Word Histories 1
Lesson 1.
Words, like people, have a
past, and as with people, some words have more interesting stories than others.
Knowing a word's history can help you remember it and incorporate it into your
daily speech. The following ten words have especially intriguing backgrounds.
Read through the histories, then complete the self-tests that follow.
1. bootlegger
(b»t"leg'*r) Originally, a "bootlegger" was a person who smuggled
outlawed alcoholic liquor in the tops of his tall boots. Today the term is used
to mean someone who unlawfully makes, sells, or transports alcoholic
beverages without registration or payment of taxes.
2. bugbear (bug"bâr') The word refers to a source
of fears, often groundless. It comes from a Welsh legend about a goblin in
the shape of a bear that ate up naughty children.
3. fiasco (fe as"ko) "Fiasco" is the Italian word for flask or bottle.
How it came to mean a complete and ignominious failure is obscure.
One theory suggests that Venetian glassblowers set aside fine glass with flaws
to make into common bottles.
4. jackanapes (jak"* naps') Today
the word is used to describe an impertinent, presumptuous young man; a
whippersnapper. Although its precise origin is uncertain, we know that the
term was first used as an uncomplimentary nickname for William de la Pole, Duke
of Suffolk, who was murdered in 1450. His badge was an ape's clog and chain. In
a poem of the time, Suffolk was called "the Ape-clogge," and later
referred to as an ape called "Jack Napes."
5. jeroboam (jer'* bo"*m) We now
use the term "jeroboam" to refer to a wine bottle having a capacity
of about three liters. Historically, Jeroboam was the first king of the
Biblical kingdom of Israel, described in I Kings 11:28 as "a mighty man of
valor," who, three verses later, "made Israel to sin." Some
authorities trace the origin of today's usage to the king, reasoning that since
an oversized bottle of wine can cause sin, it too is a jeroboam.
6. nonplus (non
plus", non"plus) The
word "nonplus" means to make utterly perplexed, to puzzle
completely. The original Latin phrase was "non plus ultra,"
meaning no more beyond, allegedly inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules,
beyond which no ship could safely sail.
7. quisling (kwiz"ling) This term refers to a traitor, a person who betrays
his or her own country by aiding an enemy and often serving later in a puppet
government. It is directly derived from the name of Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945),
a Norwegian army officer turned fascist who collaborated with the Nazis early
in World War II.
8. bowdlerize (bod"l* riz', boud"-) In 1818, Scottish physician Dr. Thomas Bowdler published a new
edition of Shakespeare's works. The value of his edition, he stated, lay in the
fact that he had edited it so that all "words and expressions are omitted
which cannot with propriety be read aloud to the family." Good intentions
aside, he found himself being held up to ridicule. From his name is derived
the word "bowdlerize,"
meaning to expurgate a literary text in a prudish manner.
9. boycott (boi"kot) In an attempt to break the stranglehold of Ireland's absentee
landlords, Charles Stewart Parnell advocated in 1880 that anyone who took over
land from which a tenant had been evicted for nonpayment of rent should be punished
"by isolating him from his kind as if he was a leper of old." The
most famous application of Parnell's words occurred soon after on the estate of
the Earl of Erne. Unable to pay their rents, the earl's tenants suggested a
lower scale, but the manager of the estate, Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott,
would not accept the reduction. In retaliation, the tenants applied the
measures proposed by Parnell, not only refusing to gather crops and run the
estate, but also intercepting Boycott's mail and food, humiliating him in the
street, and threatening his life. Their treatment of Boycott became so famous
that within a few months the newspapers were using his name to identify any
such nonviolent coercive practices. Today "boycott" means to join
together in abstaining from, or preventing dealings with, as a protest.
10. chauvinism (sho"v* niz'*m) One of
Napoleon's most dedicated soldiers, Nicolas Chauvin was wounded seventeen times
fighting for his emperor. After he retired from the army, he spoke so
incessantly of the majestic glory of his leader and the greatness of France
that he became a laughingstock. In 1831, his name was used for a character in a
play who was an almost idolatrous worshiper of Napoleon. The word
"chauvin" became associated with this type of extreme hero worship
and exaggerated patriotism. Today we use the term "chauvinism" to
refer to zealous and belligerent nationalism.
Matching Synonyms
Match each of the numbered
words with its closest synonym. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. bootlegger a. fanatical patriotism
_____
2. bugbear b. total failure _____
3. fiasco c. expurgate _____
4. jackanapes d. groundless fear _____
5. jeroboam e. oversized wine bottle
_____
6. nonplus f. unlawful producer of
alcohol _____
7. quisling g. rude fellow _____
8. bowdlerize h. perplex _____
9. boycott i. traitor _____
10. chauvinism j. strike _____
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. bowdlerize expurgate _____
2. boycott male child (Scottish) _____
3. bootlegger petty thief _____
4. fiasco celebration _____
5. chauvinism fanatical patriotism _____
6. jackanapes jack-of-all-trades _____
7. quisling turncoat _____
8. bugbear baseless fear _____
9. jeroboam ancient queen _____
10. nonplus certain _____
Lesson 2.
The origins of most of the
following words can be traced to Latin. Read through the histories, then complete
the self-tests.
1. aberration
(ab'* ra"sh*n) This word comes from the Latin
verb "aberrare," to wander away from. A person with a
psychological "aberration" exhibits behavior that strays from the
accepted path; hence the word means deviation from what is common, normal,
or right.
2. abominate (* bom"* nat') "Abominate" is from
the Latin "abominor," meaning I pray that the event predicted by
the omen may be averted. The Romans murmured the word to keep away the evil
spirits whenever anyone said something unlucky. Today we use it to mean to
regard with intense aversion or loathing; abhor.
3. abracadabra (ab'r* k* dab"r*) This intriguing-sounding word
was first used as a charm in the second century. The Romans believed that the
word had the ability to cure toothaches and other illnesses. Patients seeking
relief wrote the letters in the form of a triangle on a piece of parchment and
wore it around their necks on a length of thread. Today "abracadabra"
is used as a pretend conjuring word. It also means meaningless talk;
nonsense.
4. wiseacre (wiz"a'k*r) Although the word "acre" in "wiseacre"
makes it appear that the term refers to a unit of measurement,
"wiseacre" is actually used contemptuously to mean a wise guy or
a smart aleck. The term comes from the Dutch "wijssegger,"
which means soothsayer. Since soothsayers were considered learned, it
was logical to call them "wise," which is what "wijs" means.
The word "acre" is a mispronunciation of the Dutch
"segger," sayer. There is a famous story in which the word was
used in its present sense. In response to the bragging of a wealthy landowner,
the English playwright Ben Jonson is said to have replied, "What care we
for your dirt and clods? Where you have an acre of land, I have ten acres of
wit." The chastened landowner is reported to have muttered: "He's Mr.
Wiseacre."
5. ebullient (i bul"y*nt, i b»l"-) This word derives from
the Latin "ebullire," to boil over. A person who is
"ebullient" is overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement.
6. enclave (en"klav, än"-) The word "enclave" refers to a country or
territory entirely or mostly surrounded by another country. More generally,
it means a group enclosed or isolated within a larger one. The word
comes ultimately from Latin "inclavare," to lock in.
7. expedite (ek"spi dit') The
word "expedite" means to speed up the progress of something. It
comes from the Latin "expedire," to set the feet free.
8. expunge (ik
spunj") To indicate that a soldier had retired from
service, the ancient Romans wrote a series of dots or points beneath his name
on the service lists. The Latin "expungere" thus meant both to
prick through and to mark off on a list. Similarly, the English word
"expunge" means to strike or blot out; to erase.
9. inchoate (in ko"it, -at) "Inchoate" comes
from the Latin "inchoare," to begin. Thus, an "inchoate"
plan is not yet fully developed, or rudimentary.
10. prevaricate (pri
var"i kat') Today "prevaricate" means to speak falsely or misleadingly
with deliberate intent; to lie. It has its origin in a physical act. The
Latin verb "praevaricare" means to spread apart. The plowman
who "prevaricated," then, made crooked ridges, deviating from straight
furrows in the field.
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. enclave rendezvous _____
2. abominate detest _____
3. wiseacre large ranch _____
4. expunge erase _____
5. prevaricate preplan _____
6. inchoate illogical _____
7. aberration fidelity _____
8. expedite slow down _____
9. abracadabra hocus-pocus _____
10. ebullient enthusiastic _____
Matching Synonyms
Match each of the
following numbered words with its closest synonym. Write your answer in the space
provided.
1. wiseacre a. dispatch _____
2. enclave b. divergence _____
3. inchoate c. smarty-pants _____
4. abominate d. obliterate _____
5. aberration e. misstate _____
6. abracadabra f. enclosure _____
7. expunge g. detest _____
8. expedite h. mumbo-jumbo _____
9. ebullient i. incipient _____
10. prevaricate j. high-spirited _____
Lesson 3.
Powerful words may have
their beginnings in historical events, myths and legends, and special terminology.
Here are ten more powerful words with interesting or unusual histories. Read through
the etymologies (word origins), then complete the self-tests that follow.
1. impeccable (im pek"* b*l) The word comes from the Latin "impeccabilis," without
sin. The religious meaning has been only slightly extended over the years.
Today an "impeccable" reputation is faultless, flawless,
irreproachable.
2. ambrosia (am bro"zh*) Originally,
"ambrosia" was the food of the Olympian gods (as "nectar" was
their drink). The word comes from the Greek "a-," not, and
"brostos," mortal; hence, eating ambrosia conferred
immortality. Today the word means an especially delicious food, with the
implication that the concoction is savory nough to be fit for the gods. One popular
dessert by this name contains shredded coconut, sliced fruits, and cream.
3. gerrymander (jer"i man'd*r, ger"-) In 1812, Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry conspired with
his party to change the boundaries of voting districts to enhance their own
political clout. Noticing that one such district resembled a salamander, a
newspaper editor coined the term "gerrymander" to describe the
practice of dividing a state, county, etc., into election districts so as to
give one political party a majority while concentrating the voting strength of
the other party into as few districts as possible.
4. mesmerize (mez"m* riz', mes"-) The Austrian doctor
Friedrich Anton Mesmer first publicly demonstrated the technique of hypnotism
in 1775. Today the term "mesmerize" is still used as a synonym for
"hypnotize," but it has broadened to also mean spellbind or fascinate.
5. quintessence (kwin
tes"*ns) The word comes from the medieval Latin
term "quinta essentia," the fifth essence. This fifth primary
element was thought to be ether, supposedly the constituent matter of the
heavenly bodies, the other four elements being air, fire, earth, and water. The
medieval alchemists tried to isolate ether through distillation. These experiments gave
us the contemporary meaning of the word: the pure and concentrated essence
of a substance.
6. desultory (des"*l tôr'e) Some Roman soldiers went into
battle with two horses, so that when one steed wearied, the soldier could vault
onto the second horse striding along parallel to the first without losing any
time. The same skill was employed by circus performers, especially charioteers,
who could leap between two chariots riding abreast. Such a skilled horseman was
called a "desultor," a leaper. Perhaps because these
equestrians stayed only briefly on their mounts, the word "desultory"
acquired its present meaning, lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible
order.
7. aegis (e"jis) When Zeus emerged victorious from his rebellion against the
Titans, he attributed his success in part to his shield, which bore at its
center the head of one of the Gorgons. The shield was reputedly made of
goatskin, and hence its name, "aigis," was said to derive from the
Greek "aig-," the stem of "aix," goat. Our present
use of the word to mean protection or sponsorship evolved from
the notion of eighteenth-century English writers who assumed that the
"egis" of Zeus or Athena—or their Roman counterparts Jove and
Minerva—
protected all those who
came under its influence. Today the preferred spelling of the word is "aegis."
8. adieu (* d»", * dy»") The French expression
"à Dieu" literally means to God. It is an abbreviation of the
sentence "Je vous recommande à Dieu," I commend you to God, used
between friends at parting. Both in French and in English the word means good-bye
or farewell.
9. aloof (* l»f") The
word was originally a sailor's term, "a loof," to the luff or windward
direction, perhaps from the Dutch "te loef," to windward. Etymologists
believe that our use of the word to mean at a distance, especially in
feeling or interest, comes from the idea of keeping a ship's head to the
wind, and thus clear of the lee shore toward which it might drift.
10. bluestocking (bl»"stok'ing) A "bluestocking"
is a woman with considerable scholarly, literary, or intellectual ability or
interest. The word originated in connection with intellectual gatherings
held in London about 1750 in the homes of women bored by the more frivolous pastimes
of their age. Lavish evening dress was not required at these affairs; in fact,
to put at ease visitors who could not afford expensive clothing, the women
themselves dressed simply. One of the male guests went so far as to wear his
everyday blue worsted stockings rather than the black silk ones usually worn at
evening social gatherings. In response to their interests and dress, the English
naval officer Admiral Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) is said to have sarcastically
called these gatherings "the Blue Stocking Society."
Definitions
Select the best definition
for each numbered word. Circle your answer.
1. mesmerize
a. attack b. burst forth c. fascinate
2. desultory
a. aggressive b. fitful c. nasty
3. aloof
a. remote b. sailing c. windy
4. aegis
a. intense interest b. goat c.
sponsorship
5. gerrymander
a. medieval gargoyle b. combine for historical sense c. redistrict
for political advantage
6. impeccable
a. guileless b. perfect c. impeachable
7. adieu
a. good-bye b. hello c. about-face
8. ambrosia
a. suppository b. flower c. delicious food
9. quintessence
a. pith b. fruit c. oil
10. bluestocking
a. ill-dressed woman b. intellectual woman c. poor man
Matching Synonyms
Select the best synonym
for each numbered word. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. adieu a. delicious
food _____
2. aloof b.
inconsistent; random _____
3. gerrymander c. distant; remote _____
4. ambrosia d. farewell _____
5. impeccable e. sponsorship _____
6. bluestocking f. enthrall _____
7. desultory g. without fault
_____
8. aegis h.
concentrated essence _____
9. mesmerize i. divide a political district
_____
10. quintessence j. a well-read woman _____
Lesson 4.
The following words are
all based on Greek myths and legends. Read through their histories, then
complete the self-tests.
1. amazon
(am"* zon') The word comes ultimately from the Greek, but the origin of the
Greek word is uncertain. "Amazon" refers to a tall, powerful,
aggressive woman. The Amazons of legend were female warriors, allied with
the Trojans against the Greeks.
2. anemone (* nem"* ne') This spring flower is named for Anemone, daughter of the wind.
It comes from Greek "anemos," the
wind.
3. cornucopia (kôr'n* ko"pe *, -ny*-) According to Greek mythology,
to save the infant Zeus from being swallowed by his father, Cronus, his mother,
Rhea, hid her son in a cave and tricked Cronus into swallowing a stone wrapped
in a cloth. The infant was then entrusted to the care of the nymph Amaltheia,
who fed him on goat's milk. One day she filled a goat's horn with fresh fruit and
herbs. The horn was thereafter magically refilled, no matter how much the child
ate. To the Greeks, this boundless
source was the horn of Amaltheia; to the Romans, it was the "cornu
copiae," from
"cornu," horn, and "copia," plenty. We know a
"cornucopia" as a horn containing food or drink in endless supply or
horn of plenty. It is often used as a symbol of abundance.
4. diadem (di"* dem') In his quest to create a vast,
unified empire with Babylon as its capital, the Macedonian hero Alexander the
Great adopted a number of Persian and Oriental customs. He began to wear a
blue-edged white headband with two ends trailing to the shoulders, a Persian symbol
of royalty. The Greeks called this headpiece a "diadema," literally a
binding over. The headpiece was adopted by other monarchs down through the
ages and further embellished with gold and gems, eventually evolving into a
rich crown. Today a "diadem" is a crown or a headband worn
as a symbol of royalty.
5. epicure (ep"i ky»r')
Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived from 342 to 270 B.C. He believed
that pleasure, attained mainly through pure and noble thoughts, constituted the
highest happiness. After his death, his disciples spread his views. Their
critics argued that Epicurus's theory was little more than an excuse for debauchery.
From this argument we derive the presentday meaning of "epicure," a
person with luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating or drinking.
6. esoteric (es'* ter"ik) From the Greek
"esoterikos," inner, the word was used to describe the secret
doctrines taught by the philosopher Pythagoras to a select few of his
disciples. Hence "esoteric" means understood by or meant only for
those who have special knowledge or interest; recondite.
7. labyrinth (lab"* rinth) According to the Greek myth, King Minos of Crete ordered
Daedalus to build a prison for the Minotaur, a half-bull, half-human monster.
Daedalus succeeded by creating a series of twisting passageways that kept the
monster imprisoned. Today a "labyrinth" is a devious arrangement
of linear patterns forming a design; a maze.
8. lethargy (leth"*r je) The Greeks believed in an
afterlife. In their mythology, the dead crossed the river Lethe, which flowed
through Hades, the underground realm. Anyone who drank its water forgot the
past. The Greek word "lethargia" derives from "lethe," forgetfulness.
Hence our English word "lethargy," drowsiness or sluggishness.
9. mentor (men"tôr, -t*r) In the Odyssey of
Homer, Mentor is Odysseus's friend and tutor to his son Telemachus. Today the
word "mentor" means trusted teacher or guide.
10. nemesis (nem"* sis) Nemesis was the Greek goddess of vengeance, whose task it was
to punish the proud and the insolent. Today a "nemesis" is an
agent or act of retribution or punishment, or something that a person
cannot conquer or achieve.
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. diadem crown _____
2. labyrinth lazy _____
3. mentor mendacious _____
4. amazon female warrior _____
5. anemone mollusk _____
6. esoteric arcane _____
7. lethargy lassitude _____
8. nemesis downfall _____
9. cornucopia foot ailment _____
10. epicure hidden _____
Defining Words
Define each of the
following words.
1. diadem
_____________________________________________________
2.
esoteric________________________________________________________
3. mentor
_________________________________________________________
4.
nemesis _________________________________________________________
5. amazon
_____________________________________________________
6.
epicure _________________________________________________________
7.
anemone _________________________________________________________
8.
cornucopia ______________________________________________________
9.
labyrinth ________________________________________________________
10.
lethargy______________________________________________________
Lesson 5.
Now study the curious
origins of these ten words and work through the two self-tests that follow.
1. ostracize
(os"tr* siz') The
word "ostracize" comes originally from the Greek
"ostrakon," tile, potsherd, shell. It refers to the ancient
Greek practice of banishing a man by writing his name on a shell or a bit of
earthen tile. Anyone considered dangerous to the state was sent into exile for ten
years. The judges cast their votes by writing on the shells or pottery shards
and dropping them into an urn. The word "ostracize" still retains the
same sense, to exclude, by general consent, from society.
2. sycophant (sik"* f*nt, -fant') The word "sycophant" now means a self-seeking,
servile flatterer. Originally, it was used to refer to an informer or
slanderer. Curiously, it comes from Greek "sykon," fig, and
"-phantes," one who shows; thus, a fig-shower. One
explanation for this odd coinage is that in ancient Greece a sycophant was an
informer against merchants engaged in the unlawful exportation of figs.
3. cynosure (si"n* sh»r', sin"*-) According to the myth,
Zeus chose to honor the nymph who cared for him in his infancy by placing her
in the sky as a constellation. One of her stars was so brilliant and stationary
that all the other stars seemed to revolve around it. To the practicalminded ancient
mariners, however, the bottom three stars of the constellation looked like a
dog's tail. They named the entire constellation "Cynosura," dog's
tail. From its name we get our word
"cynosure," something
that attracts attention by its brilliance or interest. By the way, we now
call the constellation "Ursa Minor," Little Bear, and the
bright star "Polaris," Pole Star or North Star.
4. belfry (bel"fre) Oddly enough, this word has
nothing to do with bells, except by association. Originally, a
"belfry" was a movable tower rolled up close to the walls of a
besieged city by soldiers in wartime. Later, a belfry was a tower to protect
watchmen, or a watchtower in which alarm bells were hung, through which usage
it finally became a bell tower. The word came into English from Old
French, which in turn may have taken it from a Germanic military term.
5. debauch (di bôch") Today we define the word "debauch" as to corrupt by
sensuality, intemperance, etc. It comes from the French word
"débaucher," meaning to entice away from work or duty.
6. eldorado (el'd* rä"do, -ra"-) The word comes from
Spanish legends of an incredibly wealthy city in South America, so rich that
its streets were paved with gold. Many adventurers set off to find this elusive
city; in 1595 Sir Walter Raleigh ventured into Guiana in a vain attempt to
locate it. Among the Spaniards, the king of this fabulous land came to be
called "El Dorado," the Golden One. Today "eldorado"
is used generally to mean any fabulously wealthy place.
7. esquire (es"kwi*r) In medieval times, young men
who wished to become knights first had to serve other knights. Their primary
duty was to act as shield bearer. Because of this duty, the young man was
called an "esquire," from the French "esquier," shield
bearer, ultimately going back to the Latin "scutum," shield. Later
the title "esquire" came to be attached to the sons of a nobleman;
eventually it referred to any man considered a gentleman. Today it is often
appended to a lawyer's name; in Britain, it is applied to a member of the
gentry ranking next below a knight.
8. filibuster (fil"* bus't*r) In the
seventeenth century, English seamen who attacked Spanish ships and brought back
wealth from New Spain were called "buccaneers." In Holland, they were
known as "vrijbuiters," free robbers. In French, the word
became first "fribustier" and then "flibustier." In Spain,
the term was "filibustero." Then, when the nineteenth-century
American soldier of fortune William Walker tried to capture Sonora, Mexico, the
Mexicans promptly dubbed him a "filibuster." Today the term refers to
the use of irregular or disruptive tactics, such as exceptionally long
speeches, by a member of a legislative assembly. The current use of the
word may have arisen through a comparison of a legislator's determination to
block a bill with the tactics used by William Walker to evade the law.
9. furlong (fûr"lông, -long) In the twelfth century, an acre of land was defined
as the area a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. As such, the size varied from
place to place but always greatly exceeded what we accept today as an acre. In
some places, an acre was defined by the area a team of eight oxen could plow in
a day—about an eighth of a Roman mile, also called a "stadium." The
length of the plow's furrows were thus each about a stadium in length; this became
a convenient measure of distance—a "furlang" in Old English, from
"furh," furrow, and "lang," long. This
measure was then standardized to an area forty rods in length by four rods in width;
however, the rod was not a standard measure either. Later, when the length of a
yard was
standardized,
"furlong" came to be used simply as a term for a unit of distance
an eighth of a mile or 220 yards in length.
10. galvanism (gal"v* niz'*m) In the
mid-eighteenth century, Luigi Galvani, a professor of anatomy at the University
of Bologna, concluded that the nerves are a source of electricity. Although
Volta later proved his theory incorrect, Galvani's pioneering work inspired
other scientists to produce electricity by chemical means. Today the term
"galvanism," electricity, honors Galvani.
Test 1:
Definitions
Each of the following
phrases contains an italicized word. See how many you can define correctly.
Write your answer in the space provided.
_____ 1. bats in the belfry
a. cave
b. brain
c. bell tower
d. tropical tree
_____ 2. ostracized from society
a. banished
b. beaten
c. walked
d. welcomed
_____ 3. a hopeless sycophant
a. dreamer
b. alcoholic
c. romantic
d. toady
_____ 4. travel a furlong
a. acre
b. year
c. week
d. less than a mile
_____ 5. seek eldorado
a. physical comfort
b. delicious food
c. wealthy place
d. death
_____ 6. add the title esquire
a. gentleman
b. married man
c. duke
d. professional
_____ 7. debauched by the experience
a. impoverished
b. corrupted
c. strengthened
d. enriched
_____ 8. a lengthy filibuster
a. entertainment
b. obstructive tactics
c. childhood
d. voyage
_____ 9. powerful galvanism
a. electric current
b. discoveries
c. gases
d. weapons
_____ 10. the cynosure of all eyes
a. defect
b. attraction
c. sky-blue color
d. cynicism
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. belfry steeple _____
2. debauch corrupt _____
3. esquire attorney's title _____
4. ostracize exclude _____
5. filibuster obstruction _____
6. furlong eighth of a mile _____
7. cynosure sarcasm _____
8. eldorado Spain _____
9. galvanism atomic power _____
10. sycophant flatterer _____
Lesson 6.
Our language is enriched
by many exotic words with curious histories. Here are ten new ones to add to
your growing vocabulary. Read through the etymologies and complete the two
self-tests that follow.
1. juggernaut (jug"*r nôt', -not') Our modern word "juggernaut" comes from the Hindi name
for a huge image of the god Vishnu, "Jagannath," at Puri, a city in
Orissa, India. Each summer, the statue is moved to a new location a little less
than a mile away from the old one. Early tourists to India brought back strange
stories of worshipers throwing themselves under the wheels of the wagon
carrying the idol. Since any shedding of blood in the presence of the god is
sacrilege, what these travelers probably witnessed was a weary pilgrim being
accidentally crushed to death.
Thus, thanks to
exaggeration and ignorance, "juggernaut" came to mean blind and
relentless selfsacrifice.
In addition, the word
means any large, overpowering, or destructive force.
2. iconoclast (i kon"* klast') An "iconoclast" is a person who attacks cherished
beliefs or traditional institutions. It is from the Greek
"eikon," image, and "klastes," breaker. Although
the contemporary usage is figurative, the word was originally used in a literal
sense to describe the great controversy within the Christian church in the
eighth century over religious images. One camp held that all visual
representations should be destroyed because they encouraged idol worship; the
other, that such artworks simply inspired the viewers to feel more religious. By
the mid-eighth century, untold numbers of relics and images had been destroyed.
The issue was not
settled for nearly a
century, when the images were restored to the church in Constantinople.
3. laconic (l* kon"ik) In Sparta, the capital
of the ancient Greek region of Laconia, the children were trained in endurance,
cunning, modesty, and self-restraint. From the terse style of speech and
writing of the Laconians we derive the English word "laconic." Today
the word retains this meaning, expressing much in few words.
4. gamut (gam"*t) Guido of Arezzo, one of the greatest musicians of medieval
times, is credited with
being first to use the lines of the staff and the spaces between them. He used
the Greek letter "gamma" for the lowest tone in the scale. This note
was called "gamma ut." Contracted to "gamut," it then
designated the entire scale. The word quickly took on a figurative as well as a
literal sense. Today "gamut" is defined as the entire scale or
range.
5. guillotine (gil"* ten', ge"*-) After the outbreak of the French Revolution, Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin
became a member of the National Assembly. During an early debate, he proposed
that future executions in France be conducted by a humane beheading machine
that he had seen in operation in another country. His suggestion was received
favorably; in 1791, after Dr. Guillotin had retired from public service, the
machine that bears his name was designed by Antoine Louis and built by a German
named Schmidt. The guillotine was first used in 1792 to behead a thief. At that
time, the device was called a "Louisette" after its designer; but the
public began calling it after Dr. Guillotin, the man who had first advocated
its use.
6. horde (hôrd)
Upon the death of Genghis Khan, his grandson Batu Khan led the Mongol invasion
of Europe, cutting a merciless swath from Moscow to Hungary. At each post, Batu
erected a sumptuous tent made of silk and leather. His followers called it the
"sira ordu," the silken camp. In Czech and Polish the Turkic
"ordu" was changed to "horda." The name came to be applied
not only to Batu's tent but also to his entire Mongol army. Because of the
terror they inspired across the land, "horde" eventually referred to
any Tartar tribe. Today, it means any large crowd; swarm.
7. lyceum (li se"*m) The
Lyceum was the shrine dedicated to Apollo by the Athenians. The name came from
the Greek "Lykeion," meaning Wolf Slayer, a nickname of
Apollo. The shrine was a favorite haunt of the Athenian philosophers,
especially Aristotle, who taught his disciples while walking along its paths.
Thus, the word "lyceum" came to mean an institute for popular education,
providing discussions, lectures, concerts, and so forth.
8. macabre (m* kä"br*, -kä"b*r) In modern usage, "macabre" means gruesome and
horrible, pertaining to death. Its history is uncertain. However, most
etymologists believe that the word's use in the French phrase "Danse
Macabre," dance of Macabre, a translation of Medieval Latin "chorea
Macchabeorum," connects the word with the Maccabees, the leaders of the
Jewish rebellion against Syria about 165 B.C., whose death as martyrs is
vividly described in the Book of Maccabees (a part of the Apocrypha).
9. gargantuan (gär
gan" ch» *n) The
sixteenth-century French writer François Rabelais created a giant he named
"Gargantua" after a legendary giant of the Middle Ages. To fuel his
enormous bulk—Gargantua rode on a horse as large as six elephants—he had to
consume prodigious amounts of food and drink. Today we use the word
"gargantuan" to mean gigantic, enormous.
10. libertine (lib"*r ten') In
ancient Rome, "libertinus" referred to a freed slave. Since those freed
from slavery were unlikely to be strict observers of the laws that had enslaved
them in the first place, "libertine" came to designate a person
who is morally or sexually unrestrained.
Matching Synonyms
Match each of the numbered
words with its closest synonym. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. lyceum a. skeptic _____
2. libertine b. academy _____
3. iconoclast c. overpowering force _____
4. horde d. terse _____
5. gargantuan e. gruesome _____
6. laconic f. dissolute person
_____
7. guillotine g. beheading machine _____
8. juggernaut h. entire range _____
9. gamut i. huge _____
10. macabre j. crowd _____
Defining Words
Define
each of the following words.
1.
iconoclast _____________________________________________________
2.
libertine _____________________________________________________
3. gamut
______________________________________________________
4.
macabre _____________________________________________________
5.
guillotine ____________________________________________________
6.
laconic _________________________________________________________
7.
gargantuan _______________________________________________________
8. lyceum
___________________________________________________________
9. horde
___________________________________________________________
10.
juggernaut _______________________________________________________
Lesson 7.
The English language has
adopted a prodigious number of words from unexpected sources.
Read through the histories
of the ten unusual words that follow and then complete the self-tests.
1. imp (imp) In
Old English, an imp was originally a young plant or seedling. Eventually, the
term came to be used figuratively to indicate a descendant of a royal house,
usually a male. Probably because of the behavior of such children, the word
became synonymous with a young demon. Since the sixteenth century, the original
meaning of "imp" as scion has been completely dropped, and the
word is now used exclusively to mean a little devil or demon, an evil
spirit, or an urchin.
2. kaleidoscope (k* li"d* skop')
Invented in 1816 by Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster, the "kaleidoscope"
is a scientific toy constructed of a series of mirrors within a tube. When the
tube is turned by hand, symmetrical, ever-changing patterns can be viewed
through the eyepiece. Brewster named his toy from the Greek "kalos," beautiful;
"eidos," form; and "skopos," watcher.
3. knave (nav) In Old English, the word "knave" (then spelled
"cnafa") referred to a male child, a boy. It was later applied to a
boy or man employed as a servant. Many of these boys had to be wily to survive
their hard lot; thus the word gradually evolved to mean a rogue or rascal.
4. Machiavellian (mak'e * vel"e *n) The
Florentine political philosopher Nicolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was a fervent
supporter of a united Italy. Unfortunately, his methods for achieving his goals
placed political expediency over morality. His masterpiece, The Prince (1513),
advocated deception and hypocrisy on the grounds that the end justifies the
means. Therefore, the adjective "Machiavellian" means unscrupulous,
cunning, and deceptive in the pursuit of power.
5. indolence (in"dl *ns) Originally,
"indolence" meant indifference. The word was used in that sense
until the sixteenth century. Probably because indifference is frequently
accompanied by an unwillingness to bestir oneself, the term has now come to
mean lazy or slothful.
6. incubus/succubus (in"ky* b*s, ing"-; suk"y* b*s) In the Middle Ages, women were
thought to give birth to witches after being visited in their sleep by an
"incubus," or evil male spirit. The female version of this
spirit, said to be the cause of nightmares, was a "succubus." Because
the evil spirit pressed upon the sleeper's body and soul, the term
"incubus" also means something that oppresses like a nightmare.
7. hoyden (hoid"n) A "hoyden" is a boisterous, ill-bred girl; a
tomboy. The word is usually linked to the Dutch "heyden," meaning
a rustic person or rude peasant, originally a heathen or pagan,
and is related to the English word "heathen." At first in English
the word meant a rude, boorish man, but beginning in the 1600s it was applied
to girls in the sense of a tomboy. How the change came about is
uncertain.
8. guinea (gin"e) The guinea was a gold coin first minted in 1663 for the use of
speculators trading with Africa. The coins were called "guineas"
because the trade took place along the coast of Guinea. The British guinea came
to be worth 21 shillings. After the establishment of the gold standard in the
early nineteenth century, no more guineas were struck. In Great Britain, a
pound and one shilling is still often called a "guinea."
9. macadam (m* kad"*m) While experimenting
with methods of improving road construction, John McAdam, a Scotsman, concluded
that the prevailing practice of placing a base of large stones under a layer of
small stones was unnecessary. As surveyor-general for the roads of Bristol,
England, in the early nineteenth century, McAdam built roads using only six to
ten inches of small crushed stones, thereby eliminating the cost of
constructing the base. Not only were the results impressive, the savings were
so remarkable that his idea soon spread to other countries.
McAdam's experiments led
to our use of the term "macadam" for a road surface or pavement.
10. mackintosh (mak"in tosh') In 1823, Scottish chemist
Charles Macintosh discovered that the newfangled substance called
"rubber" could be dissolved with naphtha. This solution could be painted
on cloth to produce a waterproof covering. Clothing made from Macintosh's
invention came to be called "mackintoshes," or raincoats.
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. incubus evil spirit _____
2. hoyden howl _____
3. guinea rush basket _____
4. macadam raincoat _____
5. mackintosh road surface _____
6. imp male servant _____
7. Machiavellian principled _____
8. kaleidoscope optical toy _____
9. indolence laziness _____
10. knave dishonest fellow _____
Matching Synonyms
Select the best definition
for each numbered word. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. macadam a. raincoat _____
2. hoyden b. little mischiefmaker _____
3. guinea c. laziness _____
4. mackintosh d. optical toy _____
5. machiavellian e. pavement _____
6. imp f. rogue _____
7. kaleidoscope g. evil spirit _____
8. knave h. gold coin _____
9. indolence i. sly and crafty _____
10. incubus j. tomboy _____
Lesson 8.
Now read about these ten
words and complete the tests that follow.
1. maelstrom
(mal"str*m) The word's figurative meaning, a restless, disordered state
of affairs, is derived from its literal one. Today's meaning comes from
"Maelstrom," the name of a strong tidal current off the coast of
Norway. The current creates a powerful whirlpool because of its configuration.
According to legend, the current was once so strong that it could sink any
vessel that ventured near it.
2. insolent (in"s* l*nt) The
word comes from the Latin "insolentem," which literally meant not according
to custom. Since those who violate custom are likely to offend,
"insolent" evolved to imply that the person was also vain and
conceited. From this meaning we derive our present usage, contemptuously
rude or impertinent in speech or behavior.
3. interloper (in"t*r lo'p*r) The word "interloper" was used in the late sixteenth
century to describe Spanish traders who carved out for themselves a piece of
the successful trade the British had established with the Russians. The word
was formed on the analogy of "landloper," meaning one who
trespasses on another's land, from a Dutch word literally meaning land
runner. Although the dispute over the Spanish intrusion was settled within a
few years, the word remained in use to mean one who intrudes into some
region or field of trade without a proper license or thrusts himself or
herself into the affairs of others.
4. halcyon (hal"se *n) According to classical
mythology, the demigod Halcyone threw herself into the sea when she saw the
drowned body of her beloved mortal husband. After her tragic death, the gods
changed Halcyone and her husband into birds, which they called
"halcyons," our present-day kingfishers. The Greeks believed the sea
calmed as the birds built their nests and hatched their eggs upon its waves
during the seven days before and after the winter solstice. This period came to
be known as "halcyon days." The adjective is now used to mean calm,
peaceful,
prosperous,
or joyful.
5. hector (hek"t*r) Hector was a great Trojan
hero, son of King Priam. As Homer recounts in the Iliad, Hector took
advantage of his enemy Achilles's departure from the Greek camp to drive the Greeks
back to their ships and slay Achilles's dearest friend, Patroclus. To the
Romans, who regarded themselves as descendants of the Trojans, Hector was a
symbol of courage. But in the seventeenth century, the name was applied to the
gangs of bullies who terrorized the back streets of London. It is to their
transgressions that we owe the present use of "hector," to harass or
persecute.
6. helpmeet (help"met') This
synonym for helpmate, companion, wife, or husband is the result of
a misunderstanding. The word comes from Genesis 2:18, "And the Lord God
said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him." In this passage, "meet" means proper or appropriate,
but the two words came to be read as one, resulting in the word's current
spelling.
7. hermetic (hûr
met"ik) The Greeks linked the Egyptian god Thoth
with Hermes, calling him "Hermes Trismegistus," Hermes Three-Times
Greatest. He was accepted as the author of the books that made up the sum of
Egyptian learning, called the "Hermetic Books." Since these fortytwo works
largely concerned the occult sciences, "hermetic" came to mean secret,
and in a later usage, made airtight by fusion or sealing.
8. intransigent (in
tran"si j*nt) When
Amadeus, the son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, was forced to abdicate the
throne of Spain in 1873, those favoring a republic attempted to establish a political
party. This group was called in Spanish "los intransigentes" (from
"in-," not + "transigente," compromising)
because they could not come to terms with the other political parties. The term
passed into English as "intransigent." Today the word retains the
same meaning: uncompromising or inflexible.
9. jitney (jit"ne) The origin of this term has
long baffled etymologists. The word first appeared in American usage in the
first decade of the twentieth century as a slang term for a nickel. The word then
became associated with the public motor vehicles whose fare was five cents.
Some authorities have theorized that the term is a corruption of
"jeton," the French word for token. Today a "jitney"
is a small passenger bus following a regular route at varying hours.
10. junket (jung"kit) At first, the word referred to a basket of woven reeds used
for carrying fish, and was ultimately derived from Latin "juncus," reed.
Then the basket was used to prepare cheese, which in turn came to be called
"junket." Since the basket also suggested the food it could carry,
"junket" later evolved to mean a great feast. Today we use the
term in closely related meanings: a sweet custardlike food or flavored
milk curdled with rennet or a pleasure excursion.
Matching Synonyms
Match each numbered word
with its closest synonym. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. halcyon a. tightly sealed _____
2. intransigent b. intruder _____
3. jitney c. impertinent _____
4. maelstrom d. peaceful _____
5. junket e. inflexible _____
6. hector f. small bus _____
7. insolent g. companion _____
8. hermetic h. pleasure trip _____
9. interloper i. harass _____
10. helpmeet j. disorder _____
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. halcyon calm _____
2. jitney juggler _____
3. maelstrom masculine _____
4. intransigent uncompromising _____
5. insolent rude _____
6. interloper welcome guest _____
7. junket refuse _____
8. hector helper _____
9. hermetic airtight _____
10. helpmeet newcomer _____
Lesson 9.
The interesting origins of
these ten words can help you remember their current meanings. Complete the
quizzes after your reading.
1. knickers
(nik"*rz) The descendants of the
Dutch settlers in New York are sometimes known as "Knickerbockers."
Thus, the term for the loosely fitting short trousers gathered at the knee that
we call "knickers" derives from the name of the people who wore them,
the Knickerbockers. The pants first came to public attention in the illustrations
to Washington Irving's A History of New York from the Beginning of the World
to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, published in 1809 under the pen name Diedrich
Knickerbocker. Knickers were formerly extremely popular attire for boys and
young men.
2. magenta (m* jen"t*) On June 4, 1859, the French and Sardinian armies of Napoleon III
won a decisive victory over the Austrian army in the northern fields of Italy
near the small town of Magenta. At the time of the victory, scientists had just
created a dye imparting a lovely reddishpurple color but had not yet named it.
When the French chemists heard of the momentous triumph for their country, they
named the dye "magenta" in honor of the victory. Today we call this reddish-purple
color "magenta," but the dye itself is technically known as
"fuchsin" (as in "fuchsia").
3. garret (gar"it) Originally, the French word "garite" referred to a
watchtower from which a sentry could look out for approaching enemies. Among
the things the Normans brought when they conquered England was the word
"garite." In England the word came to mean a loft or attic and
its spelling was altered to "garret."
4. mandrake (man"drak) The original name for this
narcotic herb was "mandragora," which is still its scientific name;
the word comes from Greek "mandragoras," of unknown origin. In the Middle
Ages, Englishmen erroneously assumed that "mandragora" came from
"mandragon," a combination of "man," because of the appearance
of its forked root, and "dragon," because of its noxious qualities.
Since a dragon was then commonly called a "drake," the plant came to
be called "mandrake."
5. gazette (g* zet") In the beginning of the
sixteenth century, Venetians circulated a small tin coin of little value they
called a "gazzetta," a diminutive of the word "gaza,"
magpie. Soon after, the government began to print official bulletins with news
of battles, elections, and so forth. Because the cost of the newspaper was one
gazzetta, the leaflet itself eventually came to be called a
"gazzetta." By the end of the century, the term was used in England
as well. The present spelling is the result of French influence. Today a
"gazette" refers to a newspaper or official government
journal.
6. martinet (mär'tn et", mär"tn et') Seeking to improve his army, in
1660 Louis XIV hired Colonel Jean Martinet, a successful infantry leader, to
devise a drill for France's soldiers. Martinet drilled his soldiers to such exacting
standards that his name came to be applied to any officer intent on maintaining
military discipline or precision. Thus, in English, a "martinet" is a
strict disciplinarian, especially a military one. Interestingly, in France,
Martinet's name acquired no such negative connotation.
7. gorgon (gôr"g*n) The name comes from the Greek
myth of the three monstrous sisters who inhabited the region of Night. Together
they were known as the "Gorgons"; their individual names were Stheno,
Euryale, and Medusa. Little has been written about the first two. Medusa was
the most hideous and dangerous; her appearance, with her head of writhing
serpents, was so ghastly that anyone who looked directly at her was turned to stone. A
secondary meaning of "gorgon" is a
mean or
repulsive woman.
8. maudlin (môd"lin) This word, meaning tearfully or weakly emotional, comes
from the miracle plays of the Middle Ages. Although these plays depicted many
of the Biblical miracles, the most popular theme was the life of Mary Magdalene.
The English pronounced her name "maudlin," and since most of the
scenes in which she appeared were tearful, this pronunciation of her name became
associated with mawkish sentimentality.
9. meander (me an"d*r) In ancient times, the Menderes River in western Turkey was so remarkable
for its twisting path that its Greek name, "Maiandros," came to mean a
winding. In Latin this word was spelled "maeander," hence English
"meander," used mainly as a verb and meaning to proceed by a
winding or indirect course.
10. gossamer (gos"* m*r) In fourth-century Germany,
November was a time of feasting and merrymaking. The time-honored meal was
roast goose. So many geese were eaten that the month came to be called
"Gänsemonat," goose month. The term traveled to England but in
the course of migration, it became associated with the period of unseasonably
warm autumn weather we now call "Indian summer." During the warm
spell, large cobwebs are found draped in the grass or suspended in the air.
These delicate, airy webs, which we call "gossamer," are generally believed
to have taken their name from "goose summer," when their appearance
was most noticeable. We now define "gossamer" as something fine,
filmy, or light; it also means thin and light.
Sentence Completion
Complete each sentence
with the appropriate word from the following list.
gossamer gorgon maudlin magenta garret meander mandrake
knickers gazette martinet
1. It is pleasant to
___________ slowly down picturesque country roads on crisp autumn afternoons.
2. The movie was so
___________ that I was still crying when the closing credits began to roll.
3. The teacher was such a
___________ that his students soon rebelled fiercely against his strict regulations.
4. In ancient days, the
root of the ___________ was surrounded by myths: it was believed that it could
cast out demons from the sick, cause madness, or even make a person fall
hopelessly in love.
5. Your entire load of
white laundry will likely turn pink or even ___________ if you include even a
single new and previously unwashed red or purple sock.
6. Many budding artists
have romantic fantasies about living in a wretched ___________ and starving for
the sake of their art.
7. Men rarely wear
___________ any longer for playing golf, but the style was popular for many years.
8. The ___________ cobwebs
shredded at the slightest touch.
9. Since the daily
___________ has excellent coverage of local sports, cultural events, and regional
news, we tend to overlook its weak coverage of international events.
10. The gossip columnist
was so mean and ugly that her victims referred to her as a
___________.
Definitions
Select the correct
definition for each numbered word. Write your answer in the space provided.
_____ 1. knickers
a. short pants
b. soccer players
c. early settlers
d. punch line
_____ 2. meander
a. moan
b. ramble
c. strike back
d. starve
_____ 3. gorgon
a. misunderstood person
b. foregone conclusion
c. hideous monster
d. midget
_____ 4. magenta
a. military victory
b. electricity
c. machinations
d. reddish-purple color
_____ 5. mandrake
a. myth
b. dragon
c. duck
d. narcotic plant
_____ 6. garret
a. basement
b. attic
c. garage
d. unsuccessful artist
_____ 7. maudlin
a. warlike
b. married
c. mawkish
d. intense
_____ 8. martinet
a. strict disciplinarian
b. facile problem
c. hawk
d. musical instrument
_____ 9. gazette
a. journal
b. gazebo
c. silver coin
d. book of maps
_____ 10. gossamer
a. variety of goose
b. grasp
c. flimsy material
d. idle talk
Lesson 10.
Knowing the backgrounds of
the following ten words will give you an edge in recalling their meanings and
using them in conversation to make your speech and writing more powerful. When you
have studied each word, complete the two quizzes that follow.
1. meerschaum (mer"sh*m, -shôm) Since it is white and soft and often found along
seashores, ancient people believed this white claylike mineral was foam from
the ocean turned into stone. As a result, in all languages it was called
"sea foam." It was of little use until German artisans began to carve
it into pipes, for as it absorbs the nicotine from the tobacco it acquires a
deep honey color. Because the Germans were the first to find a use for it, the
German name stuck: "meer," sea; "schaum," foam. In
English "meerschaum" often means a tobacco pipe with a bowl made
of
meerschaum
(the mineral).
2. toady (to"de) In the seventeenth century,
people believed that toads were poisonous, and anyone who mistakenly ate a
toad's leg instead of a frog's leg would die. Rather than swearing off frogs'
legs, people sought a cure for the fatal food poisoning. Charlatans would
sometimes hire an accomplice who would pretend to eat a toad, at which point
his employer would whip out his instant remedy and "save" his
helper's life. For his duties, the helper came to be called a
"toadeater."
Since anyone who would
consume anything as disgusting as a toad must be completely under his master's
thumb, "toad-eater" or "toady" became the term for an obsequious
sycophant; a fawning flatterer.
3. gregarious (gri
gâr"e *s) The Latin term for a herd of animals is
"grex." Because a group of people banded together in military
formation resembles a herd of animals, the word "grex" was applied to
people as well as animals. The way the people grouped together was called "gregarius,"
like a herd. The word has come down to us as "gregarious,"
meaning friendly or fond of the company of others.
4. miscreant (mis"kre *nt) The word's source, the
Old French "mes-," wrongly, and "creant," believing,
tells us that "miscreant" was originally used to describe a
heretic. The word has evolved over the centuries, however, to refer to a
base, villainous, or depraved person.
5. sinecure (si"ni ky»r', sin"i-) "Sinecure," a word meaning an office or position requiring little or no work,
especially one yielding profitable returns, originally began as a church
term, from the Latin "beneficium sine cura," a benefice without
care. It referred to the practice of rewarding a church rector by giving
him a parish for which he had no actual responsibilities. The real work was
carried on by a vicar, but his absent superior received the higher recompense.
Although the church practice was abolished in the mid-nineteenth century, the
term is often used today in a political context.
6. ottoman (ot"* m*n) In the late thirteenth
century, the Muslim Turks, under the leadership of Othman (also known as Osman
I) established Turkey as "the Ottoman Empire." The empire was noted
for its exotic silk and velvet furnishings. Travelers to the realm took some of
their luxurious couches and divans back to Europe, where they became popular in
France under the Bourbon kings. The French dubbed a low, backless cushioned seat or footstool an
"ottomane" after its country of origin. The English called it an
"ottoman."
7. namby-pamby (nam"be pam"be) The term "namby-pamby," used to describe anything weakly sentimental, pretentious,
or affected, comes from Henry Carey's parody of Ambrose Philips's
sentimental children's poems. Carey titled his parody "Namby Pamby,"
taking the "namby" from the diminutive of "Ambrose" and
using the first letter of his surname, "P," for the alliteration.
Following a bitter quarrel with Philips, Alexander Pope seized upon Carey's
parody in the second edition of his Dunciad in 1733. Through the
popularity of Pope's poem, the term "namby-pamby" passed into general
usage.
8. mountebank (moun"t* bangk') During the Middle Ages, Italians conducted their banking in the
streets, setting up business on convenient benches. In fact, the Italian word
"banca" has given us our word "bank." People with less
honest intentions realized that it would be relatively easy to cheat the people
who assembled around these benches. To attract a crowd, these con men often
worked with jugglers, clowns, rope dancers, or singers. Since they always
worked around a bench, they were known as "montimbancos." Although
the word was Anglicized to "mountebank," it still refers to a huckster or charlatan who sells quack medicines from a
platform
in a public place, appealing to his audience by using
tricks, storytelling, and so forth.
9. phaeton (fa"i tn) In Greek mythology, Helios drove the chariot of the sun
across the sky each day. Helios's son Phaëton implored his father to let him
drive the glittering chariot. Against his better judgment, one day Helios
acceded to his son's wishes and let him drive the chariot pulled by its four
powerful horses. Phaëton began well enough, but by mid-morning he wearied and could
no longer control the horses. The sun fluctuated between heaven and earth,
causing great destruction. To stop the devastation, Zeus hurled a thunderbolt
at Phaëton, who fell lifeless to the ground. In the sixteenth century, the
English drew from this legend to describe a heedless driver
as a "Phaeton."
The word was later applied to a light four-wheeled carriage popular in
the eighteenth century. Still later, it was applied to a type of touring
car.
10. mugwump (mug"wump') This word entered the English
language in a most curious fashion. In the mid-1600s, the clergyman John Eliot,
known as the Apostle to the Indians, translated the Bible into the Algonquian
language. When he came to the thirty-sixth chapter of Genesis, he had no word
for "duke," so he used "mugquomp," an Algonquian term for chief
or great man. Historians of the language theorize that the term
might already have been in circulation at that time, but they know for certain
that by 1884 it was in fairly general use. In the presidential election that
year, a group of Republicans threw their support to Grover Cleveland rather
than to the party's nominee, James G. Blaine. The newspapers scorned the
renegade Republicans as "mugwumps," those who thought themselves too
good to vote for Blaine. The
scorned Republicans got
the last word when they adopted the same term to describe themselves, saying
they were independent men proud to call themselves "mugwumps," or great
men. Today we use the term "mugwump" to desribe a person who takes an independent position or
one who is neutral on a controversial issue.
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. toady sycophant _____
2. miscreant sociable person _____
3. mugwump political ally _____
4. namby-pamby cereal _____
5. gregarious affable _____
6. phaeton ghost _____
7. mountebank impostor _____
8. meerschaum mixup _____
9. ottoman footstool _____
10. sinecure sincere _____
Matching
Synonyms
Match each of the
following numbered words with its closest synonym. Write your answer in the space
provided.
1. mountebank a. easy job _____
2. gregarious b. knave _____
3. ottoman c. charlatan _____
4. toady d. carriage _____
5. miscreant e. sociable _____
6. mugwump f. independent _____
7. namby-pamby g. sycophant _____
8. sinecure h. pipe _____
9. phaeton i. low, backless seat _____
10. meerschaum j. sentimental _____
