Vocab List #2 - 12/1/15

Magnanimity:

• Context: We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them…
• My Guess: The greatness of a person
• Dictionary Definition: The virtue of being great of mind and heart. It encompasses, usually, a refusal to be petty, a willingness to face danger, and actions for noble purposes
• History: Derived from the Latin roots magna (great), and animus (mind) in term meaning literally greatly generous
• Other Example: George Washington had the magnanimity like no other, making him the obvious candidate for the first president of the United States of America

Consanguinity:

• Context: They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity
• My Guess: The unity in a specific system of government
• Dictionary Definition: Having the same ancestry or descent; related by blood.
• History: Derived from the Latin word consanguinitas meaning "blood relation"
• My Example: John Hart, the one who signed the Declaration of Independence, and are similar in consanguinity

Rectitude:

• Context: Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People…
• My Guess: Correctness of any action
• Dictionary Definition: morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness.
• Mnemonic Device: Rechts means "right" in German, so rectitude means the rightness of something
• My Example:  When Dan stopped to help pick up the girl's books, which he accidentally knocked out of her hands, he exemplified rectitude.

Usurpation:

• Context: We have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations…
• My Guess: Wrongful actions
• Dictionary Definition: Wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement, or seizure
• Connotation: Negative
• My Example: When John painted graffiti in the bathroom, it was considered usurpation.

Forbearance:

• Context: He was merciful as a conqueror, stern as a disciplinarian, enterprising and wary as a general; while his courage, loyalty and forbearance seem to have been almost unsullied.
• My Guess: Tolerance for something
• Dictionary Definition: The quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry
• Connotation: Positive
• Mnemonic Device: To bear with someone is to be patient with them, similar to forbearance

Loquacious:

• Context: Recognizing the fact she had the habit of being rather loquacious, Amy fought to hold her tongue during the meeting.
• My Guess: Talkative
• Dictionary Definition: Talkative or tending to talk freely
• My Example: Sandra was a loquacious young teenager, making it hard for her to keep a secret.
• Connotation: Negative in most cases, but can be positive.

Ubiquitous:

• Context: The first of these was an unimportant affair, probably nursed by the agents provocateurs of Fouche's ubiquitous police.
• My Guess: Having a great presence
• Dictionary Definition: Existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent
• History: The word ubiquitous is derived from the Latin root ubique meaning everywhere
• My Example: While driving up the mountain, the ominous fog was ubiquitous.

Aberration:

• Context: They described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration
• My Guess: Unusual chain of events
• Dictionary Definition: The act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course
• My Example: It was an aberration when Jimmy ordered a bacon cheeseburger, when he always would order the cheesesteak!
• Connotation: Negative

Deleterious:

• Context: The deleterious influence of high blood pressure has engaged the attention of physicians and pathologists
• My Guess: Having a negative impact
• Dictionary Definition: Causing harm or damage
• My Example: The deleterious impact of his parent's divorce was that he was always on the move from his dad's house to his mom's house, never staying at the same place for more than a couple of days.
• Mnemonic Device: When you delete something, you get rid of it

Surreptitious:

• Context: The actions of George W. Bush choking on a pretzel was surreptitious, knowing full well he would've been heckled if word got out.
• My Guess: Actions that are usually frowned upon in society
• Dictionary Definition: kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
• Connotation: Negative
• My Example: John was cheating on his girlfriend, yet he was quite surreptitious, knowing that he would be in a load of trouble if she found out.