Building a Better Vocabulary

Lecture 25: Words for Killing and Cutting

metaphorical. Words derived from ¿Q include ¿QDO, ¿QDOH, ¿QLVK,

¿QLWH, LQ¿QLWH, and GH¿QH.

Fin de siècle (noun phrase)

End of the century.

z The phrase ¿QGHVLqFOH can be applied to the end of any century, but

it is more commonly used to describe the end of the 19th century,

particularly its culture of sophisticated despair and ennui. Here’s an

example in which the word applies to that period: “Fin de siècle

Vienna became a major hub for artists of the Secession movement.”

z Though we often use the French phrase, English has its own idiom,

as well—turn of the century—though this phrase is far more generic.

1. 7KH¿UHDQGEULPVWRQHSUHDFKHUWKXQGHUHGWKDWKLVFRQJUHJDWLRQZDVRQ
   the road to __ if the members weren’t able to __ sin
   from their lives.


2. Differentiate among regicide, patricide, and parricide.


3. The house on the corner had fallen into __, leading
   neighborhood children to believe that it was haunted.


4. This word is used to refer to a break in a line of music or poetry.


5. The __ culture of Paris has been widely romanticized.


6. By failing to deal with the issue of immigration, some believe that
   Congress has __ its responsibility.


7. Today, this research practice is condemned by many as unnecessarily
   cruel.

Review Questions