Elliot Carruthers's Blog, page 13

Immoderate

Immoderate

Listen: Immoderate

<im-mod-er-rate>

excessive; extravagant; unreasonable;

having an usually large amount of a thing.

Yesterday the rain was immoderate. Today the sun is shinning.

Memory trick:
im reminds of impossible.
impossible to be moderate.

At work:
Our immoderate orders are a happy surprise. We will work hard to fill them.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Quasi

Quasi

< kwayz-eye >

Listen: Quasi

resembling; almost; mock;

to be like something but not exactly.

You are a quasi-teacher. You always have the correct answers.

Memory trick:
quasi reminds of "quack".
if it quacks like a duck... it's a duck.
if it's acts like something... it is that something.

At work:
She is a quasi computer genius. She never studied but she knows it all.


© 2016 E. Carruthers

Fortuitous

Fortuitous

<for-two-ah-tis>

Listen: Fortuitous

unforeseen; unexpected; chance.

something lucky happening at random.

It was fortuitous we met. I was lucky to meet you.

Memory trick:
fortuitous reminds of fortune.

At work:
The surge in sales was fortuitous because we did not expect them.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Neophyte

Neophyte

< Knee-Oh-Fight >

novice; newcomer; learner;

A beginner who makes mistakes.

I am not a neophyte. I’ve been playing for a long time. Don't cover your ears.

Memory trick:
Neo means new.

At work:
I was a neophyte programmer but now I am an expert because I took classes.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Acquisitive

Acquisitive

<ah-qwiz-zit-tiv>

predatory; greedy; materialistic;

being eager to get things, knowledge or money.

The acquisitive squirrel gathered nuts all day. It was happy all winter.

Memory trick:
acquisitive reminds of acquire.
acquire means to get something.

At work:
She is relentlessly acquisitive about accounting. She is the best accountant we have.


Be acquisitive about knowledge.

(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Carp

Carp

<karp>

nag; whine; gripe;

to constantly complain about little things.

The author did not like the carp of the critics but it made her a better writer.

Memory trick:
a carp is also a fish.
think of an annoying fish.

At work:
The widget now comes in all colors because of the carp from the clients. They did not like black and white.


Enough with the carp!


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Acolyte

Acolyte

<ack-koh-lyte>

groupie; assitant; helper;

someone who is a follower.

She was an acolyte of the mystery author. She read every book he wrote.

Memory trick:
acolyte reminds of collie.
a collie is a loyal dog.

At work:
The employee became an acolyte of the CEO. He tried to be like him.

In use:
I will be your acolyte.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

A neophyte became erudite.

A neophyte became erudite.

neophyte
<nee-oh-fite>

erudite
<err-roo-dyte>

A neophyte became erudite. = A beginner became educated.

neophyte = beginner

erudite = educated

I am a neophyte at computer programming. I have a lot to learn.

She studied for years and became erudite. She wrote books to share her knowledge.

I am not a neophyte. I am erudite.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Antagonism

Antagonism

<ant-tag-on-niz-ihm>

hatred; opposition; disagreement;

having open and obvious hostility.

A cat and dog will not have antagonism if they are raised together.

Memory trick:
antagonism reminds of anti.
anti means opposite.

At work:
A meeting will remove the antagonism between you two. I am sure you will become friends.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Malediction

Malediction

<mahl-lah-dik-shun>

curse; jinx; hex;

a magical words used to put a bad spell on someone.

He thinks words can put a malediction on his team and they will lose.

Memory trick:
malediction reminds of "mal" or bad.

At work:
She said a malediction when her computer would not start. She said kind words after it started.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers