Level E Unit 4 Words

affiliated Connotation: neutralEtymology: Latin affīliātus adopted as son; fīli = son

ascertain Connotation: neutralEtymology: early 15c., from O.Fr. "to assure" from a "to" + certain "certain". Modern meaning of "to find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794.

attainment Connotation: neutralEtymology: O.Fr. ataignement; Meaning "action of attaining" is from 1540s; sense of "that which is attained, personal accomplishment" dates from c.1680.

bequeath Connotation: neutralEtymology: O.E. becwethan "to say, speak to, exhort, blame," also "leave by will;" from be- + cwethan "to quote." Original sense of "say, utter" died out 13c., leaving legal sense of "transfer by will." be-

cogent Connotation: positiveEtymology: 1659, from Fr. cogent "necessary, urgent." from L. cogere "to curdle, to compel, to collect," from com- "together" + agere "to drive."

converge Connotation: neutralEtymology: 1691, from L.L. convergere "to incline together" from com- "together" + vergere "to bend"

disperse Connotation: Connotation: neutralEtymology: L. dispersus, "to scatter," from dis- "apart, in every direction" + spargere "to scatter"

esteem Connotation: positiveEtymology: mid-15c., from L. aestimare "to value, appraise," perhaps ult. from *ais-temos "one who cuts copper," i.e. mints money. At first used as we would now use estimate; sense of "value, respect" is 1530s.

expunge Connotation: negativeEtymology: c.1600, from L. expungere "mark (a name on a list) for deletion" by pricking dots above or below it, lit. "prick out," from ex- "out" + pungere "to prick, stab"

finite Connotation:neutralEtymology: 1410, from L. finitus "to limit, set bounds, end," from finis (see finish)

invulnerable Connotation: positiveEtymology: 1595, from L. invulnerabilis, from in- "not" + vulnerabilis

malevolent Connotation: negativeEtymology: c.1500, from L. malevolentem "ill- disposed, envious," from male "badly" + volentem "to wish"

nonchalant Connotation: neutralEtymology: F. (13c.), from non- "not" + chaloir "have concern for," ultimately from L. calere "be hot" (like calorie).

omniscient Connotation: Connotation: neutral Etymology: Etymology: 1595–1605; Latin omni- “all” + scient- “knowing”; like science

panacea Connotation: neutralEtymology: Latin from Greek panakeia healing everything, from pan all + akēs remedy

scrupulous Connotation: positiveEtymology: L. scrupulus "uneasiness, anxiety, pricking of conscience," lit. "small sharp stone," used figuratively by Cicero for a cause of uneasiness or anxiety, probably from the notion of having a pebble in one's shoe.

skulk Connotation: negativeEtymology: early 13c., from a Scand. source, cf. Norw. skulke "to shirk, malinger," Dan. skulke "to spare oneself, shirk."

supercilious Connotation: negativeEtymology: 1529, from L. supercilium lit. "eyebrow" (via notion of raising the eyebrow to express haughtiness), from super "above" + cilium "eyelid"

uncanny Connotation: neutralEtymology: 1596, "mischievous;" 1773 in the sense of "associated with the supernatural," originally Scottish and northern English, from un- "not" + canny sense of "know how to." Often used superciliously of Scots by their southern neighbors, implying "thrift and an eye to the main chance."

venial Connotation: positiveEtymology: L. venialis "pardonable," from venia "forgiveness, indulgence, pardon," related to venus "sexual love, desire"