martinet (mahr-tə-NET′)
A strict disciplinarian who demands rigid adherence to rules and unquestioning obedience
Forms: martinetish (adj.)
Root: French proper name Jean Martinet, drillmaster under King Louis XIV
CHAPTER 11
How to Insult Your Enemies
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Introduction
There are few of us who do not need warm and nourishing relationships to lead a fulfilled life. Psychology makes clear that loving and being loved are important elements in emotional health, but also points out the necessity for expressing, rather than repressing, our hostilities. (You know how good you feel once you blow off steam? And how much closer you can become attached to someone once you directly and honestly vent your anger, resentment, or irritation instead of bottling it up and seething in fury?)
It is a mark of your own emotional maturity if you can accept hostility as well as dish it out. So let us pretend, in order to encourage you to become personally involved in the introductory ten words of this chapter, that each paragraph in the next few pages accurately describes you. What label exactly fits your personality?
Session 28: How to Insult Your Enemies
1. slave driver
You make everyone toe the mark—right down to the last centimeter. You exact blind, unquestioning obedience; demand the strictest conformity to rules, however arbitrary or tyrannical; and will not tolerate the slightest deviation from your orders. You are, in short, the very epitome of the army drill sergeant.
You are a martinet.
2. bootlicker
You toady to rich or influential people, catering to their vanity, flattering their ego. You are the personification of the traditional ward heeler, you out-yes the Hollywood yes men. And on top of all these unpleasant characteristics, you’re a complete hypocrite. All your servile attentions and unceasing adulation spring from your own selfish desires to get ahead, not out of any sincere admiration. You cultivate people of power or property so that you can curry favor at the opportune moment.
You are a sycophant.
3. dabbler
Often, though not necessarily, a person of independent income, you engage superficially in the pursuit of one of the fine arts—painting, writing, sculpturing, composing, etc. You do this largely for your own amusement and not to achieve any professional competence; nor are you at all interested in monetary rewards. Your artistic efforts are simply a means of passing time pleasantly.
You are a dilettante.
4. battle-ax
You are a loud-mouthed, shrewish, turbulent woman; you’re quarrelsome and aggressive, possessing none of those gentle and tender qualities stereotypically associated with femininity. You’re strong-minded, unyielding, sharp-tongued, and dangerous. You can curse like a stevedore and yell like a fishwife—and often do.
You are a virago.
5. superpatriot
Anything you own or belong to is better—simply because you own it or belong to it, although you will be quick to find more justifiable explanations. Your religion, whatever it may be, is far superior to any other; your political party is the only honest one; your neighborhood puts all others in the city in the shade; members of your own sex are more intelligent, more worthy, more emotionally secure, and in every way far better than people of the opposite sex; your car is faster, more fun to drive, and gets better gas mileage than any other, no matter in what price range; and of course your country and its customs leave nothing to be desired, and inhabitants of other nations are in comparison barely civilized. In short, you are exaggeratedly, aggressively, absurdly, and excessively devoted to your own affiliations—and you make no bones about advertising such prejudice.
You are a chauvinist.
6. fanatic
You have a one-track mind—and when you’re riding a particular hobby, you ride it hard. You have such an excessive, all-inclusive zeal for one thing (and it may be your business, your profession, your husband or wife, your children, your stomach, your money, or whatever) that your obsession is almost absurd. You talk, eat, sleep that one thing—to the point where you bore everyone to distraction.
You are a monomaniac.
7. attacker
You are violently against established beliefs, revered traditions, cherished customs—such, you say, stand in the way of reform and progress and are always based on superstition and irrationality. Religion, family, marriage, ethics—you weren’t there when these were started and you’re not going to conform simply because most unthinking people do.
You are an iconoclast.
8. skeptic
There is no God—that’s your position and you’re not going to budge from it.
You are an atheist.
9. self-indulger
You are, as a male, lascivious, libidinous, lustful, lewd, wanton, immoral—but more important, you promiscuously attempt to satisfy (and are often successful in so doing) your sexual desires with any woman within your arm’s reach.
You are a lecher.
10. worrier
You are always sick, though no doctor can find an organic cause for your ailments. You know you have ulcers, though medical tests show a healthy stomach. You have heart palpitations, but a cardiogram fails to show any abnormality. Your headaches are caused (you’re sure of it) by a rapidly growing brain tumor—yet X rays show nothing wrong. These maladies are not imaginary, however; to you they are most real, non-existent as they may be in fact. And as you travel from doctor to doctor futilely seeking confirmation of your imminent death, you become more and more convinced that you’re too weak to go on much longer. Organically, of course, there’s nothing the matter with you. Perhaps tensions, insecurities, or a need for attention is taking the form of simulated bodily ills.
You are a hypochondriac.
Can you pronounce the words?
- martinet (mahr-tə-NET′)
- sycophant (SIK′-ə-fənt)
- dilettante (dil′-ə-TANT)
- virago (və-RAH′-go)
- chauvinist (SHŌ′-və-nist)
- monomaniac (mon′-ə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- iconoclast (ī-KON′-ə-klast′)
- atheist (AY′-thee-ist)
- lecher (LECH′-ər)
- hypochondriac (hī′-pə-KON′-dree-ak)
Can you work with the words?
Matched: 0 / 10
Do you understand the words?
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Does a martinet condone carelessness and neglect of duty?
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Is a sycophant a sincere person?
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Is a dilettante a hard worker?
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Is a virago sweet and gentle?
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Is a chauvinist modest and self-effacing?
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Does a monomaniac have a one-track mind?
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Does an iconoclast scoff at tradition?
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Does an atheist believe in God?
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Is a lecher misogynous?
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Does a hypochondriac have a lively imagination?
Can you recall the words?
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1. a person whose emotional disorder is reflected in non-organic or imaginary bodily ailments: H__________________
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2. a strict disciplinarian: M__________________
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3. a lewd and sexually aggressive male: L__________________
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4. a toady to people of wealth or power: S__________________
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5. a disbeliever in God: A__________________
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6. a dabbler in the arts: D__________________
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7. a shrewish, loud-mouthed female: V__________________
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8. a scoffer at tradition: I__________________
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9. person with a one-track mind: M__________________
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10. a blatant superpatriot: C__________________
Can you use the words?
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1. She scoffs at beliefs you have always held dear. → __________________
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2. You know he’s hale and hearty—but he constantly complains of his illness. → __________________
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3. She insists her political affiliations are superior to yours. → __________________
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4. She insists on her subordinates toeing the mark. → __________________
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5. He makes sexual advances to everyone else’s wife—and is too often successful. → __________________
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6. He cultivates friends that can do him good—financially. → __________________
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7. She dabbles with water colors. → __________________
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8. She insists there is no Deity. → __________________
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9. She’s a shrew, a harridan, a scold, and a nag. → __________________
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10. His only interest in life is his fish collection—and he is fanatically, almost psychotically, devoted to it. → __________________
Session 29: Origins and Related Words
1. the French drillmaster
Jean Martinet was the Inspector General of Infantry during the reign of King Louis XIV—and a stricter, more fanatic drillmaster France had never seen. It was from this time that the French Army’s reputation for discipline dated, and it is from the name of this Frenchman that we derive our English word martinet. The word is always used in a derogatory sense and generally shows resentment and anger on the part of the user. The secretary who calls his boss a martinet, the wife who applies the epithet to her husband, the worker who thus refers to the foreman—these speakers all show their contempt for the excessive, inhuman discipline to which they are asked to submit.
Since martinet comes from a man’s name (in the Brief Intermission which follows we shall discover that a number of picturesque English words are similarly derived), there are no related forms built on the same root. There is an adjective martinetish (mahr-tə-NET′-ish) and another noun form, martinetism, but these are used only rarely.
2. a Greek “fig-shower”
Sycophant comes to us from the Greeks. According to Shipley’s Dictionary of Word Origins:
When a fellow wants to get a good mark, he may polish up an apple and place it on teacher’s desk; his classmates call such a lad an apple-shiner. Less complimentary localities use the term bootlicker. The Greeks had a name for it: fig-shower. Sycophant is from Gr. sykon, fig, [and] phanein, to show. This was the fellow that informed the officers in charge when (1) the figs in the sacred groves were being taken, or (2) when the Smyrna fig-dealers were dodging the tariff.
Thus, a sycophant may appear to be a sort of “stool pigeon,” since the latter curries the favor of police officials by “peaching” on his fellow criminals. Sycophants may use this means of ingratiating themselves with influential citizens of the community; or they may use flattery, servile attentions, or any other form of insinuating themselves into someone’s good graces. A sycophant practices sycophancy (SIK′-ə-fən-see), and has a sycophantic (sik-ə-FAN′-tik) attitude. All three forms of the word are highly uncomplimentary—use them with care.
Material may be so delicate or fine in texture that anything behind it will show through. The Greek prefix dia- means through; and phanein, as you now know, means to show—hence such material is called diaphanous (dī-AF′-ə-nəs). Do not use the adjective in reference to all material that is transparent (for example, you would not call glass diaphanous, even though you can see right through it), but only material that is silky, gauzy, filmy, and, in addition, transparent or practically transparent. The word is often applied to female garments—nightgowns, negligees, etc.
3. just for one’s own amusement
Dilettante is from the Italian verb dilettare, to delight. The dilettante paints, writes, composes, plays a musical instrument, or engages in scientific experiments purely for amusement—not to make money, become famous, or satisfy a deep creative urge (the latter, I presume, being the justifications for the time that professional artists, writers, composers, musicians, poets, and scientists spend at their chosen work). A dilettantish (dil-ə-TAN′-tish) attitude is superficial, unprofessional; dilettantism (dil-ə-TAN′-tiz-əm) is superficial, part-time dabbling in the type of activity that usually engages the full time and energy of the professional artist or scientist.
Do not confuse the dilettante, who has a certain amount of native talent or ability, with the tyro (TĪ′-rō), who is the inexperienced beginner in some art, but who may be full of ambition, drive, and energy. To call a person a tyro is to imply that he is just starting in some artistic, scientific, or professional field—he’s not much good yet because he has not had time to develop his skill, if any. The dilettante usually has some skill but isn’t doing much with it. On the other hand, anyone who has developed consummate skill in an artistic field, generally allied to music, is called a virtuoso (vur′-chōō-Ō′-sō)—like Heifetz or Menuhin on the violin, Horowitz or Rubinstein on the piano. Pluralize virtuoso in the normal way—virtuosos; or if you wish to sound more sophisticated, give it the continental form—virtuosi (vur′-chōō-Ō′-see). Similarly, the plural of dilettante is either dilettantes or dilettanti (dil-ə-TAN′-tee).
The -i ending for a plural is the Italian form and is common in musical circles. For example, libretto, the story (or book) of an opera, may be pluralized to libretti; concerto, a form of musical composition, is pluralized concerti. However, the Anglicized librettos and concertos are perfectly correct also. Libretto is pronounced lə-BRET′-ō; libretti is lə-BRET′-ee; concerto is kən-CHUR′-tō; and concerti is kən-CHUR′-tee. Suit your plural form, I would suggest, to the sophistication of your audience.
4. “masculine” women
Virago comes, oddly enough, from the Latin word for man, vir. Perhaps the derivation is not so odd after all; a virago, far from being stereotypically feminine (i.e., timid, delicate, low-spoken, etc.), is stereotypically masculine in personality—coarse, aggressive, loud-mouthed. Termagant (TUR′-mə-gənt) and harridan (HAIR′-ə-dən) are words with essentially the same uncomplimentary meaning as virago. To call a brawling woman a virago, a termagant, and a harridan is admittedly repetitious, but is successful in relieving one’s feelings.
5. the old man (pater, patris — father)
Nicolas Chauvin, soldier of the French Empire, so vociferously and unceasingly aired his veneration of Napoleon Bonaparte that he became the laughingstock of all Europe. Thereafter, an exaggerated and blatant patriot was known as a chauvinist—and still is today. Chauvinism (SHŌ′-və-niz-əm), by natural extension, applies to blatant veneration of, or boastfulness about, any other affiliation besides one’s country.
To be patriotic is to be normally proud of, and devoted to, one’s country—to be chauvinistic (shō-və-NIS′-tik) is to exaggerate such pride and devotion to an obnoxious degree.
We might digress here to investigate an etymological side road down which the word patriotic beckons. Patriotic is built on the Latin word pater, patris, father—one’s country is, in a sense, one’s fatherland.
Let us see what other interesting words are built on this same root.
- patrimony (PAT′-rə-mō-nee)—an inheritance from one’s father. The -mony comes from the same root that gives us money, namely Juno Moneta, the Roman goddess who guarded the temples of finance. Adjective: patrimonial (pat′-rə-MŌ′-nee-əl).
- patronymic (pat′-rə-NIM′-ik)—a name formed on the father’s name, like Johnson (son of John), Martinson, Aaronson, etc. The word combines pater, patris with Greek onyma, name. Onyma plus the Greek prefix syn-, with or together, forms synonym (SIN′-ə-nim), a word of the same name (or meaning), etymologically “a together name.” Onyma plus the prefix anti-, against, forms antonym (AN′-tə-nim), a word of opposite meaning, etymologically “an against name.” Onyma plus Greek homos, the same, forms homonym (HOM′-ə-nim), a word that sounds like another but has a different meaning and spelling, like bare—bear, way—weigh, to—too—two, etc., etymologically “a same name.” A homonym is more accurately called a homophone (HOM′-ə-fōn′), a combination of homos, the same, and phone, sound. The adjective form of synonym is synonymous (sə-NON′-ə-məs).
- paternity (pə-TUR′-nə-tee)—fatherhood, as to question someone’s paternity, to file a paternity suit in order to collect child support from the assumed, accused, or self-acknowledged father. The adjective is paternal (pə-TUR′-nəl), fatherly. Paternalism (pə-TUR′-nə-liz-əm) is the philosophy or system of governing a country, or of managing a business or institution, so that the citizens, employees, or staff are treated in a manner suggesting a father-children relationship. (Such a system sounds, and often is, benign and protective, but plays havoc with the initiative, independence, and creativity of those in subordinate roles.) The adjective is paternalistic (pə-turn′-ə-LIS′-tik).
- patriarch (PAY′-tree-ahrk′)—a venerable, fatherlike old man; an old man in a ruling, fatherlike position. Here pater, patris is combined with the Greek root archein, to rule. The adjective is patriarchal (pay′-tree-AHR′-kəl); the system is a patriarchy (PAY′-tree-ahr′-kee).
- patricide (PAT′-rə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s father. Pater, patris combines with -cide, a suffix derived from the Latin verb caedo, to kill. The adjective is patricidal (pat-rə-SĪ′-dəl).
This list does not exhaust the number of words built on pater, father, but is sufficient to give you an idea of how closely related many English words are. In your reading you will come across other words containing the letters pater or patr—you will be able to figure them out once you realize that the base is the word father. You might, if you feel ambitious, puzzle out the relationship to the “father idea” in the following words, checking with a dictionary to see how good your linguistic intuition is:
- patrician
- patron
- patronize
- patronizing (adj.)
- paterfamilias
- padre
6. the old lady (mater, matris — mother)
Pater, patris is father. Mater, matris is mother.
For example:
- matriarch (MAY′-tree-ahrk′)—the mother-ruler; the “mother person” that controls a large household, tribe, or country. This word, like patriarch, is built on the root archein, to rule. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria, England was a matriarchy (MAY′-tree-ahr′-kee). Adjective: matriarchal (may′-tree-AHR′-kəl).
- maternity (mə-TUR′-nə-tee)—motherhood.
- maternal (mə-TURN′-əl)—motherly.
- matron (MAY′-trən)—an older woman, one sufficiently mature to be a mother. The adjective matronly (MAY′-trən-lee) conjures up for many people a picture of a woman no longer in the glow of youth and possibly with a bit of added weight in the wrong places, so this word should be used with caution; it may be hazardous to your health if the lady you are so describing is of a tempestuous nature, or is a virago.
- alma mater (AL′-mə MAY′-tər or AHL′-mə MAH′-tər)—etymologically, “soul mother”; actually, the school or college from which one has graduated, and which in a sense is one’s intellectual mother.
- matrimony (MAT′-rə-mō′-nee)—marriage. Though this word is similar to patrimony in spelling, it does not refer to money, as patrimony does; unless, that is, you are cynical enough to believe that people marry for money. As the language was growing, marriage and children went hand in hand—it is therefore not surprising that the word for marriage should be built on the Latin root for mother. Of course, times have changed, but the sexist nature of the English language has not. The noun suffix -mony indicates state, condition, or result, as in sanctimony, parsimony, etc. The adjective is matrimonial (mat′-rə-MŌ′-nee-əl).
- matricide (MAT′-rə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s mother. Adjective: matricidal (mat-rə-SĪ′-dəl).
7. murder most foul (-cide words)
Murder unfortunately is an integral part of human life, so there is a word for almost every kind of killing you can think of. Let’s look at some of them.
- suicide (SŌŌ′-ə-sīd′)—killing oneself (intentionally); -cide plus sui, of oneself. This is both the act and the person who has been completely successful in performing the act (partially doesn’t count); also, in colloquial usage, suicide is a verb. Adjective: suicidal (sōō-ə-SĪ′-dəl).
- fratricide (FRAT′-rə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s brother; -cide plus frater, fratris, brother. Adjective: fratricidal (frat-rə-SĪ′-dəl).
- sororicide (sə-RAWR′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s sister; -cide plus soror, sister. Adjective: sororicidal (sə-rawr′-ə-SĪ′-dəl).
- homicide (HOM′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of a human being; -cide plus homo, person. In law, homicide is the general term for any slaying. If intent and premeditation can be proved, the act is murder and punishable as such. If no such intent is present, the act is called manslaughter and receives a lighter punishment. Thus, if your mate/lover/spouse makes your life unbearable and you slip some arsenic into his/her coffee one bright morning, you are committing murder—that is, if he/she succumbs. On the other hand, if you run your victim down—quite accidentally—with your car, bicycle, or wheelchair, with no intent to kill, you will be accused of manslaughter—that is, if death results and if you can prove you didn’t really mean it. It’s all rather delicate, however, and you might do best to put thoughts of justifiable homicide out of your mind. Adjective: homicidal (hom′-ə-SĪ′-dəl).
- regicide (REJ′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s king, president, or other governing official. Booth committed regicide when he assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Adjective: regicidal (rej′-ə-SĪ′-dəl). Derivation: Latin rex, regis, king, plus -cide.
- uxoricide (uk-SAWR′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s wife. Adjective: uxoricidal (uk-sawr′-ə-SĪ′-dəl). Derivation: Latin uxor, wife, plus -cide.
- mariticide (mə-RIT′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of one’s husband. Adjective: mariticidal (mə-rit′-ə-SĪ′-dəl). Derivation: Latin maritus, husband, plus -cide.
- infanticide (in-FAN′-tə-sīd′)—the killing of a newborn child. Adjective: infanticidal (in-fan′-tə-SĪ′-dəl). Derivation: Latin infans, infantis, baby, plus -cide.
- genocide (JEN′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of a whole race or nation. This is a comparatively new word, coined in 1944 by a UN official named Raphael Lemkin, to refer to the mass murder of the Jews, Poles, etc. ordered by Hitler. Adjective: genocidal (jen′-ə-SĪ′-dəl). Derivation: Greek genos, race, kind, plus -cide.
- parricide (PAIR′-ə-sīd′)—the killing of either or both parents. Adjective: parricidal (pair′-ə-SĪ′-dəl).
Lizzie Borden was accused of, and tried for, parricide in the 1890s, but was not convicted.
Can you pronounce the words? (Group I)
- martinetish (mahr-tə-NET′-ish)
- sycophancy (SIK′-ə-fən-see)
- sycophantic (sik′-ə-FAN′-tik)
- diaphanous (dī-AF′-ə-nəs)
- dilettanti (dil′-ə-TAN′-tee)
- dilettantism (dil-ə-TAN′-tiz-əm)
- tyro (TĪ′-rō)
- virtuoso (vur′-chōō-Ō′-sō)
- virtuosi (vur′-chōō-Ō′-see)
- termagant (TUR′-mə-gənt)
- harridan (HAIR′-ə-dən)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group II)
- chauvinism (SHŌ′-və-niz-əm)
- chauvinistic (shō-və-NIS′-tik)
- patrimony (PAT′-rə-mō-nee)
- patronymic (pat′-rə-NIM′-ik)
- synonym (SIN′-ə-nim)
- synonymous (sə-NON′-ə-məs)
- antonym (AN′-tə-nim)
- antonymous (an-TON′-ə-məs)
- homonym (HOM′-ə-nim)
- homonymous (hə-MON′-ə-məs)
- homophone (HOM′-ə-fōn′)
- homophonous (hə-MOF′-ə-nəs)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group III)
- paternity (pə-TUR′-nə-tee)
- paternal (pə-TUR′-nəl)
- paternalism (pə-TUR′-nə-liz-əm)
- paternalistic (pə-turn′-ə-LIS′-tik)
- patriarch (PAY′-tree-ahrk′)
- patriarchal (pay′-tree-AHR′-kəl)
- patriarchy (PAY′-tree-ahr′-kee)
- patricide (PAT′-rə-sīd′)
- patricidal (pat′-rə-SĪ′-dəl)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group IV)
- matriarch (MAY′-tree-ahrk′)
- matriarchy (MAY′-tree-ahr′-kee)
- matriarchal (may′-tree-AHR′-kəl)
- maternity (mə-TUR′-nə-tee)
- maternal (mə-TURN′-əl)
- matron (MAY′-trən)
- matronly (MAY′-trən-lee)
- alma mater (AL′-mə MAY′-tər)
- matrimony (MAT′-rə-mō-nee)
- matrimonial (mat-rə-MŌ′-nee-əl)
- matricide (MAT′-rə-sīd′)
- matricidal (mat-rə-SĪ′-dəl)
Can you pronounce the words? (Groups V & VI)
- suicide (SŌŌ′-ə-sīd′)
- suicidal (sōō-ə-SĪ′-dəl)
- fratricide (FRAT′-rə-sīd′)
- sororicide (sə-RAWR′-ə-sīd′)
- homicide (HOM′-ə-sīd′)
- homicidal (hom′-ə-SĪ′-dəl)
- regicide (REJ′-ə-sīd′)
- uxoricide (uk-SAWR′-ə-sīd′)
- mariticide (mə-RIT′-ə-sīd′)
- infanticide (in-FAN′-tə-sīd′)
- genocide (JEN′-ə-sīd′)
- parricide (PAIR′-ə-sīd′)
Can you work with the words? (Match I)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match II)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match III)
Matched: 0 / 9
Can you work with the words? (Match IV)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match V)
Matched: 0 / 10
Do you understand the words?
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Does a sycophantic attitude show sincere admiration?
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Is a diaphanous gown revealing?
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Does dilettantism show firmness and tenacity?
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Is a tyro particularly skillful?
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Is a violin virtuoso an accomplished musician?
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Is a termagant a pleasant person?
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Does chauvinism show modesty?
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Does a substantial patrimony obviate financial insecurity?
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If you know a person’s patronymic can you deduce his father’s name?
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Is a patriarch a male?
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Does a matriarch have a good deal of power?
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Does fratricide mean murder of one’s sister?
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Did the assassin of Abraham Lincoln commit regicide?
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Do dictators and tyrants sometimes commit genocide?
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Are an uxoricidal husband and his mariticidal wife likely to have a peaceful and affectionate marriage?
Can you recall the words? (I)
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1. father-killing (noun): P__________________
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2. wife-killing (noun): U__________________
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3. mature woman: M__________________
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4. toadying to people of influence (adj.): S__________________
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5. skilled musician: V__________________
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6. exaggerated patriotism: C__________________
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7. turbulent female (any of three): T__________________ or H__________________ or V__________________
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8. name derived from father’s name: P__________________
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9. powerful father figure in a ruling position: P__________________
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10. powerful mother figure in a ruling position: M__________________
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11. motherly: M__________________
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12. motherhood: M__________________
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13. marriage: M__________________
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14. one’s school or college: A__________________
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15. attitude of catering to wealth or prestige (noun): S__________________
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16. killing of a race or nation: G__________________
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17. dabbling in the fine arts (noun): D__________________
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18. a beginner in a field: T__________________
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19. plural of virtuoso (Italian form): V__________________
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20. having an attitude of excessive patriotism (adj.): C__________________
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21. inheritance from father: P__________________
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22. sheer, transparent: D__________________
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23. mother-killing (noun): M__________________
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24. brother-killing (noun): F__________________
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25. sister-killing (noun): S__________________
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26. killing of a human being: H__________________
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27. killing of one’s ruler: R__________________
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28. killing of a baby: I__________________
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29. killing of one’s husband: M__________________
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30. killing of either parent or of both parents: P__________________
Can you recall the words? (II)
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1. words of similar meaning: S__________________s
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2. words of opposite meaning: A__________________s
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3. words of the same sound: H__________________s or H__________________s
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4. fatherly: P__________________
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5. protective and fatherly toward subordinates (adj.): P__________________
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6. older woman: M__________________
-
7. self-destructive: S__________________
-
8. meaning the same (adj.): S__________________
-
9. having opposite meanings (adj.): A__________________
-
10. sounding the same but spelled differently (adj.): H__________________ or H__________________
Session 30: Origins and Related Words (Group 2)
1. brothers and sisters, wives and husbands
Frater, brother; soror, sister; uxor, wife; and maritus, husband—these roots are the source of additional English words:
- fraternize (FRAT′-ər-nīz′)—to have a brotherly relationship; to socialize. Noun: fraternization (frat′-ər-nə-ZAY′-shən).
- fraternal (frə-TUR′-nəl)—brotherly. Also designates non-identical twins.
- fraternity (frə-TUR′-nə-tee)—a men’s organization in a high school or college; or any group of people of similar interests or profession.
- sorority (sə-RAWR′-ə-tee)—a women’s organization in high school or college.
- uxorious (uk-SAWR′-ee-əs)—an adjective describing a man who excessively caters to, dotes on, and submits to the most outlandish demands of, his wife. Noun: uxoriousness (uk-SAWR′-ee-əs-nəs). Related: uxorial (uk-SAWR′-ee-əl)—pertaining to a wife.
- marital (MAIR′-ə-təl)—pertaining to or characteristic of marriage. Hence extramarital (ek′-strə-MAIR′-ə-təl)—outside the marriage; and premarital (pree-MAIR′-ə-təl)—before marriage.
2. of cabbages and kings (rex, regis — king)
Rex, regis is Latin for king. Regal (REE′-gəl) is royal, or fit for a king—magnificent, stately, imperious, splendid. The noun is regality (rə-GAL′-ə-tee).
Regalia (rə-GAYL′-yə), a plural noun, refers to the emblems, insignia, or dress of a king, and now refers to any impressively formal clothes, or the decorations and insignia of a rank, position, or office.
3. “madness” of all sorts (Greek mania)
Psychology recognizes many abnormal states, all designating obsessions, built on Greek mania, madness:
- dipsomania (dip′-sə-MAY′-nee-ə)—morbid compulsion to keep absorbing alcoholic beverages. From Greek dipsa, thirst. Person: dipsomaniac; adjective: dipsomaniacal (dip′-sə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl).
- kleptomania (klep′-tə-MAY′-nee-ə)—morbid compulsion to steal, not from any economic motive, but simply because the urge is irresistible. From Greek klepte, thief. Person: kleptomaniac; adjective: kleptomaniacal (klep′-tə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl).
- pyromania (pī′-rə-MAY′-nee-ə)—morbid compulsion to set fires. From Greek pyros, fire. Person: pyromaniac; adjective: pyromaniacal (pī′-rə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl). Contrast with incendiarism (in-SEN′-dee-ə-riz-əm)—malicious and deliberate burning of property, generally for revenge; person: incendiary (in-SEN′-dee-air-ee). And arson (AHR′-sən)—the felony of setting fire to property for economic gain (to collect insurance, etc.); person: arsonist (AHR′-sə-nist).
- megalomania (meg′-ə-lə-MAY′-nee-ə)—morbid delusions of grandeur, power, importance, godliness. From Greek megas, great. Person: megalomaniac; adjective: megalomaniacal (meg′-ə-lə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl).
- nymphomania (nim′-fə-MAY′-nee-ə)—morbid, incessant, uncontrollable desire for sexual intercourse on the part of a female. From Greek nymphe, bride. Person: nymphomaniac; adjective: nymphomaniacal (nim′-fə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl).
- satyromania (sə-teer′-ə-MAY′-nee-ə)—the same morbid desire on the part of a male. From Greek satyros, satyr. Also called satyriasis (sat′-ə-RĪ′-ə-sis). Person: satyromaniac; adjective: satyromaniacal (sə-teer′-ə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl).
4. and now phobias (Greek phobia — morbid dread)
Just as personality disorders can cause morbid attraction toward certain things, other emotional ills can cause violent or morbid repulsions. Such morbid dread or fear is called a phobia:
- claustrophobia (klaw′-strə-FŌ′-bee-ə)—morbid dread of being physically hemmed in, of enclosed spaces, of crowds. From Latin claustrum, enclosed place. Person: claustrophobe (KLAW′-strə-fōb′); adjective: claustrophobic (klaw′-strə-FŌ′-bik).
- agoraphobia (ag′-ə-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)—morbid dread of open space, the reverse of claustrophobia. From Greek agora, market place. Person: agoraphobe (AG′-ə-rə-fōb′); adjective: agoraphobic (ag′-ə-rə-FŌ′-bik).
- acrophobia (ak′-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)—morbid dread of high places. From Greek akros, highest. Person: acrophobe (AK′-rə-fōb′); adjective: acrophobic (ak′-rə-FŌ′-bik).
Can you pronounce the words? (Group I)
- fraternize (FRAT′-ər-nīz′)
- fraternization (frat′-ər-nə-ZAY′-shən)
- fraternal (frə-TUR′-nəl)
- fraternity (frə-TUR′-nə-tee)
- sorority (sə-RAWR′-ə-tee)
- uxorious (uk-SAWR′-ee-əs)
- uxorial (uk-SAWR′-ee-əl)
- marital (MAIR′-ə-təl)
- extramarital (ek′-strə-MAIR′-ə-təl)
- premarital (pree-MAIR′-ə-təl)
- regal (REE′-gəl)
- regality (rə-GAL′-ə-tee)
- regalia (rə-GAYL′-yə)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group II)
- monomania (mon′-ə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- monomaniacal (mon′-ə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- dipsomania (dip′-sə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- dipsomaniac (dip′-sə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- dipsomaniacal (dip′-sə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- kleptomania (klep′-tə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- kleptomaniac (klep′-tə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- kleptomaniacal (klep′-tə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- pyromania (pī′-rə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- pyromaniac (pī′-rə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- pyromaniacal (pī′-rə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group III)
- incendiarism (in-SEN′-dee-ə-riz-əm)
- incendiary (in-SEN′-dee-air-ee)
- arson (AHR′-sən)
- arsonist (AHR′-sə-nist)
- megalomania (meg′-ə-lə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- megalomaniac (meg′-ə-lə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- megalomaniacal (meg′-ə-lə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- nymphomania (nim′-fə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- nymphomaniac (nim′-fə-MAY′-nee-ak)
- nymphomaniacal (nim′-fə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- satyromania (sə-teer′-ə-MAY′-nee-ə)
- satyromaniacal (sə-teer′-ə-mə-NĪ′-ə-kəl)
- satyriasis (sat′-ə-RĪ′-ə-sis)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group IV)
- claustrophobia (klaw′-strə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
- claustrophobe (KLAW′-strə-fōb′)
- claustrophobic (klaw′-strə-FŌ′-bik)
- agoraphobia (ag′-ə-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
- agoraphobe (AG′-ə-rə-fōb′)
- agoraphobic (ag′-ə-rə-FŌ′-bik)
- acrophobia (ak′-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
- acrophobe (AK′-rə-fōb′)
- acrophobic (ak′-rə-FŌ′-bik)
Can you work with the words? (Match I)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match II)
Matched: 0 / 4
Can you work with the words? (Match III)
Matched: 0 / 8
Do you understand the words?
-
Is a sorority a men’s organization?
-
Is an uxorious husband likely to be psychologically dependent on his wife?
-
Are extramarital affairs adulterous?
-
Do VIPs often receive regal treatment?
-
Is an admiral of the fleet in regalia informally dressed?
-
Do monomaniacal people have varied interests?
-
Can a dipsomaniac safely indulge in social drinking?
-
Do people of pyromaniacal tendencies fear fire?
-
Is incendiarism an uncontrollable impulse?
-
Does an arsonist expect a reward for his actions?
-
Is it necessary to seduce a nymphomaniac?
-
Do megalomaniacs have low opinions of themselves?
-
Is a satyromaniac lecherous?
-
Does a claustrophobe enjoy cramped quarters?
-
Would an agoraphobe be comfortable in a small cell-like room?
-
Does an acrophobe enjoy mountain-climbing?
Can you recall the words?
-
1. to socialize: F__________________
-
2. excessively indulgent to, and doting on, one’s wife: U__________________
-
3. full dress, with ribbons, insignia, badges of office: R__________________
-
4. obsessed in one area (adj.): M__________________
-
5. having a compulsion to set fires (adj.): P__________________
-
6. having a psychological compulsion to steal (adj.): K__________________
-
7. person who sets fires for revenge: I__________________
-
8. felony of putting the torch to property for economic profit: A__________________
-
9. obsessive need for sexual gratification by a male: S__________________ or S__________________
-
10. morbidly dreading enclosed or cramped places (adj.): C__________________
-
11. morbidly dreading heights (adj.): A__________________
-
12. morbidly dreading wide-open spaces (adj.): A__________________
-
13. having delusions of grandeur or power (adj.): M__________________
-
14. referring to a female who obsessively needs sexual gratification (adj.): N__________________
-
15. alcoholism: D__________________
-
16. brotherly: F__________________
-
17. characteristic of, or befitting, a wife: U__________________
-
18. referring to, characteristic of, or involved in, the matrimonial relationship: M__________________
-
19. kingly; royal; splendid: R__________________
-
20. outside the marriage (adj.): E__________________
-
21. before marriage (adj.): P__________________
Session 31: Origins and Related Words (Group 3)
1. no reverence (iconoclast)
The iconoclast sneers at convention and tradition, attempts to expose our cherished beliefs and stereotypical thinking as shams and myths. Adolescence is that confused and rebellious time in which iconoclasm (ī-KON′-ə-klaz′-əm) is quite normal. The words are from Greek eikon, a religious image, plus klaein, to break. The adjective is iconoclastic (ī-kon′-ə-KLAS′-tik).
2. is there a God? (atheist / agnostic)
Atheist combines the Greek negative prefix a- with theos, God. Do not confuse atheism (AY′-thee-iz-əm) with agnosticism (ag-NOS′-tə-siz-əm), the philosophy that claims that God is unknowable. The agnostic (ag-NOS′-tik) does not deny the existence of a deity, as does the atheist, but simply holds that no proof can be adduced one way or the other.
3. how to know (gnosis — knowledge)
Agnostic is built on the Greek root gnostos, known, and the negative prefix a-. A diagnosis (dī-əg-NŌ′-sis), constructed on the allied Greek root gnosis, knowledge, plus dia-, through, is a knowing through examination or testing. A prognosis (prog-NŌ′-sis), on the other hand, is etymologically a knowing beforehand—a prediction about the course of a disease (Greek prefix pro-, before, plus gnosis).
The verb form of diagnosis is diagnose (DĪ′-əg-nōs′); the verb form of prognosis is prognosticate (prog-NOS′-tə-kayt′). The noun of prognosticate is prognostication (prog-nos′-tə-KAY′-shən). The medical specialist in diagnosis is a diagnostician (dī′-əg-nos-TISH′-ən). The adjective is diagnostic (dī′-əg-NOS′-tik).
4. getting back to God (theos)
Theos, God, is also found in:
- monotheism (MON′-ə-thee-iz-əm)—belief in one God. Person: monotheist (MON′-ə-thee′-ist); adjective: monotheistic (mon′-ə-thee-IS′-tik).
- polytheism (POL′-ee-thee-iz-əm)—belief in many gods. Person: polytheist; adjective: polytheistic (pol′-ee-thee-IS′-tik).
- pantheism (PAN′-thee-iz-əm)—belief that God is not in man’s image, but is a combination of all forces of the universe. Person: pantheist; adjective: pantheistic (pan′-thee-IS′-tik).
- theology (thee-OL′-ə-jee)—the study of God and religion. Student: theologian (thee′-ə-LŌ′-jən); adjective: theological (thee′-ə-LOJ′-ə-kəl).
5. of sex and the tongue (lecher)
A lecher practices lechery (LECH′-ər-ee). The derivation is Old French lechier, to lick. The adjective lecherous (LECH′-ər-əs) has many close synonyms, most starting with the letter l:
- libidinous (lə-BID′-ə-nəs)—from libido, pleasure.
- lascivious (lə-SIV′-ee-əs)—from lascivia, wantonness.
- lubricious (lōō-BRISH′-əs)—from lubricus, slippery. Noun: lubricity (lōō-BRIS′-ə-tee).
- licentious (lī-SEN′-shəs)—from licere, to be permitted.
- lewd—from Anglo-Saxon lewed, vile.
- lustful—from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning pleasure, desire. Noun: lust.
6. of sex and the itch (prurient)
Prurient (PRŏŏR′-ee-ənt), from Latin prurio, to itch, to long for, describes someone who is filled with great sexual curiosity, desire, longing, etc. Noun: prurience (PRŏŏR′-ee-əns).
Pruritis (prŏŏr-Ī′-tis), from the same root, is a medical condition in which the skin is very itchy but without a rash. Adjective: pruritic (prŏŏr-IT′-ik).
7. under and over (hypos/hyper)
Hypochondria (hī-pə-KON′-dree-ə) is built on two Greek roots: hypos, under, and chondros, the cartilage of the breastbone. The ancient Greeks believed that morbid anxiety about one’s health arose in the abdomen. Adjective forms: hypochondriacal (hī′-pə-kən-DRĪ′-ə-kəl).
Hypos, under, gives us: hypotension (hī′-pō-TEN′-shən)—abnormally low blood pressure. Adjective: hypotensive.
Hyper, Greek for over, gives us: hypertension (hī′-pər-TEN′-shən)—high blood pressure. Adjective: hypertensive.
Can you pronounce the words? (Group I)
- iconoclasm (ī-KON′-ə-klaz-əm)
- iconoclastic (ī-kon′-ə-KLAS′-tik)
- atheism (AY′-thee-iz-əm)
- atheistic (ay′-thee-IS′-tik)
- agnostic (ag-NOS′-tik)
- agnosticism (ag-NOS′-tə-siz-əm)
- diagnosis (dī′-əg-NŌ′-sis)
- diagnose (DĪ′-əg-nōs′)
- diagnostic (dī′-əg-NOS′-tik)
- diagnostician (dī′-əg-nos-TISH′-ən)
- prognosis (prog-NŌ′-sis)
- prognostic (prog-NOS′-tik)
- prognosticate (prog-NOS′-tə-kayt′)
- prognostication (prog-nos′-tə-KAY′-shən)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group II)
- monotheism (MON′-ə-thee-iz-əm)
- monotheist (MON′-ə-thee′-ist)
- monotheistic (mon′-ə-thee-IS′-tik)
- polytheism (POL′-ee-thee-iz-əm)
- polytheist (POL′-ee-thee′-ist)
- polytheistic (pol′-ee-thee-IS′-tik)
- pantheism (PAN′-thee-iz-əm)
- pantheist (PAN′-thee-ist)
- pantheistic (pan′-thee-IS′-tik)
- theology (thee-OL′-ə-jee)
- theologian (thee′-ə-LŌ′-jən)
- theological (thee′-ə-LOJ′-ə-kəl)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group III)
- lechery (LECH′-ər-ee)
- lecherous (LECH′-ər-əs)
- libidinous (lə-BID′-ə-nəs)
- lascivious (lə-SIV′-ee-əs)
- lubricious (lōō-BRISH′-əs)
- lubricity (lōō-BRIS′-ə-tee)
- licentious (lī-SEN′-shəs)
- lustful (LUST′-fəl)
Can you pronounce the words? (Group IV)
- prurient (PRŏŏR′-ee-ənt)
- prurience (PRŏŏR′-ee-əns)
- pruritis (prŏŏr-Ī′-tis)
- pruritic (prŏŏr-IT′-ik)
- hypochondria (hī-pə-KON′-dree-ə)
- hypochondriacal (hī′-pə-kən-DRĪ′-ə-kəl)
- hypotension (hī′-pō-TEN′-shən)
- hypertension (hī′-pər-TEN′-shən)
- hypotensive (hī′-pō-TEN′-siv)
- hypertensive (hī′-pər-TEN′-siv)
Can you work with the words? (Match I)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match II)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match III)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match IV)
Matched: 0 / 10
Can you work with the words? (Match V)
Matched: 0 / 11
Can you recall the words? (I — Manias and Phobias)
-
1. single fixed obsession: M__________________
-
2. irresistible compulsion to set fires: P__________________
-
3. unceasing desire, on the part of a woman, for sexual intercourse: N__________________
-
4. obsessive desire to steal: K__________________
-
5. delusions of grandeur: M__________________
-
6. alcoholism: D__________________
-
7. compulsion for sexual intercourse by a male: S__________________ or S__________________
-
8. dread of heights: A__________________
-
9. dread of open spaces: A__________________
-
10. dread of cramped quarters: C__________________
Can you recall the words? (II — Sexuality adjectives)
Write seven adjectives, all starting with L, more or less meaning “sexually immoral, desirous”; write the adjective starting with P meaning “sexually curious or longing.”
-
1. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
2. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
3. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
4. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
5. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
6. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
7. L__________________ (any of the seven)
-
8. P__________________ (sexually curious or longing)
Can you recall the words? (III — God)
-
1. study of religion: T__________________
-
2. belief that God is the sum total of natural forces: P__________________
-
3. belief that there is no God: A__________________
-
4. belief that God’s existence is unknowable: A__________________
-
5. belief in one God: M__________________
-
6. belief in many gods: P__________________
Can you recall the words? (IV)
-
1. morbid anxiety about one’s health: H__________________
-
2. high blood pressure: H__________________
-
3. malicious fire-setting: I__________________
-
4. the felony of setting fire for economic gain: A__________________
-
5. sneering contempt for convention or tradition: I__________________
-
6. a forecast of development (of a disease, etc.): P__________________
-
7. designed to discover causes or conditions (adj.): D__________________
-
8. abnormally low blood pressure: H__________________
-
9. to forecast (probable future developments) by examining present conditions: P__________________
-
10. to determine the nature of a disease or condition by examination: D__________________
-
11. the act of forecasting (probable future developments): P__________________
-
12. doctor who is an expert at recognizing the nature of a disease: D__________________
-
13. having, or referring to, high blood pressure: H__________________
-
14. having, or referring to, abnormally low blood pressure: H__________________
-
15. one who studies religion: T__________________
Chapter Review
A. Do you recognize the words?
-
1. Disciplinarian: (a) martinet (b) virago (c) dilettante
-
2. Bootlicker: (a) chauvinist (b) sycophant (c) lecher
-
3. Scoffer at tradition: (a) monomaniac (b) hypochondriac (c) iconoclast
-
4. Disbeliever in God: (a) agnostic (b) atheist (c) chauvinist
-
5. Accomplished musician: (a) tyro (b) dilettante (c) virtuoso
-
6. Sheer, flimsy: (a) diaphanous (b) uxorious (c) paternal
-
7. Abusive woman: (a) termagant (b) virtuoso (c) matriarch
-
8. Murder of one’s wife: (a) genocide (b) uxoricide (c) sororicide
-
9. Old man in ruling position: (a) matriarch (b) patricide (c) patriarch
-
10. Morbid compulsion to steal: (a) dipsomania (b) nymphomania (c) kleptomania
-
11. Delusions of grandeur: (a) megalomania (b) egomania (c) pyromania
-
12. Lewd, lustful: (a) prurient (b) agnostic (c) hypochondriac
-
13. Belief in many gods: (a) polytheism (b) monotheism (c) agnosticism
-
14. Setting fire for economic gain: (a) pyromania (b) incendiarism (c) arson
-
15. Morbid fear of heights: (a) agoraphobia (b) acrophobia (c) claustrophobia
-
16. High blood pressure: (a) hypotension (b) hypertension (c) hypochondria
-
17. Abnormal need for sexual intercourse by a male: (a) lechery (b) lubricity (c) satyriasis
B. Can you recognize roots?
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sykon | fig | sycophant |
| phanein | to show | diaphanous |
| vir | man (male) | virago |
| pater, patris | father | paternal |
| onyma | name | synonym |
| homos | the same | homonym |
| phone | sound | homophone |
| archein | to rule | matriarchy |
| mater, matris | mother | maternity |
| alma | soul | alma mater |
| sui | of oneself | suicide |
| caedo (-cide) | to kill, killing | parricide |
| frater, fratris | brother | fraternity |
| soror | sister | sorority |
| homo | person | homicide |
| rex, regis | king | regal |
| uxor | wife | uxorious |
| maritus | husband | mariticide |
| infans, infantis | baby | infanticide |
| genos | race, kind | genocide |
| mania | madness | monomania |
| monos | one | monomania |
| dipsa | thirst | dipsomania |
| klepte | thief | kleptomania |
| pyros | fire | pyromania |
| incendo, incensus | to set fire | incendiarism |
| ardo, arsus | to burn | arson |
| mega | great, large | megalomaniac |
| satyros | satyr | satyriasis |
| nymphe | bride | nymphomaniac |
| claustrum | enclosed place | claustrophobia |
| agora | market place | agoraphobia |
| akros | highest | acrophobia |
| phobia | morbid dread | zoophobia |
| eikon | religious image | iconoclastic |
| klaein | to break | iconoclasm |
| theos | God | monotheism |
| gnostos | known | agnostic |
| gnosis | knowledge | prognosis |
| polys | many | polytheism |
| pan | all | pantheism |
| logos | science, study | theology |
| prurio | to itch, to long for | pruritis |
| hypos | under | hypotension |
| hyper | over | hypertension |
Magazines That Will Help You
When a pregnant woman takes calcium pills, she must make sure also that her diet is rich in vitamin D, since this vitamin makes the absorption of the calcium possible. In building your vocabulary by learning great quantities of new words, you too must take a certain vitamin, metaphorically speaking, to help you absorb, understand, and remember these words. This vitamin is reading—for it is in books and magazines that you will find the words that we have been discussing in these pages.
Among magazines, I would like particularly to recommend the following, which will act both to keep you mentally alert and to set the new words you are learning:
- Harper’s Magazine
- Atlantic Monthly
- The New Yorker
- Time
- Newsweek
- Esquire
- Psychology Today
- Saturday Review
- Ms.
- Mother Jones
- Signs
- National Geographic
- Smithsonian
- Human Nature
- Scientific American
- Natural History
These periodicals are aimed at the alert, verbally sophisticated, educated reader; you will see in them, without fail, most of the words you have been studying in this book—not to mention hosts of other valuable words you will want to add to your vocabulary.
Word List
All primary words and derived forms from Chapter 11, Sessions 28–31.
sycophant (SIK′-ə-fənt)
A flatterer who seeks advantage by catering to people of wealth or power; a toady
Forms: sycophancy (n.) sycophantic (adj.)
Root: Greek sykon (fig) + phanein — “to show”
dilettante (dil′-ə-TANT)
A person who dabbles in the arts for amusement rather than professional seriousness
Forms: dilettantism (n.) dilettantish (adj.) dilettanti (pl.)
Root: Italian dilettare — “to delight”
virago (və-RAH′-go)
A loud-mouthed, quarrelsome, turbulent woman; a shrewish, aggressive female
Root: Latin vir — “man”
chauvinist (SHŌ′-və-nist)
A person who is exaggeratedly, blindly, and aggressively devoted to one’s country, group, or cause
Forms: chauvinism (n.) chauvinistic (adj.)
Root: Nicolas Chauvin, French soldier famous for his devotion to Napoleon
monomaniac (mon′-ə-MAY′-nee-ak)
A person obsessively fixated on a single idea or interest to an excessive degree
Forms: monomania (n.) monomaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek monos (one) + mania — “madness”
iconoclast (ī-KON′-ə-klast′)
One who attacks and seeks to destroy cherished beliefs, revered traditions, or established institutions
Forms: iconoclasm (n.) iconoclastic (adj.)
Root: Greek eikon (religious image) + klaein — “to break”
atheist (AY′-thee-ist)
A person who disbelieves in the existence of God or any gods
Forms: atheism (n.) atheistic (adj.)
Root: Greek a- (not) + theos — “God”
lecher (LECH′-ər)
A man given to habitual lewdness; a person who is excessively or lustfully sexual
Forms: lechery (n.) lecherous (adj.)
Root: Old French lechier — “to lick”
hypochondriac (hī′-pə-KON′-dree-ak)
A person who is morbidly anxious about health, imagining bodily ailments without organic cause
Forms: hypochondria (n.) hypochondriacal (adj.)
Root: Greek hypos (under) + chondros — “cartilage of the breastbone”
diaphanous (dī-AF′-ə-nəs)
Delicately transparent or translucent; filmy, gauzy, and light in texture
Root: Greek dia- (through) + phanein — “to show”
tyro (TĪ′-rō)
An inexperienced beginner or novice in some art, field, or activity
Root: Latin tiro — “recruit, beginner”
virtuoso (vur′-chōō-Ō′-sō)
A person with consummate skill, especially a master musician; one of exceptional technical ability
Forms: virtuosi (pl.)
Root: Italian, from Latin virtuosus — “virtuous, skilled”
termagant (TUR′-mə-gənt)
A loud-mouthed, quarrelsome, brawling woman; a virago or harridan
Root: From a fictional violent Islamic deity in medieval European literature
harridan (HAIR′-ə-dən)
A strict, bossy, unpleasant, shrewish woman; a virago or termagant
Root: Possibly French haridelle — “worn-out horse, hag”
patrimony (PAT′-rə-mō-nee)
Property or estate inherited from one’s father or male ancestors
Forms: patrimonial (adj.)
Root: Latin pater, patris (father) + -mony (state, condition)
patronymic (pat′-rə-NIM′-ik)
A name derived from the name of one’s father or paternal ancestor
Root: Latin pater, patris (father) + Greek onyma — “name”
synonym (SIN′-ə-nim)
A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word
Forms: synonymous (adj.)
Root: Greek syn- (with, together) + onyma — “name”
antonym (AN′-tə-nim)
A word having an opposite or contrary meaning to another word
Forms: antonymous (adj.)
Root: Greek anti- (against) + onyma — “name”
homonym (HOM′-ə-nim)
A word that sounds the same or is spelled the same as another but has a different meaning
Forms: homonymous (adj.)
Root: Greek homos (same) + onyma — “name”
homophone (HOM′-ə-fōn′)
A word that sounds the same as another but differs in meaning and often in spelling
Forms: homophonous (adj.)
Root: Greek homos (same) + phone — “sound”
paternity (pə-TUR′-nə-tee)
The state of being a father; fatherhood; descent from a father
Forms: paternal (adj.) paternalism (n.) paternalistic (adj.)
Root: Latin pater, patris — “father”
patriarch (PAY′-tree-ahrk′)
A venerable elderly man in a ruling or father-figure position; the head of a family, tribe, or church
Forms: patriarchal (adj.) patriarchy (n.)
Root: Latin pater, patris (father) + Greek archein — “to rule”
patricide (PAT′-rə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own father
Forms: patricidal (adj.)
Root: Latin pater, patris (father) + -cide — “killing”
matriarch (MAY′-tree-ahrk′)
A woman who is head of a family, tribe, or state; a dominant or powerful older woman
Forms: matriarchal (adj.) matriarchy (n.)
Root: Latin mater, matris (mother) + Greek archein — “to rule”
maternity (mə-TUR′-nə-tee)
The state of being a mother; motherhood; of or relating to pregnancy and childbirth
Forms: maternal (adj.)
Root: Latin mater, matris — “mother”
matron (MAY′-trən)
A married or widowed woman, especially one who is dignified, mature, or in a supervisory role
Forms: matronly (adj.)
Root: Latin mater, matris — “mother”
alma mater (AL′-mə MAY′-tər)
The school, college, or university that one attended; literally, “nourishing mother”
Root: Latin alma (nourishing) + mater — “mother”
matrimony (MAT′-rə-mō-nee)
The institution of marriage; the married state or condition
Forms: matrimonial (adj.)
Root: Latin mater, matris (mother) + -mony (state, condition)
matricide (MAT′-rə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own mother
Forms: matricidal (adj.)
Root: Latin mater, matris (mother) + -cide — “killing”
suicide (SŌŌ′-ə-sīd′)
The act of deliberately and intentionally killing oneself
Forms: suicidal (adj.)
Root: Latin sui (of oneself) + -cide — “killing”
fratricide (FRAT′-rə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own brother
Forms: fratricidal (adj.)
Root: Latin frater, fratris (brother) + -cide — “killing”
sororicide (sə-RAWR′-ə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own sister
Forms: sororicidal (adj.)
Root: Latin soror (sister) + -cide — “killing”
homicide (HOM′-ə-sīd′)
The killing of one human being by another; the general legal term for any slaying
Forms: homicidal (adj.)
Root: Latin homo (person, human) + -cide — “killing”
regicide (REJ′-ə-sīd′)
The act of killing a king, president, or other ruling sovereign
Forms: regicidal (adj.)
Root: Latin rex, regis (king) + -cide — “killing”
uxoricide (uk-SAWR′-ə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own wife
Forms: uxoricidal (adj.)
Root: Latin uxor (wife) + -cide — “killing”
mariticide (mə-RIT′-ə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s own husband
Forms: mariticidal (adj.)
Root: Latin maritus (husband) + -cide — “killing”
infanticide (in-FAN′-tə-sīd′)
The act of killing an infant; the practice of killing newborn children
Forms: infanticidal (adj.)
Root: Latin infans, infantis (baby) + -cide — “killing”
genocide (JEN′-ə-sīd′)
The systematic extermination of an entire ethnic, national, racial, or religious group
Forms: genocidal (adj.)
Root: Greek genos (race, kind) + -cide — “killing”
parricide (PAIR′-ə-sīd′)
The act of killing one’s father, mother, or both parents
Forms: parricidal (adj.)
Root: Latin parricida — “killer of a parent”
fraternize (FRAT′-ər-nīz′)
To associate or socialize with others, especially those of another group or social category
Forms: fraternization (n.)
Root: Latin frater, fratris — “brother”
fraternal (frə-TUR′-nəl)
Of or relating to brothers; brotherly; designating non-identical twins
Root: Latin frater, fratris — “brother”
fraternity (frə-TUR′-nə-tee)
A brotherhood; a men’s organization, especially in a college; any group sharing common interests
Root: Latin frater, fratris — “brother”
sorority (sə-RAWR′-ə-tee)
A women’s organization, especially in a college; a sisterhood or women’s social club
Root: Latin soror — “sister”
uxorious (uk-SAWR′-ee-əs)
Excessively devoted to, indulgent of, or submissive to one’s wife
Forms: uxoriousness (n.) uxorial (adj.)
Root: Latin uxor — “wife”
marital (MAIR′-ə-təl)
Of or relating to marriage; pertaining to husband and wife
Forms: extramarital (adj.) premarital (adj.)
Root: Latin maritus — “husband”
regal (REE′-gəl)
Of or befitting a king; royal; magnificent, stately, and splendid
Forms: regality (n.)
Root: Latin rex, regis — “king”
regalia (rə-GAYL′-yə)
The emblems, insignia, or ceremonial dress of royalty, rank, or a special office or club
Root: Latin rex, regis — “king”
dipsomania (dip′-sə-MAY′-nee-ə)
A morbid, compulsive craving for alcoholic beverages; pathological alcoholism
Forms: dipsomaniac (n.) dipsomaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek dipsa (thirst) + mania — “madness”
kleptomania (klep′-tə-MAY′-nee-ə)
A compulsive, irresistible urge to steal, not from economic motive but from psychological impulse
Forms: kleptomaniac (n.) kleptomaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek klepte (thief) + mania — “madness”
pyromania (pī′-rə-MAY′-nee-ə)
A compulsive, morbid urge to set fires for the thrill, not for revenge or profit
Forms: pyromaniac (n.) pyromaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek pyros (fire) + mania — “madness”
incendiarism (in-SEN′-dee-ə-riz-əm)
The malicious and deliberate burning of another’s property, typically for revenge
Forms: incendiary (n., adj.)
Root: Latin incendo, incensus — “to set fire”
arson (AHR′-sən)
The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property, especially for financial gain
Forms: arsonist (n.)
Root: Latin ardo, arsus — “to burn”
megalomania (meg′-ə-lə-MAY′-nee-ə)
A mental disorder characterized by delusions of greatness, power, or omnipotence
Forms: megalomaniac (n.) megalomaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek megas (great) + mania — “madness”
nymphomania (nim′-fə-MAY′-nee-ə)
Excessive, uncontrollable, and incessant sexual desire in a female
Forms: nymphomaniac (n.) nymphomaniacal (adj.)
Root: Greek nymphe (bride) + mania — “madness”
satyromania (sə-teer′-ə-MAY′-nee-ə)
Excessive, uncontrollable sexual desire in a male; also called satyriasis
Forms: satyriasis (n.)
Root: Greek satyros (satyr) + mania — “madness”
claustrophobia (klaw′-strə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
Morbid dread of being enclosed, hemmed in, or confined in small spaces
Forms: claustrophobe (n.) claustrophobic (adj.)
Root: Latin claustrum (enclosed place) + Greek phobia — “morbid fear”
agoraphobia (ag′-ə-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
Morbid dread of open spaces, public places, or crowded areas; the reverse of claustrophobia
Forms: agoraphobe (n.) agoraphobic (adj.)
Root: Greek agora (market place) + phobia — “morbid fear”
acrophobia (ak′-rə-FŌ′-bee-ə)
Morbid dread of high places; an abnormal fear of heights
Forms: acrophobe (n.) acrophobic (adj.)
Root: Greek akros (highest) + phobia — “morbid fear”
agnostic (ag-NOS′-tik)
One who holds that the existence of God cannot be known; one uncertain about metaphysical claims
Forms: agnosticism (n.)
Root: Greek a- (not) + gnostos — “known”
diagnosis (dī′-əg-NŌ′-sis)
Identification of a disease or condition through examination; determination of causes or nature
Forms: diagnose (v.) diagnostic (adj.) diagnostician (n.)
Root: Greek dia- (through) + gnosis — “knowledge”
prognosis (prog-NŌ′-sis)
A forecast of the likely course of a disease or situation; a prediction based on present symptoms
Forms: prognosticate (v.) prognostication (n.)
Root: Greek pro- (before) + gnosis — “knowledge”
monotheism (MON′-ə-thee-iz-əm)
The belief in the existence of only one God
Forms: monotheist (n.) monotheistic (adj.)
Root: Greek monos (one) + theos — “God”
polytheism (POL′-ee-thee-iz-əm)
Belief in or worship of more than one god, as in ancient Greece or Rome
Forms: polytheist (n.) polytheistic (adj.)
Root: Greek polys (many) + theos — “God”
pantheism (PAN′-thee-iz-əm)
The belief that God is identical with the forces of the universe; all is God
Forms: pantheist (n.) pantheistic (adj.)
Root: Greek pan (all) + theos — “God”
theology (thee-OL′-ə-jee)
The study of the nature of God and religious belief; organized religious thought
Forms: theologian (n.) theological (adj.)
Root: Greek theos (God) + logos — “study, science”
libidinous (lə-BID′-ə-nəs)
Having or expressing excessive sexual desire; lustful; driven by sexual appetite
Root: Latin libido — “pleasure, desire”
lascivious (lə-SIV′-ee-əs)
Feeling or revealing an offensive or overt sexual desire; lewd; lustful
Root: Latin lascivia — “wantonness”
lubricious (lōō-BRISH′-əs)
Lewd or sexually suggestive; lascivious; also, slippery in a literal sense
Forms: lubricity (n.)
Root: Latin lubricus — “slippery”
licentious (lī-SEN′-shəs)
Sexually unrestrained; promiscuous; showing disregard for rules of conduct or morality
Root: Latin licere — “to be permitted”
lewd (LŌŌ D)
Crude, sexually offensive, and explicit; obscene; lustful and lascivious
Root: Anglo-Saxon lewed — “vile, lay”
lustful (LUST′-fəl)
Having or showing intense sexual desire; driven by lust
Forms: lust (n.)
Root: Anglo-Saxon lust — “pleasure, desire”
prurient (PRŏŏR′-ee-ənt)
Having or encouraging excessive interest in or preoccupation with sexual matters
Forms: prurience (n.)
Root: Latin prurio — “to itch, to long for”
pruritis (prŏŏr-Ī′-tis)
Intense, persistent itching of the skin, typically without a rash or eruptions
Forms: pruritic (adj.)
Root: Latin prurio — “to itch, to long for”
hypotension (hī′-pō-TEN′-shən)
Abnormally low blood pressure
Forms: hypotensive (adj.)
Root: Greek hypos (under) + Latin tendere — “to stretch”
hypertension (hī′-pər-TEN′-shən)
Abnormally high blood pressure; also, a state of great emotional tension
Forms: hypertensive (adj.)
Root: Greek hyper (over) + Latin tendere — “to stretch”