celn
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2006-7-21 02:45 PM |
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cupidamor
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#22
not really
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2006-7-22 11:17 AM |
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cupidamor
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#23
JAC/JEC comes from jacere, the Latin verb meaning "throw" or "hurl." To reject something is to throw (or push) it back. To eject something is to throw (or drive) it out. To object is to throw something in the way of something else.
adjacent (1)Near, neighboring. (2) Sharing a comon boundary or border.
eg. The warehouse was adjacent to the junction of the two raging rivers, so the body could have been quickly disposed of.
Adjacent contains the prefix ad-, "near or toward", so what is adjacent lies near its neighbor. In the former Yugoslavia, the Serbs and Croats have seized adjacent land from the Bosnians. Anyone buying a house is naturally curious about who lives on the adjacent lots. In geometry we speak of adjacent sides and angles. Though in each of these cases adjacent "touching", it may also mean simply "neighboring" or "nearby."
conjecture To guess.
eg. They could conjecture that he had met his end in the Andes at the hands of the guerrillas.
Formed with the prefix con-, conjecture means literally "to throw together" - that is, to produce a theory by putting together a number of facts. From his calculations, Columbus conjectured that he would reach Asia if he sailed westward. His later conjecture of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific over the North American continent was eventually proved correct, but only after hundreds of years had passed.
dejected Downcast, depressed.
eg. Despite the glorious weather, they walked home from the hospital dejected.
Dejected, which includes the prefix de-, meaning "down", literally means "thrown down" or "cast down". It usually refers to a temporary state of mind - for example, the mood of a losing football team or a rejected lover - rather than onging depression.
trajectory The curved path that an object makes in space, or that a thrown object follows as it rises and falls to earth.
eg. Considering the likely range, trajectory, and accuracy of a bullet fired from a cheap handgun at 150 yards, the murder seemed incredible.
Formed with part of the prefix trans-, "across", trajectory means a "hurling across." By calculating the effect of gravitational and other forces, the trajectory of an object launched into space at a known speed can be computed precisely. Missiles stand a chance of hitting their target only if their trajectory has been plotted accurately. Though the word is most used in physics and engineering, we can also say, for example, that the trajectory of a whole life may be set in a person's youth, or that a historian has described the long trajectory of the French empire in a new book.
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2006-7-22 11:47 AM |
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cupidamor
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#24
TRACT comes from trahere, the Latin verb meaing "drag or draw." Something attractive draws us toward it. A tractor drags other vehicles behind it, with the help of the traction of its wheels.
detract To decrease the importance, value, or effectiveness of something.
eg. None of the gossip in the new biography detracts in the leasst from her greatness as a writer.
With the prefix de-, meaning "away", detract means "draw away from." A fact that doesn't match up with the rest of the prosecution's case detracts from it. Richard Nixon's involvement in the Watergate converup was felt to detract so seriously from his ability to carry out his presidential duties that he had to resign, especially after his detractors had impeached him. (Don't confuse detract with distract, which means "take attention away from.")
protracted Drawn out, continued, or extended.
eg. No one was looking froward to a protracted struggle for custody of the baby.
Protracted usually applies to something drawn out in time. A protracted strike may cripple a company; a protracted rainy spell may rot the roots of vegetables. Before Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin discovered vaccines to prevent polio, the many victims of the disease had no choice but to suffer a protracted illness and its permanent aftereffects.
retraction A taking back of withdrawal; a denial of what one has previously said.
eg. The following week, the newspaper reluctantly printed a retraction of the errors in the article, but the damage had been done.
The prefix re- ("back") gives retraction the meaning of "drawing back." Someone who has been wrongly accused may demand a retraction from his accuser - though today it seems more likely that he'll just go ahead and sue. Thousands of citizens were forced to publicly retract their "wrong" ideas by the Soviet government in the 1930s and the Chinese government in the 1960s. Retractions tend to be rather formal and rarely private.
intractable Not easily handled, led, taught, or controlled.
eg. The army's corruption was known to be the country's intractable problem, and all foreign aid ended up in the colonels' pockets.
intractable simply means "untreatable", and even comes from the same root. It may describe both people and conditions. An intractable alcoholic goes back to the bottle immediately after "drying out." A cancer patient may suffer intractable pain that doctors are unable to treat. Homelessness is now regarded by many as an intractable problem - though it existed twenty years ago.
[ Last edited by cupidamor on 2006-7-25 at 09:54 PM ]
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2006-7-23 04:14 PM |
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cupidamor
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#25
SEC/SEQU comes from he Latin verb sequi, meaning "to follow." A sequel the original novel, film, or television show. The second follows the first. But a non sequitur is a conclusion that does "not follow" from what was said before.
consequential (1) Resulting. (2) Important.
eg. None of our discussions thus far has been very consequential; next week's meeting will be the important one.
Something that is consequential follows or comes along with something else. The "resulting" meaning of consequential is usually seen in legal writing. For example, "consequential losses" are losses that are claimed to have resulted from some important behavior, about which the lawyer's client is suing. But normally consequential means "significant" or "important", and is especially used for events that will produce large consequences or results.
execute (1) To carry out or perform. (2) To put to death legally or formally.
Execute joins ex-, "out," and sec to produce the meaning "follow through" or "carry out". An artist executes (or produces) a painting or sculpture only after having planned it first. A policy or regulation must have been prepared before it can be executed (or put into practice). And a person may be executed (or put to death) by the state only after a death sentence has been issued.
obsequious Excessively submissive, obedient, or flattering.
eg. Since he loves flattery, he surrounds himself with obsequious people, none of whom he ever really trusts.
A man may be obsequious toward his overbearing wife, or vice versa. Obsequious assistants are often called "yes-men" or "toadies" or even less complimentary things behind their backs. (Uriah Heep, in David Copperfield, is probably the most famous example in literature.) obsequiousness has never been admired, but it has often been adopted as a good strategy.
sequential (1) Arranged in order or in a series. (2) Following in a series.
eg. In writing the history of the revolution, he found it hard to put some of the events in sequential order.
Things in sequence, or regular order, are arranged sequentially, Most novels and films move sequentially, but some use techniques such as flashbacks that interrupt the movement forward in time. Sequential courses in college must be taken in the proper order, just as sequential tasks or steps must be done in order.
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2006-7-31 08:58 PM |
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cupidamor
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#26
Words from Mythology
apollonian Harmonious, ordered, rational, calm.
eg. After years of Romantic emotionality, many artists began to adopt a more apollonian style, producing carefully detailed patterns and avoiding extremes of all kinds.
The god Apollo governed the sun, light, and music. Due partly to the work of Nietzsche and other German scholars, we now associate Apollo with the forces of calm rationality and may call anything that has these qualities apollonian. This is not the whole story, however. Apollo was also the god of prophecy, so he was not entirely a force of reason; he had a terrible temper and an appetite for young girls as well.
bacchanalian Frenzied, orgiastic.
eg. The bacchanalian partying on graduation night resulted in three wrecked cars, two lawsuits by unassumed parents, and more new experiences than most of the participants could remember the next day.
The Roman god of drama, wine and ecstasy, Bacchus was the focus of a widespread celebration, the Bacchanalia, at which there was wine in abundance and celebrants were expected to cut loose from normal restraints and give in to all sorts of wild desires. The festivities got so out of hand that in 186 B.C. the Roman authorities had them banned. Much the same baccanalian spirit fills New Orlean's Mardi Gras carnival each year.
delphic Unclear, ambiguous, or confusing.
eg. All she could get from the old woman were a few delphic comments that left her more confused than ever about the missing documents.
Delphi in Greece was the site of a temple to Apollo at which there was an oracle, a woman through whom Apollo would speak, foretelling the future. The Greeks consulted the oracle frequently on matters both private and public. The prophecies were given in obscure poetry that had to be interpreted by priests, and even then was subject to disatrous misinterpretation. Modern-day descendants of the oracle include some political commentators, who continue to utter words of delphic complexity each week.
Dionysian Frenzied, orgiastic.
eg. Only in the tropics did such festivals become truly Dionysian, he said, which was why he was booking his flight to Rio.
Dionysus was the Greek forerunner of Bacchus. He was the inventor of wine, the first intoxicant, which he gave to the human race. For that gift and for all the uninhibited behavior that it led to, Dionysus became immensely popular, and he appears in a great many myths. He is often shown with a wine goblet, his hair is full of vine leaves, and he is frequently attended by a band of goatfooted satyrs and wild female spirits called maenads. The Greek Dionysian worship began as solemn rituals but eventually became great celebrations with much drunken lewdness.
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2006-8-2 09:11 PM |
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cupidamor
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#27
jovial Jolly, expansively good-natured.
eg. Their grandfather was as jovial as their grandfather was quiet and withdrawn.
Jove, or Jupiter, was the Roman's chief god. He was generally a cheerful, sociable, fatherly figure, although his anger could destroy offenders in a flash. Every department-store Santa Claus strives to attain this appearance of generous joviality.
mercurial Having rapid and unpredictable changes of mood.
eg. His mother's always mercurial temper became even more unpredictable, to the point where the slightest thing would trigger a violent fit.
The god Mercury and the planet named for him were thought to govern eloquence and cleverness. As the god's messenger, with his winged cap and sandals, he was the very symbol of speed. The planet Mercury was named for him because it is the fastest of the planets. His name was also given to the liquid silver metal that skitters out of one's hand so quickly it is almost impossible to hold. A mercurial person isn't necessarily physically quick, but changes moods with bewildering speed.
olympian Lofty, superior, and detached.
eg. The mafia don's manner grew increasingly olympian as he aged, but the old-timers could still remember when he was a hotheaded young thug.
The Greek gods lived high atop Mount Olympus, which allowed them to watch what went on in the human realm below and intervene as they saw fit. But they tended not to worry much about the affairs of these weak and short-lived creatures, although they did insist on being properly worshiped by them. We American voters sometimes feel that Congress treats us in an olympian manner as it determines how our money will be spent.
venereal Having to do with sexual intercourse or diseases transmitted by it.
eg. In the 19th century syphilis especially was often fatal, and venereal diseases killed some of the greatest figures of the time.
Venus was the Roman goddess of love, the equivalent of the Greek Aphrodite. Since she governed all aspects of human sensuality and sexuality, she has given her name to the diseases acquired through sexual contact. Most of these venereal diseases have been around for centuries, but only in this century have doctors devised tests to indentify them or medicines to cure them. Today the official term is sexually transmitted disease, or STD; but even this name turns out to be ambiguous, since some of these diseases can be contracted in other ways as well.
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2006-8-3 08:33 PM |
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cupidamor
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#28
AMBI/AMPHI means "on both sides" or "around"; ambi comes from Latin and amphi- from Greek. An ambidextrous person can use the right and the left hand equally well. An amphibian such as a frog or salamander, is able to live and breathe both on land and in the water.
ambiguous (1) Doubtful or uncertain especially from being obscure or indistinct. (2) Unclear in meaing because of being understandable in more than one way.
eg. Successful politicians are good at giving ambiguous answers to questions on controversial issues.
Ambiguous comes from the Latin verb ambigere, "to be undecided," which in turn includes the verb agere, "to drive." Something that is ambiguous drives the observer in two directions. When we speak of eyes as being of an ambiguous color, we mean that we cannot decide which color they are - blue or green? The ambiguity of the smile of the Mona Lisa makes us wonder that she's thinking about. An ambiguous order is one that can be taken in at least two ways. An order to "shut up!", on the other hand, may be very rude, but at least it's unambiguous.
ambient Existing or present on all sides.
eg. The ambient lighting in the restaurant was low, but there was a bright candle at each table.
A scientist might measure how long it takes a heated substance to cool to the ambient temperature, the temperature of the surrounding air. Ambient light is the light that fills an area or surrounds something that is being viewed, like a television screen or a painting. A restaurant with low ambient light and candles at each table is probably trying for a romantic ambience, or atmosphere.
ambivalent (1) Holding opposite feelings and attitudes at the same time toward someone or something. (2) Continually wavering between opposites or alternate courses of action.
eg. He was extremely ambivalent about the trip: he badly wanted to travel but hated to miss the summer activities at home.
Ambivalent is a fairly new word, less than a hundred years old, but it is utlimately related to the Latin verb valere,which means "to be strong." An ambivalent person is someone who has strong feelings on more than one side of a question or issue. We might feel ambivalence about accepting a high-paying job that requires us to work long hours, or about lending money to someone we like but don't know well. Anyone who has ever been on a diet and been offered something like a Tutti-Frutti Chocolate Banana Sundae E1 Supremo probably knows what it's like to feel ambivalent.
amphitheater (1) An oval or circular building with an open area ringed by rising tiers of seats, used in ancient Rome for contests and spectacles. (2) A large modern theater or stadium.
eg. The romans held popular contests between gladiators or between gladiators and wild beasts in their amphitheaters.
The basic design of an amphitheater reflects the forms of entertainment for which it was originally built: gladiatorial contests and other spectacles. The most famous of the ancient amphitheaters was Rome's Flavian Amphitheater, now more commonly known as the Colosseum. Built between 70 and 82 A.D., this structure could hold nearly 50,000 people. The ruins of more than 75 amphitheaters have been found in the ancient lands that were once part of the Roman Empire.
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2006-8-6 10:31 AM |
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cupidamor
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#29
EP/EPI comes from Greek and means variously "upon", "besides", "attach to", "over", "outer", or "after". An epiphenomenon is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of the original phenomenon. An epicenter is the portion of the earth's surface directly over the focus of an earthquake. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, overlying the inner layer or "dermis."
ephemeral (1) Lasting a day only. (2) Lasting a very short time.
eg. The benefits from the strategy will only be ephemeral, but we'll be paying for it for years to come.
Something that is literally ephemeral is "over" in a day,hemera being the Greek word for "day". Ephemeral plants such as daylilies have blooms that last only a day. More often, though, ephemeral is not to be taken quite so literally. In the world of show business, for example, fame is apt to be breathtakingly ephemeral, a year in the limelight followed by total obscurity.
epiphyte A plant that obtains its nutrients from the air and the rain and usually grows on another plant for support.
eg. The strangler fig begins life as an epiphyte on a tree branch, drops its tendrils to take root in the ground around the trunk, and slowly covers and strangles the tree to death.
Epiphytic plants are sometimes also known as "air plants" because they seemingly survive on thin air. They rely on their host plants merely for physical support, ont nourishment. Tropical epiphytes include orchids, ferns, and members of the pineapple family. To a newcomer in the tropical rainforest, the sight of a great tree with large epiphytes hanging from every level can be eerie and astonishing. The less interesting epiphytes of the temperate zone include lichens, mosses, and algae.
epitaph An inscription on a grave or tomb in memory of the one buried there.
eg. The great English architect Christopher Wren designed London's majestic St. Paul's Cathedral, the site of his tomb and epitaph: "Simonumentum requiris, circumspice" ("If you seek my monument, look around you" )
Epitaph includes the root from the Greek word taphos, "tomb" or "funeral." Traditionally, epitaph refers to a tombstone inscription, but it can also refer to brief memorial statements that resemble such inscriptions. One of the most famous is Henry Lee's epitaph for George Washington: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
epithet (1) A descripitive word or phrase occurring with or in place of the name of a person or thing. (2) An insulting or demeaning word or phrase.
eg. King Richard I was known by the epithet "Lionhearted".
Sometimes an epithet follows a given name, as in Erik the Red and Billy the Kid. Other times, the epithet precedes the personal name, as in Mahatma ("Great-souled" ) Gandhi. Sitll other times, the epithet is used in place of the actual name, as in the case of El Greco ("the Greek" ) and El Cid ("the Lord" ). In its other commonly used sense, epithet refers to a name intended to insult or mock someone. When enemies are said to be "hurling epithets" at each other, it means they are exchanging angry insults.
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2006-8-8 10:57 PM |
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cupidamor
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#30
HYPO/HYP as a prefix can mean variously "under", "beneath", "down", or "below normal". Many hypo- words are medical. A hypodermic needle injects medication under the skin. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, can be just as unhealthy as hypertension, and hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, just as unhealthy as diabetes.
hypochondriac A person unduly concerned with health and often suffering from delusions of physical disease.
eg. Hercule Poirot, the dapper hero of agatha Christie's mysteries, is a notorious hypochondriac, always trying to protect himself from drafts.
One disease a hypochondriac really does suffer from is hypochondria,which is the mental depression that comes from worring too much about health and is often accompanied by delusions of physical ailments. Somewhat surprisingly, hypochondria derives from hypo- and chondros, the Greek word for "cartilage." The cartilage is question is that of the sternum, or breastbone. From ancient times medical authorities had believed that certain internal organs or regions were the seat of various diseases, both physical and mental. The region beneath the centrally located breastbone was thought to be the seat of hypochondria.
hypocrisy A pretending to be what one is not or to feel what one does not really feel.
eg. The protesters were objecting to the hypocrisy of doing business with a government whose racist policies were condemned by everyone.
Hypocrisy comes from a Greek word that means "the act of playing a part on a stage." A hypocrite is a person who says or does one thing while thinking or feeling something entirely different underneath. Most of us are good at detecting hypocritical behavior in others, but we don't always see it so easily in ourselves.
hypothermia Subnormal temperature of the body.
eg. By the time rescuers were able to pull the skater from the pond's icy waters, hypothermia had reached a life-threatening stage.
Hypothermia may constitute a grave medical emergency. Typical causes include submersion in icy water and prolonged exposure to cold. Hypothermia begins to be a concern when body temperature dips below 95 degree F. Below 90 degree F, the point at which the normal reaction of shivering ceases, emergency treatment is called for.
hypothetical (1) Involving an assumption made for the sake of argument or for further study or investigation. (2) Imagined for purposes of example.
eg. The presidential candidate refused to say what she would do if faced with a hypothetical military crisis.
Hypothetical and its parent word hypothesis comes from hypo- and the Greek verb tithenai, "to put". To hypothesize is to suppose, or to put (something) under consideration. Hypothetical applies to something that is assumed to be true so that it can serve as the basis for a line of reasoning. Thus, the theory that the dinosaurs became extinct because of a giant meteor striking the earth involves the hypothesis that such a collision would have certain effects on the earth's climate.
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2006-8-12 08:52 AM |
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茱莉娅
THE BODY SHOP美容顾问
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2006-8-12 08:52 AM |
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