Vocabulary List 7

I.      Talkers
A. verbose (adj) (opposite of laconic) – verbose people smother ideas with words
   1. verbatim (adv) – word for word
   2. verbiage (noun) – excess words OR a selected vocabulary (military verbiage)
B. voluble (adj) – rapid, fluent, articulate
   1. revolve (verb) – again and again
   2. revolution (noun) – radical turn
   3. revolutionary (adj) – brings a radical change
   4. involve (verb) – roll in
   5. involvement (noun)
   6. evolve (verb) – roll out, unfold
C. garrulous (adj) – constant, aimless, meaningless
D. loquacious (adj) – likes to talk
   1. eloquent (adj) – forceful, fluent
   2. magniloquent or grandiloquent (adj) – trying to impress by using more words than a simple idea needs
   3. magniloquence or grandiloquence (noun)

II.    Little or no talkers
A. tacit (adj) – silent
B. reticent (adj) – one who doesn’t like talking but does what she/he must
C. laconic (adj) (opposite of verbose) – if this person says something, it’s worth hearing.
   1. laconicness
   2. laconicity                                (ness, ity, ism) transform adjectives to nouns
   3. laconism

III. cogent (adj) – driving, forceful
cogency (adj) – a keen mind

If you let your mind play over some of the taciturn people you know, you will realize that their abnormal disinclination to conversation makes them seem morose, sullen and unfriendly. Cal Coolidge’s taciturnity was world-famous, and no one, I am sure, ever conceived of him as cheerful, overfriendly, or particularly sociable. There are doubtless many possible causes of such verbal rejection of the world: perhaps lack of self-assurance, feelings of inadequacy or hostility, excessive seriousness or introspection, or just plain having nothing to say.

Taciturn is from a Latin verb taceo, to be silent, and is one of those words whose full meaning cannot be expressed by any other combination of syllables. It has many synonyms, among them silent, uncommunicative, reticent, reserved, secretive, close-lipped, and close-mouthed; but no other word indicates the permanent, habitual, and temperamental disinclination to talk implied by taciturn.

2. better left unsaid

Tacit derives also from taceo.

Here is a man dying of cancer. He suspects what his disease is, and everyone else, of course, knows. Yet he never mentions the dread word, and no one who visits him ever breathes a syllable of it in his hearing. It is tacitly understood by all concerned that the word will forever remain unspoken.

Anything tacit, then is unspoken, unsaid, not verbalized. We speak of a tacit agreement, arrangement, acceptance, rejection, assent, refusal, etc. A person is never called tacit.

The noun is tacitness. (Bear in mind that you can transform any adjective into a noun by adding –ness, though in many cases there may be a more sophisticated, or more common, noun form.)

Changing the a of the root taceo to i, and adding the prefix re-, again, and the adjective suffix –ent, we can construct the English word reticent.

Someone who is reticent prefers to keep silent, whether out of shyness, embarrassment, or fear of revealing what should not be revealed. (The idea of “againness” in the prefix has been lost in the current meaning of the word.)

We have frequently made nouns out of -ent adjectives. Write two possible noun forms of reticent: _______________, or, less commonly, ___________________.

3. talk, talk, talk!

Loquacious people love to talk. This adjective is not necessarily a put-down, but the implication, when you so characterize such people, is that you wish they would pause for breath once in a while so that you could get your licks in. The noun is loquacity, or, of course, loquaciousness.

The word derives from Latin loquor, to speak, a root found also in:

soliloquy—a speech to oneself (loquor plus solus, alone—etymologically a speech when alone)
We often talk to ourselves, but usually silently, the words going through our minds but not actually passing our lips. The term soliloquy is commonly applied to utterances made in a play by characters who are speaking their thoughts aloud so the audience won’t have to guess. The soliloquist may be alone; or members of the cast may be present onstage, but of course they don’t hear what’s being said, because they’re not supposed to know.

The verb is to soliloquize.

A ventriloquist is one who can throw his voice. A listener thinks the sound is coming from some source other than the person speaking. The combining root is Latin venter, ventis, belly; etymologically, ventriloquism is the art of “speaking from the belly.” The adjective is ventriloquistic. Write the verb: ____________________.
Colloquial combines loquor, to speak, with the prefix con-. (Con- is spelled col- before a root starting with l; cor- before a root starting with r; com- before a root starting with m, p, or b.) When people speak together they are engaging in conversation—and their language is usually more informal and less rigidly grammatical than what you might expect in writing or in public addresses. Colloquial patterns are perfectly correct—they are simply informal, and suitable to everyday conversation.
A colloquialism , therefore, is a conversation-style expression, like “He hasn’t got any” or “Who are you going with?” as contrasted to the formal or literary “He has none” or “With whom are you going?” Colloquial English is the English you and I talk on everyday occasions—it is not slangy, vulgar or illiterate.
A circumlocution is, etymologically, a “talking around” (circum-, around). Any way of expressing an idea that is roundabout of indirect is circumlocutory—you are now familiar with the common adjective suffix –ory.

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

Prefix, Root, Suffix Meaning English Word

1. taceo to be silent ________________

2. –ity noun suffix ________________

3. –ness noun suffix ________________

4. –ent adjective suffix ________________

5. –ence, -ency noun suffix ________________

6. re- again ________________

7. loquor to speak ________________

8. solus alone ________________

9. –ist one who ________________

10. –ize verb suffix ________________

11. venter, ventis belly ________________

12. –ic adjective suffix ________________

13. –ous adjective suffix ________________

14. con-, col-, com-, cor- with, together ________________

15. –al adjective suffix ________________

16. –ism noun suffix ________________

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

A Spartan virtue
   In ancient Sparta, originally known as Laconia, the citizens were long-suffering, hard-bitten, stoical, and military-minded, and were even more noted for their economy of speech than Vermonters, if possible. Legend has it that when Philip of Macedonia was storming the gates of Sparta (or Laconia), he sent a message to the besieged king saying, “If we capture your city we will burn it to the ground.” A one-word answer came back: “If.”
   It is from the name Laconia that we derive our word laconic—pithy, concise, economical in the use of words almost to the point of curtness; precisely the opposite of verbose.

   We have learned that –ness, -ity, and –ism are suffixes that transform adjectives into nouns—and all three can be used with laconic:
          …with characteristic laconicness
          …her usual laconicity
          …his habitual laconism
          …with, or him, unusual laconicism
   A laconism is also the expression itself that is pithy and concise, as the famous report from a naval commander in World War II: “Saw sub, sank same.”
brilliant

Cogent is a term of admiration. A cogent argument is well put, convincing, hardly short of brilliant. Cogency shows a keen mind, an ability to think clearly and logically. The word derives from the Latin verb cogo, to drive together, compel, force. A cogent argument compels acceptance because of its logic, its persuasiveness, its appeal to one’s sense of reason.
back to talk

You will recall that loquor, to speak, is the source of loquacity, soliloquy, ventriloquism, colloquialism, circumlocution. This root is also the base on which eloquent , magniloquent and grandiloquent are built.
   The eloquent person speaks out (e-, from ex-, out), is vividly expressive, fluent, forceful, or persuasive in language (“the prosecutor’s eloquent plea to the jury”). The word is partially synonymous with cogent, but cogent implies irresistible logical reasoning and intellectual keenness, while eloquent suggests artistic expression, strong emotional appeal, the skillful use of language to move and arouse a listener.
   Magniloquent (magnus, large) and grandiloquent (grandis, grand) are virtually identical in meaning. Magniloquence or grandiloquence is the use of high-flown, grandiose, even pompous language; of large and impressive words; of lofty, flowery, or over-elegant phraseology. Home is a place of residence; wife is helpmate, helpmeet, or better half; women are the fair sex; children are offspring or progeny; a doctor is a member of the medical fraternity; people are the species Homo sapiens, etc., etc.
   Loquacious, verbose, voluble, and garrulous people are all talkative, but each type, you will recall, has a special quality.
   If you are loquacious, you talk a lot because you like to talk and doubtless have a lot to say.
   If you are verbose, you smother ideas with excess words, with such an overabundance of words that your listener either drops into a state of helpless confusion or falls asleep.
   If you are voluble, you speak rapidly, fluently, glibly, without hesitation, stutter, or stammer; you are vocal, verbal and highly articulate.
   If you are garrulous, you talk constantly, and usually aimlessly and meaninglessly, about trifles. We often hear the word used in “a garrulous old man/woman,” since in very advanced age the mind may wander and lose the ability to discriminate between the important and the unimportant, between the interesting and the dull.
   Verbose is from Latin verbum, word – the verbose person is wordy.
   Voluble comes from Latin volvo, volutes, to roll – words effortlessly roll off the voluble speaker’s tongue.
   And garrulous derives from Latin garrio, to chatter—a garrulous talker chatters away like monkey.
   The suffix –ness can be added to all these adjectives to form nouns. Alternate noun forms end in –ity
                   verbosity
                   volubility
                   garrulity
at large

We discovered magnus, large, big, great, in Chapter 9, in discussing Magnavox (etymologically “big voice”), and find it again in magniloquent (etymologically “talking big”). The root occurs in a number of other words:

1. Magnanimous– big-hearted, generous, forgiving (etymologically “great-minded”). Magnus plus animus, mind.
2. Magnate– a person of great power or influence, a big wheel, as a business magnate
3. Magnify – to make larger, or make seem larger (magnus plus –fy from facio, to make).
4. Magnificent – magnus plus fic-, from facio
5. Magnitude – magnus plus the common noun suffix –tude, as in fortitude, multitude, gratitude, etc.
6. Magnum (as of champagne or wine) – a large bottle, generally two fifths of a gallon.
7. Magnum opus – etymologically a “big work”; actually, the greatest work, or masterpiece of an artist, writer or composer. Opus is the Latin word for work; the plural of opus is used in the English word opera, etymologically “a number of works,” actually a musical drama containing overture, singing, and other forms of music, i.e., any musical works. The verb form opero, to work, occurs in operate, co-operate, operator, etc.
words, words, words!

   Latin verbum is word. A verb is the important word in a sentence; verbatim is the word-for-word (a verbatim report).
   Verbal, ending in the adjective suffix –al, may refer either to a verb, or to words in general (a verbal fight); or it may mean, loosely, oral or spoken, rather than written (verbal agreement or contract); or, describing people, it may refer to a ready ability to put feelings or thoughts into words.
   Working from verbal, can you add a common verb suffix to form a word meaning to put into words? __________________________
   Verbiage has two meanings: an excess of words or a style or manner of using words (medical verbiage, military verbiage).
roll on, and on!

   Volvo, volutes, to roll, the source of voluble, is the root on which many important English words are based.
   Revolve—roll again (and again), or keep turning round. Wheels revolve, the earth revolves around the sun, the cylinder of a revolver revolves. (The prefix is re-, again.)
   The noun is revolution, which can be one such complete rolling, or, by logical extension, a radical change of any sort (TV was responsible for a revolution in the entertainment industry), especially political (the American, or French, Revolution). The adjective revolutionary introduces us to a new adjective suffix, -ary, as in contrary, disciplinary, stationary, imaginary, etc. (But –ary is sometimes also a noun suffix, as in dictionary, commentary, etc.)
   Add different prefixes to volvo to construct two more English words:
1. involve – etymologically “roll in” (“I didn’t want to get involved!”). Noun: involvement.
2. evolve– etymologically “roll out” (e-, out); hence to unfold, or gradually develop.
   By analogy with the forms derived from revolve, can you construct the noun and adjective of evolve? Noun: __________________ Adj: _______________

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

Prefix, Root, Suffix Meaning English Word

Laconia Sparta ________________
–ness noun suffix ________________
–ism noun suffix ________________
–ity noun suffix ________________
e- (ex-) out ________________
–ent adjective suffix ________________
–ence noun suffix ________________
magnus big ________________
grandis grand ________________
verbum word ________________
volvo, volutes to roll ________________
garrio to chatter ________________
animus mind ________________
–fy to make ________________
–tude noun suffix ________________
opus work ________________
opero to work ________________
–al adjective suffix ________________
–ize verb suffix ________________
re- again, back ________________
–ary adjective suffix ________________
in- in ________________

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1.      front and back – and uncles

   The ventriloquist appears to talk from the belly (venter, ventis plus loquor) rather than through the lips (or such was the strange perception of the person who first used the word).
   Venter, ventris, belly, I the root word on which ventral and ventricle are built.
   The ventral side of an animal, for example, is the front or anterior side—the belly side.
   The ventricle is a hollow organ or cavity, or, logically enough, belly, as one of the two chambers of the heart, or one of the four chambers of the brain. The ventricles of the heart are the lower chambers, and receive blood from the auricles, or he upper chambers. The auricle, so named because it is somewhat ear-shaped (Latin auris, ear), receives blood from the veins; the auricles send the blood into the ventricles, which in turn pump the blood into the arteries. (It’s all very complicated, but fortunately it works.)
   The adjective form of ventricle is ventricular, which may refer to a ventricle, or may mean having a belly-like bulge.
   Now that you see how ventricular is formed from ventricle, can you figure out the adjective of auricle? ____________________. How about the adjective of vehicle? _________________________. Of circle? ____________________
   No doubt you wrote auricular, vehicular, and circular, and have discovered that nouns ending in –cle from adjectives ending in –cular.
   So now you can be the first person on your block to figure out the adjective derived from:
      clavicle (collarbone) : _______________________
      cuticle (outermost layer of skin, in a thin film) : ________________________
      vesicle (membranous, fluid-filled pouch (as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in organisms :_________________
      testicle: ________________________
      uncle: _________________________

   The answers, of course, are clavicular, cuticular, vesicular, testicular – and for uncle you have every right to shout “No fair!”(But where in life is it written that life is fair?)
The Latin word for uncle (actually, uncle on the mother’s side) is avunculus, from which we get avuncular, referring to an uncle.
   Now what about an uncle? Well, traditional r stereotypical uncles are generally kindly, permissive, indulgent, protective—and often give helpful advice. So anyone who exhibits one or more of such traits to another (usually younger) person is avuncular or acts in an avuncular capacity.
   So, at long last, to get back to ventral. If there’s a front or belly side, anatomically, there must be a reverse – a back side. This is the dorsal side, from Latin dorsum, the root on which the verb endorse is built.

If you endorse a check, you sign it on the back side; if you endorse a plan, an idea, etc., you back it, you express your approval or support. The noun is endorsement.

2. the noise and the fury

Vociferous derives from Latin vox, vocis, voice, plus fero, to bear or carry. A vociferous rejoinder carries a lot of voice – i.e., it is vehement, loud, noisy, clamourous, shouting. The noun is vociferousness; the verb is to vociferate. Can you form the noun? ___________________

3. to sleep or not to sleep – that is the question

The root fero is found also in somniferous, carrying, bearing, or bringing sleep. So a somniferous lecture is so dull and boring that it is sleep-inducing.

   Fero is combined with somnus, sleep, in somniferous. (The suffix –ous indicates what part of speech? _____________.)
   Tack on the negative prefix in- to somnus to construct insomnia, the abnormal inability to fall asleep when sleep is required or desired. The unfortunate victim of this disability is an insomniac, the adjective is insomnious. (So –ous is an adjective suffix.)
   Add a different adjective suffix to somnus to derive somnolent, sleepy, drowsy. Can you construct the noun form of somnolent? _______________ or _______________.

Combine somnus with ambulo, to walk, and you have somnambulism, walking in one’s sleep. With your increasing skill in using etymology to form words, write the term for the person who is a sleepwalker. ________________. Now add to the word you wrote a two-letter adjective suffix we have learned, to form the adjective: __________________.

4.      a walkway

   An ambulatory patient, as in a hospital or convalescent home, is finally well enough to get out of bed and walk around. A perambulator, a word used more in England than in the United States, and often shortened to pram, is a baby carriage, a vehicle for walking an infant through the streets (per-, through). To perambulate is, etymologically, “to walk through”; hence, to stroll around. Can you write the noun form of this verb? ________________________
   To amble is to walk aimlessly; an ambulance is so called because originally it was composed of two stretcher-bearers who walked off the battlefield with a wounded soldier; and a preamble is, by etymology, something that “walks before” (pre-, before, beforehand), hence an introduction or introductory statement, as the preamble to the U. S. Constitution (“We the people…”), a preamble to a speech, etc.; or any event that is introductory or preliminary to another, as in “An increase in inflationary factors in the economy is often a preamble to a drop in the stock market.”

5. back to sleep

Somnus is one Latin word for sleep—sopor is another. A soporific lecture, speaker, style of delivery, etc. will put the audience to sleep (fic- from facio, to make), and a soporific is a sleeping pill.

6.      noun suffixes

   You know that –ness can be added to any adjective to construct the noun form. Write the noun derived from inarticulate: ___________________. Inarticulate is a combination of the negative prefix in- and Latin articulus, joint. The inarticulate person has trouble joining words together coherently. If you are quite articulate, on the other hand, you join your words together quite easily, you are verbal, vocal, possibly even voluble. The verb to articulate is to join (words), i.e., to express your vocal sounds—as in “Please articulate more clearly.” Can you write the noun derived from the verb articulate? ____________________
   Another, and very common, noun suffix attached to adjectives is, as you have discovered, -ity. So the noun form of banal is either banalness, or, more commonly, banality.
   Bear in mind, then, that –ness and –ity are common noun suffixes attached to adjectives, and –ion (or –ation) is a noun suffix frequently affixed to verbs (to articulate—articulation; to volcalize—vocalization; to perambulate—perambulation).

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

Prefix, Root, Suffix Meaning English Word

venter, ventris belly ___________________
loquor to speak ___________________
auris ear ___________________
avunculus uncle ___________________
dorsum back ___________________
vox, vocis voice ___________________
fero to carry, bear ___________________
somnus sleep ___________________
–ous adjective suffix ___________________
in- negative suffix ___________________
ambulo to walk ___________________
–ory adjective suffix ___________________
per- through ___________________
pre- before, beforehand ___________________
sopor sleep ___________________
fic- (facio) to do, make ___________________
–ness noun suffix ___________________
–ity noun suffix ___________________
–ion (-ation) noun suffix add to verbs ___________________
–ent adjective suffix ___________________
–ence, -ency noun suffix ___________________

Word List