6/13

multi- “ many, more than one or two ”

e.g. multicolored, multimedia, multiple

-gno-“ know, knowledge ”

e.g. diagnose, prognosis, agnostic

Words of the day

6/13(Fri.)

1. illegal[adj.]/ ɪˋlig! /

Definition: against the law; not allowed by law

Origin: 1620s, from French illégal or directly from Medieval Latin illegalis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + Latin legalis (see legal).

Sentence: It is illegal to drive a car that is not taxed and insured.

Part of speech: illegality [n.]

 

2. obscene[adj.]/ əbˋsin /

Definition: morally wrong, often describing something that is wrong because it is too large

Origin: 1590s, "offensive to the senses, or to taste and refinement," from Middle French obscène (16c.).

Sentence: The salaries some company directors earn are obscene.

Part of speech: obscenity [n.]

 

3. permission[n.]/ pɚˋmɪʃən /

Definition: If someone is given permission to do something, they are allowed to do it

Origin: early 15c., from Latin permissionem (nominative permissio), noun of action from past participle stem of permittere (see permit (v.)).

Sentence: Official permission has been granted for more building near the river.

Part of speech: permissible [adj.], permit [v.]

 

4. property[n.]/ ˋprɑpɚtɪ /

Definition: an object or objects that belong to someone

Origin: c.1300, properte, "nature, quality," later "possession, thing owned" (early 14c., a sense rare before 17c.).

Sentence: The club does not accept responsibility for loss of or damage to club members' personal property.

Part of speech: propertied [adj.]

 

5. spray[n.]/ spre /

Definition: a mass of very small drops of liquid carried in the air

Origin: "small branch," mid-13c., of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Old English spræc "shoot, twig" (see sprig), and compare Danish sprag in same sense.

Sentence: Can you feel the spray from the sea/waterfall?

Part of speech: none

 

6/16(Mon.)

1. vandalism[n.]/ ˋvændlɪzəm /

Definition: the crime of intentionally damaging property belonging to other people

Origin: 1794, from French vandalisme, first used by Henri Grégoire, Bishop of Blois, in a report decrying the pillage and destruction of art in the course of the French Revolution; see vandal + -ism.

Sentence: These schools are known to be vulnerable to vandalism.

Part of speech: vandalistic [adj.]

 

2. annoy[v.]/ əˋnɔɪ /

Definition: to make someone angry

Origin: late 13c., from Anglo-French anuier, Old French enoiier, anuier "to weary, vex, anger; be troublesome or irksome to."

Sentence: I'm sorry - is my cough annoying you?

Part of speech: annoyed [adj.]

 

3. combine[v.]/ kəmˋbaɪn/

Definition: to (cause to) exist together, or join together to make a single thing or group

Origin: early 15c., from Middle French combiner (14c.), from Late Latin combinare "to unite, yoke together," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + bini "two by two," adverb from bi- "twice" (see binary).

Sentence: None of us has much money so let's combine what we've got.

Part of speech: combinative [adj.]

 

4. conserve[v.]/kənˋsɝv /

Definition: to keep and protect something from damage, change or waste

Origin: late 14c., from Old French conserver (9c.).

Sentence: To conserve electricity, we are cutting down on our central heating.

Part of speech: conservation [n.]

 

5. decade[n.]/ ˋdɛked /

Definition: a period of ten years, especially a period such as 1860 to 1869, or 1990 to 1999

Origin: mid-15c., "ten parts" (of anything; originally in reference to the books of Livy), from Middle French décade (14c.).

Sentence: Greenpeace was started nearly four decades ago, in 1971.

Part of speech: decadence [n.]衰落

 

6/17(Tue.)

1. demonstrate[v.]/ ˋdɛmən͵stret /

Definition: to show; to make clear

Origin: 1550s, "to point out," from Latin demonstratus, past participle of demonstrare (see demonstration).

Sentence: These figures clearly demonstrate the size of the economic problem facing the country.

Part of speech: demonstration [n.]

 

2. industry[n.]/ˋɪndəstrɪ /

Definition: the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale, especially in a factory or special area

Origin: late 15c., "cleverness, skill," from Old French industrie.

Sentence: The city needs to attract more industry.

Part of speech: industrial [adj.]

 

3. ozone[n.]/ ˋozon /

Definition: a poisonous form of oxygen

Origin: 1840, from German Ozon, coined in 1840 by German chemist Christian Friedrich Schönbein (1799-1868) from Greek ozon, neuter present participle of ozein "to smell" (see odor).

Sentence: They campaign to protect ancient forests, save the oceans, conserve the earth’s natural resources, save the ozone layer, do away with whaling, and do away with the use of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing.

Part of speech: ozonic [adj.]

 

4. politics[n.]/ ˋpɑlətɪks /

Definition: the activities of the government, members of law-making organizations or people who try to influence the way a country is governed

Origin: 1520s, "science of government," from politic (adj.), modeled on Aristotle's ta politika "affairs of state," the name of his book on governing and governments, which was in English mid-15c.

Sentence: Joe is very active in left-wing politics.

Part of speech: political [adj.] 政治學的

 

5. violent[adj.]/ ˋvaɪələnt /

Definition: using force to hurt or attack

Origin: mid-14c., from Old French violent or directly from Latin violentus, related to violare (see violation).

Sentence: He shouts a lot but I don't think he's ever been physically violent towards her.

Part of speech: violation [n.]

 

6/18(Wed.)

1. bungee[n.]/bʌn.dʒi /

Definition: a cord that stretches with a hook (= curved device) at each end, which is used to hold things in place, especially on a bicycle or car

Origin: 1930, "elastic rope;" used in late 19c. British schoolboy slang for "rubber eraser;" probably from notions of bouncy and spongy; first record of bungee jumping is from 1979.

Sentence: There, a ritual similar to bungee jumping, but fat more dangerous, takes place.

Part of speech: none

 

2. cord[n.]/kɔrd /

Definition: (a length of) rope or string made of twisted threads

Origin: c.1300, from Old French corde "rope, string, twist, cord," from Latin chorda "string of a musical instrument

Sentence: Where's the cord that ties back the curtains?

Part of speech: corded [adj.]

 

3. elastic[adj.]/ɪˈlæs.tɪk /

Definition: describes material that is able to stretch and be returned to its original shape or size
able or likely to be changed

Origin: 1650s, coined in French (1650s) as a scientific term to describe gases, from Modern Latin elasticus, from Greek elastos "ductile, flexible," related to elaunein "to strike, beat out," of uncertain origin.

Sentence: In this country, time is an elastic concept.

Part of speech: elasticity [n.]

 

4. quarrel[n.]/ ˋkwɔrəl /

Definition: an angry disagreement between two or more people or groups

Origin: "angry dispute," mid-14c., originally "ground for complaint," from Old French querele "matter, concern, business; dispute, controversy" (Modern French querelle).

Sentence: They seem to have patched up their quarrel (= finished their disagreement and started to be friendly).

Part of speech: quarrelsome [adj.]

 

5. ritual[adj.][n.]/ ˋrɪtʃʊəl /

Definition: a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly, especially as part of a ceremony

Origin: 1560s, from Middle French ritual or directly from Latin ritualis "relating to (religious) rites," from ritus "rite" (see rite).

Sentence: There, a ritual similar to bungee jumping, but fat more dangerous, takes place.

Part of speech: ritualistic [adj.]

 

6/19(Thu.)

1. similar[adj.]/ ˋsɪməlɚ /

Definition: looking or being almost, but not exactly, the same

Origin: "having characteristics in common," 1610s (earlier similary, 1560s), from French similaire.

Sentence: There, a ritual similar to bungee jumping, but fat more dangerous, takes place.

Part of speech: similarity [n.]

 

2. standard[n.]/ˋstændɚd /

Definition: a level of quality

Origin: 1620s, "serving as a standard," from standard (adj.). Earlier it meant "upright" (1530s).

Sentence: This piece of work is below standard/is not up to standard.

Part of speech: standardize [v.]

 

3. wrap[v.]/ ræp /

Definition: to cover or surround something with paper, cloth or other material

Origin: early 14c., wrappen, "to wind (something around something else), cover (something), conceal.

Sentence: She wrapped the present and tied it with ribbon.

Part of speech: wrapping [n.]

 

4. bankrupt[adj.]/ ˋbæŋkrʌpt /

Definition: unable to pay what you owe, and having control of your financial matters given, by a court of law, to a person who sells your property to pay your debts

Origin: 1560s, from Italian banca rotta, literally "a broken bench," from banca "moneylender's shop," literally "bench" (see bank (n.1)) + rotta "broken, defeated, interrupted" from (and remodeled on) Latin rupta, fem. past participle of rumpere "to break" (see rupture (n.)).

Sentence: The recession has led to many small businesses going bankrupt.

Part of speech: bankruptcy [n.]

 

5. celebrity[n.]/sɪˋlɛbrətɪ /

Definition: someone who is famous, especially in the entertainment business

Origin: late 14c., "solemn rite or ceremony," from Old French celebrité "celebration" or directly from Latin celibritatem (nominative celebritas) "multitude, fame," from celeber "frequented, populous" (see celebrate).

Sentence: Potential problems of celebrity status are not much of a determent to those seeking limelight.

Part of speech: celebrate [v.]慶祝