Word Power: Building Vocabulary Skills
Lesson 10
Lesson Quiz
Lesson Words
Etymology: [espionner (French), "to spy"]
the practice of spying or employing spies
In 2009 three Americans were arrested by Iranian authorities for espionage.
Synonyms: surveillance, spying
NOTE: Although one of the meanings of espy is "to spy on," the word is also used to mean "to descry, to discern, to catch sight of, to discover something that is partly concealed."
a false or erroneous idea
Relating physical characteristics to personality usually results in an absurd fallacy; for example, Red hair indicates a quick temper.
Synonyms: error, sophism, deception, misconception
Etymology: [demurer (Old French), "to linger," from demorari (Latin), "to delay"]
1. to hesitate; to take exception or offer objections to something
When asked to offer his support the new law, the senator demurred on the grounds that such a law would be unjust.
Synonyms:refuse, turn down, deny, reject
2. (in the legal system) for an attorney to ask a judge to drop a case because, even if facts as presented by the other side are true, they are not sufficient to convict their client
When the defendant's attorney demurred, the judge suspended the trial until the following week.
Synonyms:raise objection to, object
Antonyms: accede, agree
NOTE 1: Demur is also a noun, meaning "pause, delay," "scruple," "objection."
NOTE 2: Do not confuse demur with demure, which means "coy" or "modest."
Etymology: [ad (Latin), "to" + diurnus, "daily"]
to put off or defer to another day; to close for the day
The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Synonyms: postpone, suspend, terminate, defer
Etymology: [civis (Latin), "citizen"]
1. polite
I asked Jane politely why she did not come to the meeting; instead of providing me with a civil answer, she told me that it was none of my business.
2. pertaining to the status and rights of the civilian population, as distinguished from members of the military or the church
Where does he stand on the civil rights issue?
3. pertaining to the internal affairs of a state or nation
The country was torn apart by civil war.
Phrases: civic virtue; civil tongue
Synonyms: gracious, cordial, respectful, urbane
Antonyms: rude, boorish, brash, impolite; military, ecclesiastic
Etymology: [Abbreviation of quacksalver , a person who pretends to have skill in medicines or salves; from quacken (Dutch), "to brag," + zalf, "salve"]
one who pretends to know more than he really does; a pretender to medical skill; something that is not genuine
Despite the diplomas on the wall, Jim began to suspect that the doctor was a quack.
Lisa has been trying to lose weight for years, but instead of eating less and exercising she uses pills, or any other quack diet that appears.
Synonyms: sham, mountebank, charlatan, impostor
Antonyms: genuine
NOTE: The word quack may also be used as an adjective, meaning "pretending to cure diseases," or as a verb, meaning "to play the quack, to talk pretentiously."
Etymology: [mimikos (Greek), "imitating"; from mimos, "a mime, an imitator"]
1. (adjective) imitative; copying
As a child, my friends and I would engage in mimic battles between noble knights.
Synonyms: mock
2. (verb) to ridicule by copying; to imitate
Tom was suspended from school for mimicking his teacher.
Synonyms: imitate, ape, copy
NOTE: Two verb forms of mimic are mimicked, mimicking.
Etymology: [cognoscens (Latin), "finding out," "learning"; from cognoscere, "to get knowledge of"]
having knowledge of; aware
Beth tries very hard to keep an open mind and to be cognizant of other's feelings.
Synonyms: aware, mindful
Antonyms: unaware, uninformed
Etymology: [de (Latin), "very" + mure (Middle English), "mature"]
affectedly modest or reserved
Her career as an actress has included roles ranging from that of a demure young socialite to that of a seductress.
Synonyms: sedate, reserved, diffident, shy
Antonyms: frivolous, bold, forward, immodest, self-confident, self-possessed, conceited, imprudent, blunt
NOTE: Shyness is genuine modesty; demureness often is affected or pretended shyness.
Etymology: [remuneratio (Latin), from re, "back" + munerare, "to reward"; from munus, "a gift," "an office"]
the amount of money a person earns for the work they preform
The global financial crisis of 2008 put the remuneration of many company executives in the spotlight.
Synonyms: compensation, payment, consideration, requital
