Building a Better Vocabulary

(nextflipdebug5) #1

Lecture 7: Wicked Words


Malinger (verb)

To fake or exaggerate illness, usually to avoid work.

Venal (adjective)

Open to corruption; capable of being bought through bribery.

z Venal is derived from the Latin venum, meaning “something for
sale.” Related English words include vendor and vending, either of
which can be used as a key word for venal. Just as these words
relate to selling, venal describes describe corrupt people who are
ZLOOLQJWRVHOOWKHLULQÀXHQFHIRUPRQH\

z Venal is often confused with venial, which means “forgivable,
pardonable, minor,” as in a “venial sin” as opposed to a mortal sin.

Insidious (adjective)

Intended to entrap, ensnare, or beguile; stealthily treacherous or deceitful.

z Here again, etymology helps with remembering the word insidious.
This word is derived from the Latin insidere, meaning “to sit in or
on.” Thus, insidious is used to describe a type of evil that works on
the inside—an inside job that is secret, stealthy, and harmful.

z 3XOOLQJRXWWKH¿UVW¿YHOHWWHUVRIinsidious yields insid, which looks
almost like inside and serves as a built-in mnemonic for recalling
this word.

Invidious (adjective)

Creating ill will, envy; causing resentment; unfairly or offensively discriminating.

z Just as we did with insidious, we can use the spelling-meaning
connection to help remember invidious. This word comes from
the Latin invidia, meaning “envy.” When you see invidious, focus
Free download pdf