Word Power: Building Vocabulary Skills
Lesson 5
Lesson Quiz
Lesson Words
Etymology: [cum (Latin), "together" + pati, "to feel or endure"]
harmonious; able to get along together
Tom and Sam had almost identical business interests, but they found that they were not compatible as business partners; after about three months of arguing, they dissolved their partnership.
Synonyms: agreeable, accordant, suitable, congruous
Antonyms: inharmonious, discordant, antagonistic, conflicting, clashing, incongruous, inconsistent
Etymology: [laudabilis (Latin), from laudare, "to praise"]
worthy of commendation or praise
The Legislature and the President made a laudable effort to reform health care.
Synonyms: commendable, praiseworthy
Antonyms: condemnatory, objectionable
Etymology: [facetiae (Latin), "jests"]
humorous; in a manner or spirit of levity
When Tom first told me that he has lost all of his entire savings and the deed to his house in Las Vegas, I thought he was being facetious, but suddenly I realized that he was serious.
Synonyms: witty, kidding, jocular, jocose, funny
Antonyms: serious, grave, solemn, earnest, humorless, taciturn
Etymology: [histrio (Latin), "anactor"]
1. pertaining to the stage or actors
The novice actor demonstrated remarkable histrionic ability; his performance was as good as a more experienced actor.
2. intended for effect; stagey, affected
Mary's tears are histrionic; she isn't nearly as upset as her doleful expression wants us to believe.
Synonyms: theatrical, dramatic
Etymology: [emancipare (Latin), "to remove from a father's power, to give up"; from e, "out" + manus, "hand" + capere, "to take"]
1. to set free
All of the slaves in the south were emancipated after the Civil War.
The injured tiger was captured, given medical treatment, and then emancipated from captivity.
the moment when a minor is freed from the control of their parents or guardians and the parents or guardians are freed from any legal responsibility toward the child (often when a child reaches 18 years of age or gets married)
Unlike marriage, having a child does not emancipate a minor.
Synonyms: free, enfranchise, liberate
Antonyms: enthrall, incarcerate, disfranchise, immure, fetter, confine, shackle
THE GREAT EMANCIPATOR SPEAKS
In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free — honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve.
Etymology: [fortis (Latin), "strong"]
courage and strength in the face of danger or difficulties
To be a soldier in the French Foreign Legion requires both physical and mental fortitude.
Synonyms: courage, endurance, resolution, bravery
Antonyms: fear, trepidation, timidity, cowardice
Where true fortitude dwells, loyalty, bounty, friendship, and fidelity may be found.
Etymology: [abeance (Old French); "expectancy," from a, "to" + baer, "to look with open mouth"; "to gape"]
condition of suspended activity or development
The work to construct the new building is in abeyance until legal objections are settled.
Synonyms: suspension
Etymology: [rooster (Dutch), "a list"]
a list or roll of names
Beth was pleased to see her name on the roster of seniors graduating with honors.
Synonyms: isting, roll, directory
Etymology: [malitia (Latin), "badness"; from malus, "bad, evil"]
ill will; hostility; resentment
The jury found that Lisa's boss acted out of malice when he fired her..
Phrase: malice aforethought (planning a malicious act beforehand)
Synonyms: enmity, spite, rancor, animosity
Antonyms: benevolence, beneficence, good will
With malice toward none, with charity for all.
Etymology: [propitius (Latin), "favorable"]
to obtain the good will or grace of a person; to quiet or pacify
Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Britain, attempted to propitiate Adolf Hitler by agreeing to his occupation of Czechoslovakia.
Synonyms: appease, placate, allay, mollify
Antonyms: antagonize, alienate
