CAESAR’S ENGLISH VOCABULARY FROM LATIN, Lesson VIII

Vocabulary from Latin, Lesson VIii Oblique: indirect or slanting Pensive: thoughtful Magnanimous: generous Importune: to pester Peremptory: imperious

Oblique (oh-BLEEK) adj. - indirect or slanting The English adjective oblique, from the Latin obliquus, means indirect or slanting, and in mathematics it refers to angles that are not acute, but are greater than ninety degrees. In his novel 1984, George Orwell wrote that “She walked obliquely away across the grass as though trying to get rid of him.” Spanish….oblicuo

pensive (PEN-siv) adj. - thoughtful The adjective pensive comes from the Latin pensare and means thoughtful, often quietly and perhaps sadly so. In her1816 classic Frankenstein, Mary Shelley wrote that “The old man had, in the mean time, been pensive, but on the appearance of his companions, he assumed a more cheerful air.” Spanish….pensativo

magnanimous (mag-NAN-ih-muss) adj. - generous The adjective magnanimous , from the Latin magnanimus, means generous, literally great (magna) minded (anim). It is the opposite of pusillanimous, which means small- minded. Mark Twain wrote humorously in Tom Sawyer that it was “a noble, a generous, a magnanimous lie.” Spanish….magnanimo

importune (im-POR-chun) V. - to pester The English verb importune, from the Latin importunus, means to pester, to beg someone urgently and persistently. The noun form is importunity, and the adjective is importunate. In Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, Gulliver wants “no importunate, overbearing, quarrelsome, noisy, roaring, empty, conceited, swearing companions.” Spanish….importunar

Peremptory (per-EMP-tory) adj. - imperious The adjective peremptory comes from the Latin peremptus and means imperious, arrogant, refusing to be contradicted. In The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath described how the “doorbell rang again with a peremptory jab.” Spanish….perentorio

Vocabulary from Latin, Lesson VIii Oblique: indirect or slanting Pensive: thoughtful Magnanimous: generous Importune: to pester Peremptory: imperious

Caesar’s Classic Words Challenge From Richard Wright’s Native son There was in his eyes a ________, brooding amusement. oblique magnanimous pensive peremptory

Caesar’s Classic Words Challenge From Richard Wright’s Native son There was in his eyes a ________, brooding amusement. oblique magnanimous pensive peremptory

From Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 “It’s all right,” said Dunbar _______. pensively peremptorily amiably magnanimously

From Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 “It’s all right,” said Dunbar _______. pensively peremptorily amiably magnanimously

From Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man “Stand by to receive your dog,” was Scott’s _________ order. peremptory magnanimous pensive oblique

From Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man “Stand by to receive your dog,” was Scott’s _________ order. peremptory magnanimous pensive oblique

The Grammar of Vocabulary: Importune, a verb. The general importuned Caesar for more troops. __________________________________________