumb to our pleading for take-out pizza. Are you a word wiz? There are several words that are similar in meaning to "succumb." We list three of them below. Which one do you think is NOT a synonym of "succumb"? A. ignore B. yield C. relent D. defer "Ignore" means "to refuse to notice" and so is not a synonym of "succumb." "Yield," "relent," and "defer," however, all mean to give way to someone or something that you can no longer resist. Use "yield" to mean a giving in to force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty, as in "yields too easily in any argument." Choose "relent" to imply a yielding through pity or mercy by someone who holds the upper hand, as for example, "finally relented and let the children stay up." And try "defer" to imply a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect for or deference toward another, as in "deferred to her expertise."
Week of October 5th, 2009
vacuous \VAK-yuh-wus\ (adjective) What does it mean? : lacking ideas or intelligence How do you use it? The sheep in the pasture presented a fairly vacuous appearance, in contrast to the alert, keen-eyed border collies that were trained to herd them. Are you a word wiz? Which one of these words do you think is a synonym of "vacuous"? A. worried B. sympathetic C. empty D. lighthearted Picking C is a good idea. "Empty" indicates a complete absence of content (as "an empty bucket"), while "vacuous" suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence ("a vacuous facial expression"). "Vacant," another synonym, points to an absence of appropriate contents or occupants ("a vacant apartment"), "blank" stresses the absence of any meaningful features on a surface ("a blank wall"), and "void" suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine ("a statement void of meaning").
voluminous \vuh-LOO-muh-nuss\ (adjective) What does it mean? 1 a : having or marked by great bulk or volume : large b : having much material 2 : filling or capable of filling a large volume or several large volumes How do you use it? Abby wears jeans most of the time, so walking gracefully in the voluminous skirts of her stage costume took some practice. Are you a word wiz? Which one of these sentences do you think use "voluminous" correctly? A. The composer's biographer faced quite a challenge when it came to organizing his voluminous and messy correspondence. B. Nina speaks quietly most of the time, so we were surprised by how voluminous her voice became when she performed on stage. C. Voluminous, the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, is often used for siding on houses. D. Sam seems like an easygoing guy, but he can be voluminous if he doesn't get his own way. It's A that speaks volumes. Nina's voice in B may have increased in volume when she performed her lines, but "stentorian" would be a better choice to describe it. Since "voluminous" is an adjective, the use of "voluminous" as a noun in C tells us that we can rule out that sentence. Not getting his own way in D won't make Sam large, but it might make him "cantankerous," that is, difficult or irritating to deal with. That leaves A, and the biographer's attempt to put the letters of the gifted but untidy composer in some kind of order.
Week of September 29th, 2009
boisterous \BOYSS-truss\ (adjective) What does it mean? 1 a : noisily rough : rowdy b : marked by high spirits 2 : vigorously active : stormy How do you use it? The children were loud and boisterous after the birthday party. Are you a word wiz? We've given you some synonyms of "boisterous" in our definition. Which answer below gives two more synonyms of "boisterous"? A. strident, obstreperous B. wheedling, coaxing C. meek, milquetoast D. strep, staphylcoccus No need to shout: the answer is A! "Strident," "obstreperous," and "boisterous" all refer to someone or something that is so loud that he, she, or it demands attention. "Strident" focuses mainly on sound and suggests noise that is harsh, discordant, and unpleasant. ("We heard the strident blaring of the tornado warning.") "Obstreperous" is used primarily of people and refers not just to aggressive noisiness, but also to a resistance to being restrained. ("The obstreperous activists were forced to leave the courtroom.") "Boisterous" is the least disapproving word of the group, referring to noisiness and activity that are due to high spirits. ("The theater was filled with boisterous fans.") "Boisterous" is also the least formal of the three words.
bravado \bruh-VAH-doh\ (noun) What does it mean? : a display of reckless or pretended bravery How do you use it? Cameron liked to brag that the dogs on his paper route didn't scare him, but it was nothing more than bravado; in fact, whenever he heard one he would toss the paper quickly and cycle away. Are you a word wiz? Which of the following do you think is the meaning of the Italian ancestor of our word "bravado"? A. to challenge, show off B. to pretend, make believe C. to duck, hide behind D. to swagger, strut Were you able to show off your word skills by choosing A? "Bravado" came into English in the late 1500s. Middle French and Old Spanish are its immediate ancestors but they both trace back to the Old Italian word "bravata." "Bravata" comes from "bravare," meaning "to challenge, show off," which in turn comes from Italian "bravo," meaning "brave." Our word "bravo," which is used as a shout of approval, often to applaud a performance, is another descendant, as is "brava," which is used in the same way but for female performers. English "brave" also comes from Old Italian "bravo," but word experts think it probably traces even farther back to Latin "barbarus," meaning "barbarous, uncivilized."
Week of September 21st, 2009
posthaste \POHST-HAYST\ (adverb) What does it mean? : with great speed How do you use it? "Obviously you need to get back to Redwall posthaste." (Brian Jacques, Redwall) Are you a word wiz? You don't need to answer posthaste, but do tell us which of the following sentences you think uses "posthaste" correctly? A. In a posthaste race to the finish line, Maggie and Ben tied for first place. B. Running posthaste to the finish line, Maggie and Ben crossed at exactly the same time. C. As they neared the end of the race, Maggie and Ben posthasted to the finish line. D. Posthaste the race through the town, Maggie and Ben celebrated their joint victory. Since "posthaste" is an adverb, B is the correct answer. This sentence is the only one in which "posthaste" is modifying a verb, which what adverbs most commonly do. In A, "posthaste" modifies the noun "race," so it's functioning as an adjective. In C, "posthaste" expresses action, so it's acting as a verb. And in D, "posthaste" is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase "posthaste the race." Other adverbs that mean basically the same thing as "posthaste" are "quickly," "swiftly," "rapidly," and "hastily."
precursor \prih-KER-ser\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : predecessor 2 : a substance or cell from which another substance or cell is formed How do you use it? Most music scholars identify both ragtime and the blues as precursors to the later American musical form called jazz. Are you a word wiz? Think you've got the hang of today's Words for the Wise? Let's find out. Which of the following sentences uses "precursor" correctly? A. The precursor blinked, as if to say, "Get to writing." B. Jaime was invited to the regional essay contest, a precursor to the finals. C. Ms. Cohen chastised our group for giving the assignment only a precursor attempt. D. Today's mystery and horror writers are precursors to 19th-century author Edgar Allan Poe. Let's start with the sentences that use "precursor" incorrectly. In sentence A, "precursor" should be replaced by "cursor," which refers to the blinking mark on a computer screen indicating where the user is working. In sentence C, it's not a "precursor" attempt that was done but a "cursory" attempt, which means it was quick and careless. Sentence D needs to indicate that today's writers come after, not before, Edgar Allan Poe, so "precursor" doesn't make sense there. You could switch the sentence around to make Poe the "precursor" of today's writers. That leaves answer B and Jaime with his invitation to the regional essay contest, which comes before the finals.
Week of September 14th, 2009
dorsal \DOR-sul\ (adjective) What does it mean? : relating to or situated near or on the back (as of an animal) How do you use it? We could see the dorsal fins of some sea creatures swimming in the distance, but we didn't know if they were sharks or something else entirely. Are you a word wiz? "Dorsal" traces back to the Latin word "dorsum," meaning "back." Which of the following do you think also comes from "dorsum"? A. remorse B. summer C. endorse D. demote The connection between "dorsum" and "endorse" might be obvious to you if you've ever had to endorse a check by writing your name on the back of it. This sense of "endorse" is defined as "to sign the back of (a check, bank note, or bill) especially to receive payment, to indicate method of payment, or to transfer to someone else." "Endorse" has another meaning too: "to show support or approval of." During an election year, you may hear about newspapers and governors endorsing particular candidates. Another "dorsum" word is "dossier," meaning "a file of papers containing a detailed report." "Dossier" comes to English from the Latin "dorsum," but by way of the French word "dossier," which means "bundle of documents labeled on the back."
doldrums \DOHL-drumz\ (noun plural) What does it mean? 1 : a spell of low spirits 2 : a state in which nothing seems to be going on How do you use it? He's been in the doldrums since he failed his midterm test. Are you a word wiz? Oops! We've forgotten to tell you one of the meanings of "doldrums." Which of the answers below is another definition of the word "doldrums"? A. tiredness or fatigue B. a shallow handheld Irish drum C. an act of depressing : a state of being depressed D. a part of the ocean near the equator known for its calms It's smooth sailing if you chose D! "Doldrums" first entered English in the early 1800s to refer to a state of low spirits, or depression. When a person is feeling low, they generally are not very active or don't get as much done as they would like, and this inferred meaning gave rise to the nautical sense defined in answer D. This area of water around the equator is renowned for its calms or its light shifting winds that can hinder a boat's ability to travel quickly. The sense then broadened to refer to a state in which there seems to be no activity at all. The nautical sense is not as common today as the other two meanings are.
Week of September 8th, 2009
plateau \pla-TOH\ (noun) What does it mean? 1 : a broad flat area of high land 2 : a stable level, period, or condition How do you use it? "Now, right before us the anchorage was bounded by a plateau from two to three hundred feet high, adjoining on the north the sloping southern shoulder of the Spy-glass and rising again towards the south into the rough, cliffy eminence called the Mizzen-mast Hill." (Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island) Are you a word wiz? As you might have guessed from its spelling, the word "plateau" comes from French. In fact, it comes from a French word that refers to an everyday object. What do you think the object is? A. a dining table B. a large serving dish C. a sharp knife D. a high bed The English word "plateau" traces back to medieval French "plateau," meaning "a large serving dish, a platter." Since a plateau looks like a large, flat plate, the French later also gave "plateau" the meaning "a broad flat area of high land," the meaning with which it was later borrowed into English. French "plateau" can be traced even farther back to the medieval French word "plat," meaning "flat." This old French word also gave us the familiar word "plate."
plummet \PLUM-ut\ (verb) What does it mean? : to fall straight down : plunge How do you use it? "Then she looked back, for at that moment a black object plummeted from the sky, and she recognized her friend Jeremy the crow." (Robert C. O'Brien, _Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH_) Are you a word wiz? "Plummet" has a few English cousins. Which answer below contains some of them? A. ferret, ferry B. plumb, plumber C. comet, helmet D. fall, fell "Plummet," "plumber," and "plumb" (and "plunge," for that matter) all trace back to the Latin word "plumbum," referring to the metal lead. Since lead is heavy, it was used in the past as a weight at the end of a long string to form a straight line for builders. The name for this tool is a "plumb" or a "plumb line," and the name was taken from the Latin word "plumbum." Since a plumb falls straight down, "plumbum" also gave rise to "plummet" and "plunge," both meaning "to fall straight down." The word "plumber" also goes back to "plumbum," since "plumber" originally referred to a person who worked with lead.
Week of August 31st, 2009
dissuade \dih-SWAYD\ (verb) What does it mean? : to persuade or advise not to do How do you use it? "She led the way to the drawing-room, where she took up her embroidery, and began again to dissuade Terence from walking down to the hotel in this heat. But the more she dissuaded, the more he was determined to go." (Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out) Are you a word wiz? Don't let anything dissuade you from answering this question: which of the following sentences uses "dissuade" correctly? A. No amount of dissuade could convince the children that their plan to build a snow fort was anything less than brilliant. B. A series of dissuade arguments failed to convince the children that their plan to build a snow fort was anything less than brilliant. C. The snow was perfect for constructing a snow fort, and the children were dissuaded that it would be a good one. D. With perfect conditions like these, nothing could dissuade the children from following through on their plan to build a snow fort. Did anything dissuade you from choosing D? That's the only sentence in which "dissuade" is used correctly. In sentence A, "dissuade" is being used as a noun, not a verb, and in sentence B it's being used as an adjective. "Dissuade" is a verb in sentence C, but it's not being used to mean "to persuade or advise not to." "Dissuade" comes from the Latin word "dissuadere," which in turn comes from the prefix "dis-" and "suadere," meaning "to urge." Another "suadere" word is "persuade," which means "to win over to a belief or to a course of action by argument or earnest request."
diverge \duh-VERJ\ (verb) What does it mean? : to move or extend in different directions from a common point : draw apart How do you use it? Ethan had a moment of panic when he found that someone had removed the guidepost where the roads diverged, but he quickly remembered being told to follow the left fork. Are you a word wiz? Which one of these words do you think is a synonym of "diverge"? A. mislead B. involve C. veer D. pursue Don't draw away from C. Both "diverge" and "veer" mean to turn aside from a straight course. "Diverge" suggests a branching of a main path into two or more that lead in different directions. ("After school their paths diverged.") "Veer" implies a major change in direction. ("At that point, the path veers to the right.") "Swerve," another synonym, suggests turning away abruptly. ("He swerved to avoid hitting the dog.") And "deviate" implies turning from a customary course. ("She never deviates from her daily routine.")
Week of August 24th, 2009
engross \in-GROHSS\ (verb) What does it mean? : to take up the whole interest or attention of : absorb How do you use it? The kids were totally engrossed with the puzzle. Are you a word wiz? The meaning of the Modern English verb "engross" we list above comes from the medieval French phrase "en gros," which means what? A. feeling nauseous B. wholesale or in quantity C. captured in a group D. having fascinating rhythm The answer in total is B. "En gros" means "in quantity," and it was used in the medieval French verb "engrosser," and later the English verb "engross," to refer to purchasing things like stocks and commodities in a group. Like many words, the meaning later broadened and gained the general sense of "to collect." But unlike many words, the meaning then narrowed again and came to refer to taking up (or "collecting") the interest or attention of a person. This sense has been used since the 1600s, and is the predominant sense of "engross" we use today.
expedient \ik-SPEE-dee-unt\ (adjective) What does it mean? : suitable for bringing about a desired result often without regard to what is fair or right How do you use it? Ramon could have taken the expedient path and copied his term paper from the Internet, but he's determined to research and write it on his own. Are you a word wiz? Which one of these words do you think is a synonym of "expedient"? A. muddled B. advisable C. stubborn D. embarrassing We hope you chose B fair and square. Both "expedient" and "advisable" mean directed by practical or careful motives. "Expedient" implies what is immediately advantageous without regard for ethics or steady principles. ("The decision was a politically expedient one.") "Politic," another synonym, stresses the use of sound judgment and tactics, but usually implies some lack of candor or sincerity. ("They made a politic show of interest.") "Advisable" applies to what is practical or advantageous, but lacks the unfavorable implication of "expedient" and "politic." ("Sometimes it's advisable to say nothing.")