chapter-7

HOW TO TALK ABOUT LIARS AND LYING

(Sessions 14–17)

TEASER PREVIEW

What kind of liar are you if you:

have developed a reputation for falsehood?

are particularly skillful?

cannot be reformed?

have become habituated to your vice?

started to lie from the moment of your birth?

always lie?

cannot distinguish fact from fancy?

suffer no pangs of conscience?

are suspiciously smooth and fluent in your lying?

tell vicious lies?

SESSION 14

It was the famous Greek philosopher and cynic Diogenes who went

around the streets of Athens, lantern in hand, looking for an honest

person.

This was over two thousand years ago, but I presume that

Diogenes would have as little success in his search today. Lying

seems to be an integral weakness of mortal character—I doubt that

few human beings would be so brash as to claim that they have

never in their lives told at least a partial untruth. Indeed, one

philologist goes so far as to theorize that language must have been

invented for the sole purpose of deception. Perhaps so. It is certainly

true that animals seem somewhat more honest than humans, maybe

because they are less gifted mentally.

Why do people lie? To increase their sense of importance, to

escape punishment, to gain an end that would otherwise be denied

them, out of long-standing habit, or sometimes because they

actually do not know the difference between fact and fancy. These

are the common reasons for falsification. No doubt there are other,

fairly unique, motives that impel people to distort the truth. And, to

come right down to it, can we always be certain what is true and

what is false?

If lying is a prevalent and all-too-human phenomenon, there

would of course be a number of interesting words to describe

different types of liars.

Let us pretend (not to get personal, but only to help you become

personally involved in the ideas and words) that you are a liar.

The question is, what kind of liar are you?

IDEAS

1. you don’t fool even some of the people

Everybody knows your propensity for avoiding facts. You have

built so solid and unsavory a reputation that only a stranger is likely

to be misled—and then, not for long.

A notorious liar

2. to the highest summits of artistry

Your ability is top-drawer—rarely does anyone lie as convincingly

or as artistically as you do. Your skill has, in short, reached the

zenith of perfection. Indeed, your mastery of the art is so great that

your lying is almost always crowned with success—and you have no

trouble seducing an unwary listener into believing that you are

telling gospel truth.

A consummate liar

3. beyond redemption or salvation

You are impervious to correction. Often as you may be caught in

your fabrications, there is no reforming you—you go right on lying

despite the punishment, embarrassment, or unhappiness that your

distortions of truth may bring upon you.

An incorrigible liar

4. too old to learn new tricks

You are the victim of firmly fixed and deep-rooted habits. Telling

untruths is as frequent and customary an activity as brushing your

teeth in the morning, or having toast and coffee for breakfast, or

lighting up a cigarette after dinner (if you are a smoker). And almost

as reflexive.

An inveterate liar

5. an early start

You have such a long history of persistent falsification that one

can only suspect that your vice started when you were reposing in

your mother’s womb. In other words, and allowing for a great deal

of exaggeration for effect, you have been lying from the moment of

your birth.

A congenital liar

6. no letup

You never stop lying. While normal people lie on occasion, and

often for special reasons, you lie continually—not occasionally or

even frequently, but over and over.

A chronic liar

7. a strange disease

You are not concerned with the difference between truth and

falsehood; you do not bother to distinguish fact from fantasy. In

fact, your lying is a disease that no antibiotic can cure.

A pathological liar

8. no regrets

You are completely without a conscience. No matter what misery

your fabrications may cause your innocent victims, you never feel

the slightest twinge of guilt. Totally unscrupulous, you are a

dangerous person to get mixed up with.

An unconscionable liar

9. smooth!

Possessed of a lively imagination and a ready tongue, you can

distort facts as smoothly and as effortlessly as you can say your

name. But you do not always get away with your lies.

Ironically enough, it is your very smoothness that makes you

suspect: your answers are too quick to be true. Even if we can’t

immediately catch you in your lies, we have learned from unhappy

past experience not to suspend our critical faculties when you are

talking. We admire your nimble wit, but we listen with a skeptical

ear.

A glib liar

10. outstanding!

Lies, after all, are bad—they are frequently injurious to other

people, and may have a particularly dangerous effect on you as a

liar. At best, if you are caught you suffer some embarrassment. At

worst, if you succeed in your deception your character becomes

warped and your sense of values suffers. Almost all lies are harmful;

some are no less than vicious.

If you are one type of liar, all your lies are vicious—calculatedly,

predeterminedly, coldly, and advisedly vicious. In short, your lies

are so outstandingly hurtful that people gasp in amazement and

disgust at hearing them.

An egregious liar

In this chapter the ten basic words revolve rather closely around a

central core. Each one, however, has a distinct, a unique meaning, a

special implication. Note the differences.

TYPE OF LIAR

SPECIAL IMPLICATION

1. notorious

famous—or infamous—for lying;

tendency to falsify is well-known

2. consummate

great skill

3. incorrigible

too far gone to be reformed—impervious

to rehabilitation

4. inveterate

lying has become a deep-rooted habit

5. congenital

lying had very early beginnings—as if

from birth

6. chronic

over and over

7. pathological

an irresistible compulsion to lie—often

for no rational reason; lying is a disease

8. unconscionable

lack of regret or remorse

9. glib

great smoothness

10. egregious

viciousness of the lies

These ten expressive adjectives, needless to say, are not restricted

to lying or liars. Note their general meanings:

1. notorious

well-known for some bad quality—a

notorious philanderer

2. consummate

perfect, highly skilled—consummate

artistry at the keyboard

3. incorrigible

beyond reform—an incorrigible optimist

4. inveterate

long-accustomed, deeply habituated—

an inveterate smoker (this adjective, like

notorious, usually has an unfavorable

connotation)

5. congenital

happening at or during birth–a

congenital deformity

6. chronic

going on for a long time, or occurring

again and again—chronic appendicitis

7. pathological

diseased—a pathological condition

8. unconscionable

without pangs of conscience–

unconscionable cruelty to children

9. glib

smooth, suspiciously fluent–a glib

witness

10. egregious

outstandingly bad or vicious–an

egregious error

With the exception of consummate and congenital, all ten adjectives

have strongly derogatory implications and are generally used to

describe people, characteristics, or conditions we disapprove of.

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

1. notorious

nƏ-TAWR′-ee-Əs

2. consummate

KAHN′-sƏ-mƏt

3. incorrigible

in-KAWR′-Ə-jƏ-bƏl

4. inveterate

in-VET′-Ə-rƏt

5. congenital

kƏn-JEN′-Ə-tƏl

6. chronic

KRON′-ik

7. pathological

path′-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

8. unconscionable

un-KON′-shƏ-nƏ-bƏl

9. glib

GLIB

10. egregious

Ə-GREE′-jƏs

Can you work with the words?

1. notorious

a. beyond reform

2. consummate

b. continuing over a long period

of time; recurring

3. incorrigible

c. diseased

4. inveterate

d. from long-standing habit

5. congenital

e. suspiciously smooth

6. chronic

f. without conscience or scruples

7. pathological

g. outstandingly bad or vicious

8. unconscionable

h. unfavorably known

9. glib

i. from birth

10. egregious

j. finished, perfect, artistic

KEY: 1–h, 2–j, 3–a, 4–d, 5–i, 6–b, 7–c, 8–f, 9–e, 10–g

Do you understand the words?

1. Do people become notorious for good acts?

YES NO

2. Is Beethoven considered a consummate musical genius?

YES NO

3. If a criminal is truly incorrigible, is there any point in attempting

rehabilitation?

YES NO

4. Does an inveterate smoker smoke only occasionally?

YES NO

5. Is a congenital deformity one that occurs late in life?

YES NO

6. Is a chronic invalid ill much of the time?

YES NO

7. Is a pathological condition normal and healthy?

YES NO

8. If a person commits an unconscionable act of cruelty, is there any

regret, remorse, or guilt?

YES NO

9. Is a glib talker awkward and hesitant in speech?

YES NO

10. Is an egregious error very bad?

YES NO

KEY: 1–no, 2–yes, 3–no, 4–no, 5–no, 6–yes, 7–no, 8–no, 9–no, 10–

yes

Can you recall the words?

1. outstandingly vicious; so bad as to be in a class by itself

1. E__________________

2. starting at birth

2. C__________________

3. happening over and over again; continuing for a long time

3. C__________________

4. widely and unfavorably known (as for antisocial acts, character

weaknesses, immoral or unethical behavior, etc.)

4. N__________________

5. beyond correction

5. I__________________

6. smooth and persuasive; unusually, almost suspiciously, fluent

6. G__________________

7. long addicted to a habit

7. I__________________

8. perfect in the practice of an art; extremely skillful

8. C__________________

9. unscrupulous; entirely without conscience

9. U__________________

10. diseased

10. P__________________

KEY: 1–egregious, 2–congenital, 3–chronic, 4–notorious, 5–

incorrigible,

6–glib,

7-inveterate,

8-consummate,

unconscionable, 10–pathological

Can you use the words?

As a result of the tests you are taking, you are becoming more and

more familiar with these ten valuable and expressive words. Now, as

a further check on your learning, write the word that best fits each

blank.

1. This person has gambled, day in and day out, for as long as

anyone can remember—gambling has become a deep-rooted

habit.

1. An __________________ gambler

2. Born with a clubfoot

2. A __________________ deformity

3. Someone known the world over for criminal acts

3. A __________________ criminal

4. An invading army kills, maims, and tortures without mercy,

compunction, or regret.

4. __________________ acts of cruelty

5. The suspect answers the detective’s questions easily, fluently,

almost too smoothly.

5. __________________ responses

6. A person reaches the acme of perfection as an actress or actor.

6. A __________________ performer

7. No one can change someone’s absurdly romantic attitude toward

life.

7. An __________________ romantic

8. A mistake so bad that it defies description

SESSION 15

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. well-known

“Widely but unfavorably known” is the common definition for

notorious. Just as a notorious liar is well-known for unreliable

statements, so a notorious gambler, a notorious thief, or a notorious

killer has achieved a wide reputation for some form of antisocial

behavior. The noun is notoriety (nō-tƏ-RĪ′-Ə-tee).

The derivation is from Latin notus, known, from which we also get

noted. It is an interesting characteristic of some words that a change

of syllables can alter the emotional impact. Thus, an admirer of

certain business executives will speak of them as “noted

industrialists”; these same people’s enemies will call them “notorious

exploiters.” Similarly, if we admire a man’s or a woman’s

unworldliness, we refer to it by the complimentary term childlike;

but if we are annoyed by the trait, we describe it, derogatively, as

childish. Change “-like” to “-ish” and our emotional tone undergoes a

complete reversal.

2. plenty of room at the top

The top of a mountain is called, as you know, the summit, a word

derived from Latin summus, highest, which also gives us the

mathematical term sum, as in addition. A consummate artist has

reached the very highest point of perfection; and to consummate

(KAHN′-sƏ-mƏt) a marriage, a business deal, or a contract is,

etymologically, to bring it to the highest point; that is, to put the

final touches to it, to bring it to completion.

[Note how differently consummate (KAHN′-sƏ-mƏt), the adjective,

is pronounced from the verb to consummate (KAHN′-sƏ-mƏt)].

Nouns are formed from adjectives by the addition of the noun

suffix

-ness:

sweet—sweetness;

simple—simpleness;

envious—

enviousness; etc.

Many adjectives, however, have alternate noun forms, and the

adjective consummate is one of them. To make a noun out of

consummate, add either -ness or -acy; consummateness (KAHN′-sƏ-

mƏt-nƏs) or consummacy (KAHN′-sƏ-mƏ-see).

Verbs ending in -ate invariably tack on the noun suffix -ion to

form nouns: create—creation; evaluate—evaluation; etc.

Can you write the noun form of the verb to consummate?

____________________

3. no help

Call people incorrigible (in-KAWR′-Ə-jƏ-bƏl) if they do anything to

excess, and if all efforts to correct or reform them are to no avail.

Thus, one can be an incorrigible idealist, an incorrigible criminal, an

incorrigible optimist, or an incorrigible philanderer. The word derives

from Latin corrigo, to correct or set straight, plus the negative prefix

in-. (This prefix, depending on the root it precedes, may be negative,

may intensify the root, as in invaluable, or may mean in.)

The

noun

incorrigibility

(in-kawr′-Ə-jƏ-BIL′-Ə-tee)

or,

alternatively, incorrigibleness.

4. veterans

Inveterate, from Latin vetus, old,¹ generally indicates disapproval.

Inveterate gamblers have grown old in the habit, etymologically

speaking; inveterate drinkers have been imbibing for so long that

they, too, have formed old, well-established habits; and inveterate

liars have been lying for so long, and their habits are by now so

deep-rooted, that one can scarcely remember (the word implies)

when they ever told the truth.

The noun is inveteracy (in-VET′-Ər-Ə-see) or inveterateness.

A veteran (VET′-Ə-rƏn), as of the Armed Forces, grew older serving

the country; otherwise a veteran is an old hand at the game (and

therefore skillful). The word is both a noun and an adjective: a

veteran at (or in) swimming, tennis, police work, business,

negotiations, diplomacy—or a veteran actor, teacher, diplomat,

political reformer.

5. birth

Greek genesis, birth or origin, a root we discovered in discussing

psychogenic (Chapter 5), is the source of a great many English words.

Genetics (jƏ-NET′-iks) is the science that treats of the transmission

of hereditary characteristics from parents to offspring. The scientist

specializing in the field is a geneticist (jƏ-NET′-Ə-sist), the adjective is

genetic (jƏ-NET′-ik). The particle in the chromosome of the germ cell

containing a hereditary characteristic is a gene (JEEN).

Genealogy (jeen′-ee-AL′-Ə-jee) is the study of family trees or

ancestral origins (logos, study). The practitioner is a genealogist

(jeen′-ee-AL′-Ə-jist). Can you form the adjective? __________________.

(And can you pronounce it?)

The genital (GEN′-Ə-tƏl), or sexual, organs are involved in the

process of conception and birth. The genesis (JEN′-Ə-sis) of anything

—a plan, idea, thought, career, etc.—is its beginning, birth, or

origin, and Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, describes

the creation, or birth, of the universe.

Congenital is constructed by combining the prefix con-, with or

together, and the root genesis, birth.

So a congenital defect, deformity, condition, etc. occurs during the

nine-month birth process (or period of gestation, to become

technical). Hereditary (hƏ-RED′-Ə-tair′-ee) characteristics, on the

other hand, are acquired at the moment of conception. Thus, eye

color, nose shape, hair texture, and other such qualities are

hereditary; they are determined by the genes in the germ cells of the

mother and father. But a thalidomide baby resulted from the use of

the drug by a pregnant woman, so the deformities were congenital.

Congenital is used both literally and figuratively. Literally, the

word generally refers to some medical deformity or abnormality

occurring during gestation. Figuratively, it wildly exaggerates, for

effect, the very early existence of some quality: congenital liar,

congenital fear of the dark, etc.

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT

MEANING

1. notus

known

ENGLISH WORD _____________

2. summus

highest

ENGLISH WORD _____________

3. corrigo

to correct, set straight

ENGLISH WORD _____________

4. vetus

old

ENGLISH WORD _____________

5. senex

old

ENGLISH WORD _____________

6. genesis

birth, origin

ENGLISH WORD _____________

7. logos

science, study

ENGLISH WORD _____________

8. in-

negative prefix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

1. notoriety

nō-tƏ-RĪ′-Ə-tee

2. to consummate (v.)

KON′-sƏ-mayt′

3. consummacy

kƏn-SUM′-Ə-see

4. consummation

kon′-sƏ-MAY′-shƏn

5. incorrigibility

in-kawr′-Ə-jƏ-BIL′-Ə-tee

6. inveteracy

in-VET′-Ə-rƏ-see

7. veteran

VET′-Ə-rƏn

8. genetics

jƏ-NET′-iks

9. geneticist

jƏ-NET′-Ə-sist

10. genetic

jƏ-NET′-ik

11. gene

JEEN

12. genealogy

jee′-nee-AL′-Ə-jee

13. genealogist

jee′-nee-AL′-Ə-jist

14. genealogical

jee′-nee-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

15. genital

JEN′-Ə-tƏl

16. genesis

JEN′-Ə-sis

17. hereditary

hƏ-RED′-Ə-tair′-ee

Can you work with the words?

1. notoriety

a. state of artistic height

2. to consummate (v.)

b. state of being long established

in a habit

3. consummacy

c. beginning, origin

4. incorrigibility

d. science of heredity

5. inveteracy

e. bring to completion; top off

6. genetics

f. study of ancestry

7. genealogy

g. referring to characteristics

passed on to offspring by

parents

8. genital

h. referring to reproduction, or to

the reproductive or sexual

organs

9. genesis

i. ill fame

10. hereditary

j. particle that transmits

hereditary characteristics

11. gene

k. state of being beyond reform

or correction

KEY: 1–i, 2–e, 3–a, 4–k, 5–b, 6–d, 7–f, 8–h, 9–c, 10–g, 11–j

Do you understand the words?

1. Does notoriety usually come to perpetrators of mass murders?

YES NO

2. Is the product of a consummately skillful counterfeiter likely to

be taken as genuine?

YES NO

3. Is incorrigibility in a criminal a sign that rehabilitation is

possible?

YES NO

4. Is a geneticist interested in your parents’ characteristics?

YES NO

5. Does inveteracy suggest that a habit is new?

YES NO

6. When you consummate a deal, do you back out of it?

YES NO

7. Is a veteran actress long experienced at her art?

YES NO

8. Do genes determine heredity?

YES NO

9. Is a genealogist interested in your family origins?

YES NO

10. Are the genital organs used in reproduction?

YES NO

11. Is the genesis of something the final point?

YES NO

12. Are hereditary characteristics derived from parents?

KEY: 1–yes, 2–yes, 3–no, 4–yes, 5–no, 6–no, 7–yes, 8–yes, 9–yes,

10–yes, 11–no, 12–yes

Can you recall the words?

1. sexual; reproductive

1. G__________________

2. to complete

2. C__________________

3. wide and unfavorable reputation

3. N__________________

4. particle in the chromosome of a cell that transmits a

characteristic from parent to offspring

4. G__________________

5. completion

5. C__________________

6. inability to be reformed

6. I__________________

7. the science that deals with the transmission of characteristics

from parents to children

7. G__________________

8. referring to a quality or characteristic that is inherited (adj.)

8. H__________________

9. beginning or origin

9. G__________________

10. student of family roots or origins

10. G__________________

11. height of skill or artistry

11. C__________________ or C__________________

12. transmitted by heredity

KEY:

1–genital,

2–consummate,

3–notoriety,

4–gene,

5–

consummation, 6–incorrigibility, 7–genetics, 8–hereditary, 9–

genesis, 10–genealogist, 11–consummacy or consummateness,

12–genetic, 13–inveteracy or inveterateness, 14–veteran, 15–

genealogical

(End of Session 15)

SESSION 16

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. of time and place

A chronic liar lies constantly, again and again and again; a chronic

invalid is ill time after time, frequently, repeatedly. The derivation

of the word is Greek chronos, time. The noun form is chronicity (krƏ-

NIS′-Ə-tee).

An anachronism (Ə-NAK′-rƏ-niz-Əm) is someone or something out

of time, out of date, belonging to a different era, either earlier or

later. (The prefix ana- like a-, is negative.) The adjective is

anachronous (Ə-NAK′-rƏ-nƏs) or anachronistic (Ə-nak′-rƏ-NIS′-tik).

Wander along Fifty-ninth Street and Central Park in Manhattan

some Sunday. You will see horse-drawn carriages with top-hatted

coachmen—a vestige of the 1800s. Surrounded by twentieth-century

motorcars and modern skyscrapers, these romantic vehicles of a

bygone era are anachronous.

Read a novel in which a scene is supposedly taking place in the

nineteenth century and see one of the characters turning on a TV

set. An anachronism!

Your friend talks, thinks, dresses, and acts as if he were living in

the time of Shakespeare. Another anachronism!

Science fiction is deliberately anachronous—it deals with

phenomena, gadgetry, accomplishments far off (possibly) in the

future.

An anachronism is out of time; something out of place is

incongruous (in-KONG′-gr

ōō

-Əs), a word combining the negative

prefix in-, the prefix con-, with or together, and a Latin verb

meaning to agree or correspond.

Thus, it is incongruous to wear a sweater and slacks to a formal

wedding; it is anachronous to wear the wasp waist, conspicuous

bustle, or powdered wig of the eighteenth century. The noun form

of incongruous is incongruity (in-kƏng-GR

ōō

′-Ə-tee).

Chronological (kron-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl), in correct time order, comes

from chronos. To tell a story chronologically is to relate the events in

the time order of their occurrence. Chronology (krƏ-NOL′-Ə-jee) is the

science of time order and the accurate dating of events (logos,

science)—the expert in this field is a chronologist (krƏ-NOL′-Ə-jist)—

or a list of events in the time order in which they have occurred or

will occur.

A chronometer (krƏ-NOM′-Ə-tƏr), combining chronos with metron,

measurement, is a highly accurate timepiece, especially one used on

ships. Chronometry (krƏ-NOM′-Ə-tree) is the measurement of time—

the adjective is chronometric (kron′-Ə-MET′-rik).

Add the prefix syn-, together, plus the verb suffix -ize, to chronos,

and you have constructed synchronize (SIN′-krƏ-nīz′), etymologically

to time together, or to move, happen, or cause to happen, at the same

time or rate. If you and your friend synchronize your watches, you

set them at the same time. If you synchronize the activity of your

arms and legs, as in swimming, you move them at the same time or

rate. The adjective is synchronous (SIN′-krƏ-nƏs); the noun form of

the verb synchronize is synchronization (sin′-krƏ-nƏ-ZAY′-shƏn).

2. disease, suffering, teeling

Pathological is diseased (a pathological condition)—this meaning of

the word ignores the root logos, science, study.

Pathology (pƏ-THOL′-Ə-jee) is the science or study of disease—its

nature, cause, cure, etc. However, another meaning of the noun

ignores logos, and pathology may be any morbid, diseased, or

abnormal physical condition or conditions; in short, simply disease,

as in “This case involves so many kinds of pathology that several

different specialists are working on it.”

A pathologist (pƏ-THOL′-Ə-jist) is an expert who examines tissue,

often by autopsy or biopsy, to diagnose disease and interpret the

abnormalities in such tissue that may be caused by specific diseases.

Pathos occurs in some English words with the additional meaning

of feeling. If you feel or suffer with someone, you are sympathetic

(sim-pƏ-THET′-ik)—sym- is a respelling before the letter p of the

Greek prefix syn-, with or together. The noun is sympathy (SIM′-pƏ-

thee), the verb sympathize (SIM′-pƏ-thīz). Husbands, for example, so

the story goes, may have sympathetic labor pains when their wives

are about to deliver.

The prefix anti-, you will recall, means against. If you experience

antipathy (an-TIP′-Ə-thee) to people or things, you feel against them

—you feel strong dislike or hostility. The adjective is antipathetic

(an′-tƏ-pƏ-THET′-ik), as in “an antipathetic reaction to an authority

figure.”

But you may have no feeling at all—just indifference, lack of any

interest, emotion, or response, complete listlessness, especially when

some reaction is normal or expected. Then you are apathetic (ap-Ə-

THET′-ik); a-, as you know, is a negative prefix. The noun is apathy

(AP′-Ə-thee), as in voter apathy, student apathy, etc.

On the other hand, you may be so sensitive or perceptive that you

not only share the feelings of another, but you also identify with

those feelings, in fact experience them yourself as if momentarily

you were that other person. What you have, then, is empathy (EM′-

pƏ-thee); you empathize (EM′-pƏ-thīz′), you are empathetic (em-pƏ-

THET′-ik), or, to use an alternate adjective, empathic (em-PATH′-ik).

Em- is a respelling before the letter p of the Greek prefix en-, in.

Someone is pathetic (pƏ-THET′-ik) who is obviously suffering—

such a person may arouse sympathy or pity (or perhaps antipathy?)

in you. A pathetic story is about suffering and, again, is likely to

arouse sadness, sorrow, or pity.

Some interesting research was done many years ago by Dr. J. B.

Rhine and his associates at Duke University on extrasensory

perception; you will find an interesting account of Rhine’s work in

his book The Reach of the Mind. What makes it possible for two

people separated by miles of space to communicate with each other

without recourse to messenger, telephone, telegraph, or postal

service? It can be done, say the believers in telepathy (tƏ-LEP′-Ə-

thee), also called mental telepathy, though they do not yet admit to

knowing how. How can one person read the mind of another?

Simple—by being telepathic (tel-Ə-PATH′-ik), but no one can explain

the chemistry or biology of it. Telepathy is built by combining

pathos, feeling, with the prefix tele-, distance, the same prefix we

found in telephone, telegraph, telescope.

Telepathic (tel-Ə-PATH′-ik) communication occurs when people

can feel each other’s thoughts from a distance, when they have ESP.

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. chronos

time

ENGLISH WORD _____________

2. ana-, a-

negative prefix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

3. con-

with, together

ENGLISH WORD _____________

4. in-

negative prefix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

5. logos

science, study

ENGLISH WORD _____________

6. metron

measurement

ENGLISH WORD _____________

7. syn-, sym-

with, together

ENGLISH WORD _____________

8. -ize

verb suffix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

9. pathos

disease, suffering, feeling

ENGLISH WORD _____________

10. anti-

against

ENGLISH WORD _____________

11. en-, em-

ENGLISH WORD _____________

12. tele-

distance

ENGLISH WORD _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words? (I)

1. chronicity

krƏ-NIS′-Ə-tee

2. anachronism

Ə-NAK′-rƏ-niz-Əm

3. anachronous

Ə-NAK′-rƏ-nƏs

4. anachronistic

Ə-nak′-rƏ-NIS′-tik

5. incongruous

in-KONG′-gr

ōō

-Əs

6. incongruity

in′-kƏng-GR

ōō

′-Ə-tee

7. chronological

kron′-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

8. chronology

krƏ-NOL′-Ə-jee

9. chronologist

krƏ-NOL′-Ə-jist

10. chronometer

krƏ-NOM′-Ə-tƏr

11. chronometry

krƏ-NOM′-Ə-tree

12. chronometric

kron′-Ə-MET′-rik

13. synchronize

SIN′-krƏ-nīz′

14. synchronization

sin′-krƏ-nƏ-ZAY′-shƏn

15. synchronous

SIN′-krƏ-nƏs

Can you pronounce the words? (II)

1. pathology

pƏ-THOL′-Ə-jee

2. pathologist

pƏ-THOL′-Ə-jist

3. sympathy

SIM′-pƏ-thee

4. sympathetic

sim-pƏ-THET′-ik

5. sympathize

SIM′-pƏ-thīz

6. antipathy

an-TIP′-Ə-thee

7. antipathetic

an′-tƏ-pƏ-THET′-ik

8. apathy

AP′-Ə-thee

9. apathetic

ap-Ə-THET′-ik

10. empathy

EM′-pƏ-thee

11. empathize

EM′-pƏ-thīz′

12. empathetic

em-pƏ-THET′-ik

13. empathic

em-PATH′-ik

14. pathetic

pƏ-THET′-ik

15. telepathy

tƏ-LEP′-Ə-thee

16. telepathic

tel′-Ə-PATH′-ik

Can you work with the words? (I)

1. chronicity

a. something, or state of being,

out of place

2. anachronism

b. timepiece; device that

measures time very accurately

3. incongruity

c. condition of continual or

repeated recurrence

4. chronology

d. act of occurring, or of causing

to occur, at the same time

5. chronometer

e. calendar of events in order of

occurrence

6. chronometry

f. something, or someone, out of

time

7. synchronization

g. measurement of time

8. pathology

h. a sharing or understanding of

another’s feeling

9. sympathy

i. ESP; communication from a

distance

KEY: 1–c, 2–f, 3–a, 4–e, 5–b, 6–g, 7–d, 8–j, 9–h, 10–i

Can you work with the words? (II)

1. pathologist

a. identification with another’s

feelings

2. antipathy

b. share another’s feelings so

strongly as to experience those

feelings oneself

3. apathy

c. out of time

4. empathy

d. one who examines tissue to

diagnose disease

5. synchronize

e. occurring at the same time or

rate

6. empathize

f. relating to extrasensory

perception

7. anachronous

g. suffering; arousing sympathy

or pity

8. incongruous

h. lack of feeling; non-

responsiveness

9. synchronous

i. out of place

10. pathetic

j. happen, or cause to happen, at

the same time or rate

KEY: 1–d, 2–k, 3–h, 4–a, 5–j, 6–b, 7–c, 8–i, 9–e, 10–g, 11–f

Do you understand the words?

1. Are these dates in chronological order? 1492, 1941, 1586

YES NO

2. Is pathology the study of healthy tissue?

YES NO

3. Is telepathic communication carried on by telephone?

YES NO

4. Does a sympathetic response show an understanding of another’s

feelings?

YES NO

5. Is one antipathetic to things, ideas, or people one finds

agreeable?

YES NO

6. Do apathetic people react strongly?

YES NO

7. Does an empathic response show identification with the feelings

of another?

YES NO

8. Is a swimsuit incongruous attire at a formal ceremony?

YES NO

9. Is an anachronistic attitude up to date?

YES NO

10. Are synchronous movements out of time with one another?

YES NO

KEY: 1–no, 2–no, 3–no, 4–yes, 5–no, 6–no, 7–yes, 8–yes, 9–no, 10–

Can you recall the words?

1. in order of time

1. C__________________

2. out of place

2. I__________________

3. 4. out of time (two forms)

3. A__________________

4. A__________________

5. something, or state of being, out of place

5. I__________________

6. lack of feeling

6. A__________________

7. measurer of time

7. C__________________

8. study of disease

8. P__________________

9. feeling of hostility or dislike

9. A__________________

10. to occur, or cause to occur, at the same time or rate

10. S__________________

11. evoking sorrow or pity

11. P__________________

12. something out of time

12. A__________________

13. state of recurring again and again

13. C__________________

14. extransensory perception

14. T__________________

15. one who examines tissue to diagnose disease

15. P__________________

16. identification with the feelings of another

16. E__________________

17. happening at the same time or rate (adj.)

17. S__________________

18. skillful at thought transference without sensory communication

18. T__________________

19. calendar of events in time sequence

19. C__________________

20. referring to the measurement of time (adj.)

20. C__________________

KEY:

1–chronological,

2–incongruous,

4–anachronous,

anachronistic, 5–incongruity, 6–apathy, 7–chronometer, 8–

pathology, 9–antipathy, 10–synchronize, 11–pathetic, 12–

anachronism, 13–chronicity, 14–telepathy, 15–pathologist,

16–empathy, 17–synchronous, 18–telepathic, 19–chronology,

20–chronometric

(End of Session 16)

SESSION 17

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. knowing

Psychopaths commit antisocial and unconscionable acts—they are

not troubled by conscience, guilt, remorse, etc. over what they have

done.

Unconscionable and conscience are related in derivation—the first

word from Latin scio, to know, the second from Latin sciens,

knowing, and both using the prefix con-, with, together.

Etymologically, then, your conscience is your knowledge with a

moral sense of right and wrong; if you are unconscionable, your

conscience is not (un-) working, or you have no conscience. The

noun form is unconscionableness or unconscionability (un-kon′-shƏ-nƏ-

BIL′-Ə-tee).

Conscious, also from con- plus scio, is knowledge or awareness of

one’s emotions or sensations, or of what’s happening around one.

Science, from sciens, is systematized knowledge as opposed, for

example, to belief, faith, intuition, or guesswork.

Add Latin omnis, all, to sciens, to construct omniscient (om-NISH′-

Ənt), all-knowing, possessed of infinite knowledge. The noun is

omniscience (om-NISH′-Əns).

Add the prefix pre-, before, to sciens, to construct prescient (PREE′-

shƏnt)—knowing about events before they occur, i.e., psychic, or

possessed of unusual powers of prediction. The noun is prescience

(PREE′-shƏns).

And, finally, add the negative prefix ne- to sciens to produce

nescient (NESH′-Ənt), not knowing, or ignorant. Can you, by analogy

with the previous two words, write the noun form of nescient?

__________________. (Can you pronounce it?)

2. fool some of the people…

Glib is from an old English root that means slippery. Glib liars or

glib talkers are smooth and slippery; they have ready answers, fluent

tongues, a persuasive air—but, such is the implication of the word,

they fool only the most nescient, for their smoothness lacks sincerity

and conviction.

The noun is glibness.

3. herds and flocks

Egregious (remember the pronunciation? Ə-GREE′-jƏs) is from Latin

grex, gregis, herd or flock. An egregious lie, act, crime, mistake, etc. is

so exceptionally vicious that it conspicuously stands out (e-, a

shortened form of the prefix ex-, out) from the herd or flock of other

bad things.

The noun is egregiousness (Ə-GREE′-jƏs-nƏs).

A person who enjoys companionship, who, etymologically, likes

to be with the herd, who reaches out for friends and is happiest

when surrounded by people—such a person is gregarious (grƏ-GAIR′-

ee-Əs).

Extroverts are of course gregarious—they prefer human contact,

conversation, laughter, interrelationships, to solitude.

The suffix -ness, as you know, can be added to an adjective to

construct a noun form. Write the noun for gregarious: __________________.

Add the prefix con-, with, together, to grex, gregis, to get the verb

congregate (KONG′-grƏ-gayt′); add the prefix se-, apart, to build the

verb segregate (SEG′-rƏ-gayt′); add the prefix ad-, to, toward (ad-

changes to ag- before a root starting with g-), to construct the verb

aggregate (AG-rƏ-gayt′).

Let’s see what we have. When people gather together in a herd or

flock, they (write the verb) __________________.

The noun is congregation (cong′-grƏ-GAY′-shƏn), one of the

meanings of which is a religious “flock.”

Put people or things apart from the herd, and you (write the verb)

__________________ them. Can you construct the noun by adding the

suitable noun suffix? __________________.

Bring individual items to or toward the herd or flock, and you

(write the verb) __________________ them. What is the noun form of this

verb? __________________.

The verb aggregate also means to come together to or toward the

herd, that is, to gather into a mass or whole, or by extension, to total or

amount to. So aggregate, another noun form, pronounced AG′-rƏ-gƏt,

is a group or mass of individuals considered as a whole, a herd, or a

flock, as in the phrase “people in the aggregate…”

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. grex, gregis

herd, flock