Grade 11 College Vocabulary, Week 14

Definition: The sound of an alarm (usually a bell); a bell used to sound an alarm.

From the reading: "The illuminated village had seized hold of the tocsin, and, abolishing the lawful ringer, rang for joy." (A Tale of Two Cities)

Synonyms:

alarm, alert

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French, from Old French toquier to touch, French toquer (originally, a dialectic form of French toucher) + seint (for sein) a bell, Late Latin signum, from Latin signum a sign, signal. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings).

From the reading: "The great bulk of the men had now deserted the deck, which was continually wetted with the flying sprays, and where they lay exposed to the shrewdness of the winter wind." (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

astuteness, perspicacity, perspicaciousness

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Middle English shrewed, wicked or cunning, from shrewe, a wicked person + -ness: sharp, practical cleverness.

Definition: Adaptability of mind or character; the property of being pliant and flexible.

From the reading: "The head was shapely, and balanced upon a neck broad at the base, but of exceeding pliancy and grace." (Ben-Hur)

Synonyms:

pliantness, suppleness, pliability

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French plier, to bend, from Latin plicare, to fold + -ancy: the quality of bending easily.

Definition: The act of positioning close together (or side by side); a grouping of words in a sentence.

From the reading: "And as he is intimately acquainted with it in all its parts, so he is continually quoting it and constantly surprising us with fresh discoveries, in novel collocations, of its variety, beauty and impressiveness." (Early American Voices: Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God)

Synonyms:

juxtaposition, apposition

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin collocatio. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: An elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion.

From the reading: "I found that I could not compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study and laborious disquisition." (Frankenstein)

Synonyms:

essay

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin disquisitio, from disquirere to inquire diligently, investigate; dis- + quaerere to seek. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The quality of being smooth and mild, sometimes insincerely so; lack of strong features.

From the reading: "“I always knew this would happen,” he said aloud with brazen blandness." (The Innocence of Father Brown)

Synonyms:

insipidity, mildness, suavity

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin blandus, smooth-tongued or gentle + -ness: mildness, lack of strong flavor.

Definition: Feelings of great warmth and intensity.

From the reading: "With such fervency, that Caleb, though his motives were so pure, could not endure to meet her face; but dropped his eyes, as if she could have read in them his innocent deceit." (The Cricket on the Hearth)

Synonyms:

ardor, ardour, fervor

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Cf. Old French fervence. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A nickname; an extra personal name given to an ancient Roman citizen.

From the reading: "Hereafter a very notorious Roman Emperor will institute this worship in Rome, and thence derive a cognomen, Heliogabalus." (Poe, selected tales and poems)

Synonyms:

nickname, moniker, sobriquet

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin: co- + (g)nomen name. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Childish silliness; a childish act or remark.

From the reading: "“Did you not say to your men that pennons made like your banner would be lucky?” The soldier-spirit in Joan was offended at this puerility." (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc)

Synonyms:

childishness, immaturity, silliness

Antonyms:

maturity

Root:Latin puerilitas: compare French puérilité. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The quality of being appropriate or suitable; a natural tendency.

From the reading: "The lighter sort of malignity, turneth but to a crassness, or frowardness, or aptness to oppose, or difficulties, or the like; but the deeper sort, to envy and mere mischief." (Essays)

Synonyms:

propensity, appositeness

Antonyms:

inaptness, inappositeness

Root:Latin aptus, fitted, from apere, to fasten + -ness: fitness.

Definition: The trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable.

From the reading: "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition." (Poe, selected tales and poems)

Synonyms:

tractability, tractableness

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin docilitas, from docilis: compare French docilité. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A disposition to dislike and mistrust other people; hatred of mankind.

From the reading: "I found him well educated, with unusual powers of mind, but infected with misanthropy, and subject to perverse moods of alternate enthusiasm and melancholy." (Poe, selected tales and poems)

Synonyms:

hatred of mankind, cynicism

Antonyms:

philanthropy

Root:Greek misanthropie. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The quality of being sumptuously rich or extravagant.

From the reading: "Then she had changed her muslin frock for a dark travelling costume and mantle, had provided herself with money—which her husband’s lavishness always placed fully at her disposal—and had started on her way." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

luxury, sumptuosity, sumptuousness

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Old French lavasse, a downpour, from laver, to wash (Latin lavare) + -ness: pouring out freely.

Definition: Promotion or appointment to a position or office.

From the reading: "Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of us all: the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so fortunate as I have been, in early preferment; and, I trust, I am resigned." (Pride and Prejudice)

Synonyms:

promotion

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin praeferre, to carry before (prae-, before + ferre, to carry) + -ment: advancement to a higher place.

Definition: Feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable.

From the reading: "Still, as I urged our leaving Ireland with such inquietude and impatience, my father thought it best to yield." (Frankenstein)

Synonyms:

edginess, uneasiness, disquietude

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin inquietudo: compare French inquietude. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A nickname.

From the reading: "No wonder that in France the sobriquet of the mysterious Englishman roused in the people a superstitious shudder." (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Synonyms:

nickname, moniker, cognomen

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:French sobriquet, Old French soubzbriquet, soubriquet, a chuck under the chin, hence, an affront, a nickname; of uncertain origin; compare Italian sottobecco a chuck under the chin. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A severe scolding; verbal punishment.

From the reading: "It was now sought to turn against Joan the thousand loving honors which had been done her when she was raising France out of the dirt and shame of a century of slavery and castigation." (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc)

Synonyms:

chastisement, rebuke, reprimand

Antonyms:

praise

Root:Latin catigatio. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: Formal and explicit approval.

From the reading: "And now here is a volume that goes into the world and lacks your imprimatur: a strange thing in our joint lives; and the reason of it stranger still!" (The Black Arrow)

Synonyms:

sanction, countenance, endorsement

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin, let it be printed. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: A word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations.

From the reading: "I saw them writhe with a deadly locution." (Poe, selected tales and poems)

Synonyms:

saying, expression

Antonyms:

(none exact)

Root:Latin locutio, from loqui to speak: compare French locution. (Webster, 1913)

Definition: The resistance that one surface or object meets when moving over another; conflict or animosity.

From the reading: "If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth,—certainly the machine will wear out." (Walden, selected)

Synonyms:

abrasion, rubbing; conflict, discord

Antonyms:

harmony

Root:Latin frictio, from fricare, frictum,to rub: compare French friction. (Webster, 1913)