Vocabulary Assignment - 10/1/2008

Wiki Vocab Template
This page is to help us with our vocabulary assignments for class. Just look to see which words need answering and pick one to define for everyone. Also put your name next to the word you defined. Just use edit at the bottom of the page.

Vocabulary for 10/1/2008

  • Catholic - Cassaundra R.

Definition - broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all
1. all-inclusive: including or concerned with all people

2. useful to all: useful or interesting to a wide range of people

3. all-embracing: interested in or sympathetic to a wide range of things

Etymology - Middle English catholik, universally accepted, from Old French catholique, from Latin catholicus, universal, from Greek katholikos, from katholou, in general
Synonyms - broad-minded, liberal
Antonyms - close-minded, conservative

  • Amortize (Jeffrey)

Definition - to pay off (as a mortgage) gradually usually by periodic payments of
principal and interest or by payments to a sinking fund

1. reduce debt by installments: to reduce a debt by making payments against the principal balance in installments or regular transfers

2. write off cost of asset: to write off the cost of an asset over a period of time in a statement of accounts

3. transfer property: to transfer land or other assets to an ecclesiastical body ( archaic )
Etymology - Middle English amortisen to kill, alienate in mortmain, from Anglo-French
amorteser, alteration of amortir, from Vulgar Latin *admortire to kill
Synonyms - liquidate, pay off
Antonyms - get a loan

  • Antipathy (Cardonick)

Definition -1. A natural, basic or habitual repugnance; an aversion.
2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling.
3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.

Etymology - anti- is a prefix meaning against, or opposite of something. For example, antifreeze is important in winter time to lower the freezing temperature in the engine.
-pathy is a combining form used in Greek loanwords meaning suffering or feeling
Synonyms - disgust, abhorrence, detestation, hatred
Antonyms - attraction

  • Pariah (Zach Byrd)

Definition - 1. an outcast.
2. any person or animal that is generally despised or avoided.
3. (initial capital letter) a member of a low caste in southern India and Burma.

Etymology - Tamil paṟaiyar, pl. of paṟaiyan lit., drummer (from a hereditary duty of the caste), deriv. of paṟai a festival drum

Synonyms -outcast, undesirable, untouchable, scapegoat

Antonyms - desirable, accepted, wanted

  • Fortuitous - Justin Flammang

Definition – (1) occuring by chance (2) happaning or produced by chance
Etymology - Latin fortuitus; akin to Latin fort-, fors chance
Synonyms - lucky, fortunate, accidental
Antonyms - intended, causeless, uncaused

  • Nominal (Chad)

Definition - consisting of name only; referring to or obtaining to a name; far below the real value or cost

nom·i·nal [ nómmən'l ]

adjective
Definition:

1. so-called: acting or being something in name only, but not in reality

2. very low in cost: representing very little cost when compared with the actual value received
a nominal fee

3. bearing somebody's name: assigned to a named person, and bearing that person's name

4. of names: relating to or consisting of a name or names

5. grammar of noun: relating to a noun or a group of words that functions as a noun

6. accounting relating to current prices: considered in terms of the stated or original value only, and ignoring changes due to inflation and other factors

noun (plural nom·i·nals)
Definition:

grammar noun or noun group: a word or group of words that functions as a noun
Etymology - Latin- (nomin-"name")
Synonyms - minute, minimal, supposed
Antonyms - considerable

  • Pusillanimous (Janet Petersen)

Definition – lacking courage and resolution
Etymology - Latin ("pusillus" - very small + "animus" - spirit)
Synonyms - timid, cowardly
Antonyms - brave, courageous

  • Gregarious (Eric Delich)

Definition:- Tending to associate with others of one's kind
2. of a planet, growing in a cluster or colony
3.living in flocks or herds, as animals
Etymology - Latin gregarius of a flock or herd, from greg-, grex flock, herd
Synonyms - social, genial, outgoing, convivial, companionable, friendly, extroverted.
Antonym: cold, cool, inhospitable, introverted, reserved, unfriendly, unsociable

  • Meticulous (David Terry)

Definition - taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough: a meticulous craftsman; meticulous personal appearance.
Etymology - [Origin: 1525–35; < L metīculōsus full of fear, fearful, equiv. to metī- for metū- (s. of metus fear) + -culōsus, extracted from perīculōsus perilous]
Synonyms - exact, strict, scrupulous
Antonyms - careless

  • Penury *Colin*

noun
Definition: poverty: extreme poverty

Etymology - [15th century. < Latin penuria]

Synonyms - poverty, pennilessness, destitution, indigence, neediness, impecuniousness, impoverishment

Antonyms -luxury

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