OUTSTANDING WORDS (WORDS # 28)

WELCOME TO ANOTHER POST ON WORDS!

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OBDURATE

Adjective (very formal) – Refusing to change your opinions or plans, in a way that does not seem reasonable

We tried to convince him but the manager was obdurate

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OBFUSCATE

Verb (Transitive, formal) – To deliberately make something confusing or difficult to understand

The issues were clear, but he insisted on obfuscating them

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OMNISCIENT

Adjective (Formal) – Knowing everything

The primitive tribes believed that the local shaman was omniscient

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OUST

Verb (Transitive) – To remove someone from a position of power, especially in order to take that position

The president was ousted in a coup last year

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

This collection of words looks a bit difficult! I think the main problem is that they are rather formal, and not so commonly used.

“Obdurate” is a word I have seen use in novels but not very frequently. I don’t think I have had any opportunity for using it, and besides, I would probably say “very stubborn” or “very inflexible” or I could even say “unreasonably stubborn” and that could probably convey the idea very well. This is not an easy word to master!

“Obfuscate” is a word I have also seen in use on occasion, but not frequently. News reporters have used this term when describing a deliberate attempt to make an issue so obscure that the truth does not shine through. In this way, the truth is hidden from public opinion. Another rather difficult word!

“Omniscient” is definitely not for everyday use! I think I’ve only seen it in prayer books with reference to God Almighty, who is omniscient.  The term could be replaced by “all-knowing” or “all-seeing”. Not an easy term!

“Oust” is more common in everyday use. Apart from the meaning in the example given above, I would also use it, and actually have used it, to describe the action of removing a pet cat from a very comfortable armchair in front of the fire! The poor fellow was “ousted” from his comfortable bed!

There is some good news for Spanish speakers. The words obfuscar and omnisciente exist, sound the same and more or less mean the same!

So there you have them! As you can see, the vocabulary that is expected for the graduate entry tests can be rather complex!

So study up your words, and I’ll see you on the next post!

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© 2013  joveron  (Joan Robertson)

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