Vocabulary from Classical Roots: Lessons 9 and 10

Comprehensive vocabulary terms, Latin roots, and Latin mottos from Lessons 9 and 10 on the theme of 'The Head'.

Frons est animi janua

"The face is the door of the soul"—a Latin motto attributed to Quintus Cicero.

affront

An open, intentional insult or offensive act; to offend openly or meet face-to-face defiantly.

capitalist

A person of wealth who invests money in enterprise and trade, drawing prosperity from investments and progenitors.

capitulation

The act of surrendering, giving up resistance, or yielding (such as Napoleon's capitulation at Waterloo).

cerebral

Pertaining to the brain or intellect; characterized by thought and reason rather than emotion.

cerebration

The action of thinking; concentrated thought or mental activity.

confront

To face or stand directly in front of; to encounter in hostility, opposition, or defiance.

decapitate

To behead; to cut off the head of a person or tyrant.

deface

To mar, disfigure, or damage the surface, appearance, or features of something.

efface

To erase, obliterate, wipe out, or make oneself inconspicuous.

effrontery

Flippant or insulting boldness; audacity (derived from Latin e=ex meaning "from" or "out of").

facade

The front face of a building, or an outward, often deceptive appearance masking inner feelings.

facet

A single cut surface of a gem, a visible aspect or phase of a subject, or an individual lens unit of a compound eye.

precipice

A sheer, steep cliff or overhanging rock face presenting significant danger to climbers.

precipitate

Acting with excessive haste or rashness; headstrong; or to cause an abrupt or premature occurrence.

recapitulation

A concise summary or restatement of main points, or a repeated occurrence of past events or musical melody.

Orator fit, poeta nascitur

"An orator is made; a poet is born"—a classical Latin motto.

supercilious

Disdainful; haughty and aloof (derived from Latin super meaning "above" and cilium meaning "eyelid").

inexorable

Relentless; unyielding; incapable of being swayed or deflected (from Latin in meaning "not" and ex meaning "out, forth").

oracle

A shrine where the ancient Greeks consulted a god for prophecy, or a person regarded as providing authoritative, inspired counsel.

oration

A formal public speech or address, especially one delivered on a ceremonial occasion.

osculate

To kiss.

indenture

A formal written contract or legal deed, such as an agreement binding an apprentice to a master or restoring land.

indentation

A notch, cut, deep recess, or inward margin spacing, such as a paragraph start or dictionary thumb-guides.

trident

A three-pronged spear or weapon, used for spearfishing or defense against sharks.

orthodontist

A dental specialist who corrects abnormally aligned, crooked teeth and faulty bites.

gorge

A deep, narrow valley with steep rocky sides; the throat; or to eat greedily and ravenously.

disgorge

To discharge violently, pour out rapidly, or expel contents from a throat, passage, or opening.

gargoyle

A grotesque carved figure of a human or animal, especially one serving as a rainspout carrying water clear of a wall.

regurgitate

To cause partially digested food to rush back or vomit; or to surge back (derived from Latin re meaning "back, again").

gargantuan

Gigantic; of immense, enormous size, capacity, or volume.

orifice

An opening, aperture, mouth, or vent (such as the mouth of a geyser, a well opening, or an anatomical passage).

SUPERCILIUM

Latin root meaning "eyebrow."

OS, ORIS

Latin root meaning "mouth."

ORO, ORARE, ORAVI, ORATUM

Latin root meaning "to speak."

dens

The Latin word meaning "tooth," sharing the same meaning as the Greek odon.