Vocabulary for Achievement fourth course lessons 1 and 2

Acronym

A word formed from the first letter of each word in a series

Affix

A. A prefix or suffix

B. To attach a part to the beginning or end of a word

C. To attach something

Coinage

A. The invention of new words

B. An invented word or phrase

C. The making of metal coins; metal currency

Colloquial

Typical or informal language usage;conversational

Diminutive

A. A suffix that indicates small size, youth, familiarity, affection, or contempt

B. A nickname indicating affection or familiarity

C. Extremely small;tiny

Metonymy

A figure of speech that substitutes a word with a different but closely associated word

Oxymoron

An expression that contains contradictory terms

Palindrome

A word or an expression that is spelled the same backward and forward

Portmanteau word

A word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two different words

Spoonerism

An often comical switching of the first sounds of two or more words

Apprehensive

Anxious or fearful about the future;uneasy

Categorical

A. Without exception or qualification; absolute

B. Done according to types; arranged by category

Conclusive

Decisive; putting an end to doubt, question, or uncertainty

Dubious

Doubtful; uncertain; questionable as to quality or validity

Indeterminate

A. Not capable of being determined or established; not precisely known

B. Lacking clarity

Precarious

A. Dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability

B. Based on uncertain or questionable premises

Qualm

A sense of doubt or uneasiness about a course of action

Tentative

Uncertain; not fully worked out or agreed upon; provisional

Unequivocal

Perfectly clear; leaving no room for doubt or misunderstandings.

Vacillate

A. To swing indecisively from one opinion or action to another

B. To sway or hesitate in choice of actions or opinions