Lesson XII

obsequious: cringing, submissive

Adj. (ob-SEE-kee-us) Spanish: obsequioso The adjective obsequious comes from the Latin

obequiosus. An obsequious person is a cringing, submissive follower, so over-willing to please that it is repulsive. Jonathan Swift wrote in Gulliver’s Travels that “zealots prove always the most obsequious and subservient to the will and passions of their master.”

ignominy: disgraceN. (IG-no-many) Spanish:

ignominiaThe English noun ignominy (the adjective is

ignominious), comes from the Latin ignominia, and refers to deep humiliation, disgrace, dishonor. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we find that “within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat.”

acquiescence: passive compliance

N. (ah-kwee-ESS-ence) Spanish: acquiescencia

To acquiesce, from the Latin acquiescere, is to comply, passively and obediently. We understand even better when we learn that acquiesce comes from the Latin quiescere, to be quiet. It is a relative of the English adjective quiescent. In Melville’s Moby Dick Ishmael says that “as all my remonstrances produced no effect on Queequeg, I was obliged to acquiesce.”

impassive: expressionless, without emotion

Adj. (im-PASS-ive) Spanish: impasible

To be impassive, from the Latin impassibilis, is to be expressionless and without emotion. In Bernard Malamad’s novel The Natural we read that “His rocklike frame was motionless, his face impassive, unsmiling, dark.”

impending: about to happenAdj. (im-PEN-ding) Spanish:

pendiente

The English adjective impending, from the Latin impendere, refers to things that are about to happen, that are hanging over us. Kenneth Grahame wrote in The Wind in the Willows that “he cried in despair, plumping down on a seat, with tears impending.”

Caesar’s EnglishXII

1. obsequious: cringing, submissive

2. ignominy: disgrace3. acquiescence: passive

compliance4. impassive: expressionless,

without emotion5. impending: about to happen

1. From Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native

Venn sat with lips __________ closed.a. acquiescentlyb. obsequiouslyc. ignominiouslyd. impassively

1. From Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native

Venn sat with lips __________ closed.a. acquiescentlyb. obsequiouslyc. ignominiouslyd. impassively

2. From Thorton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey

It was intended as an __________ flattery to the Condesa, and was untrue.

a. ignominiousb. obsequiousc. impassived. impending

2. From Thorton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey

It was intended as an __________ flattery to the Condesa, and was untrue.

a. ignominiousb. obsequiousc. impassived. impending

3. From Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim

Andy shrugged his shoulders, and gave an ___________ whistle.

a. acquiescentb. ignominiousc. impendingd. obsequious

3. From Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim

Andy shrugged his shoulders, and gave an ___________ whistle.

a. acquiescentb. ignominiousc. impendingd. obsequious

The Grammar of Vocabulary: obsequious, an adjective.

The obsequious toady flattered Caesar every day.