Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 31) Word: amazon (n.)Synonym(s): powerful woman, large woman, virago Etymology: On an island in ancient Greece, female

archers would cut or burn off their right breasts -- Greek a ("without") + mazos ("breast"). Once a year they would mate with men from a neighboring tribe, but they would kill or send away any male offspring.

2) Word: iconoclast (n.)Synonym(s): revolutionary, rebel, radical, dissenterEtymology: In the 8th century Byzantine Empire, those

who opposed idol worship were called "iconoclasts." Greek - eikon ("idol") + klastes ("breaker").

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 33) Word: sardonic (adj.)Synonym(s): sneering, mocking, contemptuousEtymology: A poisonous plant in Sardonia caused

the people who ate it to die with a twisted grin on their faces - so that they appeared to have died laughing.

4) Word: supercilious (adj.)Synonym(s): scornful, contemptuous, arrogantEtymology: From the Latin words super ("over" or

"above") + cilium ("eyebrow" and "arrogance").

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 35) Word: nemesis (n.)Synonym(s): downfall, retribution, destruction,

avengerEtymology: The Greek goddess Nemesis (the

goddess of revenge) would pursue and punish those who had offended the gods.

6) Word: procrastinate (v.)Synonym(s): delay, postpone, deferEtymology: From the Latin words pro ("for") + cras

("tomorrow"). Thus, to procrastinate is to put something off until tomorrow.

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 37) Word: panacea (n.)Synonym(s): universal remedy, cure-all, nostrumEtymology: The Greek goddess of healing was Panakeia.

The Romans gave her name to a plant, the "panacea," which supposedly healed all diseases.

8) Word: capricious (adj.)Synonym(s): impulsive, flighty, whimsical, mercurialEtymology: From the Latin words capriccio ("shivering"),

capo ("head"), and riccio ("hedgehog"). When we shiver from fear, our hair stands up unpredictably like a hedgehog's.

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 3

9) Word: introvert (n.)Synonym(s): shy person, self-observer, introspectiveEtymology: From the Latin words intro ("within")

and vert ("turn"). Introverts turn inward for support.

10) Word: extrovert (n.)Synonym(s): socializer, outgoing person, gregariousEtymology: From the Latin words extra ("outside")

and vert ("turn"). Extroverts turn outward for support.

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 311) Word: aegis (n.)Synonym(s): guardianship, support, patronageEtymology: From the name of the goat-skin shield

carried by the Greek god, Zeus. He later gave this shield to his daughter, Athena, and when she shook it, her enemies would be overcome with panic.

12) Word: auspicious (adj.)Synonym(s): promising, encouraging, propitiousEtymology: From the Latin words avis ("bird") and

specio ("see"). Roman priests who read the future through bird signs were called auspices ("bird-watchers"). If all signs were good, then the occasion would be called "auspicious,” or "of good omen.”

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 3

13) Word: jaded (adj.) Synonym(s): worn-out, satiated, overindulgedEtymology: From the Norse word jalda ("mare"), a

term for a weary, worn, worthless-looking horse.14) Word: atone (v.)Synonym(s): make amends, expiate, make

reparationsEtymology: From the verb "atone" ("to be one with"

or "to be in agreement").

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 315) Word: lewd (adj.)Synonym(s): vulgar, smutty, lascivious, bawdyEtymology: From the Old English word laewede

meaning "lay" or "not of the church." Originally, it simply referred to illiterate people (mostly non-clergy). By the 14th century, the term had degenerated to its present meaning of "obscene" or "sexually indecent."

16) Word: succinct (adj.)Synonym(s): brief, concise, terse, curtEtymology: From the Latin words suc ("under") and

cinctura ("sash"). If a Roman soldier wanted to move about freely, he would tuck the bottom of his tunic under his sash.

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 317) Word: prevaricate (v.)Synonym(s): lie, misinform, equivocate, misrepresentEtymology: The Latin word varicus ("straddling"), which

came from varus ("bent"), was a term applied to a crooked-legged person who did not walk straight.

18) Word: aloof (adj.)Synonym(s): unresponsive, indifferent, uninvolvedEtymology: From the Dutch words a ("towards") and

loef ("windward"), a nautical term meaning to head a ship into the wind so as to keep away from the shore. Therefore aloof individuals steer away from others.

Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 319) Word: jovial (adj.)Synonym(s): merry, cheerful, jocularEtymology: From the name of the Roman god, Jove, the

king of the gods.20) Word: saturnine (adj.)Synonym(s): moody, sulky, morose, gloomyEtymology: From the name of the Roman god, Saturn,

who was overthrown by Jove. The sixth planet was named Saturn because, since it was so far from the sun, it was believed to be dark and gloomy.