Apposite

Apposite

<app-o-sit>

Listen: apposite

applicable; fitting; pertinent;

something relevant to something else.

A smile is apposite at a party because everyone is having fun.

Memory trick:
apposite reminds of appropriate.

At work:
Wearing a tie is apposite for a job interview.


© 2016 E. Carruthers

Alacrity

Alacrity

<a-lak-rit-tee>

Listen: Alacrity

cheerfulness; willingness; eagerness;

being quick to have joy and happiness.

I accept your invitation with alacrity.  It will be a great party!

Memory trick:
alacrity rhymes with "a lack of pity".
our lacks are small because we are happy.

At work:
The meeting filled with alacrity when we heard the good news.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
   

Codicil

Codicil

<kod-dee-sil>

Listen: Codicil

addendum; supplement; appendix;

an addition at the end of a book or report.

I added a codicil to the back of my report. It says where I found the information.

Memory trick:
codicil reminds of "co" "dictionary".
dictionary reminds of words.
we add more words.

At work:
I will add a codicil to the contract that will say when the job will be done.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers 

Importunate

Importunate

< im-poor-choo-nit >

Listen: Importunate

demanding; annoying; persistent;

being a bother at an unlucky time.

The importunate bird tried to get my sandwich.

Memory trick:
importunate reminds of unfortunate.

At work:
Don't make importunate sales calls. Always call after confirming it is a good time.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Immoderate

Immoderate

Listen: Immoderate

<im-mod-er-rate>

excessive; extravagant; unreasonable;

having an usually large amount of a thing.

Yesterday the rain was immoderate. Today the sun is shinning.

Memory trick:
im reminds of impossible.
impossible to be moderate.

At work:
Our immoderate orders are a happy surprise. We will work hard to fill them.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Quasi

Quasi

< kwayz-eye >

Listen: Quasi

resembling; almost; mock;

to be like something but not exactly.

You are a quasi-teacher. You always have the correct answers.

Memory trick:
quasi reminds of "quack".
if it quacks like a duck... it's a duck.
if it's acts like something... it is that something.

At work:
She is a quasi computer genius. She never studied but she knows it all.


© 2016 E. Carruthers

Fortuitous

Fortuitous

<for-two-ah-tis>

Listen: Fortuitous

unforeseen; unexpected; chance.

something lucky happening at random.

It was fortuitous we met. I was lucky to meet you.

Memory trick:
fortuitous reminds of fortune.

At work:
The surge in sales was fortuitous because we did not expect them.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Neophyte

Neophyte

< Knee-Oh-Fight >

novice; newcomer; learner;

A beginner who makes mistakes.

I am not a neophyte. I’ve been playing for a long time. Don't cover your ears.

Memory trick:
Neo means new.

At work:
I was a neophyte programmer but now I am an expert because I took classes.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Acquisitive

Acquisitive

<ah-qwiz-zit-tiv>

predatory; greedy; materialistic;

being eager to get things, knowledge or money.

The acquisitive squirrel gathered nuts all day. It was happy all winter.

Memory trick:
acquisitive reminds of acquire.
acquire means to get something.

At work:
She is relentlessly acquisitive about accounting. She is the best accountant we have.


Be acquisitive about knowledge.

(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Carp

Carp

<karp>

nag; whine; gripe;

to constantly complain about little things.

The author did not like the carp of the critics but it made her a better writer.

Memory trick:
a carp is also a fish.
think of an annoying fish.

At work:
The widget now comes in all colors because of the carp from the clients. They did not like black and white.


Enough with the carp!


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Acolyte

Acolyte

<ack-koh-lyte>

groupie; assitant; helper;

someone who is a follower.

She was an acolyte of the mystery author. She read every book he wrote.

Memory trick:
acolyte reminds of collie.
a collie is a loyal dog.

At work:
The employee became an acolyte of the CEO. He tried to be like him.

In use:
I will be your acolyte.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

A neophyte became erudite.

A neophyte became erudite.

neophyte
<nee-oh-fite>

erudite
<err-roo-dyte>

A neophyte became erudite. = A beginner became educated.

neophyte = beginner

erudite = educated

I am a neophyte at computer programming. I have a lot to learn.

She studied for years and became erudite. She wrote books to share her knowledge.

I am not a neophyte. I am erudite.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Antagonism

Antagonism

<ant-tag-on-niz-ihm>

hatred; opposition; disagreement;

having open and obvious hostility.

A cat and dog will not have antagonism if they are raised together.

Memory trick:
antagonism reminds of anti.
anti means opposite.

At work:
A meeting will remove the antagonism between you two. I am sure you will become friends.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Malediction

Malediction

<mahl-lah-dik-shun>

curse; jinx; hex;

a magical words used to put a bad spell on someone.

He thinks words can put a malediction on his team and they will lose.

Memory trick:
malediction reminds of "mal" or bad.

At work:
She said a malediction when her computer would not start. She said kind words after it started.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Derision

Derision

<der-rij-shun>

ridicule; mockery; scorn;

showing contempt with insults and laughter.

The boys wailed with derision when his hat blew off and he had to chase it.

Memory trick:
derision reminds of deride.
deride means to mock.

At work:
Never react with derision to any question the client may ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Posit

Posit

<paz-it>

propose; presume; suppose;

to assume something is going to happen;

It is safe to posit the sun will rise in the morning. It is sure to happen.

Memory trick:
posit reminds of positive.
I am positive it will come true.

At work:
We can posit sales will rise when we reduce our prices. We will have more sales.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers