Vocab week 7
Burgeon – verb – to develop rapidly or flourish – sure, you can talk about plants with this word (the azaleas are burgeoning with buds) but you can also talk about your rhetorical knowledge burgeoning after you study.
Gossamer – adjective and noun – soft, sheer fabric – anything that is delicate, light, or insubstantial like lace or a spider’s web. One definition is that gossamer is the fine film of spiderwebs often seen floating in the air or on a bush. Sometime people describe wedding veils with this word
Tantamount – adjective – I’ve been pleased to see so many of you guys using this word well! It means being equivalent in effect or value – for example ibuprofen and Advil are tantamount to one another. Or, his statement was tantamount to admitting he was guilty.
Adjunct – noun and adjective – something or someone attached to or dependent on another thing, but in a dependent or subordinate position. This word applies to someone’s “right hand man” for example Iago would be Jaffar’s adjunct.
Aphorism – noun – PLEASE learn this one … it’s a good word AND it’s important in rhetoric – it’s a brief statement of a truth or principle, phrased in a catchy or memorable way – for example “Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber.” Yes, I know you recognize that from MLK
Audacious – adjective – fearlessly daring and bold – sometimes arrogantly so. The suggestion to skip the vocab quiz tomorrow would be an audacious one – I’m sure you know what my reaction would be! ?
Blazon – verb – to describe or announcer proclaim – you could say that your UGA shirt serves as a blazon – it tells folks you want to go to UGA
Cavil – verb – to raise unnecessary or trivial objections – to quibble or carp about things – you probably think your mom does this when she “inspects” your room to decide if it’s clean enough.
Commensurate – adj – of the same size, extent, or duration—corresponding in scale or measure – it means it’s a fair balance – for example – if you cheat, getting a zero is commensurate punishment – if you stay out past curfew, getting grounded is a commensurate reaction. ** it might be easier to use with with or to after – one thing is commensurate to/with another –
Concomitant – adjective – existing or occurring at the same time ** this is another word you frequently use with the word with – for example – a sun sensitivity is concomitant with certain antibiotics OR sleep deprivation is concomitant with the switch to daylight savings time.
Conundrum – noun – a problem with no practical solution – you may have heard the saying – oh, you’re in a bit of a sticky wicket – that’s a conundrum – no easy solution to the problem for example – if you tell your mom where you were you’ll get your sister in trouble for lying to them – that’s a conundrum (but, remember honest is the best policy! (hey! An aphorism!)
Crony – noun – a close friend or companion (frequently plural) – it’s your friend group
Deleterious – having harmful or injurious effects – weeding your yard may be deleterious if there is poison oak
Dissipate – verb –to drive away or dispel, to scatter or exhaust or expend – the police presence might cause the crowd to dissipate or your focus might dissipate if you’re tired
Exculpate – verb – to clear of a charge or prove guiltless or blameless -- someone stepping up and providing an alibi would exculpate the accused criminal
Forensic – adj – pertaining to or employed in legal proceedings or in argumentation – it’s relating to debate – it’s all about the public nature of proof
Gibe – verb or noun – to make mocking or heckling remarks – the noun would be the remark/statement
Immutable – adjective – not susceptible to change -- many see marriage as immutable proof of love and commitment