1. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 1) Word: mesmerize (v.) Synonym(s): spellbind, captivate, enthrall Etymology: The Austrian physician Franz Mesmer (1734- 1815) employed spectacular methods to cure his patients. 2) Word: martial (adj.) Synonym(s): combative, militant, bellicose Etymology: Mars, the Roman god of war, was a powerful deity to the Romans. They named the month of March after him because the weather was favorable for a military campaign.

2. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 3) Word: philanthropy (n.) Synonym(s): charity, benevolence Etymology: From the Greek word, “philanthropos” (benefitting humankind). 4) Word: cupidity (n.) Synonym(s): greediness, possessiveness, avarice Etymology: "Cupidity" comes from the Roman's name for the god of love, Cupid.

3. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 5) Word: philistine (n.) Synonym(s): barbarian, heathen, materialist, boor Etymology: The Philistines were the archenemies of the Israelites. Later, in Germany, a professor used this word to describe the townspeople who had killed some university students. 6) Word: catholic (adj.) Synonym(s): broad, comprehensive, eclectic, unbiased Etymology: "Catholic" derives from the Greek kata ("concerning") + holos ("whole"). Originally, "Catholic" meant all the Christian believers.

4. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 7) Word: jeopardize (v.) Synonym(s): endanger, risk, imperil Etymology: "Jeopardize" comes from the French term jeu parti which means "game decided." This term was used when the next move in a game or contest would tip the scales in someone's favor. 8) Word: precarious (adj.) Synonym(s): uncertain, hazardous, perilous Etymology: The Latin precarius means "obtained by prayer or begging,” “risky,” or “dependent upon the will of another.”

5. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 9) Word: foible (n.) Synonym(s): defect, flaw, infirmity Etymology: "Foible" is a term from fencing that describes the weaker part of the foil, from the middle to the tip. 10) Word: forte (n.) Synonym(s): aptitude, talent, strength Etymology: "Forte" is a term from fencing that describes the stronger part of the foil, from the middle to the hilt.

6. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 11) Word: odyssey (n.) Synonym(s): wandering, roaming, peregrination Etymology: "Odyssey" comes from the Greek myth of Odysseus and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. 12) Word: protean (adj.) Synonym(s): changeable, variable, versatile Etymology: If the Greek leader Menelaus could hold on to the god Proteus while he changed shapes, the answers to his questions would be forthcoming.

7. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 13) Word: fiasco (n.) Synonym(s): failure, disaster, debacle Etymology: Fiasco is Italian for "flask" or "bottle." The Italian expression far fiasco means "to make a bottle" or "to make a mess of things." 14) Word: idiosyncrasy (n.) Synonym(s): oddity, mannerism, eccentricity Etymology: "Idiosyncrasy" comes from the Greek idio ("peculiar") + syn ("together") + crasis ("mixture"). It refers to a peculiar mixing together of personal traits.

8. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 15) Word: quintessence (n.) Synonym(s): essence, model, paragon Etymology: The ancient Greeks believed there were only four elements, but later added a fifth – quinta essentia. It was this element that was the essential part. 16) Word: rankle (v.) Synonym(s): irritate, anger, exasperate Etymology: The Latin word dracunculus ("little dragon") meant "ulcer" because it felt like little dragons were under the skin. It eventually dropped the initial “d” sound and ultimately entered English as “rankle.”

9. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 17) Word: decimate (v.) Synonym(s): destroy, slaughter, ravage Etymology: The Romans punished their rebellious soldiers, or captured enemies, by killing every tenth person. The Latin word for this was decimare. 18) Word: narcissism (n.) Synonym(s): self-centeredness, conceit, egotism Etymology: In Greek mythology, Narcissus was an extremely handsome mortal. Because he would not return anyone's affection, the gods caused him to fall in love with the image of himself in a pond. He eventually died, refusing to leave the sight of his love.

10. Words of the Day – 1st Semester Unit 2 19) Word: incumbent (adj.) Synonym(s): required, compulsory Etymology: "Incumbent" comes from the Latin cumbere ("lie down, occupy"). It should be noted that an "incumbent" is someone who occupies an office. 20) Word: succumb (v.) Synonym(s): surrender, submit, capitulate Etymology: see above. Suc ("under") + cumbere ("lie down") – to lie down under something, to give in.