Level E

Vocabulary

Unit

6

Accede

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: mid-15c., from L. accedere "approach, enter upon," from ad- "to" + cedere "go, move"

Brandish

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: mid-14c., from O.Fr. brandir "to flourish (a sword)" (12c.), from brant "blade of a sword, prow of a ship"

comprise

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: 1423, from O.Fr. comprendre "to contain, comprise," from L. comprehendere “comprehend”

deft

Connotation: positive

Etymology: O.E. gedæfte "mild, gentle"

destitute

Connotation: negative

Etymology: c.1382, from L. destitutus "abandoned," destituere "forsake," from de- "away" + statuere "put, place"

explicit

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: c.1600, from Fr. explicite, explicare "unfold, unravel, explain," from ex- "out" + plicare "to fold"

extirpate

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: from Latin exstirpāre  to root out,

stirps = root

inopportune

Connotation: negative

Etymology: 1533, from L.L. inopportunus "unfitting," from in- "not" + opportunus

ironicConnotation: neutral

Etymology: 1620–30; Late Latin īrōnicus; Greek eirōnikós  

dissembling, insincere

musty

Connotation: negative

Etymology: 1530, perhaps a variant of moisty "moist, damp"

officious

Connotation: negative

Etymology: 1565, "zealous, eager to serve," from L. officiosus "dutiful," from officium "duty, service" (see office).

Sense of "meddlesome, doing more than is asked or required" had emerged by 1600 (in officiously).

ominous

Connotation: negative

Etymology: 1580s, from L. ominosus "full of foreboding," from omen

pinnacle

Connotation: positive

Etymology: c.1300, from O.Fr. pinacle (1261), from L.L. pinnaculum "gable," dim. of pinna "peak, point"

premeditated

Connotation: neutral

Etymology: 1540–50; < Latin praemeditātus   to contemplate in advance.

rampant

Connotation: negative

Etymology: from O.Fr. ramper "to creep, climb"

KUDZU

solace

Connotation: positive

Etymology: late 13c., from O.Fr. solas, from L. solari "to console, soothe"

stately

Connotation: positiveEtymology: "noble, splendid," late 14c., from state in a sense of "costly and imposing display" (such as benefits a person of rank and wealth), early 14c.; a sense also preserved in the phrase to lie in state "to be ceremoniously exposed to view before interment" (1705). Hence

also stateroom (1703), reserved for ceremonial occasions

suppleConnotation: positive

Etymology: c.1300, from O.Fr. souple "pliant, flexible," from L. supplex "submissive, humbly begging," literally "bending, kneeling down"

suppress

Connotation: negative

Etymology: from L. supprimere "press down, stop, check, stifle," from sub

"down, under" + premere "push against"

venalConnotation: negative

Etymology: from L. venalis "that is for sale," from venum "for sale"