Word Roots and Definitions

cede

go, yield

pris

take, seize

plic

fold

eiron

a dissembler, one who fakes innocence

-ficium

to do or make

oblig

bind

Accede

Assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty.

Concede

Admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it; surrender or yield.

Precede

Come before (something) in time; come before in order or position.

Recede

Go or move back or further away from a previous position.

Secede

Withdraw formally from membership in a federal union, an alliance, or a political or religious organization.

Comprise

Consist of; be made up of.

Apprise

Inform or tell (someone).

Reprisal

An act of retaliation.

Reprise (verb)

To retake, as in an actor 'reprising' a role or playing it again.

Explicit

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

Implicit

Implied though not plainly expressed.

Implicate

Show (someone) to be involved in a crime or wrongdoing; convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly through what one says, rather than stating it explicitly.

Complicate

Make (something) more difficult or confusing by causing it to be more complex.

Duplicate

Exactly like something else, especially through having been copied.

Replicate

Make an exact copy of; reproduce.

Explicate

Analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail.

Complicit

Involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing.

Duplicitous

Deceitful, double-dealing.

Verbal Irony

When what is said is the opposite of what is meant.

Situational Irony

When there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating a double meaning in their actions or words.

Romantic irony

When the author or narrator self-consciously addresses the artificiality or fictionality of the work. This type of irony highlights the gap between the romantic ideal and the harsh reality, often undercutting the narrative's seriousness.

Cosmic irony

Also known as 'irony of fate,' the idea that the universe, fate, or gods are indifferent or even hostile to human beings. It suggests that human efforts are ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things and that the universe has its own plans, which can thwart human intentions in unexpected or cruel ways.

Officious

Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.

Beneficial

Resulting in good; favorable or advantageous.

Proficient

Competent or skilled in doing or using something.

Deficient

Not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient.

Sufficient

Adequate; enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

Efficient

Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.

Artificial

Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, typically as a copy of something natural.

Maleficent

Causing harm or destruction, especially by supernatural means.

Obligation

An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.

Obligatory

Required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory.

Oblige

Make (someone) legally or morally bound to an action or course of action.

Obliging

Willing to do a service or kindness; helpful.

Obligate

Bind or compel (someone), especially legally or morally.