Vocabulary List #7

Etymologies

cupidity (cue PID uh tee)

Noun (abstract) greed Synonyms: graspingness, possessiveness,

avarice (AV uh rus)

Cupidity

Just like Eros, Cupid becomes associated with desire, except it is desire for wealth, not love.

Cupid – Roman god of love (yes, just like Eros)

philistine (FIL uh steen)

noun an uncultured, materialistic person who is

indifferent or hostile to artistic and intellectual activities

Synonyms: materialistic, barbarian, boor (BOOR)

philistine

Samson, an Israelite, loved Delilah, a Philistine, who tricked him into giving up the secret to his strength and caused his blinding and imprisonment. 17th Century: German preacher referred to the local townspeople (who killed a student) as Philistines, and the insult expanded to any uneducated person.

jeopardize (JEP ur dize)

verb put in danger Synonyms: endanger, risk, imperil (im PER

ul)

jeopardize

French jeu parti, "a divided game, game with even chances," from jeu "a game" + parti, "to divide"

jeu parti – the term was used in games when the next move could upset a thus far even contest – usually a risky move.

foible (FOY bul)

noun minor or amusing fault or weakness Synonyms: defect, flaw, infirmity (in FUR muh

tee)

forte (FORT) (FOR tay)

noun strong point Synonyms: aptitude, talent, métier (may

TYAY)

Foible / Forte

Derive from terms in fencing. The foil is the sword blade:

the middle to tip, the foible, is the weakest point; the middle to hilt, the forte, is the strongest.

Roots

Miss- to send Gno – to know Mut – to change

Aer – air, atmosphere

Lev – to raise