Vocab Chapter 9

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Vocab Chapter 9
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1. ignominy- disgrace, humiliation, shame

• When ancient Romans suffered ignominia(disgrace
  or dishonor), they were without
  name(nomen), a condition that often drove them
  to suicide.
• Synonyms dishonor, contempt, infamy

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2. aboveboard- without dishonesty or trickery

• Originally aboveboard was a gamblers term,
  referring to shuffling and holding cards above
  the table or board (an early meaning for board
  being table, as can still be seen in the
  expressions room and board and chairman of the
  board).
• Synonyms forthright(ly), straightforward(ly),
  overt(ly)
• Related word candid(ly)

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3. anecdote- brief story of an interesting or
amusing incident

• Procopius included many sensational and indecent
  incidents, probably intending that his stories
  not be revealed to the public, for he titled them
  Anecdota, from Greek an (not) ek (out)
  dotos (given).
• Synonyms sketch, fable, tale, narrative

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4. bedlam -noisy confusion

• St. Mary of Bethlehem was then converted into an
  insane asylum. In those days, visitors would
  tease and torment the inmates as if the inmates
  were wild, caged animals. The asylum became
  famous for its uproar and confusion.
• Synonyms uproar, chaos, pandemonium
• Related word tumult

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5. martinet- strict discipline

• During the reign of King Louis XIV of France,
  Colonel Martinet trained Frances army. A fierce
  disciplinarian, he developed precise drills and
  permitted not the least deviance.
• Synonyms taskmaster, slavedriver, authoritarian
• Related word tyrant

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6. indolent- lazy

• Indolentia was a Latin word meaning freedom from
  pain, formed from in (not) dolens (feeling
  pain). When indolence entered English, it kept
  this spiritual or philosophical sense, meaning a
  being insensible of pain or grief.
• Synonyms idle, inactive, slothful
• Related word lethargic

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7. meander follow a winding course wander idly
or aimlessly

• Miletus was situated at the mouth of the river
  Meander. This river, now part of Turkey, was
  noted for it twisting, turning, winding course.
  Today, we meander when following curving,
  crooked, twisting pathsbe they literal or
  figurative.
• Synonyms roam, ramble, digress
• Related word zigzag

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8. precocious- advanced beyond ones
age(especially in mental aptitude)

• Precocious derives from Latin prae (before)
  and coquere (cook). Latin praecoquere meant
  cook beforehand or ripen beforehand.
  precocious entered the English language to
  refer to flowers and fruits that ripened early.
• Synonyms smart, brilliant, gifted,
  characterizing a child prodigy

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Scapegoat -someone blamed for the faults of others

• This second goat that escaped is called a
  scapegoat in the King James Version of the
  Bible (Leviticus XVI, scape being a shortened
  form of escape.
• Synonym victim, whipping boy
• Related words martyr

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Shibboleth -password, slogan, or custom
characteristic of a certain group and used to
distinguish that group empty, outworn expression
or doctrine

• The Ephraimites could not pronounce the sh
  sound and would say sibboleth instead of
  shibboleth. This mispronunciation revealed the
  true identity of the Ephraimites.
• Synonyms Peculiarity, catchword, watchword,
  platitude

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Induce

• Persuade, bring about, cause

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Seduce

• Lead astray persuade one to do wrong persuade
  one to have sexual intercourse

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Abduct

• Carry off by force kidnap

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Traduce

• slander

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Conducive

• Leading, contributing, promoting, helpful