the vocab weekly_issue 16

7/29/2019 The Vocab Weekly_issue 16

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The Vocab Weekly

1 www.wordpandit.com September 22-September 28 | issue 16

BEGET

BEGET

Beget is simply to produce children. And as an extension of the same meaning, it means to cause or

produce any effect. After all, children are the final effect of a certain human activity. Our word poster

above is based on the same concept.

The dictionary definitions for begetare as follows:

1. To make children (in other words procreate).

2. To cause; produce as an effect. (noun)

Masters Tip to remember Beget:

Just remember the age old saying: Violence Begets Violence

Another popular belief is: Power begets power

Usage Examples for Beget:

1. All though hard work produces positive outcomes in the long terms, it does not always beget

success in the short term.2. Hollow people only begethollow promises.
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The Vocab Weekly


COUCH POTATO

Couch Potato

We have almost all been guilty of doing this, havent we?We have spent numerous hours in front of the television, at times lapping in illogical TV entertainment

just to kill time. In a way, the idiot box has made an idiot out of us. And a couch potato too, hasnt it?

The dictionary definitions for couch potato are as follows:

1. An idler who spends much time on a couch (usually watching television). (noun)

Masters Tip to remember couch potato:

Potatoes lined up on a couch, lapping up the television is the image that comes to ones mind when onethinks about this word.

Usage Examples for couch potato:

1. Times have becomes such that children these days are addicted to television and have become couch

potatoes.

2. Being a couch potato can only induce lethargy in an individual.
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The Vocab Weekly


EFFACE

Efface

A simple word with a simple explanation: Efface means to wipe out or erase. Either you can erase anotebook of pencil marks or you can erase ones memory of the events of the past. The choice is

essentially yours.

The dictionary definitions for efface are as follows:1. To rub or wipe out; erase.

2. To make indistinct as if by rubbing.

3. To conduct (oneself) inconspicuously.

Masters Tip to remember Efface:

The image of an eraser should suffice:

Quote Examples for Efface:Memory is the greatest of artists, and effaces from your mind what is unnecessary.

Work alone will efface the footsteps of work.
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The Vocab Weekly


MAXIM

MaximMaxim, proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia--all mean the same thing: they represent a short, easily

remembered expression of a basic principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. They are essentially nuggets ofwisdom served to you in a short and sweet manner. A few examples of maxims:

The bigger the better"

"Good things come in small packages."

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander.""One man's meat is another man's poison."

"Birds of a feather flock together."

"Opposites attract."

"Actions speak louder than words."

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

"You're never too old to learn."

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks.""All good things come to those who wait."

"Time and tide wait for no man.""Many hands make light work."

"Too many cooks spoil the broth."

Dictionary definition for maxim:

1. An expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one. (noun)

2. A principle or rule of conduct. (noun)

Maxim in Context:In the given context, the maxim, Judge not, lest ye be judged, means one is in a position to condemn a sinner if

they are without sin themselves
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The Vocab Weekly


PLEBISCITE

Plebiscite

Origin of the word Plebiscite:

This is word that comes to English through an interesting etymological tree. The word plebiscite

comes from the Latin plebiscita, which originally meant a decree of the Concilium Plebis, the popular

assembly of the Roman Republic. This word in turn came from the Latin word pleb+, meaning common

people (as opposed to the Patricians, who are refined, rich and mannered). When the same rootcame to used for plebiscite, it came to mean a direct vote where people decide whether they wish to

say yes to a proposal or not. It can also mean that people vote whether they wish to be independent of

some foreign rule or not.

Two words derived from the same source are:Pleb (s), plebs (pl) (noun forms) : Primarily a British term for an ordinary person who has low social

status: "They think they are too important to waste time on plebs like us."

Plebeian: Typical of someone from a low social class, rather than of someone who is from a highersocial class or well educated.The dictionary definitions for PLEBISCITEare as follows:

1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new

constitution was ratified in a plebiscite. (noun)2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination. (noun)

Usage Examples for PLEBISCITE:

1. The changes in new constitution were rejected in a plebiscite.

2. Facing pressure for change both at home and abroad, Mr. Pinochet called a plebiscite on continuing

his rule in 1988, which he lost. -The Wall Street Journal: Obama Praises Chilean Democracy
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The Vocab Weekly


SEVER

Sever

Severin simple terms is to cut free.

Sever is used to depict any situation where one needs to show something that is being cut off or

divided into parts. Like in the image above, severedties between family members are shown. And inthe image, aseveredchain is depicted.

The dictionary definitions forseverare as follows:

1. To separate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like. (verb)

2. To divide into parts, especially forcibly; cleave. (verb)

3. To break off or dissolve (ties, relations, etc.). (verb)4. Law: to divide into parts; disunite (an estate, titles of astatute, etc.). (verb)

5. To distinguish; discriminate between. (verb)

Masters Tip to remember Sever: Sever and Severe

These two words are almost the same. Almost: the only difference is of a single letter e. But their

meanings vary vastly. We have seen the meaning of the word severabove. Now lets us have a look atsevere. Severe is an adjective and means Intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree orquality.

So, if we go by usage, we would have something like this: Severed family ties can have severe

outcomes for the generations to come. (the wordseveredis the adjective form ofsevere.)
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The Vocab Weekly


SPUME

SPUME

Made out of bubbles

Spume, in very simple terms, is froth or foam formed on top of liquids or discharged by liquids. Open acan of coke and use will be see froth all around: that is to spume bubbles.

The dictionary definitions forSpume are as follows:

1. Foam/ froth on a liquid, as on the sea or a glass of soft drink. (noun)2. To eject or discharge as or like foam or froth, for example refineries and factories spume liquids into

the atmosphere. (verb)

Masters Tip to remember SPUME:

SPUME is SPEWED by choppy SEAS!

Usage Examples for SPUME:

1.Angerspumes in the weak spirited.

2. Most of thespume is the river was ejected by chemical dying factories.
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The Vocab Weekly


Work Out Zone

Work Out 1: Match the following words with their respective meanings or synonyms.

Word Meaning or Synonym

1 Beget A Layabout

2 Couch potato B Froth3 Efface C Generate

4 Plebiscite D Axiom

5 Sever E Vote

6 Spume F Obliterate

7 Maxim G Break up

Work Out 2: Did you really understand the word?

1. A maxim is a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits. yes no

2. Couch potatoes are lazy-daisies. yes no3. Begetis to give up children. yes no4. Efface means to inscribe a word. yes no

5. Plebiscite should never be held. yes no

6. Chemical factories produce spume. yes no

7. Severedrelations are hard to mend. yes no
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The Vocab Weekly


Answers: Work Out Zone

Work Out 1

1-C, 2-A, 3-F, 4-E, 5-G, 6-B, 7-D

Work Out 2

1-yes, 2- yes, 3-no, 4-no, 5-no, 6-yes, 7-yes
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the vocab weekly_issue 16

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