APLIT Vocab quiz

dichotomy

dichotomy

(noun) a division between two different things/ideas that people see as being opposed; originated from Ancient Greek` dikho

liminality

(noun) a division between two different things/ideas that people see as being opposed; originated from Ancient Greek` limen

metonymy

(noun) a figurative device where a single associated element of something is used to stand for the larger concept; originated from Greek, metonomia

synecdoche

(noun) a figurative device where a part of a thing is used to represent the whole thing; a more specific version of metonymy; originated from Greek, synedkhoe

fathom

(noun) a unit of depth equal to aboux six feet; (verb) to measure the depth of water; (verb) to understand a difficult problem after thinking it through; originated from Old English, fathem

delve

(verb) to dig into the ground or to reach into a container in order to pull somethign out; (verb) to do extensive research on a subject; originated from Old English, from delfan

ikigai

(noun) a person’s reason for being, the convergence of a person’s passions, beliefs, values, and work; from Japanese, iki means life and gai means work values

raison d’etre

(noun) the most important reason of purpose for something or someone’s existence; from French

crone

(noun) an old woman who is thin and ugly; from Middle Dutch, is related to carass and carrion

spinster

(degoratory) an unmarried woman, typically older an dbeyond the usual age for marriage, from English, the one that spins

demur

(verb) to object something. especially because you are morally opposed to it; gets the word from French → Latin, from demorari meaning to delay or linger

demure

(adjective) describing a person as shy, decribing someone’s clothing as modest; comes from demur in French but took a different take on the meaning

tableau

(noun) a graphic representation of description, depiction of a scene presented on stage by a silent and motionless actors

jovial

describing a good mood/behavior as cheerful or friendly; comes from the Medieval Latin word for the Roman god Jove, being born under the sign of Jupiter will make you happy

saturnine

describing a mood that is sluggish or gloomy, can describe someone as mysterious; comes from the Medieval Latin word for Saturn, if youre born under the sign of Saturn, youre more likely to be sad