Post (as a comment to this post) your favorite (or most interesting) vocabulary word that you have come across so far this semester. Please provide the definition, and example of its use in a sentence and its etymology.
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gloom(noun)
1. total or partial darkness; dimness.
2. a state of melancholy or depression; low spirits.
3. a despondent or depressed look or expression.
Etymology
c.1300 as a verb, "to look sullen or displeased," perhaps from Scand. (cf. Norw. dial. glome "to stare somberly"); the noun is 1596 in Scottish, "sullen look," from the verb. Sense of "darkness, obscurity" is first recorded 1629 in Milton's poetry; that of "melancholy" is 1744 (gloomy in this sense is attested from 1590). Gloomy Gus used in a general sense of "sullen person" since 1940s, from a comic strip character of that name first recorded 1904.
Sometimes,gloom weakens my mental power to solve difficulties and problems in my life.
SuFeng Hsu
Solemn- Adjective
1. very serious in behavir or style
2. a promise that is made very seriously and with no intention of breaking it
3. proformed in a very seiours way
Etymology
1300-1400 Old French solemne, from Latin solemnis ceremonial, formal, solemn
She has this solemn expression ever since her husband died.
Forum (Noun)
Definition:
1. Place to express yourself: a medium in which the public may debate an issue or express opinions
2. Meeting for discussion: a meeting to discuss matters of general interest
3. Internet discussion group: an Internet discussion group for participants with common interests
4. Law court: a law court or tribunal
5. Public square in Roman cities: in ancient Rome, a public square or marketplace in a city where business was conducted and the law courts were situated
Examples:
- This radio talk show is a forum for political discussions.
- Forums differ from chat rooms and instant messaging in that forum participants do not have to be online simultaneously to receive or send messages.
Etymology:
Origin of “Forum”:
1460, “place of assembly in ancient Rome,” from L. forum “marketplace” apparently akin to foris, foras “out of doors, outside. “Sense of “assembly, place for public discussion” first recorded 1690.
[15th century. < Latin, "enclosed space around a house, marketplace" < foris "out of doors"]
APTITUDE
ap·ti·tude [ ápti td ] (plural ap·ti·tudes)
noun
DEFINITION:
1. potential to acquire skill: a natural tendency to do something well, especially one that can be further developed.
2. quickness in learning: quickness and ease in learning.
ETYMOLOGY:
apt + -itude
apt: [14th century. Directly or via Old French< Latin aptus, past participle of apere "fit, fasten, join"]
-tude: From Latin -itudo (signifying a noun of state)
USAGE:
(1) demonstrate: He has demonstrated a great aptitude for carpentry skills.
(2) possess: It proves that owners can exercise absolute power irrespective of whether they possess the aptitude to run a company more successfully than its board.
(3) show: He had shown a remarkable aptitude for computer crime.
(4) assess: This number includes at least 10 places allocated on the basis of assessed aptitude for Technology.
Neglect
[ni-glekt]
Verb.
Definition:
1. To pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight.
2. To be remiss in the care or treatment of: to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.
3. To omit, through indifference or carelessness: to neglect to reply to an invitation.
4. To fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.): to neglect the household chores.
5. To fail to take or use: to neglect no precaution.
None.
Definition:
1. An act or instance of neglecting; disregard.
2. The fact or state of being neglected: a beauty marred by neglect.
Etymology: 1529, from L. neglectus, pp. of neglegere "to make light of, disregard," lit. "not to pick up," variant of neclegere, from Old L. nec "not" (see deny) + legere "pick up, select" (see lecture). The noun is first attested 1588.
Example of usage:
1. The public neglected his genius for many years.
2. The neglect of the property was shameful.
Human;(adjective)
1.of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature of people: human frailty.
2.consisting of people: the human race.
3.of or pertaining to the social aspect of people: human affairs.
4.sympathetic; humane: a warmly human understanding.
5.a human being.
Etymology
c.1250, from M.Fr. humain "of or belonging to man," from L. humanus, probably related to homo (gen. hominis) "man," and to humus "earth," on notion of "earthly beings," as opposed to the gods (cf. Heb. adam "man," from adamah "ground"). Cognate with O.Lith. zmuo (acc. zmuni) "man, male person." Displaced its O.E. cognate guma (from P.Gmc. *guman-) which survives only in disguise in bridegroom. First record of humankind is from 1645. Humanoid (1918) is a hybrid of L. humanus and Gk. -oeides "like," from eidos "form, shape" (see -oid).
Sentence;
Humans are not as different from animals as we might think.
Glean
Etymology: glen
1. to collect little by little.
Nor was Wen able to glean any information about what had happened to the peoples liberation army in this area of tibet.
flux /flʌks/
DEFINITION:
noun
1. a flowing or flow.
2. the flowing in of the tide.
3. continuous change, passage, or movement
4. Physics.
a. the rate of flow of fluid, particles, or energy.
b. a quantity expressing the strength of a field of force in a given area.
5. Chemistry, Metallurgy.
a. a substance used to refine metals by combining with impurities to form a molten mixture that can be readily removed.
b. a substance used to remove oxides from and prevent further oxidation of fused metal, as in soldering or hot-dip coating.
c. (in the refining of scrap or other metal) a salt or mixture of salts that combines with nonmetallic impurities, causing them to float or coagulate.
6. fusion.
verb (used with object)
7. to melt; make fluid.
8. to fuse by the use of flux.
9. Obsolete. to purge.
verb (used without object)
10. to flow.
ETYMOLOGY:
1377, from O.Fr. flux, from L. fluxus, pp. of fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Originally "excessive flow" (of blood or excrement); an early name for "dysentery;" sense of "continuous succession of changes" is first recorded 1625.
USAGE:
1. His political views are in a state of flux.
2. The schedule is in flux at the moment.
3. It is important to use flux when soldering or oxides on the metal will prevent a good bond.
4. That high a neutron flux would be lethal in seconds.
lu·mi·nar·y : (noun)
1.a celestial body, as the sun or moon.
2.a body, object, etc., that gives light.
3.of, pertaining to, or characterized by light.
Etymology:
c.1450, "source of (artificial) light," from M.Fr. luminarie "lamp, light," from L.L. luminare "light, torch, lamp, heavenly body," lit. "that which gives light," from L. lumen (gen. luminis) "light." Sense of "notable person" is first recorded 1692. Luminescence is from 1896. Luminosity in astronomy sense of "intrinsic brightness of a heavenly body" (as distinguished from apparent magnitude, which diminishes with distance), is attested from 1906.
Sentence: The luminary in the bathroom stopped working.
relentless (adj.)
1. Unyielding in severity or strictness; unrelenting
2. Steady and persistent; unremitting
etymology
"to melt, soften, dissolve," from re-, intensive prefix + L. lentus "slow, viscous, supple". Sense of "become less harsh or cruel" first recorded 1526. The notion is probably of a hard heart melting with pity. Relentless is from 1592.
Example:
You have to be as relentless as your rivals if you want to get to the top.
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