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