Unit 4

Affinity (n.)

Affinity (n.)

• A natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity

• A relationship, connection

Billious (adj.)

• Peevish or irritable

• Sickeningly unpleasant

Cognate (adj.)

Closely related in origin, essential nature, or function

Cognate (n.)

Such a person or thing

Corollary (n.)

• A proposition that follows from one already proven

• A natural consequence or result

Corollary (adj.)

Resultant or consequent

Cul-de-sac (n.)

• A blind alley or dead-end street

• Any situation in which further progress is impossible

• An impasse

Derring-do (n.)

• Valor or heroism

• Daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)

Divination (n.)

The art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge

Elixir (n.)

• A potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely

• A panacea

• A sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines

Folderol (n.)

• Foolish talk, ideas, or procedures

• Nonsense

• A trifle

Gamut (n.)

An entire range or series

Hoi Polloi (n.)

The common people, the masses

Ineffable (adj.)

• Not expressible in words

• Too great or too sacred to be uttered

Lucubration (n.)

• Laborious study or thought, especially at night

• The result of such work

Mnemonic (adj.)

Relating to or designed to assist the memory

Mnemonic (n.)

A device to aid the memory

Obloquy (n.)

• Public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure

• The disgrace resulting from such treatment

Parameter (n.)

• A determining or characteristic element

• A factor that shapes the total outcome

• A limit, boundary

Pundit (n.)

• A learned person

• One who gives authoritative opinions

Risible (adj.)

• Pertaining to laughter

• Able or inclined to laugh

• Laughable

Symptomatic (adj.)

• Typical or characteristic

• Being or concerned with a symptom of a disease

Volte-face (n.)

• An about-face

• A complete reversal