1. Lesson XII
Caesar’s English XII

2. obsequious: cringing, submissive
Adj. (ob-SEE-kee-us) Spanish: obsequioso
The adjective obsequious comes from the Latin obequiosus. An obsequious person is a cringing, submissive follower, so over-willing to please that it is repulsive. Jonathan Swift wrote in Gulliver’s Travels that “zealots prove always the most obsequious and subservient to the will and passions of their master.”

3. ignominy: disgrace N. (IG-no-many) Spanish: ignominia
The English noun ignominy (the adjective is ignominious), comes from the Latin ignominia, and refers to deep humiliation, disgrace, dishonor. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we find that “within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat.”

4. acquiescence: passive compliance
N. (ah-kwee-ESS-ence) Spanish: acquiescencia
To acquiesce, from the Latin acquiescere, is to comply, passively and obediently. We understand even better when we learn that acquiesce comes from the Latin quiescere, to be quiet. It is a relative of the English adjective quiescent. In Melville’s Moby Dick Ishmael says that “as all my remonstrances produced no effect on Queequeg, I was obliged to acquiesce.”

5. impassive: expressionless, without emotion
Adj. (im-PASS-ive) Spanish: impasible
To be impassive, from the Latin impassibilis, is to be expressionless and without emotion. In Bernard Malamad’s novel The Natural we read that “His rocklike frame was motionless, his face impassive, unsmiling, dark.”

6. impending: about to happen
Adj. (im-PEN-ding) Spanish: pendiente
The English adjective impending, from the Latin impendere, refers to things that are about to happen, that are hanging over us. Kenneth Grahame wrote in The Wind in the Willows that “he cried in despair, plumping down on a seat, with tears impending.”

7. obsequious: cringing, submissive ignominy: disgrace
Caesar’s English XII
obsequious: cringing, submissive
ignominy: disgrace
acquiescence: passive compliance
impassive: expressionless, without emotion
impending: about to happen

8. Caesar’s Classic Words Challenge
From Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native
Venn sat with lips __________ closed.
acquiescently
obsequiously
ignominiously
impassively

9. From Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native
Venn sat with lips __________ closed.
acquiescently
obsequiously
ignominiously
impassively

10. 2. From Thorton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey
It was intended as an __________ flattery to the Condesa, and was untrue.
ignominious
obsequious
impassive
impending

11. 2. From Thorton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey
It was intended as an __________ flattery to the Condesa, and was untrue.
ignominious
obsequious
impassive
impending

12. 3. From Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim
Andy shrugged his shoulders, and gave an ___________ whistle.
acquiescent
ignominious
impending
obsequious

13. 3. From Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim
Andy shrugged his shoulders, and gave an ___________ whistle.
acquiescent
ignominious
impending
obsequious

14. The Grammar of Vocabulary: obsequious, an adjective.
The obsequious toady flattered Caesar every day.