(KIL), verb
To cause the death of; deprive of life; put an end to.
fratricide (FRAT-rih-syd). The act of killing a brother; the murder of a male sibling.
It is only when Hamlet is told of the king’s FRATRICIDE that a tragic chain of events is initiated.
genocide (JENN-uh-syd). The deliberate, systematic destruction of a culture, people, or nation.
The Holocaust has been the most dramatic example of a government attempting to commit GENOCIDE against an entire people—in this case, the Jews.
herbicide (URB-ih-syd). A chemical that kills plants, especially that which eradicates weeds.
Although originally described as a comparatively harmless HERBICIDE, Agent Orange was (as thousands of soldiers learned much later) anything but.
sororicide (suh-RAWR-uh-syd). The act of killing one’s own sister.
Once past their teenage years, most sisters get over the urge to commit SORORICIDE.
uxoricide (uk-SOR-ih-syd). The crime of murdering one’s wife.
Eventually, the defendant was acquitted of UXORICIDE; his wife’s death was ruled a suicide.
vaticide (VAT-uh-syd). The act of murdering a prophet.
Tom took the reviewer’s negative article on his religious poetry as an act tantamount to VATICIDE.
decapitate (dee-KAP-ih-tayt). To remove the head of.
Although the guillotine was initially proposed as a humane method of execution, the idea of using a machine to DECAPITATE criminals now strikes most people as barbaric.
defenestrate (de-FEN-uh-strayt). To throw something or someone through or from a window.
Successful completion of the plan to DEFENESTRATE the dictator depended upon timing, luck, and courage.
fumigate (FYOO-mih-gayt). To release fumes in order to get rid of insects or other pests.
We had the place FUMIGATED, used sound waves, and set dozens of traps, but our house continued to be plagued by cockroaches.
immolate (IM-uh-layt). To kill as if as a sacrifice, especially by fire.
The monk’s dramatic act of self-IMMOLATION made headlines around the world.
lapidate (LAP-ih-dayt). To stone to death.
Because of worldwide outrage and diplomatic pressure, the decision to LAPIDATE a person for infidelity was rescinded.
martyr (MAR-ter). To put to death for adhering to a belief or particular faith.
Many religions have historically seen fit to MARTYR disbelievers.
contrive (kuhn-TRYV). To invent; design; fabricate; to bring about.
“There is nothing which has yet been CONTRIVED by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.”—Samuel Johnson, English poet, critic and writer
spawn (SPAWN). To bring forth or be the source of; to give birth to; to give rise to.
The national games served to SPAWN athletes for future Olympic competitions.
(KYND), adjective
Possessing sympathetic or generous qualities; of a benevolent nature.
avuncular (A-VUNG-kyew-ler).Tolerant; genial; like an uncle.
Myron’s AVUNCULAR personality makes women think of him as a friend, not as a lover.
beneficent (beh-NEF-ih-sent). Magnanimous in action, purpose, or speech.
In a BENEFICENT gesture, the neighborhood raised $10,000 to help pay for the young boy’s leukemia treatments.
benevolent (beh-NEV-uh-lent). Characterized by feelings of charity and good will.
As spring approaches and the weather warms, it seems that BENEVOLENT attitudes are in greater supply.
benign (beh-NYN). Softhearted; gentle; mild; not harmful.
We thought Amanda BENIGN until she began to inflate her family pedigree.
magnanimous (mag-NAN-ih-muss). Forgiving; unselfish; noble.
“In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be MAGNANIMOUS at an inopportune time.”—Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik revolutionary and Marxist theorist
bonhomie (bon-uh-MEE). A good-natured, genial manner.
Even though he has no family pedigree, Walker is accepted into our group because of his contagious BONHOMIE.
chivalry (SHIV-ul-ree). Brave, kind, courteous, or gentlemanly behavior.
“We hear much of CHIVALRY of men towards women; but… it vanishes like dew before the summer sun when one of us comes into competition with the manly sex.”—Martha Coston, American author
malevolent (muh-LEV-uh-luhnt). Wishing harm or evil to others; having ill will; malicious.
“Writers take words seriously . . . and they struggle to steer their own through the crosswinds of meddling editors and careless typesetters and obtuse and MALEVOLENT reviewers into the lap of the ideal reader.”—John Updike, American writer
malignant (muh-LIG-nuhnt). Having an evil influence; wishing evil; very harmful.
“Doubtless criticism was originally benignant, pointing out the beauties of a work rather that its defects. The passions of men have made it MALIGNANT.”—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet
(KIZ-met), noun
Fate or destiny.
ineffable (in-EFF-uh-bull). Something so fantastic, incredible, or difficult to grasp it cannot be described in words.
Poet Ezra Pound wrote of “the infinite and INEFFABLE quality of the British empire.”
afflatus (uh-FLAY-tuss). Inspiration that seems to come from divine origin.
The Nobel Prize–winning novelist attributed her abilities to AFFLATUS, rather than to her own abilities.
humanism (HEW-man-iz-um). The philosophy or belief that the highest ideals of human existence can be fulfilled without regard to religion or supernatural intervention.
“The four characteristics of HUMANISM are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race.”—E.M. Forster, English novelist
manifest destiny (MAN-ih-fest DESS-tin-ee). Expansion into foreign lands, justified as being necessary or benevolent.
“It’s not greed and ambition that makes wars—it’s goodness. Wars are always fought for the best of reasons, for liberation or MANIFEST DESTINY, always against tyranny and always in the best interests of humanity.”—James Garner in The Americanization of Emily
iconoclast (eye-KAHN-uh-klasst). An individual who is contrarian in thought, rebellious in spirit, and oppositional, and who applies himself to battling established institutions, existing governments, religious doctrine, and popular notions and beliefs.
The late George Carlin saw the role of the comic in society as one of ICONOCLAST.
(kao-TAO), verb
To give in to someone’s every wish; to grovel and behave in a subservient manner.
complaisant (kuhm-PLAY-zuhnt). Agreeable and eager to please.
Eleanor is far too COMPLAISANT with common strangers.
conciliatory (kon-SILL-ee-ah-tore-ee). Actions or words meant to settle a dispute or resolve a conflict in a manner that leaves no hard feelings on either side.
“If you are not very clever, you should be CONCILIATORY.”—Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman and literary figure
malleable (MAL-yuh-bull). Easily molded into different shapes; easily influenced to change one’s opinion or actions.
“I did not know that mankind was suffering for want of gold. I have seen a little of it. I know that it is very MALLEABLE, but not so MALLEABLE as wit.”—Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist
appeasement (uh-PEEZ-meant). The act of making others happy by agreeing to their demands.
Charlene realized too late that her policy of APPEASEMENT might please Warren, but it would not cause him to treat her with more respect.
capitulation (kuh-pitch-uh-LAY-shun). The act of surrendering or giving up.
Ross offered James no CAPITULATION during the confrontational lacrosse game.
homage (HOM-ij). Respect paid and deference shown to a superior or other person one admires, fears, or wishes to emulate or praise.
Gary took black and white photos with a nondigital camera in HOMAGE to Ansel Adams, whose works he greatly admired.
zealot (ZEL-it). A rabid follower; a true believer; a fanatical advocate.
“What a noble aim is that of the ZEALOT who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!”—Denis Diderot, French philosopher
abjure (ab-JOOR). To renounce or turn your back on a belief or position you once held near and dear.
Once Jodi tasted my mouth-watering, medium-rare filet mignon, she ABJURED the vegetarian lifestyle forever.
assuage (uh-SWAYJ). To put someone at ease; to comfort or soothe; to erase doubts and fears.
“But history must not yet tell the tragedies enacted here; let time intervene in some measure to ASSUAGE and lend an azure tint to them.”—Henry David Thoreau, American author and transcendentalist
propitiate (pro-PISH-ee-ayt). To win over; to gain the approval and admiration of.
“The life that went on in [many of the street’s houses] seemed to me made up of evasions and negations; shifts to save cooking, to save washing and cleaning, devices to PROPITIATE the tongue of gossip.”—Willa Cather, American author
anathema (uh-NATH-eh-muh). A person or thing regarded as wrong in the highest degree; a loathsome, detestable entity.
Religious services were an ANATHEMA to Russ, what with him being a dedicated atheist and all.
intransigent (in-TRAN-zih-jent). Stubborn; refusing to consider opinions other than one’s own.
“Lamont stared for a moment in frustration but Burt’s expression was a clearly INTRANSIGENT one now.”—Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American author and biochemist