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My academic journal readings this week have exposed me to a lot of big words I didn't know before -- especially in the article I had to read for my Québec mid-term paper.
Here's the BIG WORDS I've learned this week:
demotic - adj. - Of or relating to the common people. (No, it's not related to demons, it comes from the same root as "democracy".) Synonym: popular.
Example: The demotic mood in Québec has taken on a noticeably anti-American tenor since the invasion of Iraq.
epistemic - adj. - (from epistemology, the philosophy of knowledge) Of or relating to knowledge or cognition.
Example: An epistemic approach to teaching science in the classroom includes asking questions, collecting data, making descriptions of observations, finding patterns in the data, and developing scientific reasoning.
erstwhile - adj. - Former, in the past, no longer true.
Example: My erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into him at the mall.
gainsaying - verb - (present participle form of gainsay) -- to declare to be untrue or invalid, to contradict.
Example: There can be no gainsaying that Québec has a distinct culture from the rest of Canada.
inter alia - adv. - Latin for "among other things."
Example: The committee recommended, inter alia, that he be promoted.
pari passu - adj. - Latin for "with equal step" -- proceeding at an
equal rate or pace; impartially; equally.
Example: Inflation and interest rates have increased pari passu.
pensée unique - noun - French for "single thought" -- A criticism of the prevailing neoliberal view of global capitalism which believes "there is no alternative" (to free-market capitalism). In a broader sense, it means that a single thought has become nearly unanimous within a group, with little or no dissent.
Example: The inhabitants of Québec have almost a pensée unique about missile defense being a bad idea.
philistinism - noun - (From "Philistine") -- A derogatory term used to describe one who is crass and materialistic, who does not appreciate art and beauty, and who does not value intellectual content, and/or spiritual values.
Example sentence: The Hollywood tradition of cinema is marked by a contradictory mix of idealism and philistinism.
presage - noun - A dire omen, or forewarning, of some future event.
verb - To predict or foretell something.
Example: Many Québécois fear that the so-called "global war on terror" presages a global "march-of-civilizations" which imperils their culture and nation.
redoubt - noun - A small, usually temporary, military fortification.
Example: The Québécois fear becoming walled into a "Fortress North America," in whose moated redoubt they would be encased.
restive - adj. - Stubbornly resisting control, fidgety.
Example: The Hispanic population of the United States has become restive as immigration laws have been tightened.
volte-face - noun - French for "to turn face" -- A reversal of policy, attitude or principle;
synonyms: about-face, U-turn.
Example: Coca-Cola's volte-face after the release of New Coke was the result of public backlash.
Here's the BIG WORDS I've learned this week:
demotic - adj. - Of or relating to the common people. (No, it's not related to demons, it comes from the same root as "democracy".) Synonym: popular.
Example: The demotic mood in Québec has taken on a noticeably anti-American tenor since the invasion of Iraq.
epistemic - adj. - (from epistemology, the philosophy of knowledge) Of or relating to knowledge or cognition.
Example: An epistemic approach to teaching science in the classroom includes asking questions, collecting data, making descriptions of observations, finding patterns in the data, and developing scientific reasoning.
erstwhile - adj. - Former, in the past, no longer true.
Example: My erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into him at the mall.
gainsaying - verb - (present participle form of gainsay) -- to declare to be untrue or invalid, to contradict.
Example: There can be no gainsaying that Québec has a distinct culture from the rest of Canada.
inter alia - adv. - Latin for "among other things."
Example: The committee recommended, inter alia, that he be promoted.
pari passu - adj. - Latin for "with equal step" -- proceeding at an
equal rate or pace; impartially; equally.
Example: Inflation and interest rates have increased pari passu.
pensée unique - noun - French for "single thought" -- A criticism of the prevailing neoliberal view of global capitalism which believes "there is no alternative" (to free-market capitalism). In a broader sense, it means that a single thought has become nearly unanimous within a group, with little or no dissent.
Example: The inhabitants of Québec have almost a pensée unique about missile defense being a bad idea.
philistinism - noun - (From "Philistine") -- A derogatory term used to describe one who is crass and materialistic, who does not appreciate art and beauty, and who does not value intellectual content, and/or spiritual values.
Example sentence: The Hollywood tradition of cinema is marked by a contradictory mix of idealism and philistinism.
presage - noun - A dire omen, or forewarning, of some future event.
verb - To predict or foretell something.
Example: Many Québécois fear that the so-called "global war on terror" presages a global "march-of-civilizations" which imperils their culture and nation.
redoubt - noun - A small, usually temporary, military fortification.
Example: The Québécois fear becoming walled into a "Fortress North America," in whose moated redoubt they would be encased.
restive - adj. - Stubbornly resisting control, fidgety.
Example: The Hispanic population of the United States has become restive as immigration laws have been tightened.
volte-face - noun - French for "to turn face" -- A reversal of policy, attitude or principle;
synonyms: about-face, U-turn.
Example: Coca-Cola's volte-face after the release of New Coke was the result of public backlash.
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