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Increase Your Word Power
Books to change your life and work. Accessible, easy to read and easy to act on – other titles in the How To series include: Polish Up Your Punctuation & Grammar Master the basics of the English language and write with greater confidence Improving Your Spelling Boost your word power and your confidence Improving Your Written English How to ensure your grammar, punctuation and spelling are up to scratch Writing an Essay How to improve your performance in coursework and examinations Writing Your Dissertation How to plan, prepare and present successful work The A–Z of Correct English How to avoid common errors in English The How To series now contains around 200 titles in the following categories: Business & Management Career Choices Career Development Computers & the Net Creative Writing Home & Family Living & Working Abroad Personal Development Personal Finance Self-Employment & Small Business Study Skills & Student Guides For full details, please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue: How To Books 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road Oxford, OX4 1RE email: info@howtobooks.co.uk http://www.howtobooks.co.uk
Increase Your Word Power ANGELA BURT How To Books
Published by How To Books Ltd, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 793806. Fax: (01865) 248780. email: info@howtobooks.co.uk www.howtobooks.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the express permission of the publisher in writing. # Copyright 2001 Angela Burt Angela Burt has asserted the right to be identified as the author of this work, in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Edited by Francesca Mitchell Cover design by Shireen Nathoo Design Cover image PhotoDisc Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions Typeset by PDQ Typesetting, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Printed and bound by Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wiltshire NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in the book. Laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements.
Contents Introduction vii Unit 1 Dictionary Practice 1 Unit 2 Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 6 Unit 3 People 12 Unit 4 Occupations 21 Unit 5 Sexist and Non-sexist Language 27 Unit 6 Animals, Birds and Insects 32 Unit 7 Confusables 44 Unit 8 Eponyms 57 Unit 9 Americanisms 81 Unit 10 Foreign Words and Phrases in English 89 Unit 11 Proverbs 116 Unit 12 Prefixes 130 Unit 13 Suffixes 144 Unit 14 Word Roots 156 Appendix A Some spelling rules when adding suffixes 171 Answers 174
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Introduction This book has been written for students and general readers who love words and who would like to study them more closely in a structured way. It offers help and support to all those who are enthusiastic about extending the range of their vocabulary and who want to use words more precisely. For example, Unit 7 will help you distinguish between ‘perspicacity’ and ‘perspicuity’ along with many other confusing pairs. Look at Unit 10 if you are sometimes at a loss when foreign words and phrases are used. You will be reassured to see the most popular ones listed alphabetically (and translated!). Units 12, 13 and 14, among others, will help you see how many of our most difficult words have been derived. Once you understand the etymology, these words are demystified forever. For example, once you are familiar with the Greek root khronos (=time), then you have the key to the English words chronic, chronicle, chronological, chronometer, anachronism, synchronise and so on. And you are clear why a chronic illness is one that lasts a long time and is not necessarily serious. And in Unit 8, it’s fun finding out who or what gave their names to the bikini, the fuchsia, nicotine, salmonella, sideburns and so on, and how the adjectives ‘maudlin’ and ‘tawdry’ have come down to us. There are fourteen units. All but the first two introductory ones are arranged alphabetically for ease of reference. The book is very much a reference book as well as a practical self-help manual. ‘Test Your Word Power’ activities are included for useful and entertaining consolidation practice wherever appropriate and the answers to all the questions are given at the back of the book. There is, in addition, an appendix which covers the spelling rules for adding endings to words (useful when working through Unit 13). There is so much unnecessary anguish over spelling words like pin +ing, pine +ing, arrive +al, sincere +ly, budget +ing and forget +able. The rules are straightforward and the few exceptions are given. You are advised to acquire a good dictionary if you haven’t got one already to derive the fullest benefit from the activities. (See advice on choosing a dictionary in Unit 1.) A thesaurus is also a wise investment for anyone seriously interested in words. (See advice on vii
INTRODUCTION buying a thesaurus in Unit 2.) I very much hope that all who use this book will find it enjoyable as well as instructive and that it will whet your appetite for further exploration. Angela Burt viii
Unit 1: Dictionary Practice It you are really serious about wanting to extend your vocabulary, you will need a good up-to-date dictionary that reflects current usage and includes recent additions to the language. If you need to replace a dictionary, spend some time comparing different dictionaries in a good bookshop. See which one you are most comfortable with as you search for words. See which one gives the clearest definitions, with guidance about usage and information about the origin of the word. You may like to test several by looking up the same word in each of them, perhaps ‘syllogism’ or ‘sesquipedalianism’ or any other word of your choice! " Regard the purchase of the best dictionary that you can afford as an investment. Have it to hand as you explore the units in this book. You will be ready to embark on a never-ending adventure with words. " Use your dictionary to establish the meaning of the words in the following test. The answers are in the back of the book and you can keep your score. If your dictionary is adequate to your needs, you should score a total of 50/50. " It would be unwise to work through subsequent units without replacing your dictionary if your score is significantly lower than full marks in this first unit. TEST YOUR WORD POWER Tick the one definition that you think comes closest to the meaning of each of the words on the left. 1. onerous (a) (b) (c) absolutely reliable burdensome single-minded & & & 2. banal (a) (b) (c) poisonous commonplace impossible & & & 1
Unit 1 practicable extravagant ridiculous & & & 4. surreptitious (a) (b) (c) illegal stealthy delicious & & & 5. iridescent shining with all the colours of the rainbow pertaining to transport effective at thoroughly disinfecting surfaces 3. feasible (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) & & & 6. cursory (a) (b) (c) rapid blasphemous curved & & & 7. perfunctory (a) (b) (c) fragrant superficial official & & & 8. plausible (a) (b) (c) elastic convincing playful & & & 9. rabid (a) (b) (c) doubting mad short-sighted & & & (a) (b) (c) worthless neat hackneyed & & & 10. trite Match each word from the box with its definition. accolade alliteration autobiography ecstasy histrionics 2 inebriation inventory obituary ostentation soliloquy
Dictionary Practice 11. 12. a list of articles, together with the description and quantity of each __________ a person’s life story which has been written by himself or herself __________ 13. a speech made by a character in a play when alone on the stage __________ 14. a showy display meant to impress __________ 15. a public tribute __________ 16. rapturous delight __________ 17. a brief account of a person’s life printed on the occasion of his or her death __________ 18. the repetition of one letter or sound in a series of words __________ 19. state of drunkenness, intoxication __________ 20. exaggerated dramatic behaviour __________ Use each of the words below in a separate sentence that shows you understand meaning and usage. 21. cynic __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 22. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ disinterested __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 23. allusion __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 3
Unit 1 24. ironical __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 25. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ infer __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 26. vehement __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 27. aggravate __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 28. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ literally __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 29. sceptical __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 30. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ conscientious __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Three of the words in each group of four below are closely related in meaning. Underline the odd one out. 31. 32. despotic, eccentric, overbearing, tyrannical irascible, cantankerous, diffident, choleric 33. denigrate, ruminate, cogitate, speculate 4
Dictionary Practice 34. 35. reprimand, admonish, castigate, exonerate expensive, exotic, exorbitant, extortionate 36. rancour, asperity, aneurysm, acrimony 37. 38. abrogate, arrogate, appropriate, usurp bucolic, eclectic, rustic, pastoral 39. 40. frustrate, foil, thwart, renege garrulous, avaricious, loquacious, talkative Match up the architectural terms in the box with the appropriate definitions. architrave bargeboard cornice dado dormer eaves gable joists lintel mullion 41. horizontal timber or stone above a door or a window __________ 42. vertical triangular piece of wall at end of ridged roof __________ 43. upright window set into a sloping roof __________ 44. moulded frame around a door or window __________ 45. timbers on which floorboards are laid __________ 46. wood along the edge of a gable __________ 47. vertical bar dividing the panes of a window __________ 48. projecting lower edge of a roof __________ 49. horizontal decorative moulding along the top of an internal wall __________ 50. lower part of an interior wall when of a different texture or colour __________ Score:___ /50 5
Unit 2: Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice A thesaurus lists words similar in meaning to a given word (synonyms) and some thesauruses also list opposites (antonyms). Used in conjunction with a good dictionary, a thesaurus can be invaluable. It can prompt your memory when you can’t think of the exact word you need or it can suggest an alternative when you want to avoid repetition. Here is a typical entry. look: behold, contemplate, descry, discern, examine, eye, fix the eye on, gape, gaze, give attention to, glance, glimpse, goggle, inspect, leer, observe, ogle, peek, peep, peer, pry, regard, scan, scrutinise, see, sight, spy, squint, stare, study, survey, turn the eyes upon, view, watch As you can see, a thesaurus doesn’t distinguish between the shades of meaning of such related words. A dictionary will do this. to glance: to take a quick look to glimpse: to see momentarily or partially to goggle: to stare with the eyes wide open If you don’t have a thesaurus and want to buy one, spend some time looking at a range of them. Most are arranged alphabetically; the most famous, Roget’s Thesaurus, is arranged thematically. Sample by looking up a word like ‘look’ or ‘walk’ in each of them. Choose the one you are most comfortable with. It’s going to become a good friend. ‘Thesaurus’ comes from the Greek word thesauros meaning ‘treasure house’. You will find a thesaurus can be just that. Your thesaurus and your dictionary will help you with the following test. 6
Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice TEST YOUR WORD POWER Replace the underlined words below with five words or phrases that are close in meaning. Kevin threw the brick with all his might at the window. 1. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 2. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 3. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 4. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 5. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ It’s a fallacy that everyone can learn to sing. 6. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 7. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 8. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 9. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 10. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ Carmel was delighted at the birth of her first grandchild. 11. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 12. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 13. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 14. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 15. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ Please give me an honest answer. 16. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 17. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 18. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 19. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 20. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 7
Unit 2 The Minister’s involvement in the scandalous affair is only now coming to light. 21. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 22. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 23. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 24. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 25. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ With each group of words below, show how each word in the group has its own distinctive meaning and which common meaning all four words share. 26. gulp ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 27. pant ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 28. puff ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 29. wheeze ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 30. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 31. awe ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 32. esteem ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 33. homage ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 34. veneration ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 35. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 36. hilarious ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 37. ridiculous ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 38. uproarious ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 39. witty ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 40. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 41. irascible ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 42. irritable ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 8
Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 43. morose ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 44. splenetic ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 45. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 46. fee ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 47. honorarium ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 48. salary ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 49. wage ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 50. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Explain the difference between these pairs: 51. a band _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 52. an orchestra _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 53. a catalogue _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 54. a programme _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 55. a pie _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 56. a tart _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 57. a casserole _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 58. a stew _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 59. an apron _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 60. a pinafore _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Give a synonym (a word similar in meaning) for each of the words below. The first letter is given in each case. 61. notorious i____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 62. prohibit f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 63. ostentatious s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 64. clandestine s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 9
Unit 2 65. novice b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 66. stay r____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 67. sleepy s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 68. abstain r____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 69. intrepid f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 70. adhere s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ Choose words from the box which are most nearly the opposite of the ten words below it. failure wealth release joy retreat enthusiastic parsimonious voracious occasional permanent 71. generous ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 72. abstemious ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 73. temporary ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 74. frequent ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 75. apathetic ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 76. advance ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 77. grief ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 78. success ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 79. poverty ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 80. capture ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ Give the word most nearly opposite in meaning to each of these ten adjectives (describing words). The first letter has been given in each case. 81. prolix s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 82. vague p____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 10
Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 83. modest b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 84. rural u____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 85. harmonious d____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 86. voluntary c____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 87. fertile b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 88. innocent g____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 89. serious f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 90. synthetic n____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ Match up the words in Column A with their opposites in Column B. Draw a line to join them. A B 91. lethargic lasting 92. repellent mature 93. base obscure 94. heedless automatic 95. callow unadulterated 96. ephemeral alluring 97. renowned wary 98. ¨ naıve energetic 99. manual sophisticated 100. immaculate filthy Score:___ /100 11
Unit 3: People WORDS DESCRIBING PEOPLE There is a huge and wonderfully subtle range of words to draw upon when you want to choose a word to describe how someone looks, behaves or reacts. Look closely at this alphabetical list, which includes nearly six hundred of them. Check the meaning of any unfamiliar words and be alert to exactly how they are used when you hear them spoken or see them written. In the course of time, you will make all of them your own and use them with confidence and accuracy. abashed accommodating acquiescent affluent agog ambidextrous amorous antagonistic ardent assertive august authoritative abject accomplished adamant aggressive alluring amenable anaemic apathetic arrogant assiduous austere avaricious abrasive acerbic adroit aghast aloof amiable animated apoplectic articulate astute autocratic avid abstemious acrimonious affable agile altruistic amoral anorexic apprehensive ascetic audacious authoritarian avuncular barbaric belligerent biassed blithe boorish brawny bumptious barbarous benevolent bigoted blunt bountiful brazen burly bashful berserk bipartisan bold bourgeois brusque buxom bellicose besotted ´ blase bombastic brash bulimic cadaverous cantankerous cavilling cerebral chauvinistic circumspect callous capricious celebrated charismatic chivalrous coercive callow captious celibate chary choleric combative candid cavalier censorious chaste churlish compassionate 12
People compatible congenial contrite costive credulous curt complacent conscientious contumacious covetous crestfallen complaisant conservative convivial crass crotchety compliant constant corpulent craven culpable dapper decadent deferential demure despondent didactic diplomatic dishevelled dispirited distraught doleful dour dynamic dastardly deceased deft depraved despotic diffident discerning disingenuous dissipated docile dominant downcast dyslexic debauched decorous degenerate deranged destitute dilatory disconsolate disinterested dissolute dogged domineering downtrodden debonair defensive dejected desolate devious diligent disgruntled dispassionate disreputable dogmatic doughty droll ebullient effeminate egoistical eligible eminent enterprising euphoric extroverted eccentric effusive egotistical eloquent empathic epicurean evasive exuberant ecstatic egregious elated emaciated enervated equable exacting effete egocentric elegant emasculated enigmatic erudite exemplary facetious fastidious fervent filial fluent forthright frenetic frugal facile famous fervid flamboyant foolhardy fractious frigid frumpish fallible febrile fickle flawless forlorn frail frivolous farouche feckless fiery flippant formidable fraternal froward garrulous genial guileless gauche genteel gullible gaunt glib gawky gregarious haggard haughty headstrong hedonistic 13
Unit 3 heedless hostile hidebound hypercritical hirsute hypocritical histrionic hysterical iconoclastic ignominious immodest implacable improvident incompatible indifferent indomitable inept infirm inimitable insouciant intractable introverted irate idealistic illegitimate impassive importunate imprudent inconstant indigenous indulgent infamous inflexible innovative insubordinate intransigent inured irrepressible idiosyncratic illiterate impecunious impoverished inarticulate incorrigible indigent industrious infantile ingenuous inscrutable insular intrepid invincible itinerant ignoble illustrious imperturbable impotent incoherent indefatigable indolent inebriated infantine ingratiating insolvent intestate introspective irascible jaded jocular judicious jaundiced jovial jejune jubilant jocose judgmental lachrymose lascivious lenient libidinous lithe laconic lax lethargic licentious litigious lackadaisical lecherous lewd lissom loquacious languorous legitimate liberal literate lugubrious machiavellian malevolent materialistic mendacious militant morbid myopic magisterial malicious maudlin mercenary misanthropic moronic magnanimous manic meek mercurial misogynistic morose maladroit manipulative melancholic meticulous moralistic munificent ¨ naıve neurasthenic notorious narcissistic neurotic nubile nefarious nonchalant negligent nonplussed obdurate obnoxious obtuse obese obsequious officious objective obsessive omnipotent oblivious obstreperous omniscient 14
People opinionated overweening opulent orotund otiose pacific paternal pedagogic pensive peripatetic pertinacious petulant plaintive pliant prejudiced priggish profligate provocative pubescent puny pallid paternalistic pedantic penurious personable perverse philanthropic platitudinous portly prescient proactive prolific prudent puerile pusillanimous paranoid patriarchal peerless peremptory perspicacious pessimistic phlegmatic plausible pragmatic presumptive prodigal promiscuous prudish punctilious parsimonious patrician peevish perfidious pert petite placid plebeian precocious presumptuous proficient prosaic prurient punctual quarrelsome quizzical queasy querulous quixotic raddled rash reckless remorseful resolute rigid rueful raffish raucous reclusive remorseless resourceful rigorous ruthless rancorous reactive redoubtable reprehensible reticent robust rapacious recalcitrant refractory resilient ribald rotund sadistic sanctimonious sardonic scurrilous senile servile slapdash sly solvent splenetic staid sterling suave sagacious sanguine saturnine sedate sensual shiftless slatternly smug somnolent spruce stalwart stoical submissive sage sapient sceptical seditious sensuous shifty slender ´ soignee sophisticated spry staunch stolid subservient sallow sarcastic scrupulous sedulous serene shrewd slothful solicitous spartan squeamish steadfast strait-laced subversive 15
Unit 3 sullen sycophantic supercilious surly sybaritical taciturn testy torpid trenchant telepathic tetchy tractable truculent tenacious thrifty tranquil tendentious timorous tremulous unabashed uxorious unctuous unkempt urbane vacuous vehement vigilant vivacious voluptuous vainglorious venerable vindictive vociferous voracious valiant veracious virile volatile vulnerable vapid verbose vituperative voluble waspish wily wary wistful wayward woebegone wilful xenophobic zealous TEST YOUR WORD POWER Explain the difference in meaning between the words in these pairs: 1. authoritarian __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 2. authoritative __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 3. celibate __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 4. chaste __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 5. dominant __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 6. domineering __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 7. hypercritical __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 8. hypocritical __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 9. sensual __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ sensuous __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 10. 16
People Find the adjective in the box that best describes how each of these ten people looks. brawny buxom cadaverous corpulent emaciated gaunt obese petite rotund slender 11. Bridget is tall and attractively thin. __________ 12. Matthew is muscular and strong. __________ 13. Geoffrey’s pale, thin and corpse-like appearance shocked everyone. __________ 14. Danielle is undeniably round and plump.__________ 15. Helen is daintily built. __________ 16. Brendan was rendered thin and feeble by his long illness. __________ 17. Sheila is large, plump and comely. __________ 18. Angela is very fat indeed. __________ 19. Years of heavy drinking and lack of exercise have made Cyril unpleasantly stout. __________ 20. Some people find Eric’s thin, lean and haggard features very attractive. __________ Tick one definition which you think comes closest to the meaning of each of the words on the left. 21. splenetic (a) (b) (c) splendid athletic bad-tempered & & & 22. garrulous (a) (b) (c) talkative on the defensive over-confident & & & 17
Unit 3 23. hedonistic (a) (b) (c) generous intelligent pleasure-seeking & & & 24. supercilious (a) (b) (c) disdainful very stupid out-of-work & & & 25. cantankerous (a) (b) (c) competent quarrelsome vain & & & 26. zealous (a) (b) (c) with unreserved energy with bitter envy with deep regret & & & 27. droll (a) (b) (c) half-hearted amusing in a wry way kind and supportive & & & 28. ascetic (a) rigidly abstemious and selfdenying passionate about the arts suffering from an advanced rheumatic condition (b) (c) 29. meticulous & (b) (c) 30. fallible (a) & & able to use either hand with ease showing compassion very precise about detail & & & (a) (b) (c) liable to make mistakes sinful untruthful & & & Find in the box a word that is similar in meaning and a word which is opposite in meaning for each of the words below. courteous diligent famous frenetic inconstant 18 lazy loyal notorious rude tranquil
People Similar 31.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ serene Opposite 32.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ fickle 33.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 34.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ illustrious surly 35.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 37.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 36.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 38.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ industrious 39.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 40.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ Choose the word from the box that best describes each of these people: laconic lethargic materialistic mercenary misanthropic 41. Lynn is unemotional and not easily excited. Lynn is. 42. ¨ naıve phlegmatic sadistic sarcastic sceptical ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Francis takes pleasure in watching others suffer. Francis is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 43. Blanche places a higher value on possessions and on worldly success than on spiritual values. Blanche is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 44. ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ . Danielle is unsophisticated and trusting and doesn’t understand how her actions may be misinterpreted. Danielle is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 46. . Jack is unwilling to believe what has been said despite all the salesman’s efforts. Jack is 45. . . Terry has a wonderfully terse way of expressing himself. He never wastes words. Terry is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ . 19
Unit 3 47. Bruce has such a biting, hurtful, teasing way of talking to people. Bruce is 48. ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Pauline’s motives are wholly actuated by the hope of making money. Pauline is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 49. . Phyllis lacks energy and drive. She seems half-asleep most of the time. Phyllis is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Check your answers with the answers at the back of the book. Score: 20 . I’m afraid Georgina has no love for her fellow men and women and avoids them if she can. Georgina is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 50. . /50 .
Unit 4: Occupations We have a truly rich range of suffixes (word endings) to indicate job titles in English. The list below includes the most common ones with some examples. It is not exhaustive. You can add to it yourself from your own experience. Notice that some of the suffixes sound notoriously similar and can present spelling difficulties: " accountant and lieutenant but superintendent " adviser but solicitor " astronomer but ambassador Notice too that some of the job titles included below are specifically male or female titles. Recent decades have witnessed a social revolution in the workplace, and assumptions about which jobs are suitable for men and which for women have had to be dramatically revised. Job titles like headmistress, usherette, masseuse, businessman, executrix and yachtswoman are becoming unacceptable to many. Such suffixes are asterisked to indicate that care needs to be taken. Neutral alternatives to gender-specific titles are examined in the next unit. -ain (French) captain, chaplain -al (Latin) admiral, cardinal, corporal, general, marshal -an (Latin) -ant (Latin) artisan, publican, sacristan accountant, adjutant, assistant, attendant, commandant, lieutenant, merchant, sergeant -ary (Latin) actuary, emissary, missionary, plenipotentiary, secretary, visionary advocate, curate, delegate, legate, magistrate -ate (Latin) -ee (French) -eer (French) bargee, employee, referee, trustee auctioneer, engineer, mountaineer, muleteer, pioneer, puppeteer, volunteer -enne* (French) comedienne 21
Unit 4 -ent (Latin) -er (Anglo-Saxon) agent, president, student, superintendent adviser, archer, astrologer, astronomer, baker, barrister, biographer, boxer, butcher, carpenter, chandler, cleaner, draper, dressmaker, driver, farmer, geographer, grocer, hairdresser, indexer, labourer, lawyer, lecturer, lexicographer, manager, miner, minister, newscaster, officer, ostler, pawnbroker, philosopher, photographer, plasterer, plumber, porter, preacher, proofreader, reporter, stationer, stoker, teacher, trumpeter, waiter, writer -ess* (French) abbess, actress, authoress, conductress, deaconess, goddess, governess, heiress, manageress, poetess, prioress, prophetess, sculptress, seamstress, waitress -et, -ete (Greek) poet, prophet, athlete -ette* (French) -eur (French) majorette, suffragette, usherette coiffeur, entrepreneur, masseur -euse* (French) -ey (uncertain) coiffeuse, masseuse attorney, flunkey, jockey -herd (Anglo-Saxon) goatherd, shepherd, swineherd -ian (Latin) beautician, dietician, electrician, magician, mathematician, musician, optician, paediatrician, physician, politician, technician, comedian, historian, grammarian, librarian, parliamentarian, seminarian -ic (French) -ice (Latin) comic, critic, mechanic, mimic accomplice, apprentice, novice -ier (French) -ist (Greek) brigadier, cashier acupuncturist, archaeologist, archivist, artist, botanist, cartoonist, cellist, chemist, chiropodist, dentist, dramatist, guitarist, harpist, hypnotist, journalist, linguist, manicurist, motorist, novelist, numismatist, optometrist, orthodontist, philatelist, physicist, pianist, psychiatrist, receptionist, 22
Occupations -ive (French) scientist, sociologist, typist, violinist detective, executive, representative -lady* (Anglo-Saxon) charlady, dinner lady, landlady, lollipop lady, tea lady -lord* (Anglo-Saxon) -maid* (Anglo-Saxon) landlord, warlord barmaid, chambermaid, milkmaid, parlourmaid -man* (Anglo-Saxon) businessman, cameraman, chairman, clergyman, craftsman, draughtsman, dustman, fireman, fisherman, foreman, frogman, houseman, layman, marksman, midshipman, milkman, ombudsman, ploughman, policeman, postman, salesman, serviceman, spokesman, stockman, workman choirmaster, headmaster, postmaster, quartermaster, questionmaster, quizmaster, ringmaster, stationmaster, toastmaster -master* (French) -mistress* (French) choirmistress, headmistress, postmistress, schoolmistress, wardrobe mistress -monger (Anglo-Saxon) costermonger, fishmonger, ironmonger -on* (French) -or (French) archdeacon, canon, deacon, matron, patron, sexton, surgeon actor, adjudicator, administrator, ambassador, author, chiropractor, conductor, councillor, counsellor, coordinator, director, doctor, editor, governor, instructor, juror, major, narrator, operator, rector, sailor, solicitor, supervisor, surveyor, tailor, tutor -ot (Greek) abbot, harlot, pilot -path (Greek) -smith (Anglo-Saxon) homeopath, osteopath blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, wordsmith -trix* (Latin) -wife* (Anglo-Saxon) aviatrix, executrix, proprietrix, testatrix fishwife, housewife, midwife 23
Unit 4 -woman* (Anglo-Saxon) chairwoman, charwoman, needlewoman, policewoman, servicewoman, spokeswoman, sportswoman, yachtswoman -wright (Anglo-Saxon) playwright, shipwright, wheelwright -y (French) -y (Scottish) deputy nanny TEST YOUR WORD POWER What is the specialist area of these experts? 1. an apiarist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 2. an orthodontist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 3. an agronomist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 4. a hagiographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 5. a forensic scientist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 6. a paediatrician ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 7. a lexicographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 8. a psychiatrist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 9. a taxidermist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ a radiographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 10. Complete the following sentences: 11. Anthropology is the study of_________________ . _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _ 12. Biology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ _ 13. Endocrinology is the study of_________________ . _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _ 14. Geology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 15. Horology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 16. Meteorology is the study of__________________ . __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 17. Oncology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________ _ 18. Ophthalmology is the study of________________ . ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _ 19. Pathology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 24
Occupations 20. Sociology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ _ 21. Speleology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 22. Theology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 23. Toxicology is the study of__________________ . __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 24. Zoology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ What is the difference between the work of a councillor and a counsellor? 25. A councillor__________________________ . __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ 26. A counsellor__________________________ . __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ What is the difference between the work of an astrologer and an astronomer? 27. An astrologer__________________________ . __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ 28. An astronomer_________________________ . _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _ What is the difference between the work of an entomologist and an etymologist? 29. An entomologist________________________ . ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _ 30. An etymologist_________________________ . _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _ Match the words in the box with the appropriate definition: campanologist dermatologist genealogist graphologist gynaecologist mycologist philologist psephologist seismologist trichologist 31. a specialist in women’s ailments ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 32. a hair and scalp specialist ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 33. a fungi expert ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 34. a bellringer ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 25
Unit 4 35. a student of electoral and voting patterns ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 36. an expert on earthquakes ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 37. a handwriting expert ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 38. a family-history specialist ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 39. someone who makes a specialist study of the history and development of language ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 40. a skin specialist __________ Who would use these tools? Match each tool in the box with the appropriate user. anvil baton chisel cleaver float forceps gavel metronome palette theodolite 41. surveyor __________ 42. musician __________ 43. plasterer __________ 44. artist __________ 45. conductor __________ 46. blacksmith __________ 47. butcher __________ 48. sculptor __________ 49. auctioneer __________ 50. surgeon __________ Score: 26 /50
Unit 5: Sexist and Non-sexist Language JOB TITLES The workplace has changed dramatically in the last 50 years now that women are taking their place alongside men, and the language of the workplace has had to reflect this change. It is interesting to see how many job titles have been adapted or in other ways have been made inclusive. Sometimes traditional male terms have themselves become neutral and are used for both men and women: an author nowadays can be a man or a woman, as can a comedian, a deacon or an ambassador. Sometimes it is traditional female titles that have become inclusive: both men and women can be nurses, nannies and au pairs. Sometimes an alternative title has been devised that will comfortably accommodate both sexes: firemen have become firefighters, stationmasters station managers and air hostesses flight attendants. In the course of all this, some job titles have become necessarily redundant; we no longer have authoresses, poetesses, sculptresses, deaconesses, comediennes . . .. The list could be extended. Some titles, such as administratrix, executrix and testatrix, survive only in specialist contexts. Some ‘-ess’ suffixes have survived. We have countess, baroness, princess; we have abbess and prioress; we have waitress and bus conductress. All these titles are perfectly acceptable although alternatives for waitress have been broached (waiton, waitperson) and there are fewer conductresses about in these days of single deckers. (Bus driver is a neutral job title.) It may seem at first glance that conductor/conductress, manager/ manageress and governor/governess are parallel male and female job titles today, but they are not. Although you will find both bus conductors and conductresses collecting fares on buses, you would find either a male or a female conductor conducting an orchestra. Although managers and manageresses continue to operate small businesses, both men and women would call themselves managers in larger concerns. The male equivalent of a governess is not a governor, and tutor and governor are both neutral terms today. Mayoress and ambassadress have become ambiguous and need to be sorted. The wife of a mayor is a mayoress but technically a 27
Unit 5 woman elected to a mayoral post can be called a mayoress too or a mayor. Similarly, the wife of an ambassador is an ambassadress but so is a woman appointed to an ambassadorship. She can be called an ambassador or an ambassadress and it is very confusing for everyone in this linguistic transition period. And what of the suffix ‘-ette’? Traditionally, it has three functions: to denote the diminutive (kitchenette), to denote an inferior substitute (leatherette) and to denote the female gender. The suffix survives in drum majorette (by no means the equivalent of a drum major) and in usherette. Both ushers and usherettes show people to their seats in cinemas and theatres (although usherettes are more in evidence) but the term ‘usher’ becomes neutral when men and women guide people to their seats in church, when they function as officers in courts of law, and when they perform ceremonial duties on grand occasions. Perhaps cinema usherettes will be called ushers too in due course. Although ‘male’ and ‘woman’ can be attached to job titles when relevant (‘May I see a woman doctor?’), avoid doing so unnecessarily. Male nurses are nurses and women engineers are engineers. Let us be grateful for neutral titles. Gender-specific Neutral administratrix authoress administrator author, writer, novelist, biographer, etc. actress actor air hostess ambulance man flight attendant, cabin crew member ambulance driver, ambulance worker, paramedic barman/barmaid benefactress bartender, barperson, barworker benefactor binman businessman/business woman refuse collector business person, executive cameraman chairman/chairwoman camera operator, photographer chair, chairperson chambermaid cleaner, hotel cleaner, room attendant charlady/charwoman cleaner, household helper 28
Sexist and Non-sexist Language checkout girl cleaning lady/woman cashier, till operator cleaner, office cleaner, household helper clergyman cleric, priest, vicar, member of the clergy comedienne craftsman comedian, comic entertainer craftsperson, craftworker, weaver, potter, joiner, etc. deaconess draughtsman deacon draughtsperson dustman refuse collector editress fireman editor firefighter foreman/forewoman freshman supervisor fresher frogman gasman diver gas board worker, meter reader groundsman gardener, caretaker, groundskeeper headmaster/headmistress head, head teacher, principal heroine hero, central character instructress insurance man instructor insurance collector, agent, representative jury foreman head juror layman/laywoman linesman lay person, the laity (plural) linesperson lollipop lady manageress school crossing patrol officer manager, managing director, MD matron milkman chief nursing officer, principal officer, manager, superintendent milk deliverer patroness patron poetess policeman/policewoman poet police officer priestess cleric, priest, vicar, member of the clergy 29
Unit 5 quartermaster questionmaster quizmaster } salesman/saleswoman schoolmaster/ schoolmistress supplies officer, storeskeeper quiz show host sales representative, counter assistant, shop assistant teacher, school teacher sculptress seaman sculptor mariner, sailor signalman signal operator spaceman spokesman/ spokeswoman astronaut spokesperson, representative, official sportsman/sportswoman sportsperson statesman statesperson stationmaster station manager stewardess tradesman flight attendant, cabin crew member trader, shopkeeper wardress workman warder worker, labourer Idioms and expressions It is possible to avoid exclusive language in many of our everyday idioms and expressions if we take a little care. Here is a small sample of such expressions, and suggestions for rephrasing: mankind the human race, humankind manpower workforce, personnel middleman sportsmanship intermediary fair play man-management man and boy people-management from childhood as one man everyone together man hours working hours, work-hours 30
Sexist and Non-sexist Language to a man man-made without exception artificial, synthetic the man in the street the average person odd man out man to man odd one out person to person, face to face be man enough be your own man be brave enough act independently, be your own person best man for the job best person for the job man’s achievement to separate the men from the boys human achievement to separate the experienced from the inexperienced May the best man win. All men are equal. May the best person/competitor win. Everyone is equal./All people are equal. Time and tide wait for no man. to man Time and tide wait for no one. to operate, to staff, to work, to run Pronouns Complications may arise later in a sentence even when a neutral job title has been used when it comes to pronouns and possessive adjectives. E.g. A doctor should aim to establish a trusting relationship with his patients. He can best do this by . . . To avoid being gender specific (and it would seem quite inappropriate to talk about only male doctors in a general context like this) there are two possibilities: " Include her (his/her patients) and she (he/she, (s)he). E.g. A doctor should aim to establish a trusting relationship with his/ her patients. He/she can best do this by . . . " Make the advice plural by talking about doctors. Doctors should aim to establish a trusting relationship with their patients. They can best do this by . . . The plural solution is generally the easier one. Too many he/she, him/her, his/her references can be tiresome. These are all genderspecific; they, them and their are not! 31
Unit 6: Animals, Birds and Insects ANIMAL ADJECTIVES There are some fascinating adjectives derived from the Latin and Greek words for many of our animals, birds and insects. All the words below are in current use. Some are used to describe humans as well: feline grace, asinine behaviour, an aquiline nose, etc. anserine of or resembling a goose; (of people) stupid (from Latin: anser – a goose) apian of or relating to bees (from Latin: apis – a bee) aquiline of or like an eagle; (of a person’s nose) having the curved shape and pointed tip of an eagle’s beak (from Latin: aquila – an eagle) asinine resembling an ass; (of person) obstinate, idiotic, stupid (from Latin: asinus – an ass) of or relating to cattle; (of person) dull, stolid, stupid (from Latin: bos, bovis – ox) bovine canine of or resembling a dog; (of human teeth) the four teeth pointed like a dog’s (from Latin canis – a dog) caprine of or resembling a goat (from Latin: caper – a goat; odour of armpits) resembling or relating to a deer (from Latin: cervus – a deer) cervine corvine elephantine equine 32 like a crow or raven (esp. colour) (from Latin: corvus – a raven) of or like an elephant; (of person) clumsy, large, awkward; (of memory) retentive (Latin from Greek) of or relating to horses (from Latin: equus – a horse)
Animals, Birds and Insects feline hircine leonine lupine of, relating to or affecting cats; (of person) relating to grace and stealth, catlike (from Latin: feles – a cat) of or like a goat; (of person) lascivious (from Latin: hircus – he-goat) of or resembling a lion (from Latin: leo, leonis – a lion) of, like or relating to a wolf or wolves (from Latin: lupus – a wolf) ovine of, relating to, or affecting sheep; (of person) sheeplike (from Latin: ovis – a sheep) passerine of or relating to birds with a perching habit (from Latin: passer – a sparrow) of or like a peacock (from Latin: pavo, pavonis – a peacock) pavonine piscine porcine saurian simian of or concerning fish (from Latin: piscis – a fish) of, resembling, or affecting a pig or pigs (from Latin: porcus – a pig) of or like a lizard; (of person) lizard-like (from Greek: sauros – a lizard) relating to, resembling, or affecting apes or monkeys (from Latin: simia – an ape, and possibly from Greek: simos – flat-nosed) ursine of, relating to, or resembling a bear or bears; (of person) bear-like (from Latin: ursus – a bear) vermiform resembling or having the shape of a worm (from Latin: vermis – a worm) of or relating to a fox or foxes; (of person) crafty, cunning, clever (from Latin: vulpes – a fox) vulpine zebrine like a zebra, striped like a zebra (etymology uncertain) 33
Unit 6 GROUP TERMS There are some wonderful group terms for animals, birds and insects. Not all those below are in frequent use, but they are delightful in their own right, as well as being useful for quizzes. antelope apes a herd a shrewdness, troop asses badgers a drove, herd, pace a cete bears a sloth bees birds a hive, swarm a flock bitterns boar a siege a sounder buffalo a gang, herd, obstinacy bullfinches camels a bellowing a flock caterpillars cats an army a cluster, clowder (see also kittens) cattle a drove, herd chamois chickens a herd a brood, flock choughs cod a chattering a shoal colts a rag coots crows a covert a murder cubs deer a litter a herd dogfish a troop dolphins donkeys a pod, school a drove, herd, pace doves a flight 34
Animals, Birds and Insects ducks eagles a brood (hatched as one family), a knob (small number of wild duck), a skein (in flight), a padding/paddling/raft (on water) a convocation eels eland a swarm a herd elephants a herd elk ferrets a gang, herd a business flies foxes a cloud, swarm a skulk frogs an army, knot gazelle geese a herd a flock, gaggle, skein/wedge (in flight) giraffe gnats a herd a cloud, swarm goats a flock, herd, trip goldfinches goshawks a charm a flight grouse gulls a brood, covey, pack a colony hares a drove, trip hawks herons a cast a siege herring hounds an army, school, shoal a cry, pack horses humming-birds a herd, stud, team (see also hunters and racehorses) a charm hunters a string huskies insects a team a plague jays a band 35
Unit 6 jellyfish kangaroos a smack, smuck a mob, troop kittens a kindle, litter lapwings larks a deceit a bevy, exaltation leopard lions a leap a flock, pride, troop locusts a plague, swarm mackerel mallard a shoal a flush mice minnows a nest a shoal monkeys a shrewdness, tribe, troop, wilderness mules nightingales a barren, rake a watch oxen parrots a drove, herd, team, yoke a flock, pandemonium partridges a covey peacocks perch a muster a shoal pheasants pigeons a brood, nye a flight, flock piglets a litter pigs pilchards a herd a shoal plovers porpoises a congregation, stand, wing a gam, herd, pod, school pups a litter quail rabbits a bevy, drift a nest racehorses ravens a string a crash, herd roach a shoal 36
Animals, Birds and Insects rooks sea-lions a building, clamour, congregation, parliament a pod seals a herd, a pod sheep skunks a flock a business snipe sparrows a walk, wisp a host sperm-whales a herd (see also whales) starlings sticklebacks a chattering, congregation, murmuration a shoal stoats storks a pack a mustering swallows swans a flight a bevy, herd, wedge (in flight) swifts a flock swine terrapin a sounder a bale thrushes toads a company an army, knot tortoises a bale trout turtles a hover a bale walruses wasps a pod a swarm waterfowl a bunch, knob whales whiting a gam, pod, school (see also sperm whales) a pod widgeon wildebeest a knob, trip, bunch (on water), flight (in air) a herd wildfowl a bunch, knob, plump, trip wolves woodcock a herd, pack, rout a fall 37
Unit 6 wrens zebra a herd a herd MALE, FEMALE AND YOUNG There are some specialist terms for the male and female of the species and their young. It gives confidence to get them right. creature antelope ass/donkey male buck jackass female doe jenny badger bear bird boar buffalo camel cat cattle cod crab deer dog dolphin duck eagle eel elephant ferret fowl boar boar – boar bull bull tomcat bull – cock stag/buck dog bull drake eagle – bull hob cock sow sow – sow cow cow queen cow – hen doe/hind bitch cow duck eagle – cow jill hen fox frog giraffe goat dog – bull billy-goat, he-goat, buck gander boar vixen – cow nanny-goat, she-goat, doe goose sow goose guinea pig 38 young kid foal, colt (m) filly (f) cub cub nestling/fledgling piglet calf calf kitten calf, heifer (f) codling zoea fawn/kid pup calf duckling eaglet elver calf kit chick, cockerel (m) pullet (f) cub, pup, whelp tadpole calf kid gosling –
Animals, Birds and Insects hare hawk horse buck – stallion doe – mare kangaroo hedgehog leopard lion lobster moose otter owl peafowl pheasant pig buck boar leopard lion cock bull – owl peacock cock boar, hog (castrated) bull buck bull cock bull bull ram cob tiger – – bull – bull dog stallion doe sow leopardess lioness hen cow – owl peahen hen sow porpoise rabbit rhinoceros salmon seal sea lion sheep swan tiger toad trout walrus wasp whale wolf zebra cow doe cow hen cow cow ewe pen tigress – – cow – cow bitch, she-wolf mare leveret eyas foal, colt (m), filly (f) joey – cub cub, whelp – calf pup owlet peachick chick piglet, porkling, gilt (f) calf kitten calf parr cub, pup cub, pup lamb cygnet cub, whelp tadpole fry cub, pup grub calf cub, pup, whelp foal, colt (m), filly (f) ANIMAL HOMES And lastly in this unit, let us look at the specialist terms for animal homes. ants formicarium (especially when artificially constructed for study purposes) 39
Unit 6 badgers bears earth, sett den, lair beavers lodge bees birds (captive) apiary, hive aviary, cage birds (wild) cows nest byre, cowshed dog kennel eagles fowls eyrie coop foxes hares earth, lair form horses stable lions mice den, lair nest otters penguins holt rookery pigs sty pigeons (domestic) rabbits (tame) dovecot hutch rabbits (wild) rooks burrow, warren rookery seals rookery sheep squirrels fold, pen drey tigers turtles lair rookery wasps nest, vespiary TEST YOUR WORD POWER You may like to see how many of these questions you can answer from memory before looking up the answers. 40
Animals, Birds and Insects Complete: 1. equine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 2. canine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 3. feline like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 4. bovine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 5. aquiline like an_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ ________________ _ 6. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a wolf 7. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a bear 8. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a fox 9. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like an ass 10. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a lizard Give the group terms: 11. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of leopards 12. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of eagles 13. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of swans in flight 14. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of goldfinches 15. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of nightingales Complete with the appropriate creature: 16. a barren of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 17. a sounder of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 18. an exaltation of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 19. a flush of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 20. a crash of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 41
Unit 6 Give the young of these creatures: 21. cod ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 22. trout ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 23. kangaroo ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 24. zebra ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 25. tiger ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Complete with the appropriate creature: 26. A parr is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 27. An elver is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 28. A leveret is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 29. A kid is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 30. A cygnet is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Give the male of these creatures: 31. goose ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 32. jenny ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 33. mare ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 34. duck ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 35. doe ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Give the female of these creatures. 36. cob ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 37. tomcat ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 38. dog ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 39. boar ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 40. ram ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 42
Animals, Birds and Insects Complete this table: lobster male 41.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ female 42.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ kangaroo dolphin 43.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 45.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 44.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 46.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ Give the homes of these creatures: 47. hare ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 48. beaver ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 49. otter ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 50. squirrel ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Score: /50 43
Unit 7: Confusables The hundred words in the list below are frequently misused. Take care! The list does not claim to be exhaustive. acute An ACUTE illness is a severe one of short duration. chronic A CHRONIC illness lasts for a very long time but is not necessarily severe. aggravate You AGGRAVATE a situation (=make it worse). irritate You IRRITATE a person (=annoy). agnostic An AGNOSTIC believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not. An ATHEIST denies the possibility of the existence of God. atheist amoral AMORAL means non-moral, without reference to a moral code. immoral IMMORAL means not-moral, not conforming to normal moral standards. arbiter ARBITER refers to someone with the power or the influence to set standards and make decisions (ARBITER of fashion, ARBITER of manners). arbitrator ARBITRATOR refers to an independent person officially appointed to settle a dispute between two parties. (Confusingly ARBITER can also be used in this sense.) aural An AURAL test involves careful listening. oral An ORAL test is a spoken one rather than a written one. 44
Confusables billion million Formerly British and American definitions were at variance: British: a million million 1 000 000 000 000 American: a thousand million 1 000 000 000 However, the American definition is now widely accepted internationally and in the UK. There remains, unfortunately, the possibility of being misunderstood and so care should be taken to remove any possible ambiguity. In both American and British English, this is a thousand thousand: 1 000 000. childish CHILDISH means exhibiting or retaining the worst qualities of a child (immaturity, silly behaviour, petulance, etc.). childlike CHILDLIKE means exhibiting or retaining the best qualities of a child (candour, wonder, innocence, etc.). complacent A COMPLACENT person is smug and selfsatisfied. complaisant A COMPLAISANT person is so anxious to please that he or she will eagerly fit in with the wishes of others. complement/complementary A COMPLEMENT completes. " Well chosen accessories can COMPLEMENT an outfit. " A ship’s COMPLEMENT is the complete crew. " COMPLEMENTARY medicine can complete the work of conventional medicine by dealing with areas beyond the scope of general practice. 45
Unit 7 compliment/complimentary " A COMPLIMENT is an appreciative remark. " COMPLIMENTARY tickets are given free of charge (with best wishes, as it were). connoisseur dilettante A CONNOISSEUR is an expert judge in matters of taste (from French ‘to know’). A DILETTANTE is a lover of the arts (from the Italian ‘to delight’) but with a suggestion of being an amateur dabbler, of not having studied the arts seriously or in depth. contagious A CONTAGIOUS disease is passed on by bodily contact. infectious An INFECTIOUS disease is transmitted by water or through the air. continual A CONTINUAL noise is one that stops and starts. A CONTINUOUS noise is uninterrupted. continuous councillor A COUNCILLOR is an elected member of a council. counsellor A COUNSELLOR is someone who gives advice professionally (a marriage COUNSELLOR or a debt COUNSELLOR, for example). defective A machine that is DEFECTIVE is not working properly. It has a defect. deficient A diet that is DEFICIENT in certain elements is lacking them. dependant A DEPENDANT is someone who depends on another for financial support. If you are DEPENDENT on drugs, you dependent 46
Confusables cannot do without them. There is no distinction in American English. The ending -ent is used for both forms. discover To DISCOVER something is to find it for the first time. It has, however, always been there. invent To INVENT something is to make something for the first time that has never existed before. discreet DISCREET means able to keep a secret, to be diplomatic, circumspect. DISCRETE means separate, distinct. discrete disinterested uninterested A DISINTERESTED person acts from unselfish motives. All personal interest is set aside (dis = away). Anyone who is UNINTERESTED is bored, not interested (un = not). displace To DISPLACE is to remove something from its correct place or to force someone from home and country. misplace To MISPLACE is to put something in the wrong place. MISPLACED affection is affection bestowed unwisely. economic ECONOMIC is derived from economics (the science of production, distribution and the structure of wealth). We can talk of the ECONOMIC health of a country or of an ECONOMIC rent (i.e. giving an adequate profit). ECONOMICAL comes from economy (the careful management of resources). A car can be ECONOMICAL on petrol or a meal can be ECONOMICAL (not wasteful or expensive). economical 47
Unit 7 egoist An EGOIST is selfish and self-seeking as a matter of principle. EGOISM as a philosophical concept would encourage the pursuit of one’s own interests as the highest goal, because the only thing one can be certain of is one’s own existence. egotist An EGOTIST is selfish because he/she is too vain, self-obsessed, self-important or boastful to spare a thought for the needs or interests of others. All his/her attention is self-directed. An EGOTIST’s conversation will be dominated by the use of I, me, my, myself. enormity ENORMITY refers to the quality of being extremely wicked, very evil. One can talk of the ENORMITY of child abuse. ENORMOUSNESS refers to the quality of being very large. One can substitute immensity, hugeness, bigness, vast extent. enormousness " The ENORMOUSNESS of the task of cataloguing the neglected library is just beginning to be realised. epigram An EPIGRAM is a short, witty remark. epitaph An EPITAPH is an inscription on a tombstone. equable An EQUABLE climate is a moderate one without extremes of hot and cold. A person with an EQUABLE temperament is even-tempered, calm and not easily aroused to anger. equitable EQUITABLE means just and fair. One can talk of an EQUITABLE division of wealth or labour. exhausting exhaustive An EXHAUSTING task is a very tiring one. EXHAUSTIVE means thorough, comprehensive. An EXHAUSTIVE 48
Confusables investigation would leave no stone unturned. fewer FEWER means ‘not so many’: FEWER tomatoes, FEWER passengers, FEWER incidents. less LESS means ‘not so much’: LESS sugar, LESS responsibility, LESS congestion. fictional This means happening in fiction. " Inspector Morse is a FICTIONAL detective. fictitious " Middlemarch is a FICTIONAL town. FICTITIOUS can be used like fictional to mean ‘found in fiction’. It has another meaning also which has nothing to do with literature. It can mean false, not genuine. " The child gave the police officer a FICTITIOUS name and address. gourmand A GOURMAND loves food and frequently eats too much. You could say that a GOURMAND hugely enjoys eating and enjoys eating hugely. gourmet A GOURMET is a connoisseur of good food and wine. historic HISTORIC means likely to earn a place in history, memorable, significant: an HISTORIC meeting, an HISTORIC moment, an HISTORIC occasion. HISTORICAL is used to refer to people who lived in the past and to events which really happened however insignificant. historical " Robin Hood is an HISTORICAL character. (i.e. he really lived and is not fictional.) N.B. Some events can be both HISTORIC (momentous) and HISTORICAL (they happened). 49
Unit 7 honorary 1. An HONORARY secretary of an association works voluntarily and is not paid. 2. An HONORARY degree is conferred as an honour, without the usual academic requirements. honourable 1. A decent HONOURABLE man is one with high principles. 2. It is used as a courtesy title in certain contexts, for example, when referring to MPs within the House of Commons: the HON. Member for Plymouth South. infer To INFER something is to draw a conclusion from the evidence presented. imply To IMPLY is to insinuate, suggest or hint. " Are you IMPLYING that I’m a liar? ingenious An INGENIOUS device is one that is clever, inventive, original and suited to its purpose. Its originator could also be described as INGENIOUS and praised for his or her INGENUITY. ingenuous INGENUOUS describes a person ¨ (particularly a young woman) who is naıve and unsuspecting, frank, trusting and innocent. The remarks, smiles and aspirations of such a person could also be described as INGENUOUS. N.B. DISINGENUOUS means the opposite. A person who is being DISINGENUOUS is craftily pretending to understand less than is the case. irony IRONY is a gentle way of saying what you really mean by apparently stating the exact opposite. It comes from the Greek eironeia which means ‘simulated ignorance’. An IRONIC remark simulates ignorance in order to amuse or to comment wryly on a 50
Confusables sarcasm situation. A comment that a burnt lopsided cake ‘looks delicious’ is an IRONIC one. SARCASM may use an ironic approach but its intention is to wound and insult. It comes from the Greek sarkazein which means ‘to tear flesh’. A SARCASTIC remark expresses scorn and contempt: ‘I suppose you are proud of yourself, you loathsome, snivelling creature!’ judicial A JUDICIAL separation is one ordered by a court of law. JUDICIAL refers to the proceedings of a court of law. judicious A JUDICIOUS decision is a wise one, showing good judgement. (One would hope that all JUDICIAL decisions are also JUDICIOUS.) libel LIBEL is the defamation of someone’s character or good standing in written form. slander SLANDER is the defamation of someone’s character or good standing in speech. masterful MASTERFUL means powerful, authoritative, able to control others. MASTERLY means very skilful, as in ‘a masterly performance’. masterly militate MILITATE comes from Latin miles (= a soldier). The word means to act powerfully (against), to be a strong factor in preventing. " His frequent errors of judgement must surely MILITATE against his promotion. mitigate MITIGATE comes from the Latin mitis (=mild) and means to moderate, to make less severe. " The world may judge them harshly but there are mitigating circumstances. 51
Unit 7 observance OBSERVANCE means compliance with the requirements of laws, rules and religious rituals. The word comes from ‘to observe’ in the sense of to obey, to follow, to keep. observation This means observing in the sense of watching, noticing and also commenting: OBSERVATION post; under OBSERVATION; a shrewd OBSERVATION. perspicacity If you praise someone’s PERSPICACITY, you are praising their clearness of understanding, their perceptiveness. The word comes from the Latin perspicax (= seeing clearly). If you praise someone’s PERSPICUITY, you are praising their ability to express themselves clearly, their lucidity. The word comes from the Latin perspicuus (=transparent, clear). perspicuity psychiatry The study and treatment of mental disorders. psychology The study of the human mind and its functions. referee An official who monitors play in certain sports such as football and boxing. An official who monitors play in certain sports such as basketball, cricket and tennis. umpire reverend reverent sensual 52 This word means deserving reverence (a saintly and REVEREND man) and is a title given to clergy, usually abbreviated to Rev. or Revd. This word means feeling and showing reverence: a REVERENT silence; a REVERENT genuflection. SENSUAL means appealing to the body and its appetites (especially through food, sex and drink).
Confusables sensuous SENSUOUS means appealing to the senses (especially through music, poetry and art). sewage SEWAGE is the waste products passing through sewers. SEWERAGE is the provision of drainage by sewers. sewerage tortuous torturous A TORTUOUS path is one that is full of twist and turns. A TORTUOUS argument is similar convoluted. TORTUROUS comes from ‘torture’ and means agonising, painful, involving suffering: a TORTUROUS fitness regime. unexceptionable This means inoffensive, not likely to cause objections or criticism. unexceptional This means ordinary, run-of-the-mill. vacation A VACATION is a holiday (from Latin vacare = to be unoccupied). vocation A VOCATION is a calling a strong feeling of being drawn to a particular career or way of life (from Latin vocare = to call). veracious voracious A VERACIOUS person is truthful. A VORACIOUS person has a huge appetite. waive To WAIVE one’s rights is to forgo them, to refrain from insisting on them. WAIVE comes from the French word meaning ‘to abandon’. To WAVE a hand is to move it backwards and forwards in greeting. wave TEST YOUR WORD POWER Select the appropriate word from the pair in brackets at the end of each sentence. 53
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Increase your-word-power

  • 1.
  • 3. Books to change your life and work. Accessible, easy to read and easy to act on – other titles in the How To series include: Polish Up Your Punctuation & Grammar Master the basics of the English language and write with greater confidence Improving Your Spelling Boost your word power and your confidence Improving Your Written English How to ensure your grammar, punctuation and spelling are up to scratch Writing an Essay How to improve your performance in coursework and examinations Writing Your Dissertation How to plan, prepare and present successful work The A–Z of Correct English How to avoid common errors in English The How To series now contains around 200 titles in the following categories: Business & Management Career Choices Career Development Computers & the Net Creative Writing Home & Family Living & Working Abroad Personal Development Personal Finance Self-Employment & Small Business Study Skills & Student Guides For full details, please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue: How To Books 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road Oxford, OX4 1RE email: info@howtobooks.co.uk http://www.howtobooks.co.uk
  • 5. Published by How To Books Ltd, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 793806. Fax: (01865) 248780. email: info@howtobooks.co.uk www.howtobooks.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the express permission of the publisher in writing. # Copyright 2001 Angela Burt Angela Burt has asserted the right to be identified as the author of this work, in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Edited by Francesca Mitchell Cover design by Shireen Nathoo Design Cover image PhotoDisc Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions Typeset by PDQ Typesetting, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Printed and bound by Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wiltshire NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in the book. Laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements.
  • 6. Contents Introduction vii Unit 1 Dictionary Practice 1 Unit 2 Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 6 Unit 3 People 12 Unit 4 Occupations 21 Unit 5 Sexist and Non-sexist Language 27 Unit 6 Animals, Birds and Insects 32 Unit 7 Confusables 44 Unit 8 Eponyms 57 Unit 9 Americanisms 81 Unit 10 Foreign Words and Phrases in English 89 Unit 11 Proverbs 116 Unit 12 Prefixes 130 Unit 13 Suffixes 144 Unit 14 Word Roots 156 Appendix A Some spelling rules when adding suffixes 171 Answers 174
  • 8. Introduction This book has been written for students and general readers who love words and who would like to study them more closely in a structured way. It offers help and support to all those who are enthusiastic about extending the range of their vocabulary and who want to use words more precisely. For example, Unit 7 will help you distinguish between ‘perspicacity’ and ‘perspicuity’ along with many other confusing pairs. Look at Unit 10 if you are sometimes at a loss when foreign words and phrases are used. You will be reassured to see the most popular ones listed alphabetically (and translated!). Units 12, 13 and 14, among others, will help you see how many of our most difficult words have been derived. Once you understand the etymology, these words are demystified forever. For example, once you are familiar with the Greek root khronos (=time), then you have the key to the English words chronic, chronicle, chronological, chronometer, anachronism, synchronise and so on. And you are clear why a chronic illness is one that lasts a long time and is not necessarily serious. And in Unit 8, it’s fun finding out who or what gave their names to the bikini, the fuchsia, nicotine, salmonella, sideburns and so on, and how the adjectives ‘maudlin’ and ‘tawdry’ have come down to us. There are fourteen units. All but the first two introductory ones are arranged alphabetically for ease of reference. The book is very much a reference book as well as a practical self-help manual. ‘Test Your Word Power’ activities are included for useful and entertaining consolidation practice wherever appropriate and the answers to all the questions are given at the back of the book. There is, in addition, an appendix which covers the spelling rules for adding endings to words (useful when working through Unit 13). There is so much unnecessary anguish over spelling words like pin +ing, pine +ing, arrive +al, sincere +ly, budget +ing and forget +able. The rules are straightforward and the few exceptions are given. You are advised to acquire a good dictionary if you haven’t got one already to derive the fullest benefit from the activities. (See advice on choosing a dictionary in Unit 1.) A thesaurus is also a wise investment for anyone seriously interested in words. (See advice on vii
  • 9. INTRODUCTION buying a thesaurus in Unit 2.) I very much hope that all who use this book will find it enjoyable as well as instructive and that it will whet your appetite for further exploration. Angela Burt viii
  • 10. Unit 1: Dictionary Practice It you are really serious about wanting to extend your vocabulary, you will need a good up-to-date dictionary that reflects current usage and includes recent additions to the language. If you need to replace a dictionary, spend some time comparing different dictionaries in a good bookshop. See which one you are most comfortable with as you search for words. See which one gives the clearest definitions, with guidance about usage and information about the origin of the word. You may like to test several by looking up the same word in each of them, perhaps ‘syllogism’ or ‘sesquipedalianism’ or any other word of your choice! " Regard the purchase of the best dictionary that you can afford as an investment. Have it to hand as you explore the units in this book. You will be ready to embark on a never-ending adventure with words. " Use your dictionary to establish the meaning of the words in the following test. The answers are in the back of the book and you can keep your score. If your dictionary is adequate to your needs, you should score a total of 50/50. " It would be unwise to work through subsequent units without replacing your dictionary if your score is significantly lower than full marks in this first unit. TEST YOUR WORD POWER Tick the one definition that you think comes closest to the meaning of each of the words on the left. 1. onerous (a) (b) (c) absolutely reliable burdensome single-minded & & & 2. banal (a) (b) (c) poisonous commonplace impossible & & & 1
  • 11. Unit 1 practicable extravagant ridiculous & & & 4. surreptitious (a) (b) (c) illegal stealthy delicious & & & 5. iridescent shining with all the colours of the rainbow pertaining to transport effective at thoroughly disinfecting surfaces 3. feasible (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) & & & 6. cursory (a) (b) (c) rapid blasphemous curved & & & 7. perfunctory (a) (b) (c) fragrant superficial official & & & 8. plausible (a) (b) (c) elastic convincing playful & & & 9. rabid (a) (b) (c) doubting mad short-sighted & & & (a) (b) (c) worthless neat hackneyed & & & 10. trite Match each word from the box with its definition. accolade alliteration autobiography ecstasy histrionics 2 inebriation inventory obituary ostentation soliloquy
  • 12. Dictionary Practice 11. 12. a list of articles, together with the description and quantity of each __________ a person’s life story which has been written by himself or herself __________ 13. a speech made by a character in a play when alone on the stage __________ 14. a showy display meant to impress __________ 15. a public tribute __________ 16. rapturous delight __________ 17. a brief account of a person’s life printed on the occasion of his or her death __________ 18. the repetition of one letter or sound in a series of words __________ 19. state of drunkenness, intoxication __________ 20. exaggerated dramatic behaviour __________ Use each of the words below in a separate sentence that shows you understand meaning and usage. 21. cynic __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 22. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ disinterested __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 23. allusion __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 3
  • 13. Unit 1 24. ironical __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 25. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ infer __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 26. vehement __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 27. aggravate __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 28. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ literally __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 29. sceptical __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ 30. __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ conscientious __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Three of the words in each group of four below are closely related in meaning. Underline the odd one out. 31. 32. despotic, eccentric, overbearing, tyrannical irascible, cantankerous, diffident, choleric 33. denigrate, ruminate, cogitate, speculate 4
  • 14. Dictionary Practice 34. 35. reprimand, admonish, castigate, exonerate expensive, exotic, exorbitant, extortionate 36. rancour, asperity, aneurysm, acrimony 37. 38. abrogate, arrogate, appropriate, usurp bucolic, eclectic, rustic, pastoral 39. 40. frustrate, foil, thwart, renege garrulous, avaricious, loquacious, talkative Match up the architectural terms in the box with the appropriate definitions. architrave bargeboard cornice dado dormer eaves gable joists lintel mullion 41. horizontal timber or stone above a door or a window __________ 42. vertical triangular piece of wall at end of ridged roof __________ 43. upright window set into a sloping roof __________ 44. moulded frame around a door or window __________ 45. timbers on which floorboards are laid __________ 46. wood along the edge of a gable __________ 47. vertical bar dividing the panes of a window __________ 48. projecting lower edge of a roof __________ 49. horizontal decorative moulding along the top of an internal wall __________ 50. lower part of an interior wall when of a different texture or colour __________ Score:___ /50 5
  • 15. Unit 2: Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice A thesaurus lists words similar in meaning to a given word (synonyms) and some thesauruses also list opposites (antonyms). Used in conjunction with a good dictionary, a thesaurus can be invaluable. It can prompt your memory when you can’t think of the exact word you need or it can suggest an alternative when you want to avoid repetition. Here is a typical entry. look: behold, contemplate, descry, discern, examine, eye, fix the eye on, gape, gaze, give attention to, glance, glimpse, goggle, inspect, leer, observe, ogle, peek, peep, peer, pry, regard, scan, scrutinise, see, sight, spy, squint, stare, study, survey, turn the eyes upon, view, watch As you can see, a thesaurus doesn’t distinguish between the shades of meaning of such related words. A dictionary will do this. to glance: to take a quick look to glimpse: to see momentarily or partially to goggle: to stare with the eyes wide open If you don’t have a thesaurus and want to buy one, spend some time looking at a range of them. Most are arranged alphabetically; the most famous, Roget’s Thesaurus, is arranged thematically. Sample by looking up a word like ‘look’ or ‘walk’ in each of them. Choose the one you are most comfortable with. It’s going to become a good friend. ‘Thesaurus’ comes from the Greek word thesauros meaning ‘treasure house’. You will find a thesaurus can be just that. Your thesaurus and your dictionary will help you with the following test. 6
  • 16. Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice TEST YOUR WORD POWER Replace the underlined words below with five words or phrases that are close in meaning. Kevin threw the brick with all his might at the window. 1. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 2. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 3. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 4. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 5. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ It’s a fallacy that everyone can learn to sing. 6. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 7. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 8. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 9. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 10. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ Carmel was delighted at the birth of her first grandchild. 11. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 12. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 13. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 14. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 15. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ Please give me an honest answer. 16. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 17. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 18. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 19. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 20. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 7
  • 17. Unit 2 The Minister’s involvement in the scandalous affair is only now coming to light. 21. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 22. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 23. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 24. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ 25. _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ ____________________ With each group of words below, show how each word in the group has its own distinctive meaning and which common meaning all four words share. 26. gulp ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 27. pant ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 28. puff ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 29. wheeze ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 30. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 31. awe ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 32. esteem ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 33. homage ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 34. veneration ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 35. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 36. hilarious ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 37. ridiculous ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 38. uproarious ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 39. witty ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 40. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 41. irascible ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 42. irritable ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 8
  • 18. Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 43. morose ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 44. splenetic ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 45. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 46. fee ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 47. honorarium ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 48. salary ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 49. wage ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 50. common meaning: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Explain the difference between these pairs: 51. a band _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 52. an orchestra _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 53. a catalogue _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 54. a programme _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 55. a pie _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 56. a tart _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 57. a casserole _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 58. a stew _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 59. an apron _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 60. a pinafore _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Give a synonym (a word similar in meaning) for each of the words below. The first letter is given in each case. 61. notorious i____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 62. prohibit f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 63. ostentatious s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 64. clandestine s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 9
  • 19. Unit 2 65. novice b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 66. stay r____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 67. sleepy s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 68. abstain r____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 69. intrepid f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 70. adhere s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ Choose words from the box which are most nearly the opposite of the ten words below it. failure wealth release joy retreat enthusiastic parsimonious voracious occasional permanent 71. generous ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 72. abstemious ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 73. temporary ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 74. frequent ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 75. apathetic ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 76. advance ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 77. grief ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 78. success ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 79. poverty ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ 80. capture ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ Give the word most nearly opposite in meaning to each of these ten adjectives (describing words). The first letter has been given in each case. 81. prolix s____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 82. vague p____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 10
  • 20. Thesaurus and Dictionary Practice 83. modest b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 84. rural u____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 85. harmonious d____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 86. voluntary c____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 87. fertile b____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 88. innocent g____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 89. serious f____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ 90. synthetic n____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _ Match up the words in Column A with their opposites in Column B. Draw a line to join them. A B 91. lethargic lasting 92. repellent mature 93. base obscure 94. heedless automatic 95. callow unadulterated 96. ephemeral alluring 97. renowned wary 98. ¨ naıve energetic 99. manual sophisticated 100. immaculate filthy Score:___ /100 11
  • 21. Unit 3: People WORDS DESCRIBING PEOPLE There is a huge and wonderfully subtle range of words to draw upon when you want to choose a word to describe how someone looks, behaves or reacts. Look closely at this alphabetical list, which includes nearly six hundred of them. Check the meaning of any unfamiliar words and be alert to exactly how they are used when you hear them spoken or see them written. In the course of time, you will make all of them your own and use them with confidence and accuracy. abashed accommodating acquiescent affluent agog ambidextrous amorous antagonistic ardent assertive august authoritative abject accomplished adamant aggressive alluring amenable anaemic apathetic arrogant assiduous austere avaricious abrasive acerbic adroit aghast aloof amiable animated apoplectic articulate astute autocratic avid abstemious acrimonious affable agile altruistic amoral anorexic apprehensive ascetic audacious authoritarian avuncular barbaric belligerent biassed blithe boorish brawny bumptious barbarous benevolent bigoted blunt bountiful brazen burly bashful berserk bipartisan bold bourgeois brusque buxom bellicose besotted ´ blase bombastic brash bulimic cadaverous cantankerous cavilling cerebral chauvinistic circumspect callous capricious celebrated charismatic chivalrous coercive callow captious celibate chary choleric combative candid cavalier censorious chaste churlish compassionate 12
  • 22. People compatible congenial contrite costive credulous curt complacent conscientious contumacious covetous crestfallen complaisant conservative convivial crass crotchety compliant constant corpulent craven culpable dapper decadent deferential demure despondent didactic diplomatic dishevelled dispirited distraught doleful dour dynamic dastardly deceased deft depraved despotic diffident discerning disingenuous dissipated docile dominant downcast dyslexic debauched decorous degenerate deranged destitute dilatory disconsolate disinterested dissolute dogged domineering downtrodden debonair defensive dejected desolate devious diligent disgruntled dispassionate disreputable dogmatic doughty droll ebullient effeminate egoistical eligible eminent enterprising euphoric extroverted eccentric effusive egotistical eloquent empathic epicurean evasive exuberant ecstatic egregious elated emaciated enervated equable exacting effete egocentric elegant emasculated enigmatic erudite exemplary facetious fastidious fervent filial fluent forthright frenetic frugal facile famous fervid flamboyant foolhardy fractious frigid frumpish fallible febrile fickle flawless forlorn frail frivolous farouche feckless fiery flippant formidable fraternal froward garrulous genial guileless gauche genteel gullible gaunt glib gawky gregarious haggard haughty headstrong hedonistic 13
  • 23. Unit 3 heedless hostile hidebound hypercritical hirsute hypocritical histrionic hysterical iconoclastic ignominious immodest implacable improvident incompatible indifferent indomitable inept infirm inimitable insouciant intractable introverted irate idealistic illegitimate impassive importunate imprudent inconstant indigenous indulgent infamous inflexible innovative insubordinate intransigent inured irrepressible idiosyncratic illiterate impecunious impoverished inarticulate incorrigible indigent industrious infantile ingenuous inscrutable insular intrepid invincible itinerant ignoble illustrious imperturbable impotent incoherent indefatigable indolent inebriated infantine ingratiating insolvent intestate introspective irascible jaded jocular judicious jaundiced jovial jejune jubilant jocose judgmental lachrymose lascivious lenient libidinous lithe laconic lax lethargic licentious litigious lackadaisical lecherous lewd lissom loquacious languorous legitimate liberal literate lugubrious machiavellian malevolent materialistic mendacious militant morbid myopic magisterial malicious maudlin mercenary misanthropic moronic magnanimous manic meek mercurial misogynistic morose maladroit manipulative melancholic meticulous moralistic munificent ¨ naıve neurasthenic notorious narcissistic neurotic nubile nefarious nonchalant negligent nonplussed obdurate obnoxious obtuse obese obsequious officious objective obsessive omnipotent oblivious obstreperous omniscient 14
  • 24. People opinionated overweening opulent orotund otiose pacific paternal pedagogic pensive peripatetic pertinacious petulant plaintive pliant prejudiced priggish profligate provocative pubescent puny pallid paternalistic pedantic penurious personable perverse philanthropic platitudinous portly prescient proactive prolific prudent puerile pusillanimous paranoid patriarchal peerless peremptory perspicacious pessimistic phlegmatic plausible pragmatic presumptive prodigal promiscuous prudish punctilious parsimonious patrician peevish perfidious pert petite placid plebeian precocious presumptuous proficient prosaic prurient punctual quarrelsome quizzical queasy querulous quixotic raddled rash reckless remorseful resolute rigid rueful raffish raucous reclusive remorseless resourceful rigorous ruthless rancorous reactive redoubtable reprehensible reticent robust rapacious recalcitrant refractory resilient ribald rotund sadistic sanctimonious sardonic scurrilous senile servile slapdash sly solvent splenetic staid sterling suave sagacious sanguine saturnine sedate sensual shiftless slatternly smug somnolent spruce stalwart stoical submissive sage sapient sceptical seditious sensuous shifty slender ´ soignee sophisticated spry staunch stolid subservient sallow sarcastic scrupulous sedulous serene shrewd slothful solicitous spartan squeamish steadfast strait-laced subversive 15
  • 25. Unit 3 sullen sycophantic supercilious surly sybaritical taciturn testy torpid trenchant telepathic tetchy tractable truculent tenacious thrifty tranquil tendentious timorous tremulous unabashed uxorious unctuous unkempt urbane vacuous vehement vigilant vivacious voluptuous vainglorious venerable vindictive vociferous voracious valiant veracious virile volatile vulnerable vapid verbose vituperative voluble waspish wily wary wistful wayward woebegone wilful xenophobic zealous TEST YOUR WORD POWER Explain the difference in meaning between the words in these pairs: 1. authoritarian __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 2. authoritative __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 3. celibate __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 4. chaste __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 5. dominant __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 6. domineering __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 7. hypercritical __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 8. hypocritical __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 9. sensual __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ sensuous __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 10. 16
  • 26. People Find the adjective in the box that best describes how each of these ten people looks. brawny buxom cadaverous corpulent emaciated gaunt obese petite rotund slender 11. Bridget is tall and attractively thin. __________ 12. Matthew is muscular and strong. __________ 13. Geoffrey’s pale, thin and corpse-like appearance shocked everyone. __________ 14. Danielle is undeniably round and plump.__________ 15. Helen is daintily built. __________ 16. Brendan was rendered thin and feeble by his long illness. __________ 17. Sheila is large, plump and comely. __________ 18. Angela is very fat indeed. __________ 19. Years of heavy drinking and lack of exercise have made Cyril unpleasantly stout. __________ 20. Some people find Eric’s thin, lean and haggard features very attractive. __________ Tick one definition which you think comes closest to the meaning of each of the words on the left. 21. splenetic (a) (b) (c) splendid athletic bad-tempered & & & 22. garrulous (a) (b) (c) talkative on the defensive over-confident & & & 17
  • 27. Unit 3 23. hedonistic (a) (b) (c) generous intelligent pleasure-seeking & & & 24. supercilious (a) (b) (c) disdainful very stupid out-of-work & & & 25. cantankerous (a) (b) (c) competent quarrelsome vain & & & 26. zealous (a) (b) (c) with unreserved energy with bitter envy with deep regret & & & 27. droll (a) (b) (c) half-hearted amusing in a wry way kind and supportive & & & 28. ascetic (a) rigidly abstemious and selfdenying passionate about the arts suffering from an advanced rheumatic condition (b) (c) 29. meticulous & (b) (c) 30. fallible (a) & & able to use either hand with ease showing compassion very precise about detail & & & (a) (b) (c) liable to make mistakes sinful untruthful & & & Find in the box a word that is similar in meaning and a word which is opposite in meaning for each of the words below. courteous diligent famous frenetic inconstant 18 lazy loyal notorious rude tranquil
  • 28. People Similar 31.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ serene Opposite 32.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ fickle 33.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 34.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ illustrious surly 35.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 37.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 36.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 38.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ industrious 39.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 40.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ Choose the word from the box that best describes each of these people: laconic lethargic materialistic mercenary misanthropic 41. Lynn is unemotional and not easily excited. Lynn is. 42. ¨ naıve phlegmatic sadistic sarcastic sceptical ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Francis takes pleasure in watching others suffer. Francis is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 43. Blanche places a higher value on possessions and on worldly success than on spiritual values. Blanche is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 44. ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ . Danielle is unsophisticated and trusting and doesn’t understand how her actions may be misinterpreted. Danielle is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 46. . Jack is unwilling to believe what has been said despite all the salesman’s efforts. Jack is 45. . . Terry has a wonderfully terse way of expressing himself. He never wastes words. Terry is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ . 19
  • 29. Unit 3 47. Bruce has such a biting, hurtful, teasing way of talking to people. Bruce is 48. ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Pauline’s motives are wholly actuated by the hope of making money. Pauline is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 49. . Phyllis lacks energy and drive. She seems half-asleep most of the time. Phyllis is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Check your answers with the answers at the back of the book. Score: 20 . I’m afraid Georgina has no love for her fellow men and women and avoids them if she can. Georgina is ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ 50. . /50 .
  • 30. Unit 4: Occupations We have a truly rich range of suffixes (word endings) to indicate job titles in English. The list below includes the most common ones with some examples. It is not exhaustive. You can add to it yourself from your own experience. Notice that some of the suffixes sound notoriously similar and can present spelling difficulties: " accountant and lieutenant but superintendent " adviser but solicitor " astronomer but ambassador Notice too that some of the job titles included below are specifically male or female titles. Recent decades have witnessed a social revolution in the workplace, and assumptions about which jobs are suitable for men and which for women have had to be dramatically revised. Job titles like headmistress, usherette, masseuse, businessman, executrix and yachtswoman are becoming unacceptable to many. Such suffixes are asterisked to indicate that care needs to be taken. Neutral alternatives to gender-specific titles are examined in the next unit. -ain (French) captain, chaplain -al (Latin) admiral, cardinal, corporal, general, marshal -an (Latin) -ant (Latin) artisan, publican, sacristan accountant, adjutant, assistant, attendant, commandant, lieutenant, merchant, sergeant -ary (Latin) actuary, emissary, missionary, plenipotentiary, secretary, visionary advocate, curate, delegate, legate, magistrate -ate (Latin) -ee (French) -eer (French) bargee, employee, referee, trustee auctioneer, engineer, mountaineer, muleteer, pioneer, puppeteer, volunteer -enne* (French) comedienne 21
  • 31. Unit 4 -ent (Latin) -er (Anglo-Saxon) agent, president, student, superintendent adviser, archer, astrologer, astronomer, baker, barrister, biographer, boxer, butcher, carpenter, chandler, cleaner, draper, dressmaker, driver, farmer, geographer, grocer, hairdresser, indexer, labourer, lawyer, lecturer, lexicographer, manager, miner, minister, newscaster, officer, ostler, pawnbroker, philosopher, photographer, plasterer, plumber, porter, preacher, proofreader, reporter, stationer, stoker, teacher, trumpeter, waiter, writer -ess* (French) abbess, actress, authoress, conductress, deaconess, goddess, governess, heiress, manageress, poetess, prioress, prophetess, sculptress, seamstress, waitress -et, -ete (Greek) poet, prophet, athlete -ette* (French) -eur (French) majorette, suffragette, usherette coiffeur, entrepreneur, masseur -euse* (French) -ey (uncertain) coiffeuse, masseuse attorney, flunkey, jockey -herd (Anglo-Saxon) goatherd, shepherd, swineherd -ian (Latin) beautician, dietician, electrician, magician, mathematician, musician, optician, paediatrician, physician, politician, technician, comedian, historian, grammarian, librarian, parliamentarian, seminarian -ic (French) -ice (Latin) comic, critic, mechanic, mimic accomplice, apprentice, novice -ier (French) -ist (Greek) brigadier, cashier acupuncturist, archaeologist, archivist, artist, botanist, cartoonist, cellist, chemist, chiropodist, dentist, dramatist, guitarist, harpist, hypnotist, journalist, linguist, manicurist, motorist, novelist, numismatist, optometrist, orthodontist, philatelist, physicist, pianist, psychiatrist, receptionist, 22
  • 32. Occupations -ive (French) scientist, sociologist, typist, violinist detective, executive, representative -lady* (Anglo-Saxon) charlady, dinner lady, landlady, lollipop lady, tea lady -lord* (Anglo-Saxon) -maid* (Anglo-Saxon) landlord, warlord barmaid, chambermaid, milkmaid, parlourmaid -man* (Anglo-Saxon) businessman, cameraman, chairman, clergyman, craftsman, draughtsman, dustman, fireman, fisherman, foreman, frogman, houseman, layman, marksman, midshipman, milkman, ombudsman, ploughman, policeman, postman, salesman, serviceman, spokesman, stockman, workman choirmaster, headmaster, postmaster, quartermaster, questionmaster, quizmaster, ringmaster, stationmaster, toastmaster -master* (French) -mistress* (French) choirmistress, headmistress, postmistress, schoolmistress, wardrobe mistress -monger (Anglo-Saxon) costermonger, fishmonger, ironmonger -on* (French) -or (French) archdeacon, canon, deacon, matron, patron, sexton, surgeon actor, adjudicator, administrator, ambassador, author, chiropractor, conductor, councillor, counsellor, coordinator, director, doctor, editor, governor, instructor, juror, major, narrator, operator, rector, sailor, solicitor, supervisor, surveyor, tailor, tutor -ot (Greek) abbot, harlot, pilot -path (Greek) -smith (Anglo-Saxon) homeopath, osteopath blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, wordsmith -trix* (Latin) -wife* (Anglo-Saxon) aviatrix, executrix, proprietrix, testatrix fishwife, housewife, midwife 23
  • 33. Unit 4 -woman* (Anglo-Saxon) chairwoman, charwoman, needlewoman, policewoman, servicewoman, spokeswoman, sportswoman, yachtswoman -wright (Anglo-Saxon) playwright, shipwright, wheelwright -y (French) -y (Scottish) deputy nanny TEST YOUR WORD POWER What is the specialist area of these experts? 1. an apiarist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 2. an orthodontist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 3. an agronomist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 4. a hagiographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 5. a forensic scientist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 6. a paediatrician ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 7. a lexicographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 8. a psychiatrist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 9. a taxidermist ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ a radiographer ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ 10. Complete the following sentences: 11. Anthropology is the study of_________________ . _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _ 12. Biology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ _ 13. Endocrinology is the study of_________________ . _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _ 14. Geology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 15. Horology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 16. Meteorology is the study of__________________ . __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 17. Oncology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________ _ 18. Ophthalmology is the study of________________ . ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _ 19. Pathology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 24
  • 34. Occupations 20. Sociology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ _ 21. Speleology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 22. Theology is the study of___________________ . ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ 23. Toxicology is the study of__________________ . __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _ 24. Zoology is the study of____________________ . ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _ What is the difference between the work of a councillor and a counsellor? 25. A councillor__________________________ . __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ 26. A counsellor__________________________ . __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ What is the difference between the work of an astrologer and an astronomer? 27. An astrologer__________________________ . __________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _ 28. An astronomer_________________________ . _________________________ _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _ What is the difference between the work of an entomologist and an etymologist? 29. An entomologist________________________ . ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _ 30. An etymologist_________________________ . _________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _ Match the words in the box with the appropriate definition: campanologist dermatologist genealogist graphologist gynaecologist mycologist philologist psephologist seismologist trichologist 31. a specialist in women’s ailments ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 32. a hair and scalp specialist ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 33. a fungi expert ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 34. a bellringer ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 25
  • 35. Unit 4 35. a student of electoral and voting patterns ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 36. an expert on earthquakes ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 37. a handwriting expert ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 38. a family-history specialist ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 39. someone who makes a specialist study of the history and development of language ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 40. a skin specialist __________ Who would use these tools? Match each tool in the box with the appropriate user. anvil baton chisel cleaver float forceps gavel metronome palette theodolite 41. surveyor __________ 42. musician __________ 43. plasterer __________ 44. artist __________ 45. conductor __________ 46. blacksmith __________ 47. butcher __________ 48. sculptor __________ 49. auctioneer __________ 50. surgeon __________ Score: 26 /50
  • 36. Unit 5: Sexist and Non-sexist Language JOB TITLES The workplace has changed dramatically in the last 50 years now that women are taking their place alongside men, and the language of the workplace has had to reflect this change. It is interesting to see how many job titles have been adapted or in other ways have been made inclusive. Sometimes traditional male terms have themselves become neutral and are used for both men and women: an author nowadays can be a man or a woman, as can a comedian, a deacon or an ambassador. Sometimes it is traditional female titles that have become inclusive: both men and women can be nurses, nannies and au pairs. Sometimes an alternative title has been devised that will comfortably accommodate both sexes: firemen have become firefighters, stationmasters station managers and air hostesses flight attendants. In the course of all this, some job titles have become necessarily redundant; we no longer have authoresses, poetesses, sculptresses, deaconesses, comediennes . . .. The list could be extended. Some titles, such as administratrix, executrix and testatrix, survive only in specialist contexts. Some ‘-ess’ suffixes have survived. We have countess, baroness, princess; we have abbess and prioress; we have waitress and bus conductress. All these titles are perfectly acceptable although alternatives for waitress have been broached (waiton, waitperson) and there are fewer conductresses about in these days of single deckers. (Bus driver is a neutral job title.) It may seem at first glance that conductor/conductress, manager/ manageress and governor/governess are parallel male and female job titles today, but they are not. Although you will find both bus conductors and conductresses collecting fares on buses, you would find either a male or a female conductor conducting an orchestra. Although managers and manageresses continue to operate small businesses, both men and women would call themselves managers in larger concerns. The male equivalent of a governess is not a governor, and tutor and governor are both neutral terms today. Mayoress and ambassadress have become ambiguous and need to be sorted. The wife of a mayor is a mayoress but technically a 27
  • 37. Unit 5 woman elected to a mayoral post can be called a mayoress too or a mayor. Similarly, the wife of an ambassador is an ambassadress but so is a woman appointed to an ambassadorship. She can be called an ambassador or an ambassadress and it is very confusing for everyone in this linguistic transition period. And what of the suffix ‘-ette’? Traditionally, it has three functions: to denote the diminutive (kitchenette), to denote an inferior substitute (leatherette) and to denote the female gender. The suffix survives in drum majorette (by no means the equivalent of a drum major) and in usherette. Both ushers and usherettes show people to their seats in cinemas and theatres (although usherettes are more in evidence) but the term ‘usher’ becomes neutral when men and women guide people to their seats in church, when they function as officers in courts of law, and when they perform ceremonial duties on grand occasions. Perhaps cinema usherettes will be called ushers too in due course. Although ‘male’ and ‘woman’ can be attached to job titles when relevant (‘May I see a woman doctor?’), avoid doing so unnecessarily. Male nurses are nurses and women engineers are engineers. Let us be grateful for neutral titles. Gender-specific Neutral administratrix authoress administrator author, writer, novelist, biographer, etc. actress actor air hostess ambulance man flight attendant, cabin crew member ambulance driver, ambulance worker, paramedic barman/barmaid benefactress bartender, barperson, barworker benefactor binman businessman/business woman refuse collector business person, executive cameraman chairman/chairwoman camera operator, photographer chair, chairperson chambermaid cleaner, hotel cleaner, room attendant charlady/charwoman cleaner, household helper 28
  • 38. Sexist and Non-sexist Language checkout girl cleaning lady/woman cashier, till operator cleaner, office cleaner, household helper clergyman cleric, priest, vicar, member of the clergy comedienne craftsman comedian, comic entertainer craftsperson, craftworker, weaver, potter, joiner, etc. deaconess draughtsman deacon draughtsperson dustman refuse collector editress fireman editor firefighter foreman/forewoman freshman supervisor fresher frogman gasman diver gas board worker, meter reader groundsman gardener, caretaker, groundskeeper headmaster/headmistress head, head teacher, principal heroine hero, central character instructress insurance man instructor insurance collector, agent, representative jury foreman head juror layman/laywoman linesman lay person, the laity (plural) linesperson lollipop lady manageress school crossing patrol officer manager, managing director, MD matron milkman chief nursing officer, principal officer, manager, superintendent milk deliverer patroness patron poetess policeman/policewoman poet police officer priestess cleric, priest, vicar, member of the clergy 29
  • 39. Unit 5 quartermaster questionmaster quizmaster } salesman/saleswoman schoolmaster/ schoolmistress supplies officer, storeskeeper quiz show host sales representative, counter assistant, shop assistant teacher, school teacher sculptress seaman sculptor mariner, sailor signalman signal operator spaceman spokesman/ spokeswoman astronaut spokesperson, representative, official sportsman/sportswoman sportsperson statesman statesperson stationmaster station manager stewardess tradesman flight attendant, cabin crew member trader, shopkeeper wardress workman warder worker, labourer Idioms and expressions It is possible to avoid exclusive language in many of our everyday idioms and expressions if we take a little care. Here is a small sample of such expressions, and suggestions for rephrasing: mankind the human race, humankind manpower workforce, personnel middleman sportsmanship intermediary fair play man-management man and boy people-management from childhood as one man everyone together man hours working hours, work-hours 30
  • 40. Sexist and Non-sexist Language to a man man-made without exception artificial, synthetic the man in the street the average person odd man out man to man odd one out person to person, face to face be man enough be your own man be brave enough act independently, be your own person best man for the job best person for the job man’s achievement to separate the men from the boys human achievement to separate the experienced from the inexperienced May the best man win. All men are equal. May the best person/competitor win. Everyone is equal./All people are equal. Time and tide wait for no man. to man Time and tide wait for no one. to operate, to staff, to work, to run Pronouns Complications may arise later in a sentence even when a neutral job title has been used when it comes to pronouns and possessive adjectives. E.g. A doctor should aim to establish a trusting relationship with his patients. He can best do this by . . . To avoid being gender specific (and it would seem quite inappropriate to talk about only male doctors in a general context like this) there are two possibilities: " Include her (his/her patients) and she (he/she, (s)he). E.g. A doctor should aim to establish a trusting relationship with his/ her patients. He/she can best do this by . . . " Make the advice plural by talking about doctors. Doctors should aim to establish a trusting relationship with their patients. They can best do this by . . . The plural solution is generally the easier one. Too many he/she, him/her, his/her references can be tiresome. These are all genderspecific; they, them and their are not! 31
  • 41. Unit 6: Animals, Birds and Insects ANIMAL ADJECTIVES There are some fascinating adjectives derived from the Latin and Greek words for many of our animals, birds and insects. All the words below are in current use. Some are used to describe humans as well: feline grace, asinine behaviour, an aquiline nose, etc. anserine of or resembling a goose; (of people) stupid (from Latin: anser – a goose) apian of or relating to bees (from Latin: apis – a bee) aquiline of or like an eagle; (of a person’s nose) having the curved shape and pointed tip of an eagle’s beak (from Latin: aquila – an eagle) asinine resembling an ass; (of person) obstinate, idiotic, stupid (from Latin: asinus – an ass) of or relating to cattle; (of person) dull, stolid, stupid (from Latin: bos, bovis – ox) bovine canine of or resembling a dog; (of human teeth) the four teeth pointed like a dog’s (from Latin canis – a dog) caprine of or resembling a goat (from Latin: caper – a goat; odour of armpits) resembling or relating to a deer (from Latin: cervus – a deer) cervine corvine elephantine equine 32 like a crow or raven (esp. colour) (from Latin: corvus – a raven) of or like an elephant; (of person) clumsy, large, awkward; (of memory) retentive (Latin from Greek) of or relating to horses (from Latin: equus – a horse)
  • 42. Animals, Birds and Insects feline hircine leonine lupine of, relating to or affecting cats; (of person) relating to grace and stealth, catlike (from Latin: feles – a cat) of or like a goat; (of person) lascivious (from Latin: hircus – he-goat) of or resembling a lion (from Latin: leo, leonis – a lion) of, like or relating to a wolf or wolves (from Latin: lupus – a wolf) ovine of, relating to, or affecting sheep; (of person) sheeplike (from Latin: ovis – a sheep) passerine of or relating to birds with a perching habit (from Latin: passer – a sparrow) of or like a peacock (from Latin: pavo, pavonis – a peacock) pavonine piscine porcine saurian simian of or concerning fish (from Latin: piscis – a fish) of, resembling, or affecting a pig or pigs (from Latin: porcus – a pig) of or like a lizard; (of person) lizard-like (from Greek: sauros – a lizard) relating to, resembling, or affecting apes or monkeys (from Latin: simia – an ape, and possibly from Greek: simos – flat-nosed) ursine of, relating to, or resembling a bear or bears; (of person) bear-like (from Latin: ursus – a bear) vermiform resembling or having the shape of a worm (from Latin: vermis – a worm) of or relating to a fox or foxes; (of person) crafty, cunning, clever (from Latin: vulpes – a fox) vulpine zebrine like a zebra, striped like a zebra (etymology uncertain) 33
  • 43. Unit 6 GROUP TERMS There are some wonderful group terms for animals, birds and insects. Not all those below are in frequent use, but they are delightful in their own right, as well as being useful for quizzes. antelope apes a herd a shrewdness, troop asses badgers a drove, herd, pace a cete bears a sloth bees birds a hive, swarm a flock bitterns boar a siege a sounder buffalo a gang, herd, obstinacy bullfinches camels a bellowing a flock caterpillars cats an army a cluster, clowder (see also kittens) cattle a drove, herd chamois chickens a herd a brood, flock choughs cod a chattering a shoal colts a rag coots crows a covert a murder cubs deer a litter a herd dogfish a troop dolphins donkeys a pod, school a drove, herd, pace doves a flight 34
  • 44. Animals, Birds and Insects ducks eagles a brood (hatched as one family), a knob (small number of wild duck), a skein (in flight), a padding/paddling/raft (on water) a convocation eels eland a swarm a herd elephants a herd elk ferrets a gang, herd a business flies foxes a cloud, swarm a skulk frogs an army, knot gazelle geese a herd a flock, gaggle, skein/wedge (in flight) giraffe gnats a herd a cloud, swarm goats a flock, herd, trip goldfinches goshawks a charm a flight grouse gulls a brood, covey, pack a colony hares a drove, trip hawks herons a cast a siege herring hounds an army, school, shoal a cry, pack horses humming-birds a herd, stud, team (see also hunters and racehorses) a charm hunters a string huskies insects a team a plague jays a band 35
  • 45. Unit 6 jellyfish kangaroos a smack, smuck a mob, troop kittens a kindle, litter lapwings larks a deceit a bevy, exaltation leopard lions a leap a flock, pride, troop locusts a plague, swarm mackerel mallard a shoal a flush mice minnows a nest a shoal monkeys a shrewdness, tribe, troop, wilderness mules nightingales a barren, rake a watch oxen parrots a drove, herd, team, yoke a flock, pandemonium partridges a covey peacocks perch a muster a shoal pheasants pigeons a brood, nye a flight, flock piglets a litter pigs pilchards a herd a shoal plovers porpoises a congregation, stand, wing a gam, herd, pod, school pups a litter quail rabbits a bevy, drift a nest racehorses ravens a string a crash, herd roach a shoal 36
  • 46. Animals, Birds and Insects rooks sea-lions a building, clamour, congregation, parliament a pod seals a herd, a pod sheep skunks a flock a business snipe sparrows a walk, wisp a host sperm-whales a herd (see also whales) starlings sticklebacks a chattering, congregation, murmuration a shoal stoats storks a pack a mustering swallows swans a flight a bevy, herd, wedge (in flight) swifts a flock swine terrapin a sounder a bale thrushes toads a company an army, knot tortoises a bale trout turtles a hover a bale walruses wasps a pod a swarm waterfowl a bunch, knob whales whiting a gam, pod, school (see also sperm whales) a pod widgeon wildebeest a knob, trip, bunch (on water), flight (in air) a herd wildfowl a bunch, knob, plump, trip wolves woodcock a herd, pack, rout a fall 37
  • 47. Unit 6 wrens zebra a herd a herd MALE, FEMALE AND YOUNG There are some specialist terms for the male and female of the species and their young. It gives confidence to get them right. creature antelope ass/donkey male buck jackass female doe jenny badger bear bird boar buffalo camel cat cattle cod crab deer dog dolphin duck eagle eel elephant ferret fowl boar boar – boar bull bull tomcat bull – cock stag/buck dog bull drake eagle – bull hob cock sow sow – sow cow cow queen cow – hen doe/hind bitch cow duck eagle – cow jill hen fox frog giraffe goat dog – bull billy-goat, he-goat, buck gander boar vixen – cow nanny-goat, she-goat, doe goose sow goose guinea pig 38 young kid foal, colt (m) filly (f) cub cub nestling/fledgling piglet calf calf kitten calf, heifer (f) codling zoea fawn/kid pup calf duckling eaglet elver calf kit chick, cockerel (m) pullet (f) cub, pup, whelp tadpole calf kid gosling –
  • 48. Animals, Birds and Insects hare hawk horse buck – stallion doe – mare kangaroo hedgehog leopard lion lobster moose otter owl peafowl pheasant pig buck boar leopard lion cock bull – owl peacock cock boar, hog (castrated) bull buck bull cock bull bull ram cob tiger – – bull – bull dog stallion doe sow leopardess lioness hen cow – owl peahen hen sow porpoise rabbit rhinoceros salmon seal sea lion sheep swan tiger toad trout walrus wasp whale wolf zebra cow doe cow hen cow cow ewe pen tigress – – cow – cow bitch, she-wolf mare leveret eyas foal, colt (m), filly (f) joey – cub cub, whelp – calf pup owlet peachick chick piglet, porkling, gilt (f) calf kitten calf parr cub, pup cub, pup lamb cygnet cub, whelp tadpole fry cub, pup grub calf cub, pup, whelp foal, colt (m), filly (f) ANIMAL HOMES And lastly in this unit, let us look at the specialist terms for animal homes. ants formicarium (especially when artificially constructed for study purposes) 39
  • 49. Unit 6 badgers bears earth, sett den, lair beavers lodge bees birds (captive) apiary, hive aviary, cage birds (wild) cows nest byre, cowshed dog kennel eagles fowls eyrie coop foxes hares earth, lair form horses stable lions mice den, lair nest otters penguins holt rookery pigs sty pigeons (domestic) rabbits (tame) dovecot hutch rabbits (wild) rooks burrow, warren rookery seals rookery sheep squirrels fold, pen drey tigers turtles lair rookery wasps nest, vespiary TEST YOUR WORD POWER You may like to see how many of these questions you can answer from memory before looking up the answers. 40
  • 50. Animals, Birds and Insects Complete: 1. equine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 2. canine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 3. feline like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 4. bovine like a__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _ 5. aquiline like an_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ ________________ _ 6. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a wolf 7. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a bear 8. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a fox 9. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like an ass 10. ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ like a lizard Give the group terms: 11. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of leopards 12. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of eagles 13. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of swans in flight 14. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of goldfinches 15. a ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ of nightingales Complete with the appropriate creature: 16. a barren of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 17. a sounder of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 18. an exaltation of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 19. a flush of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 20. a crash of ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 41
  • 51. Unit 6 Give the young of these creatures: 21. cod ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 22. trout ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 23. kangaroo ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 24. zebra ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 25. tiger ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Complete with the appropriate creature: 26. A parr is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 27. An elver is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 28. A leveret is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 29. A kid is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 30. A cygnet is a young ____________ . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Give the male of these creatures: 31. goose ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 32. jenny ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 33. mare ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 34. duck ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 35. doe ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Give the female of these creatures. 36. cob ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 37. tomcat ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 38. dog ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 39. boar ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 40. ram ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 42
  • 52. Animals, Birds and Insects Complete this table: lobster male 41.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ female 42.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ kangaroo dolphin 43.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 45.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 44.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ 46.___________ ___________ ___________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _ Give the homes of these creatures: 47. hare ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 48. beaver ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 49. otter ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ 50. squirrel ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Score: /50 43
  • 53. Unit 7: Confusables The hundred words in the list below are frequently misused. Take care! The list does not claim to be exhaustive. acute An ACUTE illness is a severe one of short duration. chronic A CHRONIC illness lasts for a very long time but is not necessarily severe. aggravate You AGGRAVATE a situation (=make it worse). irritate You IRRITATE a person (=annoy). agnostic An AGNOSTIC believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not. An ATHEIST denies the possibility of the existence of God. atheist amoral AMORAL means non-moral, without reference to a moral code. immoral IMMORAL means not-moral, not conforming to normal moral standards. arbiter ARBITER refers to someone with the power or the influence to set standards and make decisions (ARBITER of fashion, ARBITER of manners). arbitrator ARBITRATOR refers to an independent person officially appointed to settle a dispute between two parties. (Confusingly ARBITER can also be used in this sense.) aural An AURAL test involves careful listening. oral An ORAL test is a spoken one rather than a written one. 44
  • 54. Confusables billion million Formerly British and American definitions were at variance: British: a million million 1 000 000 000 000 American: a thousand million 1 000 000 000 However, the American definition is now widely accepted internationally and in the UK. There remains, unfortunately, the possibility of being misunderstood and so care should be taken to remove any possible ambiguity. In both American and British English, this is a thousand thousand: 1 000 000. childish CHILDISH means exhibiting or retaining the worst qualities of a child (immaturity, silly behaviour, petulance, etc.). childlike CHILDLIKE means exhibiting or retaining the best qualities of a child (candour, wonder, innocence, etc.). complacent A COMPLACENT person is smug and selfsatisfied. complaisant A COMPLAISANT person is so anxious to please that he or she will eagerly fit in with the wishes of others. complement/complementary A COMPLEMENT completes. " Well chosen accessories can COMPLEMENT an outfit. " A ship’s COMPLEMENT is the complete crew. " COMPLEMENTARY medicine can complete the work of conventional medicine by dealing with areas beyond the scope of general practice. 45
  • 55. Unit 7 compliment/complimentary " A COMPLIMENT is an appreciative remark. " COMPLIMENTARY tickets are given free of charge (with best wishes, as it were). connoisseur dilettante A CONNOISSEUR is an expert judge in matters of taste (from French ‘to know’). A DILETTANTE is a lover of the arts (from the Italian ‘to delight’) but with a suggestion of being an amateur dabbler, of not having studied the arts seriously or in depth. contagious A CONTAGIOUS disease is passed on by bodily contact. infectious An INFECTIOUS disease is transmitted by water or through the air. continual A CONTINUAL noise is one that stops and starts. A CONTINUOUS noise is uninterrupted. continuous councillor A COUNCILLOR is an elected member of a council. counsellor A COUNSELLOR is someone who gives advice professionally (a marriage COUNSELLOR or a debt COUNSELLOR, for example). defective A machine that is DEFECTIVE is not working properly. It has a defect. deficient A diet that is DEFICIENT in certain elements is lacking them. dependant A DEPENDANT is someone who depends on another for financial support. If you are DEPENDENT on drugs, you dependent 46
  • 56. Confusables cannot do without them. There is no distinction in American English. The ending -ent is used for both forms. discover To DISCOVER something is to find it for the first time. It has, however, always been there. invent To INVENT something is to make something for the first time that has never existed before. discreet DISCREET means able to keep a secret, to be diplomatic, circumspect. DISCRETE means separate, distinct. discrete disinterested uninterested A DISINTERESTED person acts from unselfish motives. All personal interest is set aside (dis = away). Anyone who is UNINTERESTED is bored, not interested (un = not). displace To DISPLACE is to remove something from its correct place or to force someone from home and country. misplace To MISPLACE is to put something in the wrong place. MISPLACED affection is affection bestowed unwisely. economic ECONOMIC is derived from economics (the science of production, distribution and the structure of wealth). We can talk of the ECONOMIC health of a country or of an ECONOMIC rent (i.e. giving an adequate profit). ECONOMICAL comes from economy (the careful management of resources). A car can be ECONOMICAL on petrol or a meal can be ECONOMICAL (not wasteful or expensive). economical 47
  • 57. Unit 7 egoist An EGOIST is selfish and self-seeking as a matter of principle. EGOISM as a philosophical concept would encourage the pursuit of one’s own interests as the highest goal, because the only thing one can be certain of is one’s own existence. egotist An EGOTIST is selfish because he/she is too vain, self-obsessed, self-important or boastful to spare a thought for the needs or interests of others. All his/her attention is self-directed. An EGOTIST’s conversation will be dominated by the use of I, me, my, myself. enormity ENORMITY refers to the quality of being extremely wicked, very evil. One can talk of the ENORMITY of child abuse. ENORMOUSNESS refers to the quality of being very large. One can substitute immensity, hugeness, bigness, vast extent. enormousness " The ENORMOUSNESS of the task of cataloguing the neglected library is just beginning to be realised. epigram An EPIGRAM is a short, witty remark. epitaph An EPITAPH is an inscription on a tombstone. equable An EQUABLE climate is a moderate one without extremes of hot and cold. A person with an EQUABLE temperament is even-tempered, calm and not easily aroused to anger. equitable EQUITABLE means just and fair. One can talk of an EQUITABLE division of wealth or labour. exhausting exhaustive An EXHAUSTING task is a very tiring one. EXHAUSTIVE means thorough, comprehensive. An EXHAUSTIVE 48
  • 58. Confusables investigation would leave no stone unturned. fewer FEWER means ‘not so many’: FEWER tomatoes, FEWER passengers, FEWER incidents. less LESS means ‘not so much’: LESS sugar, LESS responsibility, LESS congestion. fictional This means happening in fiction. " Inspector Morse is a FICTIONAL detective. fictitious " Middlemarch is a FICTIONAL town. FICTITIOUS can be used like fictional to mean ‘found in fiction’. It has another meaning also which has nothing to do with literature. It can mean false, not genuine. " The child gave the police officer a FICTITIOUS name and address. gourmand A GOURMAND loves food and frequently eats too much. You could say that a GOURMAND hugely enjoys eating and enjoys eating hugely. gourmet A GOURMET is a connoisseur of good food and wine. historic HISTORIC means likely to earn a place in history, memorable, significant: an HISTORIC meeting, an HISTORIC moment, an HISTORIC occasion. HISTORICAL is used to refer to people who lived in the past and to events which really happened however insignificant. historical " Robin Hood is an HISTORICAL character. (i.e. he really lived and is not fictional.) N.B. Some events can be both HISTORIC (momentous) and HISTORICAL (they happened). 49
  • 59. Unit 7 honorary 1. An HONORARY secretary of an association works voluntarily and is not paid. 2. An HONORARY degree is conferred as an honour, without the usual academic requirements. honourable 1. A decent HONOURABLE man is one with high principles. 2. It is used as a courtesy title in certain contexts, for example, when referring to MPs within the House of Commons: the HON. Member for Plymouth South. infer To INFER something is to draw a conclusion from the evidence presented. imply To IMPLY is to insinuate, suggest or hint. " Are you IMPLYING that I’m a liar? ingenious An INGENIOUS device is one that is clever, inventive, original and suited to its purpose. Its originator could also be described as INGENIOUS and praised for his or her INGENUITY. ingenuous INGENUOUS describes a person ¨ (particularly a young woman) who is naıve and unsuspecting, frank, trusting and innocent. The remarks, smiles and aspirations of such a person could also be described as INGENUOUS. N.B. DISINGENUOUS means the opposite. A person who is being DISINGENUOUS is craftily pretending to understand less than is the case. irony IRONY is a gentle way of saying what you really mean by apparently stating the exact opposite. It comes from the Greek eironeia which means ‘simulated ignorance’. An IRONIC remark simulates ignorance in order to amuse or to comment wryly on a 50
  • 60. Confusables sarcasm situation. A comment that a burnt lopsided cake ‘looks delicious’ is an IRONIC one. SARCASM may use an ironic approach but its intention is to wound and insult. It comes from the Greek sarkazein which means ‘to tear flesh’. A SARCASTIC remark expresses scorn and contempt: ‘I suppose you are proud of yourself, you loathsome, snivelling creature!’ judicial A JUDICIAL separation is one ordered by a court of law. JUDICIAL refers to the proceedings of a court of law. judicious A JUDICIOUS decision is a wise one, showing good judgement. (One would hope that all JUDICIAL decisions are also JUDICIOUS.) libel LIBEL is the defamation of someone’s character or good standing in written form. slander SLANDER is the defamation of someone’s character or good standing in speech. masterful MASTERFUL means powerful, authoritative, able to control others. MASTERLY means very skilful, as in ‘a masterly performance’. masterly militate MILITATE comes from Latin miles (= a soldier). The word means to act powerfully (against), to be a strong factor in preventing. " His frequent errors of judgement must surely MILITATE against his promotion. mitigate MITIGATE comes from the Latin mitis (=mild) and means to moderate, to make less severe. " The world may judge them harshly but there are mitigating circumstances. 51
  • 61. Unit 7 observance OBSERVANCE means compliance with the requirements of laws, rules and religious rituals. The word comes from ‘to observe’ in the sense of to obey, to follow, to keep. observation This means observing in the sense of watching, noticing and also commenting: OBSERVATION post; under OBSERVATION; a shrewd OBSERVATION. perspicacity If you praise someone’s PERSPICACITY, you are praising their clearness of understanding, their perceptiveness. The word comes from the Latin perspicax (= seeing clearly). If you praise someone’s PERSPICUITY, you are praising their ability to express themselves clearly, their lucidity. The word comes from the Latin perspicuus (=transparent, clear). perspicuity psychiatry The study and treatment of mental disorders. psychology The study of the human mind and its functions. referee An official who monitors play in certain sports such as football and boxing. An official who monitors play in certain sports such as basketball, cricket and tennis. umpire reverend reverent sensual 52 This word means deserving reverence (a saintly and REVEREND man) and is a title given to clergy, usually abbreviated to Rev. or Revd. This word means feeling and showing reverence: a REVERENT silence; a REVERENT genuflection. SENSUAL means appealing to the body and its appetites (especially through food, sex and drink).
  • 62. Confusables sensuous SENSUOUS means appealing to the senses (especially through music, poetry and art). sewage SEWAGE is the waste products passing through sewers. SEWERAGE is the provision of drainage by sewers. sewerage tortuous torturous A TORTUOUS path is one that is full of twist and turns. A TORTUOUS argument is similar convoluted. TORTUROUS comes from ‘torture’ and means agonising, painful, involving suffering: a TORTUROUS fitness regime. unexceptionable This means inoffensive, not likely to cause objections or criticism. unexceptional This means ordinary, run-of-the-mill. vacation A VACATION is a holiday (from Latin vacare = to be unoccupied). vocation A VOCATION is a calling a strong feeling of being drawn to a particular career or way of life (from Latin vocare = to call). veracious voracious A VERACIOUS person is truthful. A VORACIOUS person has a huge appetite. waive To WAIVE one’s rights is to forgo them, to refrain from insisting on them. WAIVE comes from the French word meaning ‘to abandon’. To WAVE a hand is to move it backwards and forwards in greeting. wave TEST YOUR WORD POWER Select the appropriate word from the pair in brackets at the end of each sentence. 53