Vocab Practice

Today, I have 14 words because I missed vocabulary building last night.  I want to begin by noticing something about my experience of my own semantic web (not sure if I could call it a lexicon or not?). I typically know just a few applications of a word in context; and I will be forced to deduce the meaning of the word from those contextual applications on the GRE.  For instance, on the list today is the word "harbinger".  When I think of the word, I call to mind the phrase, "harbinger of death" or "harbinger of life", and by that I mean "bringer of death" or "bringer of life".  So, for me, "harbinger" denotes an entity that brings, or carries something else to the present, usually life or death.  I also remember hearing people say, "I don't want to be the harbinger of bad news".  However, the meaning provided in the physical dictionary is much more precise and neutral.  It has the connotations of "going ahead and making known the future presence of another".  I do not remember the biblical story, but I am under the impression that either an angel told the wise men of the appearance of Christ, or the wise men gave the baby Jesus some gifts, and went out into the night to spread the news of the arrival of The Christ.  Whatever it may be, the connotations are clear.  Given that I was raised in a Catholic environment, it is not too surprising to find out that the connotations of the word "harbinger" for me are entrenched in the Catholic story.  I have written stories with the GRE words for the past few nights.  This method clearly works.  It's worked since I was a child, as is clear from the "harbinger" example.

Pellucid (adj.) \pə-ˈlü-səd\ translucent or transparent; extremely clear in style or meaning; admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion; easy to understand.

• Synonyms: lucid, limpid
• The pellucid message of the guitarist was made possible by years of assiduous practice; if he was sad, his instrument weeped; and if he was happy, his instrument cheered.  

Pulver (v) /pʌl.vər/ to make into powder or dust (adj.) pulver-ous

• The addition of the -ous suffix creates adjectives.  "The typical function of an adjective is to designate a property or attribute of the entities denoted by nouns" (O'Grady, 2010, p. 158).
• Therefore, the meaning of "pulverous" is "having the property of making something into powder or dust".  
• The drummer's pulverous pounding during his solo won the affection of the all the rhythmists in the crowd.  

Palpable (adj.) capable of being touch or felt; readily or plainly perceived

• Despite naive claims to the contrary, empirical science does not restrict itself to the palpable reality of sense.  

Salacious (adj.) lustful or lecherous

• We must question the relevancy of journalistic coverage of the salacious affairs of politicians that seek merely to dither the public's trust in the judgments of their elected officials.

Acrimonious (adj.) stinging, caustic, bitter in speech, behavior, manner etc.

• The acrimonious effect of the divorce of his parents rippled through the boy's adult relationships. 

Effigy (n.) a representation or image of something or someone; a crude image of someone disliked, used as a straw-man; simulacrum; idol

• The prisoners in Plato's allegory of the cave, uninterested seeing the light of the sun, serve as effigies for people that squander their talents.  

Harbinger (n.) a person that goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; a herald; anything that is premonitory in nature

• Rendering the commander's plan for a sneak attack futile, the treasonous solider acted as a harbinger for the enemy.

Cosseted (v.) to pamper; treat as a pet; coddle

• The infatuated man cosseted his lover, showering her with material gifts and affection.  

Chastise (v.) to discipline, especially by corporeal punishment; to restrain; to chasten

• The infuriated mob recommended that the girl be chastised for her silly prank.

Mollify (v.) [used with direct object] to soften in feeling or temper; pacify; appease; placate

• The keen judge mollified the shouting crowd with his silver tongue. 

Punctilio (n) a fine or petty point of detail or conduct; strictness or exactness in the observance of formalities; docorum (adj.) [-ous] having the property or character of being strict in adhering to detail or propriety

• The defendant emulated the punctilious attorney in his dealings with the court officials and guards, ensuring that each interaction began and ended with the appropriate salutations.  

Meticulous (adj.) taking or showing extreme care to details; precise, thorough; fastidious; scrupulous; punctilious

• The meticulous detective marked his legal pad in various places with stick-it notes and small messages in the margins.  

Guile (n.) assiduous cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity

• It was guile that enabled the self-proclaimed supporter of morals to amass a fortune by building an amoral enterprise.  

Assiduous (adj.) constant; unremitting; persevering; diligent  

The pellucid message of the guitarist was made possible by years of assiduous practice; if he was sad, his instrument weeped; and if he was happy, his instrument cheered.