session-22

Title

• how to tickle

• how to flatter

• ways of writing

• it's obvious

• war

• first and bad news

• Helping Words

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how to tickle

• titillate: tickle (can be used both literally and figuratively)

  eg: you can titillate by gentle touches in strategic places

• titillation (noun, verb): light sexual stimulation

how to flatter

• compliment: a pleasant and courteous experience of praise

• flattery: stronger than a compliment and often considered insincere

• adulation: flattery and worship carried to an excessive, ridiculous degree (fawn upon)

  • adulatory (adj)

ways of writing

• proscribe: to forbid (commonly used for medical, religious, or legal prohibitions)

  root:   pre    +   scribo, scriptus
        (before)       (to write)

In ancient Roman times, a man's name was written on a public bulletin board if he had committed some crime for which his property or life was to be forfeited; Roman citizens in good standing would thereby know to avoid him

Scribo, scriptus is the building block of scores of common English words:

• scribe: a person who copies out document by hand

• scribble

• prescribe

• describe: [prefix: de- (down)] - to write down

• subscribe: to write one's name under an order or contract

• script

• the scriptures: holy writings

• manuscript: [manus (hand)] - something handwritten (the word was coined before the invention of typewriter)

• typescript

• inscribe: to write in or into a book, metal or stone

• postscript: something written after the main part is finished

it's obvious

• via: by way of (from the latin word for road)

  The Via Appia was one of the famous highways of ancient Roman times

• obvious: etymologically it is right there in the middle of the road where no one can fail to see it - hence, easily seen, not hidden, conspicuous

  • and if you meet and obstacle in the road and dispose of it forthwith, you are doing what obviate says

    • obviation (noun)

    • trivial (from root via)

      • trivialities or trivia (also plural noun)

      • trifles

war

• militate derives from militis

  • if something militate against you; it fight against you.

  militis: one of the forms of the Latin noun meaning soldier or fighting man

  Note: Militate is always followed by the preposition "against" and, like obviate, never takes a personal subject

  eg: You don't militate against anyone, but some habit, action, tendency etc. militates against someone or something

• militant (adj): favouring confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause.

  eg: The army are in conflict with militant groups

  • A militant reformer is one who fights for reforms

  • A militant campaign is one waged aggressively and with determination

  • militancy (noun)

  • militant is also noun for the person

  • military

  • militia: a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.

first and bad news

• malign (verb, adj): to speak evil about, to defame, to slander

  root:   malus
        (bad, evil)

  • malignant (adj): evil in nature

    eg:

    1. a malignant glance (one showing deep hatred)

    2. a malignant growth (one that is cancerous (bad))

    • malignancy (noun)

      • (medically) a cancerous growth

      • (generally) the condition, state, or attitude of harmfulness, hatefulness, evil intent, etc

  • the noun form of adjective malign is malignity

• malediction: a curse, an evil saying.

  root:   dico, dictus    +    malus
        (to say or tell)     (bad, evil)

  • maledictory (adj)

• malevolent (adj): whishing evil or harm

  root:           volo                              malus
        (to wish, to will , or to be willing)  +  (bad, evil)

  • malevolence (noun)

• maleficent: doing harm or evil, or causing hurt

  root:  facio, factus  +   malus
        (to do or make)   (bad, evil)

  • maleficence (noun)^*^

• malefactor: a wrongdoer, an evildoer, a criminal

• malefaction: a crime, an evil deed

• maladroit: clumsy, bungling, awkward, unskillful, etymologically, having a "bad right hand"

  • maladroitness (noun)

• malaise: an indefinite feeling of bodily discomfort, as in a mild illness, or as a symptom preceding an illness. In short, bad ease, lack of ease

• malicious:

• malice: the desire to harm someone; ill will. eg: I bear no malice towards anybody

• malady: a disease or ailment

• maladjusted: failing to cope with the demands or a normal social environment

• malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious

• malpractice

• malnutrition

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Helping Words

• risque: slightly indecent and liable to shock, especially by being sexually suggestive

• wuss (n, v): a weak or ineffectual person (often used as a general term of abuse)

• wimp: a weak and cowardly or unadventurous person (⚠️ DEROGATORY•INFORMAL)

• clumsy (adj): awkward on movement or in handling things

  • done awkwardly or without skill

  • difficult to handle or use; unwieldy

  • lacking social skill; tactless

• bungling (n, v): carrying out task clumsily

• trifles (n, v)

  1. a thing of little value or importance

  2. a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream

• trivia (n): details, consideration, or pieces of information of little importance or value

• confine

  • (n): the border or boundaries of a place

  • (V): keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, or time)

• frenzied (adj): wildly excited or uncontrolled. eg: a frenzied attack

• cram(ming):

  • completely fill (a place or container) to the point of overflowing

  • study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination

• conspicuous: clearly visible; attracting notice or attention

  eg:

  1. He was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple

  2. he showed conspicuous bravery

• forthwith (adj): immediately; without delay (especially in official use)

  eg: we undertake to pay forthwith the money required

• parishioner (n): one who is regular churchgoer

• fawn upon (ph. verb): to flatter and fuss over one to an excessive degree

• palate (n):

  • the roof of the mouth

  • a person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavors

• fancies: feel a desire or liking for

• stimulation: encouragement or something to make it develop or become more active