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U N I T 7 V O C A B U L A R Y

A M E R I C A N L I T E R A T U R E

Latin and Greek Roots

FAC Latin FACERE, FACTUM “to make, do”

PROFICIENT – adj. Skilled at; highly knowledgeable of

The proficient violinist was an asset to the symphony.

FACTOTUM – n. An assistant who does a variety of jobs

Being the office factotummakes me wish I had more than two hands.

FACSIMILE – n. A copy or imitation

The word “fax” is short for facsimile, because a fax machine transmits a copy of a document.

FACILE – adj. Too simplistic or easy

For many elementary students, addition is the most facile of tasks.

PONO Latin PONERE, POSITUM “to put, to place, to arrange”

REPOSE – n. A state of rest; calmness or peacefulness

Though he was usually a busy person, his rare times of repose were interpreted as laziness.

EXPOUND – v. To explain or discuss in detail

After the team members introduced themselves, they spent time expounding upon their mission.

PROPONENT – n. One who argues in favor of; supporter

It was important to re-elect the chairman because he was a proponent of paving roads.

STRUCT Latin STRUERE, STRUCTUM “to build”

INFRASTRUCTURE – n. The basic framework of a building or system

It was the construction foreperson’s job to insure that the home’s infrastructure was sound.

CONSTRUE – v. To interpret or analyze something in a particular way

He emphasized the percentages because he feared the plan’s opponents would misconstrue the pie graph.

CONSTRUCTIVE – adj. Having a positive effect; helpful

The volunteers tried to be constructive during the disaster, though sometimes they weren’t sure what to do.

STO Latin STARE, STATUS “to stand”

DESTITUTE – adj. Having no money; poor

It broke our hearts to see the destitute boy; how could anyone leave a helpless child on the streets?

RESTITUTION – n. Payment for an injury; compensation

After falling outside the office because of a hole in the sidewalk, Ralph received a check for one million dollars from the city as restitution.

STATURE – n. Level of achievement or authority; standing

The more he worked in business, the more Jim began to think that the greater a person’s stature, the larger his or her desk.

The Handwriting on the Wall

According to the Book of Daniel from the Bible, King Belshazzar of Babylon gave a great banquet at which guests praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, wood, iron, and stone. Suddenly, a human hand appeared and wrote mysterious words on the wall. Daniel translated the writing, saying it prophesied that Belshazzar’s reign was over. That night, the king was killed.

So, the phrase “handwriting on the wall” refers to an indication that doom or misfortune is coming . . .

For example:

I took my boss’s suggestion that I might want to start updating my resume to be the handwriting on the wall; I knew it wouldn’t be long until my job, like many others in our company, would be cut.

I was completely shocked when my boyfriend broke up with me, but my friends said I should have seen the handwriting on the wall when he kept “forgetting” to call me and began to spend all his free time with his buddies.

Albatross Around One’s Neck

In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a sailor shoots and albatross, a bird considered to be a good omen. As punishment, the sailor is forced to wear the carcass of the albatross around his neck.

So, an “albatross around a person’s neck” is a burdensome, ongoing problem.

For example:

Although we have an outstanding basketball team, our biggest rival continues to be the albatross around our necks. We haven’t won a game against them in three years.

Although credit cards are convenient, the temptation to overspend can be great, and before you know it, you have an albatross around your neck with debt that is seemingly impossible to pay off.