Grade 6 College Vocabulary, Week 15

Definition: a pull or enticement toward doing wrong; (also) something that draws a person to want what he should not have.

Context: In the lesson's pattern, temptation comes first, then excuses and a fall, then the turning point and repentance. Edmund's temptation was enchanted sweets and a promise of power. The prodigal's temptation was to have his share of his father's goods early.

KJV: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Synonyms:

enticement, allurement, lure

Antonyms:

deterrent, discouragement

Root:Latin temptare, "to test, to try, to feel out." A temptation tests what is in the heart.

Definition: Angry fear of losing someone's love or loyalty to a rival; resentment of another person's success or advantages.

Context: When Tackleton shows John his wife with the stranger, jealousy sweeps through the honest Carrier, and for one dark night it nearly masters him.

KJV: "For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance" (Proverbs 6:34). "Jealousy is cruel as the grave" (Song of Solomon 8:6).

Synonyms:

envy, resentment, suspicion

Antonyms:

trust, contentment, goodwill

Root:Old French jalousie, from Latin zelus, from Greek zelos, "zeal, eager rivalry." Jealous and zealous are cousins.

Definition: a lack of trust; doubt about whether someone is honest or loyal. As a verb: to doubt or refuse to rely on.

From the reading: "Passion and distrust have left me!"

Synonyms:

mistrust, suspicion, doubt

Antonyms:

trust, confidence, faith

Root:dis- (not) + trust, from Old Norse traust, "confidence, help."

Definition: To secretly allow or go along with something wrong; to plot or scheme together in secret.

From the reading: "Conniving at that man’s disguise, and giving him opportunities of meeting her alone."

Context: John believes that Dot has connived at a deceit. By the end of the book he learns she was keeping a good secret for Caleb's long-lost son.

Synonyms:

collude, conspire, wink at

Antonyms:

expose, oppose, report

Root:Latin connivere, "to shut the eyes": to pretend not to see a wrong.

Definition: to grow or make wider or larger; to expand.

From the reading: "Some shadowy idea that it was just to shoot this man like a wild beast, seized him, and dilated in his mind until it grew into a monstrous demon..."

Context: Dickens shows how a sinful thought grows if it is fed. A small, angry idea dilates until it nearly rules the man.

Synonyms:

expand, widen, swell

Antonyms:

contract, shrink, narrow

Root:Latin dilatare, "to spread out," from dis- (apart) + latus (wide).

Definition: savage fierceness; wild and cruel violence.

From the reading: "Turning water into blood, love into hate, gentleness into blind ferocity."

Synonyms:

fierceness, savagery, brutality

Antonyms:

gentleness, mildness, tameness

Root:Latin ferox, "fierce," from ferus, "wild" (as in a wild beast).

Definition: Clever and skillful; sly and crafty, using cleverness to deceive (the more common sense on tests).

From the reading: "Not casting out his milder thoughts, but artfully transforming them."

Context: Temptation is artful. It does not ask John to stop loving his wife. It twists his love into a reason for revenge.

Synonyms:

crafty, cunning, sly; (first sense) skillful, adroit

Antonyms:

artless, naive, straightforward

Root:art + -ful, from Latin ars, artis, "skill." Artless (innocent, without guile) is its opposite.

Definition: (verb) to spoil, damage or ruin; (noun) a disease that withers plants, or anything that spoils or ruins.

From the reading: "The hearth she has blighted," says John. The Cricket corrects him: "The hearth she has—how often!—blessed and brightened."

Synonyms:

ruin, wither, mar; (noun) plague, affliction

Antonyms:

bless, nourish, flourish

Root:Origin uncertain; first used in the 1600s for a mildew or disease on crops.

Definition: to waver or stumble; to lose strength, steadiness or courage; (of the voice) to tremble or break.

From the reading: "His faltering tongue resisted his control, and would speak in its own way, for itself and him."

Context: John tries to say he "did" love Dot, in the past tense, but his tongue falters, because he loves her still.

Synonyms:

waver, hesitate, stumble

Antonyms:

persist, hold firm, proceed

Root:Middle English falteren, "to stagger," perhaps from Old Norse.

Definition: To put oneself or something between others; to interrupt by breaking into a conversation.

From the reading: "But Dot, recovering her self-possession, interposed, before May could reply, or Caleb say another word."

Synonyms:

intervene, step in, interject

Antonyms:

withdraw, stand aside

Root:Latin inter- (between) + ponere (to place), by way of French interposer.

Definition: calm control of one's feelings and actions, especially under stress.

From the reading: "But Dot, recovering her self-possession, interposed..."

Context: All night John fought to regain his self-possession, and by morning his voice "grew steadier and firmer."

Synonyms:

composure, poise, self-control

Antonyms:

agitation, panic, loss of control

Root:self + possession, from Latin possidere, "to have, to hold": to hold oneself in hand.

Definition: to resist successfully; to stand firm against force, pressure or temptation.

From the reading: "...it must have been an obdurate nature that could have withstood her influence."

KJV: "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13).

Synonyms:

resist, endure, hold out against

Antonyms:

yield, give in, surrender

Root:Old English withstandan, from with- (against) + standan (to stand).

Definition: the act of making amends for a wrong; something done or paid to repair an injury.

From the reading: "...to do her the greatest kindness, and make her the best reparation, in my power."

Context: John decides that he wronged Dot by marrying someone so much younger, and he wants to make reparation. It is a noble mistake, because she loves him after all.

KJV link: The returning prodigal plans to say, "make me as one of thy hired servants" (Luke 15:19), offering his work as a kind of reparation. His father gives him grace instead.

Synonyms:

amends, restitution, redress

Antonyms:

injury, offense, wrong

Root:Latin reparare, "to restore, repair," from re- (again) + parare (to make ready).

Definition: Small and unimportant; small-minded, caring too much about trivial things or small grudges.

From the reading: "...on which you have nightly sacrificed some petty passion, selfishness, or care, and offered up the homage of a tranquil mind..."

Context: The Cricket reminds John that a happy home is built when we lay down our petty selfishness night after night.

Synonyms:

trivial, minor; (second sense) small-minded, mean, spiteful

Antonyms:

important, significant; (second sense) generous, magnanimous

Root:French petit, "small."

Definition: to place in a shrine; to keep or cherish something as sacred or precious.

From the reading: "...it was a heart in which she had enshrined herself so gently and so closely..."

Synonyms:

cherish, treasure, preserve

Antonyms:

desecrate, discard, dishonor

Root:en- (in) + shrine, from Latin scrinium, "a case or chest for keeping precious writings."

Definition: filled with or showing strong feeling.

From the reading: "...though she spoke with most impassioned earnestness, she went no nearer to him even then."

Synonyms:

fervent, ardent, heartfelt

Antonyms:

indifferent, cool, dispassionate

Root:in- (into) + passion, from Latin pati, "to suffer, to feel."

Definition: an expression of sympathy to someone who is grieving.

From the reading: "‘John Peerybingle!’ said Tackleton, with an air of condolence."

Context: Tackleton puts on an air of condolence, but he is secretly pleased by the Carrier's trouble. True condolence comes from the heart.

Synonyms:

sympathy, commiseration, comfort

Antonyms:

gloating, mockery, indifference

Root:Latin con- (with) + dolere (to grieve): to grieve with someone.

Definition: too eager to give help or advice that is not wanted; meddlesome and bossy.

From the reading: "...because May hasn’t been too officious about me, and too demonstrative."

Synonyms:

meddlesome, intrusive, pushy

Antonyms:

reserved, unobtrusive, retiring

Root:Latin officiosus, "dutiful, obliging," from officium, "duty, service." The word once praised helpfulness. It now means helpfulness carried too far.

Definition: openly showing one's feelings, especially affection.

From the reading: "...because May hasn’t been too officious about me, and too demonstrative."

Context: Cold Tackleton boasts that his bride is not demonstrative. He does not see that she does not love him at all.

Synonyms:

affectionate, expressive, warm

Antonyms:

reserved, undemonstrative, aloof

Root:Latin demonstrare, "to point out, to show," from de- + monstrare (to show).

Definition: not satisfied; restless and unhappy with one's situation.

From the reading: "...he might have sown his discontented oats in his youth..."

Context: Dickens twists the old saying "to sow one's wild oats" to joke that sour Tackleton was discontented even as a young man.

Synonyms:

dissatisfied, disgruntled, restless

Antonyms:

content, satisfied, at peace

Root:dis- (not) + content, from Latin contentus, "satisfied," from continere, "to hold together."