LOVELY WORDS (WORDS # 18)

HULLO!

WHAT LOVELY FLOWERS!

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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain 

LATENT 

Adjective – Something that is latent exists but is not obvious and has not developed yet

He was carrying a latent infection

Their latent aggressiveness suddenly exploded

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LOATH

Adjective (Formal) – Very unwilling to do something

The candidates were loath to accept their involvement in the scandal

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LOATHE

Verb (Transitive) – To dislike something or someone very much

She loathes her ex-boyfriend very much

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LOQUACIOUS

Adjective (formal) – with a tendency to talk a lot or too much

The child was always very loquacious, she was never quiet

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

This is really a lovely set of words!

They are all used quite frequently, but the main problems here are the two very similar words, “Loath” and “Loathe”.

If there is a question on the Test that includes either of these two words, it could cause some difficulties.

“Loath” is an adjective and describes a characteristic or a state.

“Loathe” is a verb, and therefore is referring to a feeling similar to disliking or hating.

“Latent” is a word that I associate with photography of the old fashioned kind, when people talked about a “latent print”. Not that I really understood the term at all, I know very little about photography.

At present, “latent print” would make me think of forensic work, and of persons leaving a mark of their finger prints that is revealed when some chemicals are applied to the surface in question.

And “Loquacious” is definitely used in everyday speech, in works of fiction and in news reports, especially with reference to politicians!

The good news for Spanish speakers? Latente and locuaz not only exist, they sound very similar and fortunately have the same meaning.

So study your words for the graduate entry tests and I’ll see you on the next post!

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 © 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)

I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word “comments” lower down.

MYSTERIOUS WORDS (WORDS # 17)

HULLO!

LOVELY RED POPPIES!

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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain 

MALICIOUS

Adjective –  Unkind and with a strong intent to hurt someone

They were spreading malicious gossip on the Internet

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MEAGER

Adjective – Smaller or less than you want or need

The food supply was meager

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MYRMIDON

Noun (Countable, formal) – A faithful follower who carries out orders without question

His myrmidons helped him win the elections

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MANUMIT

Verb (Transitive) -  To free from slavery or bondage, to liberate

The students manumitted their slaves on graduating from their studies (ancient civilizations).

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

Another fantastic group of English words! Don’t they sound impressive?

The words “Malicious” and “Meager” are relatively common; I’ve seen them used in various kinds of written work – news reports, novels, academic reports and the like.

“Myrmidon” and “Manumit” pose a different problem

“Myrmidon” is definitely an infrequently used expression, reserved mostly for descriptions of historic events. I think that at present it is not a really “politically correct” expression. It seems to imply that the people that are being referred to as “myrmidons” have no will of their own and just follow the leader blindly. I would certainly not accept being talked about as a member of a group of myrmidons!

And as for “Manumit”, who would we “manumit” in the present day world? Again, the word could appear in a historical account of happenings in some bygone era. (At least, I hope this would describe a bygone era!)

Still, the list of words suggested for the graduate entry tests definitely include these words, so we had better know them!

The good news for Spanish speakers is related to “malicioso” and “magro”. They sound similar to the English words and also mean the same. 

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

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© 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)

I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word “comments” lower down.

FURTIVE WORDS (WORDS # 16)

HULLO!

LOVELY GERANIUM FLOWER

 

Source: Pixabay, Public Domain

 

FALLACIOUS

Adjective (Formal) – Based on false information or ideas

The results of that scientific research are fallacious

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FASTIDIOUS

Adjective – Caring a lot about small details, wanting everything to be just perfect

She was very fastidious about her appearance

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FLAGRANT

Adjective -  Done in an obvious way that shows you don’t care if you break rules or if you are offensive to people

She just went ahead in flagrant disregard for the law.

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FORBEARANCE

Noun (Uncountable, formal) – The ability to be polite, calm and patient in difficult situations

She always practiced great forbearance in the face of adversity

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS.

A series of very elegant looking words! Not for everyday use, though.

I don’t think I’ve ever used them, and I’ve only seen them used a few times.

“Fallacious” reminds me of the academic research I have done during some periods of my life. The members of my group were always on guard for some fallacious reasoning, or the use of fallacious information. We didn’t want to harm the validity of our research and its results!

I have met several very “Fastidious” persons, my young god-daughter is terribly careful about wearing clothes with colors that match. She’s eight years old, and certainly “fastidious” about what she wears!

“Flagrant” seems to relate mostly to breaking the law. It is definitely a technical term in legal usage.

“Forbearance” is what we teachers practice when faced with difficult students, and I would also include difficult parents as well! It is sometimes a big effort to keep calm and patient when provoked, practicing “forbearance” can be very demanding!

The good news for Spanish speakers? Falacia and Flagrante sound similar to the English words and have the same meaning.

On the other hand Fastidioso exists but the meaning is not quite the same. The Spanish term means something that is bothersome or trying. We have to be careful here, this could be termed a “false friend”.

So study these words and increase your vocabulary. You will surely improve your score on the graduate entry test!

See you on the next post!

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© 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)

I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word comments” 

lower down.

DISGUISED WORDS - (WORDS # 15)

HULLO!

LOVELY FUCHSIAS!

Source: Pixabay, Public Domainb

DAWDLE

Verb (Intransitive) – To go somewhere, or to do something, so slowly that people become annoyed with you.

The children were dawdling through their food.

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DECREPIT

Adjective -  Old and no longer in good condition    

The car was an ugly color and very decrepit

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DELVE

Verb (Intransitive) -  To look for information by searching through something thoroughly

The lady delved into her bag and produced a chocolate for the boy

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DIVERGENT

Adjective -  Things that are divergent are different from each other

Their thoughts were divergent on that subject.

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

A rather difficult list of words! I know them all, but what to say about them!

They are not so well known, but I have seen them in use and I have also used them.

“Dawdle” is often used by parents who tell their children to “Stop dawdling”! 

Children and adolescents usually “dawdle” when they are supposed to do something they don’t like. My grandmother very often told me not to dawdle when I was growing up, I was a great dreamer!

Who hasn’t heard of a “decrepit old truck”, or vehicle of some sort! And of course an elderly person who has difficulty moving around, is also described as “decrepit”

As for “delve”, we normally delve into a crowded closet, or a handbag that is bursting with odds and ends, we even delve into a book!

“Divergent” is a term that can apply very well to politics, when politicians don’t agree, they say their opinions are divergent! I would say this happens frequently in real life!

When a path changes direction we also say it “diverges”!

The good news for Spanish speakers is related to “decrepit” (decrépito in Spanish) and “divergent” (divergente in Spanish). The words sound similar and mean the same too!

So study your words and improve your results on the graduate entry tests!

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See you on the next post!

 © 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)

I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word “comments” lower down.