ambivalent (adj) ambi- both + valere to be strong ambivalent (adj) ambi- both + valere to be strong
having mixed feelings about something : She was surprisingly ambivalent about attending her own birthday party.
Form: ambivalence = lack of conviction on an issue
Root family: [ambi-] ambiguous (vague), ambidextrous (able to use both hands skillfully)
Root family: [val] prevalent (widespread and abundant), valor (bravery)
Don’t confuse with: ambiguous (vague; having multiple meanings)
arbitrary (adj) arbiter judge
based on personal whim, rather than reason : His coworkers resented his imperious and arbitrary decision-making style.
Root family: [arbit] arbitration (the process of submitting a dispute to a judge), arbiter (a judge with absolute power)
Usage: The word arbitrary is sometimes misused as a synonym for random, as in The shells were scattered on the beach in an arbitrary pattern. This is a misuse of the term, because arbitrary derives from arbiter, meaning “judge,” so it should only be used to describe a decision or the result of a decision.
arbitrate (v) arbiter judge
to serve as a neutral third-party judge in a dispute : My mother arbitrated a resolution to the fight between my sister and me.
Forms: arbitration = the process of resolving a dispute via a neutral third party, arbiter = one who serves as a judge in a dispute
Synonyms: adjudicate, mediate
Don’t confuse with: arbitrary (based on whim rather than reason)
Mnemonic: Picture a judge arbitrating on an Arby’s tray.
carping (adj)
constantly finding fault, particularly about trivial matters : April’s constant carping about the movie forced me to walk out of the theater.
Synonyms: caviling, grousing, griping
Don’t confuse with: carp (n) (a freshwater fish)
Mnemonic: Imagine an annoying patron at a restaurant carping about the carp she’s been served: It’s too dry! It smells fishy!
censor (v) censere to assess
to edit out or repress objectionable material : The prisoners’ outgoing letters were being censored by the prison officials.
Form: censorious = severely critical of others
Synonyms: expurgate, bowdlerize
Root family: [cens] census (the official tally of a population), censure (to express formal disapproval)
Don’t confuse with: censure (to express formal disapproval)
censure (v) censere to assess
to express formal disapproval of someone’s behavior : The senator was censured for her misconduct, but was permitted to stay in office.
Synonyms: chastise, rebuke, upbraid, reprove, reproach
Don’t confuse with: censor (to edit out objectionable material)
Usage: See usage note at rebuke in section 3.
clemency (n) clemens mildness
leniency, particularly in judicial sentencing : The judge showed clemency because the convict showed great remorse for his actions.
Synonyms: mercy, compassion
Root family: [clemen] inclement (stormy)
conformist (n) con- together + form
one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group : I’d rather be an individualist than a conformist.
Forms: conformity = compliance with the standards of a group, nonconformist = an individualist
Synonym: traditionalist
Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conventional (according to common practice), conjecture (guess), convoluted (complicated), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), compliant (willing to obey), confluence (a place at which two things merge)
Root family: [form] reformist (supporting gradual change rather than revolution), formality (rigid observance of conventional rules), deformation (change of form; distortion)
sharp disgust for something deemed unworthy : Her contempt for Mr. Jones was so deep that she would not even acknowledge his presence.
Forms: contemptible = worthy of contempt, contemptuous = filled with contempt
Synonyms: scorn, disdain, derision, disparagement
Usage: See usage note at disdain in this section.
cynic (n)
one who believes that humans are essentially selfish : Warren was such a cynic that he mistrusted every word of praise from his teachers.
Forms: cynical = distrustful of the goodwill of others, cynicism = belief that everyone is essentially selfish
Don’t confuse with: skeptic (one who doubts)
demeaning (adj)
causing a loss of respect or dignity : The student protest did not elevate the debate, but instead reduced it to a demeaning travesty of intellectual discourse.
Synonyms: degrading, abject
Don’t confuse with: demeanor (general bearing or behavior)
denounce (v) de- down + nuntiare declare
publicly declare as bad or evil : She was denounced for making a racist slur.
Forms: denunciation = the act of denouncing
Synonyms: censure, revile, malign
Root family: [de-] decadent (excessively self-indulgent), derivative (imitative of someone else’s work), deplore (to express strong disapproval), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another), condescend (to act superior to someone else)
Root family: [nunc, nounc] renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), announce (make a formal declaration), enunciate (state clearly), pronounce (sound a word in a particular way)
Don’t confuse with: renounce (to disavow)
depraved (adj)
immoral or wicked : The murderer showed depraved indifference to human life.
Form: depravity = moral corruption
Synonyms: corrupt, degenerate, debased, nefarious, iniquitous
Don’t confuse with: deprived (denied of the benefit of something, particularly basic amenities and cultural advantages)
derision (n)
mockery; contemptuous ridicule : The derision Phil received in the locker room scarred him for life.
Forms: derisive = filled with derision, deride = express contempt for; ridicule
Synonyms: scorn, disdain, contempt, disparagement
Usage: See usage note at disdain in this section.
disdain (n) dis- not + dignus worthy
feeling that something or someone is unworthy : I could feel only disdain for Glen’s self-serving apology.
Synonyms: scorn, contempt, derision, disparagement
Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), discernment (the ability to make fine distinctions), dispassionate (not influenced by strong emotions), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter), disputatious (argumentative), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate), diffident (lacking in self-confidence), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [dign] dignify (to make worthy), indignant (angry about unjust treatment), deign (to do something that one considers beneath one’s dignity)
Usage: Disdain, contempt, derision, disparagement, and denigration are similar, but offer different shades of meaning. Disdain includes a feeling of social superiority; contempt includes a particularly acute disgust; derision suggests not just a contemptuous feeling but also an outright verbal attack; disparagement suggests a long-term campaign to bring someone or something down; and denigration involves unjustly harsh criticism.
proclaiming an inflexible adherence to religious or political principles : Some reporters spend too much time spouting dogmatic opinions rather than providing objective analysis.
Forms: dogma = rigid doctrines of a religion or philosophy, dogmatist = a dogmatic person
Synonyms: peremptory, imperious, doctrinaire
Don’t confuse with: pragmatic (concerned with practical, rather than idealistic, considerations)
Mnemonic: Imagine a robot dog (dog-a-matic) barking out political beliefs.
extol (v) ex- out + tol ring out
to praise enthusiastically : She extolled the technical beauty of Chopin’s etudes.
Synonyms: acclaim, exalt, eulogize
Don’t confuse with: exhort (to strongly encourage someone to do something)
futile (adj) futilis leaky (< fundere to pour)
doomed to fail; pointless : All attempts to defeat me are futile!
Form: futility = pointlessness
Root family: [fus, fund, found] confuse (to cause to become perplexed), confound (to fail to distinguish different elements), diffuse (spread over a wide area), fusion (the process of joining two things into a single entity), profuse (abundant), transfusion (a transfer, usually of blood, from one person or animal to another), refuse (to reject)
Don’t confuse with: utile (advantageous)
inane (adj)
silly, stupid : I find most reality shows to be an inane waste of time.
Forms: inanity = a silly act, inaneness = the quality of being inane
Synonyms: fatuous, asinine, vapid, puerile
Don’t confuse with: insane (mentally ill)
irreverent (adj) ir- not + re- (intensive) + vereri to respect
showing no respect for things that are ordinarily given respect : The comedy troupe performed an irreverent sketch that thoroughly insulted the Vice President.
Form: reverent = very respectful
Synonyms: impudent, flippant, insolent
Root family: [ir-, in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [rever] reverend (a title for a member of the clergy), reverential (highly respectful)
Don’t confuse with: irrelevant (not appropriate to the matter at hand)
mundane (adj) mundus world
dull and uninteresting : She wanted to escape her mundane existence.
Synonyms: humdrum, monotonous, prosaic
punitive (adj) punire to punish
intended to punish : The court imposed punitive damages to discourage such reckless behavior in the future.
Form: impunity = exemption from punishment
Synonyms: retributive, disciplinary
Root family: [puni, peni] punish (to impose a penalty for an offense), penitence (remorse for an offense), penitentiary (prison), penalty (punishment), penal (related to prison or punishment)
Don’t confuse with: putative (generally considered to be)
Don’t confuse impunity with immunity (the ability to resist infection) or impugn (to attack as invalid)
Mnemonic: Punitive damages are those imposed on someone in court as a punishment to discourage behavior.
repudiate (v)
to refuse association with : I repudiate those governments that deny people equal protection under the law.
Form: repudiation = the act of repudiating something
Synonyms: renounce, abjure
Don’t confuse with: reputed (generally believed), reputation (the generally held value judgments about a person)
inclined to doubt; not easily convinced : I was skeptical of Dawn’s claim that she could talk to the dead.
Forms: skeptic = a skeptical person, skepticism = quality of being skeptical
Don’t confuse with: cynical (distrustful of others), septic (infected with bacteria)
Usage: Students commonly confuse skeptical with cynical, but they are very different words. Skeptical describes a questioning attitude toward claims, while cynical describes a negative attitude toward people.
embellish (v) bellus beautiful
to make a story more interesting by fabricating or exaggerating entertaining details; to decorate; Paul always embellishes his stories with false intrigue.
Form: embellishment = a decorative detail; a detail added to a story to make it more entertaining
Synonyms: festoon, gild, embroider
eradicate (v) e- out + radix root
to eliminate completely : By the 1960s, the Polk vaccine had virtually eradicated polio in North America.
Form: eradicable = capable of being completely destroyed
Root family: [radic] radical (affecting fundamental change), radish (a pungent edible root)
Synonyms: annihilate, abolish
hyperbole (n) hyper above, beyond
exaggeration for persuasive effect: The author’s claim that there was a “literacy crisis” in America was dismissed as hyperbole.
Form: hyperbolic = exaggerated
Root family: [hyper] hyperactive (excessively active), hyperventilate (to breathe too quickly)
Don’t confuse with: hyperbola (a two-part geometric curve).
Mnemonic: It’s interesting to note that three of the “conic sections” you may have studied in math class—the ellipse, the hyperbola, and the parabola—correspond to three literary terms:
• ellipsis (elleipein to leave out) = the omission of language from a quotation or of words that are implied in a sentence, or the symbol (…) indicating such an omission
• hyperbole (huperbole excess) = exaggerated comments
• parable (parabola comparison) = a story used to illustrate a moral lesson
The names of the curves are derived from their “eccentricities”: a conic with an eccentricity less than 1 is “deficient,” hence the name “ellipse”; a conic with an eccentricity greater than 1 is “excessive,” hence the name “hyperbola”; and a conic with an eccentricity of exactly 1 is “comparable,” hence the name “parabola.”
indulgent (adj)
excessively generous or lenient : Her mother was strict, but her grandmother was indulgent.
Forms: indulge (in) = allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of, indulgence = an act of indulging
Don’t confuse with: indolent (lazy)
superfluous (adj) super above + fluere to flow
unnecessary, excessive : After a week of celebrations, the anniversary ball seemed superfluous.
Form: superfluity = an excessive amount
Root family: [super] insuperable (impossible to overcome), superlative (of the highest degree or quality), superficial (on the surface only), supercilious (haughty and pompous)
Root family: [flu] fluent (able to flow freely; easily conversant in a language or field), affluent (wealthy), confluence (a place where two things flow together)
unstinting (adj)
without reservations; given liberally : She was unstinting in her support for animal rights.
Form: stint = to give only sparingly
Synonyms: unsparing, magnanimous, munificent, profuse
Mnemonic: The verbs stint, stump and stunt (to retard the progress of, as in Smoking stunts your growth.) derive from the same Germanic root. So one who is unstinting does not have a stunted sense of generosity.
ameliorate (v)
to make a situation better : The recent highway improvements have done much to ameliorate many of commuters’ biggest concerns.
Synonym: mitigate
Don’t confuse with: emancipate (to free from bondage)
Usage: See usage note at mitigate in section 17.
Mnemonic: Imagine Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh who finally gets a cake after he thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday. The cake is a meal Eeyore ate which ameliorated his depression.
assuage (v)
to make something unpleasant less intense : The news story was intended to sensationalize the epidemic rather than assuage people’s fears about it.
Synonyms: mitigate, palliate, attenuate, allay, ameliorate
Don’t confuse with: dissuade (to persuade someone not to do something)
Usage: See usage note at mitigate in section 17.
curtail (v) curtus short
to cut back; to impose a restriction on an activity : The library committee decided to curtail its expenses until it balanced its budget.
Synonyms: pare, retrench, curb
Root family: [curt] curt (rudely abrupt)
Mnemonic: If you cut off the tail of a beaver, it will really curtail its abilities.
equanimity (n) equa same + anima spirit, mind
evenness of temper : During the lockdown drill, our teacher’s equanimity helped assuage the fears of several students.
Synonyms: composure, imperturbability, sangfroid, equability
Root family: [equa, equi-] equilateral (having equal sides), equilibrium (a state of balance between opposing forces or trends)
Root family: [anim] magnanimous (generous), pusillanimous (cowardly)
Don’t confuse with: equity (fairness)
fastidious (adj)
showing great attention to details, particularly in matters of cleanliness : Julia is fastidious about her food, making sure that the vegetables never touch the meat on her plate.
Forms: fastidiousness = the quality of being fastidious
Synonyms: scrupulous, meticulous, punctilious
Usage: See usage note at scrupulous in this section.
impassive (adj) in- not + passivus suffered
unemotional; calm : Despite all the turmoil, Randall was able to remain impassive.
Form: impassivity = a state of calmness and restraint from emotion
Synonyms: stoic, dispassionate, forbearing, phlegmatic, stolid
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), indefatigable (untiring), inscrutable (beyond understanding), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Don’t confuse with: impassioned (passionate), impasse (deadlock; point beyond which passage is impossible)
Mnemonic/Usage: Strangely, impassive and passive are closer to being synonyms than antonyms. As they are most commonly used, both suggest a lack of activity or emotion. To make things even more confusing, the similar-sounding words passionate and impassioned, while also seeming to be opposites of each other, actually both mean “full of emotion,” essentially the opposite of impassive or passive. If this distinction is vexing for you, remember that a sieve lets things pass through, so the –sive words, passive and impassive, describe someone who lets things pass easily, without getting too emotional about them.
showing finicky attention to details and precision : A meticulous baker, she often measures her ingredients twice before combining any of them.
Form: meticulousness = attention to details and precision
Synonyms: scrupulous, fastidious, punctilious
Usage: See usage note at scrupulous in this section.
nonchalant (adj)
calm and unconcerned, often inappropriately so : My lab partner took a nonchalant approach to the experiment and almost caused a dangerous explosion.
Form: nonchalance = lack of concern or enthusiasm
Synonyms: blithe, blasé, dispassionate, apathetic, indifferent, insouciant
Usage: A nonchalant person is usually putting on airs, but a blithe person is innocently unself-conscious. One who is blasé has usually become jaded to the point of indifference. One who is dispassionate is adopting a neutral attitude in order to render an objective judgment. One who is apathetic typically has neither airs, innocence, nor judicious motive.
parsimony (n) parcere to be sparing
extreme reluctance to spend money, use unnecessary language, or expend resources : Mastering the art of haiku requires mastering the art of parsimony.
Form: parsimonious (adj) = extremely reluctant to spend money, use unnecessary language, or expend resources
placid (adj) placere to please
[1] (of a person or animal) calm and unexcitable : I chose to ride the most placid horse.
[2] (of a place) calm and peaceful : The chateau was a placid retreat from the city.
Forms: placidity (n) = calmness; peacefulness
Root family: [plac] placate, implacable (unable to be pleased), complacent
Don’t confuse with: passive (permitting things to happen without resistance or involvement), platitude (a trite proverb)
refurbish (v)
to renovate; to restore to good condition : David studied for weeks to refurbish his conversational Italian before traveling to Rome.
Don’t confuse with: refurnish (to restock with furniture)
rejuvenate (v) juvenis young
to restore the vitality of : She felt rejuvenated after her trip to the mountains.
Synonym: revitalize
Root family: [juven] juvenile (immature)
reticent (adj) re- (intensive) + tacere to be silent
unwilling to speak or express one’s feelings : When the conversation turned to her college years, Sheila became uncharacteristically reticent.
Forms: reticence = unwillingness to speak or reveal one’s feelings or thoughts
Root family: [tice, tace] tacit (unspoken, but understood, as a tacit agreement), taciturn (quiet and reserved)
Usage: Do not confuse reticent with reluctant. For instance, He was reticent to talk about his experiences is redundant. The correct phrasing is He was reluctant to talk about his experiences or He was reticent about his experiences.
scrupulous (adj)
[1] diligent and attentive to details : George is a scrupulous researcher.
Synonyms: meticulous, fastidious
[2] concerned with moral correctness : He is too scrupulous to consider cheating on his taxes.
Forms: scruples = concerns about moral rectitude, unscrupulous = lacking in moral character
Don’t confuse with: scrutinize (to examine closely)
Usage: Scrupulous, meticulous, fastidious, and punctilious are nearly synonymous, but each offers a different shade of meaning. Scrupulous suggests an exactitude combined with high moral standards; meticulous suggests a finicky precision, often but not necessarily about trivial things; fastidious suggests a precision born of a compulsive neatness; and punctilious suggests an extreme attention to rules, such as etiquette.
Mnemonic: Think of the most precise and detailed-oriented person you know (or the most moral person you know) pulling on a screw.
sedate (adj) sedere to sit
calm, to the point of being dull : Small-town life was too sedate for Maia.
Forms: sedate (v) = to calm or put to sleep with drugs, sedative = a drug used to sedate
Root family: [sed, sid] sedentary, dissident (one who opposes official policy), assiduous (hardworking), insidious (subtly dangerous), preside (to sit in a position of authority), reside (to live in a particular location), sediment (material that settles to the bottom of a liquid or body of water, particularly a river)
Don’t confuse with: sedition (incitement to rebellion)
stoic (adj)
enduring hardship without complaint : William remained stoic throughout the funeral.
Form: stoicism = the belief that emotions are the enemy of reason
Synonyms: dispassionate, forbearing, phlegmatic, stolid, impassive
Don’t confuse stoicism with solecism (an error in grammar or usage, particularly a tactless one) or solipsism (the belief that nothing exists except for oneself)
Mnemonic: Stoicism was a Hellenic school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium (and which met at the “painted porch”—Stoa Poikile—from which the school got its name) who taught that emotions were incompatible with reasoning and so cultivated a systematic detachment.
succinct (adj) cingere to cinch, as with a belt
expressed clearly and concisely : The documentary was prefaced with a succinct description of the 15-year study it chronicled.
Form: succinctness = the quality of being brief and to the point
Root family: [cinc] cinch (to gird with a belt), precinct (an administrative district)
Mnemonic: The connection between succinct and precinct comes in the idea of “cinching” or “encircling” (cingere = to cinch or encircle). When you make something more succinct, you make it “smaller and tighter” much as cinching a girdle around your waist would make you smaller and tighter. A precinct is a well-defined (or well “encircled”) district.
temperance (n) temperare to restrain
self-control with regard to consumption : After years of gluttonous behavior, he has learned remarkable temperance.
Forms: temper = to moderate or act as a moderating force, temperate = showing moderation, intemperate = lacking self-control
Root family: [temper] temperature (degree of heat), temperament (disposition or degree of personal restraint)
Don’t confuse the tempe- words that derive from temperare (to restrain) with the tempo- words that derive from tempus (time), like extemporaneous, temporize (to delay making a decision), and contemporary ((adj) modern; (n) one who lives during the same time period as another).
Mnemonic: The Temperance Movement in the 19th century was designed to curb excessive consumption of alcohol and ultimately led to the Prohibition Era.
To avoid confusing the cognate words temperance, temperament, and temperature, notice how they are all related to the root word temperare (to restrain): temperance is essentially one’s “ability to restrain oneself”; temperament refers to much the same thing but has been generalized to encompass emotional dispositions in general; temperature was originally a synonym of temperament but lent its sense of “degree of emotional heat” to the scientific term for “degree of physical heat.”
vigilant (adj) vigil awake
watchful for danger or difficulties : We must remain vigilant against tyranny.
Form: vigilance = watchfulness
Synonyms: circumspect, wary, leery
Root family: [vigil] vigilante (one who takes the law into his or her own hands); vigil (a prayerful period in the night)
Forms: dispute = a heated argument, disputant = a person involved in a heated argument, disputation = the art of debate
Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), disdain (feeling that something is unworthy), discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), diffident (lacking in self-confidence)
Root family: [put] compute (to calculate), reputation (social standing), impute (to attribute)
anarchist (n) an- without + arkhos ruler
one who believes in freedom from government : The anarchists wanted to protest the summit but had difficulty organizing themselves.
Forms: anarchy = absence of governmental rule, anarchism = the belief in freedom from government, anarchic = lacking systematic government
Root family: [arch] monarchy (government ruled by a king or queen), autarchy (government ruled by an individual with absolute power), matriarchy (social order in which the female line of descent is predominant), hierarchy (a ranked system of organization)
Don’t confuse anarchic (lacking government) with archaic (old and outdated)
Usage: Don’t use anarchy to mean chaos unless it refers to chaos that results directly from a rejection of authority.
capricious (adj)
prone to unpredictable behavior : Her decisions seemed more capricious than reasoned.
Forms: capriciousness = unpredictability of mood or behavior, caprice = a sudden and unaccountable change of behavior
Synonyms: fickle, volatile, whimsical, arbitrary
Don’t confuse with: capris (close-fitting calf-length pants), capiche ((from Italian capisci) slang for “do you understand?”)
emancipate (v)
to free from bondage : The prisoners of war were finally emancipated by the liberating army.
Form: emancipation = the act of freeing those in bondage, emancipator = one who sets prisoners free
Synonyms: unfetter, liberate
Don’t confuse with: emaciate (to make abnormally thin and weak)
extemporaneous (adj) ex- out of + tempor time
improvised; performed without preparation : The senator’s extemporaneous speech was surprisingly coherent and very well received.
Form: extemporize (v) = to improvise
Root family: [tempor] temporize (to delay making a decision), contemporary ((adj) modern; (n) one who lives during the same time period as another)
Don’t confuse with: temporize (to delay making a decision), contemporaneous (occurring or existing at the same time)
Mnemonic: If you must make a speech but you are out of time (ex tempor) to plan it, you must extemporize.
extricate (v) ex- out + tricae perplexities
to free from a constraint or difficult situation : We found it difficult to extricate ourselves from our duties.
Synonyms: disentangle, extract
Root family: [tric] intricate (complex), trick
Don’t confuse with: explicate (to analyze and develop (an idea) in detail)
impetuous (adj) im- toward + petere to drive
done without careful thought or planning; spontaneous : David’s jocular and impetuous nature made him the most popular player in the locker room, but it often caused problems on the field.
Form: impetuousness = tendency to be impetuous
Synonyms: whimsical, impulsive, capricious
Root family: [im-] impugn (to call into question), impetus (energizing force), impute (to attribute something to someone)
Root family: [pet] impetus (driving force), perpetuate (to help continue for an extended period), petulant (childishly ill-tempered)
Don’t confuse with: impetus (driving force), petulant (childishly ill-tempered)
mercurial (adj)
inclined to unpredictable mood swings : He was a brilliant but mercurial composer, susceptible to manic bouts of productivity and debilitating depression.
Synonyms: volatile, capricious, temperamental
Mnemonic: A mercurial personality runs hot and cold, up and down, like the mercury in a thermometer.
unfettered (adj) feter foot (< ped foot)
freed from harsh restraints : Shawn finally felt unfettered from her oppressive relationship.
Forms: fetter = (n) chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner; (v) to restrain the feet with manacles, unfetter = to free from restraint
Synonyms: liberated, uninhibited, rampant, unbridled, emancipated
Mnemonic: Someone who is fettered has his feet tied up in chains.
catalyst (n) kata- down, fall + luein loosen
something that stimulates and expedites a process, often a chemical one : Coach Johnson’s speech was the catalyst that turned our football season around.
Form: catalyze = to cause (a process) to accelerate, catalytic = acting as or relating to a catalyst, catalysis = the acceleration of a process via a catalyst
Root family: [cata] cataclysm (a violent natural event), catastrophe (disaster), catapult (a machine for heaving heavy objects), cataract (a waterfall), category (a class under which many elements “fall”)
Don’t confuse with: cataclysm (a violent natural event)
Mnemonic: The word catalyst (kata- down + luein loosen) may have come from the idea of a single event, like a shifting stone, causing snow or rocks to cascade into an avalanche.
disperse (v) dis- apart + spargere to scatter or sprinkle
to spread or scatter over a wide area : The crowd soon dispersed after it was announced that the band had left the stadium.
Form: dispersion = scattering over a wide area
Root family: [dis-] discernment (the ability to make fine distinctions), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [spers] aspersion (a derogatory remark), interspersed (distributed at intervals)
Don’t confuse with: dispense (supply, distribute, or provide), diverse (showing great variety)
ephemeral (adj)
lasting a very short time : Designers try to capture the most ephemeral trends.
Forms: ephemera (plural of ephemeron) = things that last only a short time : The trappings of fame are mere ephemera.
Synonyms: fleeting, transient, evanescent
Don’t confuse with: ethereal (delicate and sublime, as an ether)
impetus (n) im- toward + petere to strive after
the force that makes something move or energizes a process : The coach’s speech provided the impetus for the team to redouble its efforts in the second half.
Root family: [im-] impugn (to call into question), impute (to attribute something to someone)
Root family: [pet] impetuous (spontaneous and without planning), perpetuate (to help continue for an extended period), petulant (childishly ill-tempered)
Don’t confuse with: impious (not devoutly religious), impish (mischievous)
Mnemonic: Imagine an imp (a mischievous child) poking you (impaling you?) in the back and giving you the impetus to run faster.
intermittent (adj) inter- between + mittere to send
occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous : The sound of intermittent gunfire revealed that the peace accord was a fragile one.
Forms: intermit (v) = to postpone, intermittence = the quality of being intermittent
Root family: [inter-] intervene (to come between to alter events), international (pertaining to one or more countries)
Root family: [miss, mit] submissive (meekly obedient), dismiss (send away), unremitting (not letting up)
Don’t confuse with: interminable (unending)
mutable (adj) mutare to change
changeable : Her moods are as mutable as the weather.
Forms: immutable = unchangeable, mutability = changeability
Synonyms: protean, fickle, mercurial
Root family: [mut] commute (to travel to and from work; to reduce a criminal sentence; to rearrange numbers that are being added or multiplied), mutation (a change in the structure of a gene, or the result of that change), permutation (rearrangement)
Don’t confuse with: mute (to silence)
Mnemonic: Something that is malleable can be shaped by a mallet, like clay or a soft metal can.
ossify (adj) os bone + -ify to make
to turn into bone; to become stagnant or rigid : Julia could feel her creative impulses ossify as she became inured to the bureaucratic regulations of her job.
Synonym: stagnate
Don’t confuse with: oscillate (swing back and forth)
Mnemonic: The Latin os, meaning “bone,” can be found in a few medical terms you might be familiar with, like osteoarthritis (degeneration of the bone that causes pain in joints) or osteoporosis (the gradual weakening of the bones from loss of tissue due to hormonal changes). Therefore, to ossify is to “make into bone.”
precipitous (adj) praecipitare to throw headlong
[1] dangerously high or steep : It was a precipitous drop to the lake.
[2] (of a decline) sudden and dramatic : The merger led to a precipitous decline in the company’s stock value.
[3] (also precipitate [pre sip eh TET]) hasty : The announcement of the layoffs, unfortunately, was precipitous (or precipitate).
Form: precipice = steep rock face or cliff
Don’t confuse with: precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, or hail)
Mnemonic: The nouns precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, or hail), precipice (high cliff), and precipitousness (hastiness) all derive from the Latin praecipitare, (to throw headlong), from prae- (before) + caput (head). Notice how they all pertain to the action of “throwing down” in different ways.
Usage: See usage note at expedite in section 14.
synthesis (n) syn- together + tithenai to place
the act of combining elements into a whole, as ideas into a system, or simpler elements into a compound : The concert was a synthesis of modern dance, jazz, and slam poetry
Forms: synthesize = to create something by combining elements, synthetic = formed by human agency via assembling chemical components
Root family: [thes, thet, them] thesis (a theory proposed as a premise), antithesis (a theory presented to oppose a given thesis), prosthesis (an artificial body part), epithet (an adjective or descriptive phrase referring to a defining quality of a person or thing, such as lionhearted in Richard the Lionhearted), anathema (something that is vehemently disliked)
transient (adj) trans to a different place + ire to go
lasting a short period of time : Selena’s sense of satisfaction was transient.
Forms: transience = impermanence, transitory = transient, transient (n) = a homeless person
Synonyms: fleeting, ephemeral, evanescent
Root family: [trans-] transcend (to rise above), transportation (means of carrying from place to place), translation (the act or result of expressing something in a different language)
Don’t confuse with: intransigent (stubbornly unwilling to change one’s views)
volatile (adj) volare to fly
prone to unpredictable, rapid, and undesirable changes or displays of emotion; explosive : The convergence of the opposing protest marches created a volatile and dangerous situation.
Synonyms: incendiary, inflammatory
Root family: [vol] volley (an exchange of tennis shots; a series of utterances; a flurry of projectiles)
Don’t confuse with: versatile
Mnemonic: In chemistry, a volatile liquid (such as gasoline) is one that evaporates very quickly and, often, one whose vapors are flammable or explosive. The vapors “fly” (volare = to fly) from the liquid, just as volatile situations tend to “fly” out of control.
banal (adj)
lacking in originality; dull and boring : Ironically, even the most exciting car chases have become banal cinematic devices.
Form: banality = an overused saying or device
Synonyms: trite, hackneyed, vapid, platitudinous
Mnemonic: Today’s romantic comedies are so banal that we should ban all of them.
conventional (adj) con- together + venire to come
according to common practice : It’s not a conventional love story.
Forms: convene = come together in a group; convention = standard way of doing something; unconventional = demonstrating original thinking
Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conformist (one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group, conjecture (guess), convoluted (complicated), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), compliant (willing to obey), confluence (a place at which two things merge)
Root family: [ven, vene, vent] intervene (to come between to alter events), venture (daring undertaking), revenue (income), circumvent (to avoid by finding a way around)
homogeneous (adj) homo same + gen kind
consisting of parts or members all of the same kind : The club was a homogeneous band of like-minded thinkers.
Root family: [gen] indigenous (native), progenitor (the first in a family tree), heterogeneous (diverse in character or content), disingenuous (not sincere or candid)
Don’t confuse with: homogenous (having a common biological lineage or structure)
indigenous (adj) indi- into + gignere to be born
native; occurring naturally in a particular place : There are over twenty different tribes indigenous to this river valley.
Synonyms: native, aboriginal
Root family: [gen] progeny (offspring), disingenuous (not candid or sincere), progenitor (the first in a family tree), heterogeneous (diverse in character or content), homogeneous (consisting of parts or members all of the same kind)
Don’t confuse with: ingenious (brilliant), indignant (showing anger at unfair treatment)
Mnemonic: The phrase indigenous people refers to a tribe born into (indi- into + gignere to be born) a particular area.
insipid (adj) in- not + sapere to taste
lacking vigor or interest, flavorless : His latest album drones with insipid songs.
Root family: [in-, im-] insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [sap, sav] sapid (flavorful), savor (taste and enjoy thoroughly), savory (having a flavorful spiciness or saltiness)
Mnemonic: It would be insane to sip such an insipid soup.
Don’t confuse with: insidious (subtly harmful or dangerous)
languish (v)
to lack energy; to grow weak : My favorite baseball team has been languishing in last place for two weeks now.
Forms: languor = a state of weakness or stillness, languid = lacking in energy; weak
Synonyms: atrophy, wither
Don’t confuse with: language (a symbolic means of communication), anguish (great distress)
Mnemonic: When your favorite team is languishing, it can cause you long anguish.
prosaic (adj) prosa straightforward discourse
[1] commonplace : The envoy’s duties in Paris were less romantic and more prosaic than she had hoped.
[2] lacking poetic beauty : The band’s arrangements are powerful, but their lyrics are prosaic.
Synonyms: workaday, tedious, pedestrian, mundane
Mnemonic: Your writing might become prosaic and less creative if you take too much Prozac (the antidepressant drug).
Don’t confuse with: mosaic (a picture produced by arranging colorful tiles or pieces of glass).
protracted (adj) pro- forward + tractus pulled
lasting longer than desired or expected : The interview turned into a protracted debate about bigotry.
Form: protract = to prolong
Root family: [pro-] prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank) progeny (offspring), reciprocate (to respond in kind)
Root family: [tract] tractable (manageable), abstract (lacking a concrete existence), detract (to reduce the value of something)
stagnant (adj) stare to stand
[1] (of a pool of water or the air in a confined space) unmoving and hence having an unpleasant smell : The stagnant air of the gym made us feel sick.
[2] sluggish : The economy has been stagnant for years.
Forms: stagnate = to become stagnant, stagnation = the state of being or becoming stagnant
Root family: [stan, stat, stag, stas, stab] stasis (a period of inactivity), constant (unchanging), stable (resistant to movement or failure), apostasy (heresy)
aesthetic (adj) aistheta perceptible things
concerned with the appreciation of beauty or art : The painting gave aesthetic pleasure.
Forms: aesthete = one who has or pretends to have special aesthetic sense, aesthetics = the principles or study of beauty and art
Root family: [esthe] anesthetic (a substance that reduces sensitivity to pain), synesthesia (stimulation of one sense modality by another, such as seeing colors while hearing music)
Don’t confuse with: ascetic (a person who practices strict religious self-discipline), prosthetic (pertaining to an artificial limb or other body part)
candid (adj) candidus white
honest and straightforward : The president gave a very candid interview just one month after leaving office.
Form: candor = honesty and forthrightness
Synonyms: frank, ingenuous
Mnemonic: Candid derives from the Latin candidus, which means “white,” because white has long been associated with purity and honesty. The related word, candidate, derives from the fact that, in ancient Rome, candidates for office wore white togas. In naming his title character Candide, Voltaire was emphasizing his pure, ingenuous nature.
fallible (adj) fallere to deceive
capable of making mistakes or errors : I was crestfallen to discover that my father was fallible.
Forms: infallible = incapable of making errors
Root family: [fall, fals] fallacy (a mistaken belief), fault (an unsatisfactory feature), fail (to be unsuccessful)
incontrovertible (adj) in- not + contra- against + vertere to turn
unable to be disputed; beyond controversy : The proof of the theorem was incontrovertible.
Forms: controvertible = able to be disputed, controversy = dispute
Synonyms: irrefutable, indubitable, unassailable, airtight
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Don’t confuse controvertible with convertible (able to be changed in form or function)
introspective (adj) intro- into + specere to look at
inclined to look inward; meditative : Unlike most artists, Warhol eschewed the introspective lifestyle and in fact reveled in his life of celebrity.
Form: introspection = the act of self-examination
Synonyms: reflective, meditative, pensive
Root family: [spec] speculation (guess based on insufficient evidence), circumspect (cautious), inspect (to examine closely)
Don’t confuse with: retrospective (looking back in time)
to make correct; to put right : The journalist rectified her error by publishing a retraction.
Synonyms: amend, emend, redress, remedy
Root family: [rect] correct (right), rectangle (quadrilateral with four right angles), direct (by the shortest path)
sublime (adj) sub- just beneath + limen threshold
supremely excellent or beautiful : The pâté was a sublime complement to the homemade bread.
Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), subvert (to undermine the authority of another), surreptitious (secret), subjugate (to dominate)
Root family: [lim] limit (the point beyond which something may not pass), eliminate (completely remove), subliminal (below the threshold of perception), sublimate (to alter a crude impulse so as to make it more culturally or socially acceptable)
Don’t confuse with subliminal. Although both words derive from the Latin roots meaning “below the threshold,” subliminal means “below the threshold of perception,” while sublime means “near the threshold of heaven.”
Don’t confuse with sublimate. To sublimate a lowly impulse, such as hatred or sexual desire, means to literally “raise it up” (since the limen, or threshold, of a doorway includes the top part, then bringing something sub limen, just below the threshold, involves raising it up), that is, to channel the energy that would otherwise be dedicated to that impulse into a more culturally and socially acceptable behavior. In chemistry, a substance sublimates when it transforms from a solid directly to a gas, without passing through the liquid phase.
anachronism (n) ana- backward or mixed up + chronos time
something out of place in time, especially something that is outdated : The modern-sounding dialogue was conspicuously anachronistic for a movie set in the 1920s.
Root family: [ana-] anagram (a rearrangement of the letters in a word or phrase to make another word or phrase)
Root family: [chron] synchronize (to make to happen simultaneously or at the same pace), chronological (in proper time order)
Don’t confuse with: anarchic (lacking government)
Mnemonic: Since Anna Karenina is set in the 19th century, Anna’s chronograph (wristwatch) would be very anachronistic.
belie (v)
[1] to fail to give a true impression of something : David’s bluster belies his lack of self-confidence.
[2] to betray; to show to be untrue : The evidence belies the defendant’s claim.
Mnemonic: To belie something is to be a lie about something (meaning [1]) or to show it to be a lie (meaning [2]).
chicanery (n)
devious trickery or evasion : Unlike most politicians, she discusses tax policies openly, rather than using chicanery to hide her true motives and affiliations.
Synonyms: ruse, machination
Don’t confuse with: chimera (something unrealistic or hopelessly wishful)
Mnemonic: Imagine a chick doing magic in a cannery.
circuitous (adj) circum around + ire to go
indirect; roundabout : We took a circuitous route to the cabin because the main highway was closed.
Synonyms: meandering, tortuous, serpentine
Root family: [circum] circumscribe (to define the limits of something), circumspect (wary), circumlocution (evasive speech)
confound (v) con- together + fundere to pour
[1] to cause someone to become confused : She was confounded by the puzzle for many weeks.
Synonyms: befuddle, baffle
[2] to confuse two elements as being one : We should not confound patriotism and loyalty to the government.
Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), confluence (a place at which two things merge)
Root family: [fus, fund, found] confuse (to cause to become perplexed), effusive (freely expressive), fusion (the process of joining two things into a single entity), profuse (abundant), transfusion (a transfer, usually of blood, from one person or animal to another), refuse (to reject), diffuse (spread out over a large area)
Don’t confuse with: compound (to make something worse : Don’t compound the problem.)
convoluted (adj) con- together + volutus rolled
(1) (of an argument or story) complicated and difficult to follow : The account the witness provided was so convoluted that the jury could not follow it.
(2) intricately folded : The human cortex is a convoluted shell of interconnected neurons.
Form: convolution = a deep fold, esp. one of many; something complex and difficult to understand
Synonyms: tortuous, byzantine
Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conformist (one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group, coherent (forming a united whole), compliant (willing to obey), confluence (a place at which two things merge)
Root family: [vol] revolution (one complete rotation; a complete political overthrow), involved (“rolled up in”), voluble (fluently talkative)
digress (v) di- away + gradi to walk
stray from the topic in speaking or writing : Powell digressed for several pages to describe the history of the village he was visiting.
Forms: digression = an act of digressing, digressive = prone to digression; having the characteristics of a digression
Root family: [grad, gress] progress (forward movement), regressive (moving backward), egress (exit)
Don’t confuse with: regress (to return to a less developed state)
disingenuous (adj) dis- away + in- in + gignere to be born
not candid or sincere; deceitful : The senator’s disingenuous comments were just another example of political posturing.
Form: ingénue = a naive and innocent person, ingenuous = innocent and naive
Synonyms: duplicitous, mendacious
Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), disdain (feeling that something is unworthy), discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate)
Root family: [in-] inundate (to flood), infer (to conclude from evidence), incisive (showing keen judgment), ingratiate (to curry favor), innate (inborn)
Root family: [gen] indigenous (native), progenitor (the first in a family tree), heterogeneous (diverse in character or content), homogeneous (consisting of parts or members all of the same kind)
Don’t confuse ingenuous (innocent and naive) with ingenious (brilliant) or not genuine.
Mnemonic: An ingénue is someone who is as innocent and naive as a baby (in + genuus born), so to be ingenuous means to be innocent and naive. Therefore, to be disingenuous is to be the opposite: deceitful and full of guile.
dubious (adj) dubium doubt
[1] questionable : That is a dubious claim, bordering on the absurd.
Synonyms: controvertible, suspect
[2] doubting : I’m dubious that our team will be able to come back and win.
Forms: dubiousness = doubtfulness
Synonyms: vacillating
Root family: [dub] indubitable (without a doubt), doubt
duplicity (n) duplicitas twofold
deceitfulness; double-dealing : He considered a career as a spy but wondered whether he had the skill or moral flexibility to engage in such duplicity.
Form: duplicitous = deceitful
Synonyms: chicanery, subterfuge, treachery, perfidy
Root family: [dupl, duo] duplicate (to make a copy), duplex (a two-floor apartment building), dual (twofold)
Don’t confuse with: duplication (the process of making a copy)
guile (n)
cunning or slyness in attaining a goal : David Rohde was able to use guile and patience to escape his Taliban captors.
Form: guileless = innocent; incapable of deceit
Synonyms: cunning, artfulness, wiles
Don’t confuse with: guise (outward appearance)
inept (adj) in- not + aptus well suited
unskilled; clumsy : Todd’s awkward joke was a sincere but inept attempt to lighten the mood.
Form: ineptitude = clumsiness; lack of skill
Synonyms: feckless, maladroit, bumbling, ineffectual
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [apt, ept] aptitude (natural skill), adapt (to make to fit a new situation or use), adept (skillful)
Don’t confuse with: inapt (inappropriate or unsuitable to the situation)
machination (n) machina contrivance
a plot or scheme : Dawn’s artful machinations succeeded in gaining her the title of class president.
Root family: [mech, mach] machine (apparatus), mechanical (pertaining to the workings of a machine)
Mnemonic: In Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Dr. Evil’s machinations involve building a doomsday machine, “Project Vulcan,” in order to hold the world’s nations hostage.
Usage: A deus ex machina (“god in the machine”) is an unexpected and highly implausible plot twist in a novel or play that magically saves a seemingly hopeless situation.
perjure (v) per- (negative) + jurare to swear
to lie under oath : Martha Stewart’s conviction for conspiracy to commit perjury landed her six months in prison.
Form: perjury = the act of lying under oath
Root family: [jur] jurisprudence (the study of law), abjure (to swear off; renounce), adjure (to command solemnly), conjure (to create, as if by magic), jurisdiction (the power to make official decisions)
Root family: [dict] vindictive (vengeful), dictatorial (tyrannical), malediction (curse), benediction (blessing)
Don’t confuse with: modicum (a small amount)
spurious (adj)
false or fake; not what it seems to be (esp. as applied to claims or theories) : The stories about Jordan’s career as a spy were spurious, generated by his friends’ wild imaginations.
Synonyms: specious, fallacious
Don’t confuse with: furious (very angry), spurned (jilted, rejected)
Mnemonic: Imagine a spurious cowboy in fake tinfoil spurs.
subterfuge (n) sub- beneath + fugere to flee
a trick or expedient used to escape a consequence or achieve a goal : Max’s subterfuge involved three alibis and a full-scale replica of himself.
Synonyms: ruse, chicanery
Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), subvert (to undermine the authority of another), subjugate (to dominate)
Root family: [fug] fugitive (one who is fleeing arrest), refugee (one fleeing strife or persecution), refuge (safe haven), centrifugal (moving away from the center)
Mnemonic: Imagine the Joker using a sub to flee (fugere = to flee) from Batman.
surreptitious (adj) sub- under, secretly + rapere to seize
kept secret because it is objectionable : Charlotte was upset when she heard about her husband’s surreptitious affair.
Synonyms: clandestine, furtive, stealthy
Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), subvert (to undermine the authority of another), subjugate (to dominate)
Root family: [rap, rav] rapacious (extremely greedy), ravenous (extremely hungry), ravage (to bring destruction to)
Don’t confuse with: superfluous (unnecessary)
treacherous (adj)
[1] characterized by or guilty of betrayal : Benedict Arnold’s treacherous actions are etched in our national history.
Form: treachery = abject betrayal
Synonyms: traitorous, duplicitous, perfidious
[2] hazardous : The ocean currents here are very treacherous.
Synonyms: perilous, precarious
Don’t confuse with: tortuous (full of twists and turns), lecherous (showing excessive sexual desire), trenchant (cutting and incisive)
dishonest; showing no moral principles : The broker’s unscrupulous dealings only came to light after he had stolen several million dollars of his client’s money.
Form: scrupulous = very concerned with avoiding sin or rule-breaking
Synonyms: reprobate, unethical, corrupt, venal
Usage: Although scrupulous is primarily used to mean “attentive to rules and details,” whether or not those rules are moral ones, unscrupulous refers exclusively to a lack of moral principles.
vex (v)
to make to feel annoyed or frustrated : I am constantly vexed by my inability to remember the names of all of your friends.
Form: vexation = state of confusion or frustration
Synonyms: nettle, exasperate, pique, gall
Don’t confuse with: hex (a spell or curse)
assiduous (adj)
showing great care and perseverance : He was assiduous in his research, checking every reference and tracing its history.
Synonyms: diligent, industrious, sedulous
Don’t confuse with: deciduous ((of tree) shedding its leaves annually), arduous ((of a task) requiring strenuous effort)
Mnemonic: Imagine a hardworking scientist mixing acid in two (duo) beakers.
efficacy (n) facere to do, to make
the ability to produce the intended result : The efficacy of the new medicine could hardly be denied.
Forms: efficacious = effective, inefficacious = ineffective
Root family: [fic, fac, fec, -ify] facile (simplistic), munificent (generous), diversify (to make more varied), ossify (to turn into bone), proficient (competent or skilled)
Don’t confuse with: efficiency (quality of achieving substantial results with a minimum of energy)
Usage: A process or instrument that works efficaciously performs its task particularly well. One that works efficiently, on the other hand, performs its task at least adequately, but with minimal expense or input.
expedite (v) ex- out + ped foot
(of a process) to make happen more quickly or efficiently : We could expedite deliveries by streamlining our method of dispatching the trucks.
Form: expeditious = done with speed and efficiency
Synonyms: precipitate, facilitate
Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy), elusive (difficult to catch or achieve), exorbitant (excessive), evocative (drawing out strong emotions, ideas, or feelings)
Root family: [ped] pedestrian (ordinary), impede (to hinder or obstruct)
Mnemonic: It is interesting to note that impede and expedite both derive from ped, the Latin root for “foot.” Impede, literally “bind the feet,” means to hinder or delay, whereas expedite, literally “free the feet,” means to make happen more quickly.
Usage: Although expedite, precipitate, and facilitate are similar, they differ in certain important aspects. To expedite a process is to make it happen faster and more efficiently, whereas to facilitate a process is to make it easier on the person or people involved. The verb precipitate applies more to an event than a process; it is to make the event happen more quickly, although it would likely have happened on its own.
Don’t confuse with: expedition. The words expedite and expedition derive from the same roots but have very different meanings. To expedite is to “free the feet,” but to go on an expedition is to “go out on foot.”
Don’t confuse expeditious (done with speed and efficiency) with expedient (convenient and practical, but perhaps improper or immoral).
facilitate (v) facilis easy (< facere to do or make)
to make easier : A team of clinicians was assembled to facilitate the development of the new vaccine.
Forms: facile = simplistic, facilitator = one who makes a process easier, facility = a natural ability; ease
Root family: [fac, fec, fic] benefactor (one who provides a benefit), munificent (generous)
Don’t confuse facility with felicity (intense happiness).
Don’t confuse facile with vassal (a feudal landowner) or docile (submissive).
Usage: See usage note at expedite in this section.
flourish (v) florere to flower
to grow vigorously; prosper : The arts and letters flourished during the Harlem Renaissance.
Don’t confuse with: florid (characterized by flowery language), flourish (n) (an extravagant action, usually done to attract attention : The dance number concluded with a flourish of backflips)
Mnemonic: The noun flourish and the verb flourish both derive from florere (to flower) but have distinct meanings. A flourish is a “flowery or extravagant display to attract attention,” whereas to flourish means to “blossom like a flower.” Florid also derives from florere but means “characterized by flowery language.”
lineage (n) lineare to create with lines
descent from an ancestor : In most medieval European societies, one’s social status was decided by family lineage.
Synonyms: pedigree, ancestry, genealogy
Root family: [line] collinear (on the same line), alignment (the process of arranging in a line), delineate (to describe precisely)
Don’t confuse with: delineate (to describe precisely)
prodigious (adj) prodigus lavish
great in size or degree : The team consumed prodigious amounts of pizza after the game.
Forms: prodigiously = abundantly
Synonyms: copious
Root family: [prodigi] prodigy (a young person with exceptional talent), prodigal (tending to spend money recklessly)
profuse (adj) pro- forward + fusus poured
very abundantly offered or available : Even the profuse offerings of cards and flowers did not assuage his grief.
Form: profusion = an abundance
Synonyms: prolific, prevalent, copious
Root family: [pro-] protracted (lasting longer than expected), prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank), progeny (offspring), reciprocate (to respond in kind)
Root family: [fus, fund, found] confuse (to cause to become perplexed), confound (to fail to distinguish different elements), diffuse (spread over a wide area), fusion (the process of joining two things into a single entity), effusive (freely expressive), transfusion (a transfer, usually of blood, from one person or animal to another), refuse (to reject)
Don’t confuse with: refuse (to indicate unwillingness to accept something)
progeny (n) pro- forward + gignere to create
the collective descendants of one ancestor : The family trust was established to ensure the well-being of the billionaire’s progeny.
Form: progenitor = the primary ancestor of a collection of descendants
Synonyms: offspring, brood, scions
Root family: [pro-] protracted (lasting longer than expected), prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank), reciprocate (to respond in kind)
Root family: [gen] indigenous (native), homogeneous (uniform), heterogeneous (diverse in character)
Don’t confuse progenitor with prognosticator (one who foretells or attempts to foretell future events).
Mnemonic: Think of someone named Jenny you know, and then imagine a profuse number of them in the lower branches of a family tree (progeny = profuse Jennys).
proliferate (v)
to increase rapidly in numbers or extent : Bootlegging proliferated during the era of Prohibition to satisfy the demand for alcohol.
Form: proliferation = a rapid increase in numbers or extent
Synonyms: burgeon, mushroom
prolific (adj)
[1] highly productive : Johann Strauss was a prolific composer of waltzes.
Synonyms: fertile fecund
[2] plentiful : The mountain laurel is prolific along the side of the highway.
Forms: proliferate = to multiply or reproduce rapidly
Synonyms: copious, profuse, prevalent
Don’t confuse with: prophetic (accurately predictive of the future)
vigor (n)
good health and physical strength : The therapy helped him regain the vigor of his youth.
Forms: invigorating = giving energy or strength, vigorous = full of energy and strength
Synonyms: robustness, hardiness, virility
Don’t confuse with: rigor (thoroughness or strictness)
Don’t confuse with: erudite (scholarly)
ambiguous (adj) ambi- both + agere to do
having more than one meaning or interpretation : In her poem, the meaning of the cloak is intentionally ambiguous.
Form: ambiguity = quality of having more than one interpretation
Synonym: equivocal
Root family: [ambi-, amphi-] ambidextrous (able to use both hands skillfully), ambivalent (having mixed feelings), amphibian (an animal that lives partially in water and partially on land), amphitheater (an outdoor theater with seats surrounding (on both sides of) the stage)
Don’t confuse with: ambivalent (having mixed feelings)
anomaly (n)
something that deviates from the norm or expectation : Astronomers scan the night sky looking for anomalies such as radiation bursts or unusual planetary motions.
Form: anomalous = out of the norm
Synonyms: incongruity, aberration
Don’t confuse with: animosity (strong hostility)
Don’t confuse anomalous with anonymous (unnamed).
diversion (n) di- away + vertere to turn
[1] an entertaining activity to distract one from everyday concerns : In the mountains, our diversions include hiking, fishing, and reading.
Form: diverting = entertaining
[2] an action intended to distract someone : I will create a diversion while you sneak into the house.
Form: divert = to cause something, such as traffic or a river, to change course; to distract someone’s attention from something
Root family: [di-, dis-] discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), dispassionate (not influenced by strong emotions), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter), disputatious (argumentative), diffident (lacking in self-confidence), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [vers, vert] adversary (enemy), diverse (various), adverse (harmful), subvert (undermine), averse (opposed), versatile (adaptable to different functions)
Don’t confuse with: diverse (various)
divulge (v) di- widely + vulgare to make public
to make widely known, particularly information that was previously kept private : I cannot divulge the information that was discussed in our private meeting.
Form: divulgence = the act of making something widely known
Root family: [dis-, di-] disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disperse (to spread or scatter), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [vulg] vulgar (crude and unrefined)
Don’t confuse divulgence with indulgence (an act of being excessively generous or lenient)
elusive (adj) e- out + ludere to play
difficult to catch, find, understand, or achieve : The snow leopard is one of nature’s most beautiful yet elusive creatures, rarely seen by human eyes.
Form: elude = to evade capture or understanding
Synonyms: evasive, impalpable, intangible
Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy)
Root family: [lud, lus] collusion (a secret understanding that has a harmful purpose), delude (to make someone believe something that is not true), illusion (something that gives a false impression of reality), ludicrous (foolish and ridiculous), allusion (to hint at indirectly)
Don’t confuse with: illusory (giving a false impression), allusive (providing or pertaining to an indirect hint)
empirical (adj)
pertaining to or based on observation or experience : Although string theory provides elegant mathematical solutions to many vexing problems in physics, it lacks any empirical evidence.
Form: empiricism = the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience
Mnemonic: Imagine an empire in which everyone, especially the emperor, is a scientist, with telescopes on every rooftop and chemistry labs in every basement, where they constantly gather empirical data.
enigma (n)
someone or something that is difficult to understand : King Lear’s motivation remains an enigma.
Form: enigmatic = difficult to understand
Synonyms: conundrum, quandary, riddle
idiosyncrasy (n) idios unique + syn with + krasis mixture
a mannerism or quirk peculiar to an individual : One of the stranger idiosyncrasies of professional athletes is their tendency to refer to themselves in the second or third person during interviews.
Form: idiosyncratic = quirky
Synonyms: quirk, peculiarity, eccentricity, mannerism, foible
Root family: [idio] idiom (a common phrase that has a nonliteral meaning, such as “at the end of your rope”), idiot (stupid person)
Don’t confuse with: ideology (a system of ideals central to the political power of a group), iconoclast (one who attacks cherished beliefs), idiotic (stupid)
inscrutable (adj) in- not + scrutari to search
beyond understanding : I find quantum physics to be almost as inscrutable as the motivations of my girlfriend.
Synonyms: enigmatic, abstruse
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [scrut] scrutinize (to examine closely)
Don’t confuse with: unscrupulous (showing no moral principles)
Mnemonic: Something that is inscrutable is un-scrutinize-able, that is, it’s impossible to examine closely because it is beyond our understanding.
intrepid (adj) in- not + trepidus alarmed
fearless and adventurous : The intrepid explorers set out for the summit.
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [trepid] trepidation (fear)
Synonyms: undaunted, stouthearted
Don’t confuse with: insipid (flavorless; uninteresting)
Mnemonic: The aircraft carrier Intrepid, now a museum moored off of Manhattan, is an impressive ship that represents the fearlessness of the U.S. Navy.
vague; hazy; having the form of a cloud : The ghost appeared first as a nebulous near-human form.
Synonyms: amorphous, obscure
paradox (n) para- distinct from, beside + doxa teaching
a logically self-contradictory statement or state of affairs : It seemed to be a paradox that light could behave both as a wave and as a particle.
Root family: [para-] paralegal (a lawyer’s assistant), parallel (next to and aligned with), paramedic (a first aid professional)
Root family: [doc, dox] doctrinaire (seeking to impose rigid doctrine), orthodox (conforming strictly to traditional teachings), docile (compliant and easy to instruct)
Don’t confuse with: paradigm (a worldview; a typical model or example)
adverse (adj) ad- to + vertere to turn
harmful to success or progress : The short holiday season has had an adverse effect on sales.
Form: adversity = misfortune or difficulties, usually over an extended period
Synonyms: inauspicious, detrimental, deleterious
Root family: [ad-] adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for), annul (to declare invalid)
Root family: [vers, vert] adversary (enemy), diverse (various), diversion (entertainment), subvert (undermine), averse (opposed), versatile (adaptable to different functions)
Don’t confuse with: averse (opposed)
archaic (adj) archaios old
old and outdated : My cell phone, which didn’t even have Internet access, seemed archaic compared to Kris’s tiny smartphone.
Synonyms: outmoded, outdated, anachronistic, obsolete
Root family: [arch] archaeology (the study of ancient civilizations and their artifacts), archetype (a very typical example)
Don’t confuse with: anarchic (having no hierarchical government)
bane (n)
a cause of great and persistent distress : The bane of the traveling salesman is the time spent away from family and friends.
Form: baneful = causing great distress
Synonyms: scourge, blight, affliction
Mnemonic: For farmers, banning the rain would be a great bane for their livelihood.
dearth (n)
an utter lack of something : I am disappointed by the dearth of good jazz clubs in this city.
Synonym: paucity
Don’t confuse with: death, dirge (a funereal song), mirth (good-natured amusement)
Mnemonic: The words dearth and dear (expensive) derive from the same root. If there is a dearth of something desired, then it is likely to be very dear.
debilitating (adj)
causing someone or something to become weak : What seemed like a slight ankle sprain soon turned into a debilitating injury.
Forms: debilitate = to make weak or infirm, debility = a weakness or infirmity
Synonyms: incapacitating, enervating
Don’t confuse with: rehabilitate (to restore to health)
deleterious (adj) delere to destroy, to eliminate
very harmful : Prolonged and hopeless poverty has a very deleterious effect on children.
Synonyms: detrimental, injurious, adverse
Root family: [delet] delete (to remove completely), indelible (forming an enduring impression)
Mnemonic: Imagine how deleterious it would be to your grade if you accidentally deleted the research paper that you had spent over a month researching and writing.
enervate (v) e- out of + nervus sinew, strength
to drain of energy or strength : The arduous hike enervated the boys, who decided to rest for the night.
Forms: enervation = the process of draining something of strength; weakness, enervated = weakened
Synonyms: debilitate, enfeeble
Don’t confuse with: energize (to fill with energy), enumerate (to list numerically), innervate (to supply an organ or body part with nerves)
Mnemonic: To avoid confusing enervate with energize, focus on the roots e- (out) and nervus (sinew, strength or muscle): to enervate is to weaken, as if by removing the muscle fibers from one’s body. Gross? Yes, but vivid enough to remember.
exacerbate (v) ex- (making) + acerbus bitter
to make a situation worse : The lawsuit only exacerbated the animosity between the neighbors.
Synonyms: aggravate, compound, inflame
Root family: [acer, acu] acrid (pungent), acerbic (having a bitter taste), acrimonious (defined by bitter feelings), acute (keen, as pain or ability)
Don’t confuse with: exaggerate (to overstate)
insidious (v) in- on + sedere to sit
having a harmful effect, but in a subtle way : Many viral diseases are insidious, remaining dormant for months or even years before symptoms are expressed.
Synonyms: stealthy, surreptitious, treacherous
Root family: [in-] inundate (to flood), infer (to conclude from evidence), incisive (showing keen judgment), ingratiate (to curry favor), inherent (existing as an inseparable element), invoke (to bring to bear), indoctrinate (to teach doctrine), induce (to bring about), infiltrate (to gain access secretly)
Root family: [sed, sid] sedentary (inactive), dissident (one who opposes official policy), assiduous (hard working), sedate (calm), preside (to sit in a position of authority), reside (to live in a particular location), sediment (material that settles to the bottom of a liquid or body of water, particularly a river)
Don’t confuse with: invidious (causing resentment)
Mnemonic: An insidious disease lurks inside us until it decides to pounce.
malevolence (n) male evil + volent wishing
evil intent : The villain eyed his victim with malevolence.
Form: malevolent = with evil intent
Synonyms: maliciousness, rancor
Root family: [mal] malignant (disposed to causing harm or suffering), malicious (full of spite), malign (to speak about someone in a spiteful manner)
Root family: [vole] benevolent (kindly), volition (free will), voluntary (performed by choice)
obsolete (adj)
outdated; no longer in production : Mr. King still types all of his manuscripts on an obsolete Corona typewriter.
Forms: obsolesce = to become obsolete, obsolescence = the state of being obsolete
Synonyms: outmoded, outdated, anachronistic, archaic
regress (v) re- back + gressus walking
to return to a less developed state : As he got angrier, Gary seemed to regress into childhood, and began kicking his feet and pouting like a toddler.
Form: regression = the process of moving toward a less developed state, regressive = moving backward or toward a less developed state
Root family: [re-] reprehensible (deserving of condemnation), refute (to prove something false), revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), relegate (to place in a lower rank)
Root family: [grad, gress] progress (forward movement), egress (exit), digress (to stray from the topic)
vestige (n)
[VEST idge] a trace of something that no longer exists : The archaeologists wondered whether this small clay shard was a vestige of a once-great civilization.
Form: vestigial = remaining as a trace of something long since gone
Synonyms: remnant, relic, residue
Don’t confuse with: vestment (clothing), prestige [press TEEGE] (widespread respect)
virulent (adj) virus poison
bitterly hostile; extremely harmful : The speech was an incoherent and virulent diatribe against the dangers of socialism.
Form: virulence = ability to cause extreme harm; poisonousness
Synonyms: toxic, pernicious
Root family: [viru] virus (a nucleic acid molecule that acts as an infective agent)
Don’t confuse with: violent (involving physical force to hurt or damage)
affable (adj)
friendly and good-natured : Gena is so affable that she will surely make new friends at camp.
Form: affability = friendliness and good nature
Synonyms: amiable, genial, gregarious
Don’t confuse with: ineffable (unable to be described in words)
Mnemonic: An affable person is able to laugh easily (affable = laugh-able) which makes him or her very easy to like. But be careful not to confuse affable with laughable (ridiculous to the point of being amusing).
alleviate (v) ad- to + levare to lift
to make something, such as suffering, less severe : She regretted that she could not alleviate her friend’s pain.
Synonyms: mitigate, palliate, attenuate, allay, assuage
Root family: [ad-] allude (to hint at indirectly), aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for), acquiesce (to comply reluctantly)
Root family: [lev] levity (good-natured humor), elevate (to lift), relevant (raised to an important level), relieve (to lift a burden from another)
Don’t confuse with: abbreviate (to make shorter)
altruistic (adj) alter other
selfless; putting the concerns of others before one’s own : Only the most altruistic doctors can tolerate the hardships of running disease clinics in poor communities.
Form: altruism = the belief in or practice of putting the concern of others before one’s own
Root family: [alter] altercation (a noisy fight), alter (to change or cause to change), alternate (to occur in turn repeatedly, adulterate (to render (something) inferior, usually by adding something to it), alter ego (alternative personality)
Mnemonic: An altruistic person puts others (alter = other) before himself or herself, and is always true to the idea of charity.
amicable (adj) amicus friend
showing goodwill and a spirit of friendliness : I hope we can reach an amicable settlement.
Root family: [ami] amiable (friendly), inimical (antagonistic), enmity (hostility or active opposition)
Don’t confuse with: applicable (relevant or appropriate)
Usage: Although amicable and amiable derive from the same roots, amicable is more commonly used to describe friendly situations, while amiable is more commonly used to describe friendly people.
auspicious (adj) avis bird + specere to look
conducive to success; favorable to a positive outcome : The rainstorm did not provide an auspicious start to the wedding ceremony.
Form: inauspicious = not favorable
Synonyms: propitious, opportune, felicitous
Root family: [spic, spec] introspective (reflective), speculation (guess based on insufficient evidence), circumspect (cautious), inspect (to examine closely)
Don’t confuse with: suspicious (showing cautious distrust), vicious (cruel)
Mnemonic: Auspicious derives from the Latin avis (bird) and specere (to look) because in mid-16th-century Europe it was believed that observing particular birds in flight was a favorable sign in divination. From this meaning of “favorable omen,” we also get the word auspice, which means “patronage or support,” as in The study was conducted under the auspices of the Labor Board.
benefactor (n) bene good + facere to do or make
one who gives money to benefit a person or cause : The letter acknowledged the many benefactors who had helped the Arts Society stay afloat in trying economic times.
Synonyms: patron, sponsor
Root family: [ben, bon] beneficiary (one who receives a benefit), benevolent (kindly), benign (harmless)
Root family: [fac, fec, fic] facile (simplistic), munificent (generous)
Don’t confuse with: beneficiary (one who receives a benefit)
beneficiary (n) bene good + facere to do or make
one who receives a benefit : Wayne was the beneficiary of his friend’s generosity.
Synonym: legatee
Root family: [ben, bon] benefactor (one who provides a benefit), benevolent (kindly), benign (harmless)
Root family: [fac, fec, fic] facile (simplistic), munificent (generous)
Don’t confuse with: benefactor (one who provides a benefit)
benevolent (adj) bene good + velle to wish
kindly; well meaning : She was a benevolent queen, attentive to the needs of all of her subjects.
Form: benevolence = kindness
Synonyms: altruistic, philanthropic, magnanimous
Root family: [ben, bon] beneficiary (one who receives a benefit), benefactor (one who provides a benefit)
Root family: [vol] malevolent (having evil intent), volition (free will), voluntary (performed by choice)
Mnemonic: English words containing vol can be confusing because they can derive from three different Latin roots: velle ((to wish) (from which we get malevolent (having evil intent) and benevolent), volare ((to fly) from which we get volatile and volley (to throw at a target)), or volvere ((to roll) from which we get convoluted and revolution (a complete turn)).
benign (adj) bene good + genus born
gentle; causing no harm : Rather than rousing indignation, Senator Paulson’s concession speech was benign and gracious.
Synonyms: innocuous, anodyne
Root family: [ben, bon] beneficiary (one who receives a benefit), benevolent (kindly), benefactor (one who provides a benefit)
Don’t confuse with: benighted (in a woeful state of ignorance, literally “in the darkness of night”)
complement (v) or (n) com- (intensive) + plere to fill
[1] (v) to add to something to make it complete or perfect : The savory sautéed spinach complemented the rich and dense portobello mushroom to make the perfect side dish.
[2] (n) something that completes a whole : Calculus is an important complement to the study of physics.
Forms: complementary = acting to form a complete or perfect whole
Root family: [ple] deplete (to use the supply of), replete (filled to the fullest extent)
Don’t confuse with: compliment (to say something kind about someone else)
conciliatory (adj) concilium council
likely to appease or to bring people together in goodwill : The student exchange was intended as a conciliatory gesture between the formerly antagonistic countries.
Forms: conciliate = to appease or to gain goodwill, conciliation = the act of appeasing or gaining goodwill
Synonyms: appeasing, mollifying, placatory, propitiatory
Root family: [concilium] council (an advisory or legislative body)
Usage: See usage note at pacify in section 4.
Mnemonic: The verb conciliate derives from the Latin concilium, which means “an assembly or council.” If you know anything about how modern city councils work, you know that a lot of compromise and appeasement—a lot of conciliation—is often needed to get people from different backgrounds, temperaments, and political parties to work together.
decorum (n) decorus showing good taste
dignified and tasteful behavior : Please show some decorum while we are touring the palace.
Forms: decorous = in keeping with good taste and propriety, indecorum = lack of decorum, indecorous = lacking in decorum
Synonyms: propriety, etiquette, protocol
Root family: [deco, dec] decoration (ornamentation), decent (conforming to standards of appropriate behavior), decor (the furnishing and decoration of a home)
Don’t confuse with: decor (the furnishing and decoration of a home). To avoid confusing these, you might remember that the um in decorum is like the um in human; only humans can show decorum, while only homes have decor.
empathy (n) pathos feeling
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another : Dawn has a great empathy for fellow cancer survivors.
Forms: empathize = to understand and share the feelings of others, empathetic = able to empathize
Root family: [path] sympathy (feeling of sorrow for the misfortunes of another), pathology (the science of the causes and course of diseases), apathetic (lacking concern), antipathy (animosity)
eulogy (n) eu good + logos word
a praising speech, particularly for one who is deceased : Glen’s eulogy was touching yet humorous.
Form: eulogize = to recite or write a eulogy
Synonyms: accolade, paean, encomium
Root family: [eu] euthanasia (mercy killing), euphonious (pleasant sounding), euphoria (extreme happiness), euphemism (a mild term or phrase intended to replace a harsher one)
Don’t confuse eulogize with euthanize (to put a person or animal to death humanely)
euphemism (n) eu good + pheme speaking
a mild term or phrase intended to replace a harsh, embarrassing, or unpleasant one : Senators are adept at inserting euphemisms like “patriot” into the names of their bills to divert the public’s attention from the true nature of the laws.
Form: euphemistic = pertaining to the use of euphemisms; having the qualities of euphemism
Root family: [eu] euthanasia (mercy killing), euphonious (pleasant sounding), euphoria (extreme happiness), eulogy (a praising speech, usually for the deceased)
Root family: [phem] blasphemy (speaking profanely about holy things), dysphemism (a deliberately derogatory or unpleasant term or phrase), prophecy (significant prediction of the future)
Don’t confuse with: euphoria (extreme happiness)
innocuous (adj) in- not + nocuus harmful
not harmful or offensive : The interviewer asked only innocuous questions rather than probing into more interesting topics.
Synonyms: benign, anodyne
Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)
Root family: [nocu, noxi] innocent (not guilty), noxious (harmful), obnoxious (rudely unpleasant)
mitigate (v)
to make less serious or severe : The effects of hurricanes can be mitigated by the presence of a thriving barrier island system.
Forms: mitigating = serving to make less serious or severe, unmitigated = without redeeming qualities
Synonyms: palliate, attenuate, allay, assuage
Don’t confuse with: litigate (to file and execute a lawsuit), migrate (to move from one habitat to another, usually according to the season)
Usage: While pacify, placate, appease, propitiate, and conciliate all describe things done to people, words like palliate, mollify, and assuage generally apply to feelings, and words like mitigate and ameliorate can pertain to situations as well as feelings.
Mnemonic: Judges or juries often consider mitigating circumstances before sentencing someone who has been convicted of a crime. Assaulting someone who is perceived as a threat is not as serious as assaulting someone without provocation, so the threatening could be a mitigating circumstance that reduces the sentence for assault.
to appease someone’s anger or anxiety : The tax bill was taken off of the agenda to mollify the angry citizens.
Form: mollification = the process of appeasing anger or anxiety
Synonyms: propitiate, conciliate, placate, appease
Root family: [moll] emollient (an agent that softens skin), mollusk (an invertebrate with a soft unsegmented body, usually protected by a shell)
Don’t confuse with: mortify (to make to feel embarrassed or humiliated)
Usage: See usage note at pacify in section 4.
Mnemonic: Imagine someone you know named Molly trying to settle down an angry friend.
obliging (adj) ob- toward + ligare to bind
eager to help : The bellhops were very obliging to those who were good tippers.
Root family: [lig] ligament (a band of connective tissue), obligatory (mandatory; necessary to do), religion (belief in a supernatural power which obligates one to perform rituals)
Don’t confuse with: obligatory (mandatory; necessary to do)
Mnemonic: When you feel obliged to do something for something, you feel bound to do it (ob- to + ligare to bind). It is obligatory (mandatory; necessary to do). If you always feel bound to your responsibility to help others, you are obliging.
propriety (n) proprius one’s own
conformity to standards of proper behavior : As representatives of our school, we must conduct ourselves with the utmost propriety.
Form: impropriety = improper behavior
Root family: [prop] appropriate (adj) (proper of suitable to the circumstances); (v) (to take something that doesn’t belong to you for your own use, typically without the owner’s permission : The Spanish appropriated many of the discoveries of the Mayans as their own), proprietor (the legal owner of a business)
Don’t confuse with: proprietor (the legal owner of a business)
Mnemonic: Although proprietor and propriety are easily confused, they derive from different aspects of the root word proprius (one’s own). A proprietor is the legal owner of a small business, but propriety is the respect with which one treats one’s own family and tribe.
reciprocate (v) re- back + pro- forward
to respond to an action or gesture by doing something in kind : If you act kindly to strangers, they are likely to reciprocate.
Forms: reciprocal = done in return, reciprocity = the practice of acting with mutual benefit
Root family: [re-] recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), refute (to prove something false), revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), regress (to return to a less developed state)
Root family: [pro-] protracted (lasting longer than expected), prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank), progeny (offspring)
refinement (n) finire to finish
[1] elegance in taste and manners : Jerrod has all the refinement one would expect of a world traveler.
[2] the process of bringing to a purer state : Crude oil must undergo refinement before it can be used as fuel.
Forms: refined = cultured and well-mannered, refine = to make more cultured, unrefined = uncultured or unimproved
Don’t confuse refine with define (to set forth the meaning of something).
solicitous (adj) citus set in motion
showing interest or concern : Lisa’s office mates became solicitous when they heard that her daughter was ill.
Forms: solicitude = care or concern for someone or something, solicit = to ask (someone) for something
Root family: [cit] excite (to elicit energetic feelings in someone; to energize something), incite (to encourage violence or illicit behavior), resuscitate (to bring back to life)
Usage: Many Americans assume that solicitous has a negative connotation because solicitations (requests for money or other donations) can be annoying. However, solicitude is not badgering but sincere concern. This meaning is conveyed more accurately in the British definition of solicitor as “an attorney who assists a client,” rather than the American definition of “one who requests donations.”
Don’t confuse with: solicitor (one who requests donations for charity; (in the U.K.) an attorney)
symbiosis (n) sym- together + bio life
a mutually beneficial relationship between different species : One example of symbiosis is the relationship between the clownfish and the sea anemone, whereby the clownfish receives protection from its enemies and the anemone receives food.
Form: symbiotic = characterized by symbiosis
Root family: [sym] sympathy (compassion), symmetry (a geometric correspondence among similar parts)
Root family: [bio] biology (the study of living things), biodegradable (able to decompose into nutrients for living things)
Don’t confuse with: symbolic (pertaining to the use of symbols)
tactful (adj) tactus sense of touch
showing sensitivity to the needs of others with difficult private issues : Jerry Springer rarely shows any desire to be tactful about his guests’ embarrassing personal problems.
Forms: tact = sensitivity to the needs of others with difficult private issues, tactless = utterly without tact
Synonyms: politic, discreet, judicious, decorous
Root family: [tang, tact, ting, tig, tag, teg] tactile (pertaining to the sense of touch), tangential (barely related to the topic), tangible (touchable), contact (to touch, or get in touch with), contagious (spreadable, as a disease, via close contact), contiguous (physically touching or bordering, as the contiguous 48 states), integrity (the quality of wholeness or wholesomeness; moral uprightness)
Don’t confuse with: tacky (showing poor taste)
utility (n) utilis useful
the state of being useful : When searching for a new car, the Kearns were clearly more interested in utility than beauty.
Form: utilitarian = designed to be useful rather than attractive; pragmatic, utile = advantageous, utilize = to use effectively
Don’t confuse with: futility (pointlessness)
adroit (adj) a droit as to the right (Fr < L dexter right)
skillful : He was such an adroit salesman that he could sell ice cubes to polar bears.
Form: adroitness = skillfulness
Synonyms: adept, dexterous, deft, proficient
Root family: [dext, droit] dexterity (skill), ambidextrous (having skill in using either hand)
Mnemonic: French speakers will recognize the word adroit from the French phrase a droit, “to the right.” This continues a trend in Romance languages to associate right-handedness with skill and the left-handedness with awkwardness or deceit. For instance, the French word gauche, “left,” in English means “socially inept.” Similarly, the Latin word dexter, “on the right,” is the root of dexterity (skill) and ambidextrous (skilled in using both hands), and the Latin word sinister, “left,” has come to mean “malevolent” in English.
astute (adj)
having or showing keen insight : The announcers made many astute comments about the game.
Synonyms: sagacious, prudent, shrewd, canny, incisive
Don’t confuse with: acute (keen, as pain or ability)
Usage: Although astute, sagacious, prudent, judicious, shrewd, canny, and incisive are similar, they offer different shades of meaning. Astute comes from the Latin astutus (craft), so an astute person is likely to have acquired keen insight through careful study; a sagacious person, however, is likely to have acquired this insight from the benefit of age and trial; a prudent person is both wise and conservative; a judicious person is a keen overall adjudicator, whether he or she has acquired that ability through study, age, or trial; a shrewd or canny person is insightful and even a bit cunning, particularly in pursuit of a goal like power, compromise, or money; an incisive commentator has the power to “cut” (cis = cut) to the heart of the matter.
discernment (n) dis- apart + cernere to distinguish
the ability to make sound judgments and fine distinctions : Becoming a master oenologist requires not only discernment but also constant study of wines and how they are produced.
Forms: discern = to perceive something as being distinct from other things, discerning = having a keen ability to make fine distinctions
Synonyms: perspicacity, percipience
Root family: [dis-] disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate), diffuse (spread over a wide area)
Root family: [cern, cert] ascertain (find something out for certain), certain (known for sure), certify (formally attest or confirm)
discretion (n) discretus separate
sensitivity in dealing with others, particularly in not causing offense : The teacher showed admirable discretion in not revealing the students’ grades out loud.
Forms: discreet = careful in not causing offense, discretionary = subject to a particular judgment, indiscreet = not careful to avoid offense
Synonyms: tact, tactfulness
Don’t confuse discreet with discrete (individually distinct : The program is broken down into 12 discrete steps.)
ethics (n) ethos customs, behavior
[1] a set of moral principles : His ethics were dubious.
[2] the study of moral principles : David failed his course in medical ethics.
Forms: ethicist = one who studies ethics (ethologists study animal behavior), ethic = moral principles relating to a specific group or field (puritan ethic), ethical = morally correct; pertaining to ethics
exacting (adj) ex- (intensive) + agere to perform
making great demands on one’s skills : Rock climbing is a very exacting task.
Form: exact (v) = to demand and obtain, usually as a payment : Caesar exacted a tax on all Roman citizens.
Root family: [agi, age, act] agent (someone or something that produces a desired effect), agenda (list of items to be accomplished at a meeting), agile (able to move quickly and skillfully), exigent (pressing; placing demands on someone or something), inactive (not active)
Usage: Exacting does not mean exact (adj). Both words derive from exigere (to drive out), but the adjective exact derives from a more recent Latin word, exactus (precise).
exemplar (n) exemplum sample (< ex- out + emere to take)
someone or something serving as an ideal example of something : William “Boss” Tweed stands as the exemplar of American political corruption and greed.
Form: exemplary = serving as an excellent example
Synonyms: apotheosis, nonpareil, paragon
Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy), elusive (difficult to catch or achieve)
Root family: [emp, empt, sumpt] consumption (the process of eating or using resources), presumptuous (failing to observe appropriate limits of behavior), preempt (take action to prevent another event from happening), peremptory (insisting on immediate attention), sumptuous (splendid and abundant)
lithe (adj)
limber and graceful : The dancers resembled nothing so much as rippling water as their lithe bodies undulated rhythmically.
Synonyms: agile, supple, limber, lissome
Don’t confuse with: loathe (to hate), blithe (carefree), lathe (a rotating machine for shaping wood)
Mnemonic: Lithe dancers can lightly writhe, like weightless strips of silk waving in the breeze.
objective (adj)
focused on fact rather than opinion : A good journalist must try to remain objective even when covering emotionally poignant stories.
Form: objectivity = the state of being objective
Synonyms: impartial, dispassionate, disinterested, nonpartisan
Usage: Although objective, impartial, dispassionate, disinterested, and nonpartisan are similar, they offer different shades of meaning. A scientist or journalist should be objective, that is, focused on facts (objects), to the exclusion of opinions, in the pursuit of gathering and analyzing information; a good judge should be impartial, that is, lacking any bias for or against any of the disputants (legal parties); a wise judge is also dispassionate, that is, actively discounting his or her feelings (passions) in favor of the facts; a disinterested judge avoids considerations of personal advantage (interest); and a fair-minded politician is nonpartisan, that is, inclined to elevate pragmatic concerns over political ideology (the party line).
Usage: In modern usage objective is the opposite of subjective (based on opinion rather than fact).
concerned with practical rather than idealistic considerations : Her choice of car was more pragmatic than aesthetic.
Forms: pragmatism = belief that practical qualities are more important than idealistic ones, pragmatist = a pragmatic person
Don’t confuse with: dogmatic
Usage: Pragmatic and practical have very similar meanings and origins, but while a pair of shoes might be practical (suitable to and effective for general purposes), only people can be pragmatic. Pragmatic can describe a frame of mind or a method, but not a thing.
proficient (adj) pro- for + facere to do or make
competent or skilled in a particular task : He is a proficient drummer, if not an exceptionally talented one.
Form: proficiency = skill in a particular task
Synonyms: adept, adroit, deft, dexterous
Root family: [pro-] protracted (lasting longer than expected), prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank), progeny (offspring), reciprocate (to respond in kind)
Root family: [fic, fac, fec, -ify] facile (simplistic), munificent (generous), diversify (to make more varied), ossify (to turn into bone), efficacy (ability to produce the intended result)
sagacious (adj)
having or showing good judgment and discernment : We needed the sagacious mind of Uncle Ted to help us resolve our differences.
Forms: sagacity = wisdom and discernment, sage = a wise person
Synonyms: astute, prudent, judicious, shrewd, canny, incisive
Usage: See usage note at astute in this section.
valor (n) valere to be strong
courage and nobility in the face of danger : His valor on the battlefield earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Form: valiant = courageous
Root family: [val] prevalent (widespread and abundant), ambivalent (having mixed feelings), valence (the power of an atom to make bonds with other atoms)
Don’t confuse with: pallor an unhealthy pale appearance
avarice (n)
extreme greed : David was repulsed by the avarice that thrived on Wall Street in the 1990s.
Form: avaricious = extremely greedy
Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, covetousness
Don’t confuse avaricious with vicious (deliberately cruel or violent), auspicious (favorable), or avatar (a worldly incarnation of a god; a moving icon representing a person in cyberspace)
Mnemonic: Someone who is avaricious wants to have all riches.
bourgeois (adj) burgus castle, fortified town
pertaining to or characteristic of the conventional and materialistic life of the middle class : He rebelled against the stultifying bourgeois lifestyle and yearned for the life of a bohemian.
Form: bourgeoisie = the middle class
Synonyms: conventional
Root family: [burg] burg (city or town), borough (an administrative district, as or within a town or city), burglar (one who breaks into homes to rob them (< burgier to pillage a town))
decadent (adj) de- down + cadere to fall
excessively self-indulgent : I decided that since I had adhered strictly to my diet for two months, I could be decadent at the wedding.
Form: decadence = excessive self-indulgence
Root family: [de-] denounce (declare as bad), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another), condescend (to act superior to someone else)
Root family: [cide, cade, cas, cay] accident (an unintentional, unexpected, and unfortunate incident), cadence (the rising and falling inflection of the voice), coincide (to occur at the same time), cascade (small waterfall), recidivism (falling back into a life of crime)
exorbitant (adj) ex- out + orbita track, course
excessive ; exceeding the bounds of propriety or reason : She charged an exorbitant fee for only a few hours’ work.
Synonym: prohibitive
Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy), elusive (difficult to catch or achieve)
Root family: [orb] orbit (elliptical path of a satellite)
frugal (adj)
reluctant to spend money or expend resources : He was too frugal to even pay for a cab ride home.
Form: frugality = thriftiness; reluctance to expend resources
Synonyms: miserly, stingy
indigent (adj) or (n)
[1] (adj) poor; needy : We’ve donated the proceeds to a charity that provides food and shelter to the indigent of our city.
Synonyms: impecunious, destitute, insolvent, penurious
[2] (n) a poor and homeless person : Fewer indigents can be found on the streets since the city opened the new shelter and soup kitchen.
Form: indigence = poverty
Don’t confuse with: indigenous (native)
Mnemonic: During the Depression, homeless wanderers may have been disparaged as hobos or indigents, but many of them might have just considered themselves independent gentlemen.
lavish (adj) or (v)
[1] (adj) extravagant or elaborate : It was a lavish affair, elegant to the last detail.
[2] (v) to give in extravagant quantities : His aunts lavished little Stephen with attention.
Don’t confuse with: slavish (like or characteristic of a slave)
lucrative (adj) lucrum profit
highly profitable : He abandoned his lucrative banking job for a more fulfilling career in teaching.
Synonyms: remunerative, gainful
Root family: [lucr] lucre (profit, usually that which is ill-gotten)
mercenary (adj) or (n) merces payment
[1] (adj) primarily concerned with making money : When our CEO left for a higher-paying job after only six months, he was rightly castigated for being mercenary.
Synonyms: acquisitive, venal, avaricious, covetous
[2] (n) a soldier who fights for money rather than patriotism; a person concerned primarily with making money rather than with personal integrity : The general preferred to work with dedicated soldiers rather than mercenaries.
Synonym: soldier of fortune
Root family: [merc] merchant (s trader or store owner), mercantilism (belief in the benefits of profitable trading), commerce (the activity of buying and selling), merchandise (goods that are bought and sold)
opulent (adj)
ostentatiously rich or lavish : Jay Gatsby threw opulent parties at his elegant mansion.
Form: opulence = lavishness
Synonyms: grandiose, ritzy, splendid
Don’t confuse with: opalescent (exhibiting a milky iridescence, as an opal)
ostentatious (adj) ostens presented for display
intended to attract attention; characterized by vulgar and pretentious display : We decorated our house tastefully, avoiding the ostentatious Christmas displays that were so common in town.
Form: ostentation = pretentious and vulgar display
Synonyms: pretentious, flamboyant, gaudy, ornate, garish
Root family: [osten] ostensible (appearing to be true, but not necessarily so)
Don’t confuse with: austere
prodigal (adj) prodigus lavish
tending to spend resources wastefully : A prodigal manager can squander a year’s worth of careful savings in just a few weeks.
Form: prodigality = wastefulness
Synonyms: profligate, spendthrift, improvident
Root family: [prodigi] prodigy (a young person with exceptional talent), prodigious (great in size or degree)
Mnemonic: The Biblical story of the prodigal son is about a son who squanders all of his inheritance and later comes to regret it.
remuneration (n) munero to share, to give a gift
payment for services : We were unhappy with the remuneration we received for the hard work we put into the project.
Forms: remunerate = to pay someone for services, remunerative = pertaining to payment for services
Synonyms: recompense, reimbursement, compensation
Root family: [muni, muner] immunity (resistance to an infection or toxin), munificent (generous)
Don’t confuse with: enumeration (listing in numerical order)
Mnemonic: Remuneration is received money for your action.
squander (v)
to waste recklessly, particularly money or opportunity : We must not squander this opportunity to get our financial house in order.
Don’t confuse with: wander (roam)
abash (v)
to cause to feel embarrassed or ashamed : I was abashed at the sight of her photograph.
Form: abashed = embarrassed, unabashed = confidently unashamed
Don’t confuse with: bash ((v) hit forcefully; (n) a lively party)
Mnemonic: Abash means to make bashful.
alacrity (n)
cheerful eagerness : Howard accepted our invitation to brunch with alacrity.
Synonyms: ardor, fervor, dispatch
Don’t confuse with: anachronism (something out of place in time), clarity (clearness)
apathy (n) a- without + pathos suffering, emotion
lack of interest or concern : Although Glen was happy and excited about the trip, Philip’s glum apathy tempered everyone’s mood.
Form: apathetic = lacking interest or concern
Synonyms: indifference, dispassion, languor
Root family: [a-, an-] amorphous (lacking definite shape), anarchy (lack of hierarchical government)
Root family: [path, pati, pass] sympathy (feeling of sorrow for the misfortunes of another), pathology (the science of the causes and course of diseases), empathy (the ability to share the feelings of others), antipathy (hostility)
Don’t confuse with: antipathy (hostility)
apprehensive (adj) prehendere to grasp, to seize
anxious that something bad might happen : Kyra was apprehensive about entering the abandoned house.
Form: apprehension = fear that something bad might happen; the taking of a criminal suspect into custody
Synonyms: fretful, disquieted
Root family: [prehens] comprehensive (thorough and complete), reprehensible (morally objectionable)
Don’t confuse with: comprehensive (thorough and complete)
Mnemonic: The word apprehend, deriving as it does from the Latin prehendere, meaning “to grasp or seize,” means “to arrest” (apprehend a criminal) or “to perceive or understand superficially” (apprehend danger). Apprehensive, however, does not derive from either of those meanings, but rather the idea of being “seized” with fear.
ardor (n) ardere to burn
enthusiasm; passion : He has maintained the same ardor for campaigning as he had when he first ran for office.
Form: ardent = passionate
Root family: [ard, ars] arsonist (one who illegally sets fires)
Don’t confuse with: arbor (a shady alcove covered by trees or climbing plants), barter (exchange of goods or services for payment instead of money)
Mnemonic: Ardor is a burning passion (ardere = to burn).
callous (adj)
emotionally insensitive to the suffering of others : He showed callous disregard of the pain that we were going through.
Form: callousness = disregard for the suffering of others
Synonyms: ruthless, inhumane, sadistic
Don’t confuse with: callowness (immaturity)
catharsis (n)
the process of purging unwanted or unhealthy emotions : After a frustrating day at the office, kickboxing class offers a welcome catharsis.
Form: cathartic = providing an elimination of unwanted emotions
Synonyms: purgation, venting
Don’t confuse with: catheter (a tube inserted into the body to remove fluid), catechism (a summary of questions and answers summarizing the principles of the Christian religion)
complacent (adj) com- (intensive) + placent pleasing
smugly and uncritically satisfied with one’s situation : A nation should not be complacent about its security.
Form: complacency = smug self-satisfaction
Root family: [plac] placate (to appease), implacable (unable to be pleased), placid (peaceful)
Don’t confuse with: complaisant (willing to please)
Mnemonic: One who is complacent is satisfied with his or her place in the world, but one who is complaisant wants to please (plais).
ebullient (adj) e- out + bullire to boil
full of cheerful energy : Jennifer was ebullient about her acceptance to Brown.
Form: ebullience = cheerful energy
Don’t confuse with: emollient (a skin softening agent)
Mnemonic: Someone who is ebullient lets the joy bubble out (e- out + bullire to boil).
effusive (adj) e- out + fusus poured
freely expressive, particularly of emotions; pouring out : Julie was effusive in her greeting, hugging each of us like a mother bear.
Forms: effusion = an outpouring, usually of emotion
Root family: [fus, fund, found] confuse (to cause to become perplexed), confound (to fail to distinguish different elements), diffuse (spread out over a large area), fusion (the process of joining two things into a single entity), profuse (abundant), transfusion (a transfer, usually of blood, from one person or animal to another), refuse (to reject)
Don’t confuse with: elusive (difficult to find, catch, or achieve)
fervent (adj) fervere to be hot
displaying a passionate intensity : The protest rally was punctuated by several fervent speeches.
Form: fervor = intense and passionate feeling
Synonyms: vehement, zealous, fervid
Root family: [ferv] effervescent (bubbly), fervid (passionate), fever (elevated body temperature due to infection; state of nervous excitement)
Don’t confuse with: fever (elevated body temperature due to infection; state of nervous excitement)
Mnemonic/Usage: Although fervent doesn’t mean exactly the same thing as feverish, both words derive from the same Latin root and both share the meaning of “intense feeling.” In the case of fervent, the feeling is primarily emotional, but in feverish, the feeling is primarily physical.
pitifully sad and lonely : The city was filled with forlorn souls with unfulfilled dreams.
Synonyms: despondent, disconsolate, abject, melancholy
Don’t confuse with: foregone (predetermined)
grudging (adj) grouchier to grumble
given reluctantly or resentfully : Although his opponents hate to compete against him, they give him grudging respect.
Root family: [grudg, grouch] grouchy (irritable and bad-tempered), begrudge (to envy someone’s enjoyment of something)
Don’t confuse with: dredging (cleaning a riverbed by scooping)
indifferent (adj)
having no particular concern or interest : The king was indifferent to the suffering of his own people.
Form: indifference = lack of concern or interest
Synonyms: insouciant, nonchalant, dispassionate, apathetic
Don’t confuse with: not different
Mnemonic: People tend to be indifferent about those things that they think make no difference in the world.
Usage: See usage note at nonchalant in section 8.
inhibited (adj)
reluctant to act or restrained from acting in a natural way, usually because of self-consciousness : Faith felt inhibited in front of her classmates, but was very much a free spirit with her friends.
Forms: inhibit = to restrain or hinder, inhibition = self-conscious reluctance to behave naturally, uninhibited = free-spirited
Synonyms: reticent, diffident
Don’t confuse with: inhabited (occupied as a living space by a person, animal, or group)
palpable (adj) palpare to touch gently
perceivable by touch; so intense as to seem touchable : The tension in the room was palpable.
Form: palpate = to touch gently, especially to diagnose a medical condition
Mnemonic: When you go the doctor with stomach pains, the doctor palpates your stomach with his or her palm to feel the pain.
qualitative (adj)
pertaining to the quality of something rather than a measurable quantity : There has been a qualitative change in the mood of the workers ever since the new contract was signed.
resigned (adj) re- back + signare to sign officially
reluctantly accepting of an undesirable situation : We were resigned to the fact that Ms. Davis, our favorite teacher, would be absent for several weeks.
Form: resignation = reluctant acceptance of an undesirable situation
Synonyms: forbearing, stoical, acquiescent, compliant
Root family: [re-] recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)
Root family: [sign] consign (to deliver into another’s custody), designate (to appoint officially), signature (a person’s name written as an official identification mark), significant (noteworthy), assign (to allocate officially)
vehement (adj) vehere to carry
showing intense feeling : The lawyer’s accusation was met with a vehement denial.
Form: vehemence = intense feeling
Synonym: ardent
Root family: [veh, vect] vehicle (a mechanical transportation device; a means of expression), vector (a quantity with magnitude and direction; a means of transmitting disease), convection (the circulation of air by heating and cooling)
Don’t confuse with: violent (physically forceful)
Mnemonic: Vehement sounds like vehicle because they both derive from the Latin verb vehere, “to carry”: someone who is vehement is getting “carried away.”
