VOCABULARY #3

PEL/PULS, JAC/JECT, MIT/MIS, MOT/MOV

Latin: Pellere, Pulsum “to push, to drive”

PEL/PULS

1. Compel (verb)

Example: The pressures of poverty compel many people to do things they would not do otherwise.

What does compel mean? Compel- to force or strongly

persuade; coerce Syn: pressure; drive

2. Impulse (noun)

Example: When Nick saw the rows and rows of candy, he was seized by an impulse to spend all of his money.

What does impulse mean? impulse – a sudden, involuntary

urge to do something Synonym: urge; desire; whim

3. Expel (verb)

Example: The council took a vote on whether to expel the treasurer for his accounting mistakes.

What does expel mean? Expel- to send out or away Syn: banish; dismiss Ant: accept, include, invite

Latin: Jacere, Jectum—”to throw, to cast”

JAC/JECT

4. Conjecture (noun)

Example: Because you do not know where I was on the night in question, your assertions about what I did are pure conjecture.

What does conjecture mean?

Conjecture- a guess, often one based on inadequate or faulty evidence

Syn: hypothesis; guess Ant: proof; fact

5. Dejected (adj.)

Example: After Mac lost the race, he sat in the corner, abandoned and dejected.

What does dejected mean? Dejected- downcast or sad;

depressed Syn: sad; miserable Ant: upbeat; optimistic

6. Abject (adj.)

Even in the wealthiest countries, some people are forced to live in abject poverty.

What does abject mean? Abject- lowly, miserable and

wretched Syn- humble; menial Ant-arrogant; superior

Latin: Mittere, Missum— “send”

MIT/ MIS

7. Emissary (noun)

Example: During the peace talks, the young Italian diplomat was sent as an emissary to Beijing.

What does emissary mean? Emissary- an agent sent on a

mission Syn- agent; representitive

8. Dismissive (adj.)

Example: The professor responded to my confused question with a dismissive wave of his hand.

What does dismissive mean? Dismissive- showing little

regard; scornful Syn-disrespectful; scornful

9. Remiss (adj).

Example: Do you think I was remiss in not cleaning up after the party?

What does remiss mean? Remiss- failing to fulfill

one’s duty; negligent Syn- careless; neglectful Ant- careful; competent

Latin: Movere, Motus— “to move”

MOT/ MOV

10. Motive (noun)

Example: The detective had the difficult job of establishing a motive for the murder of a popular business man.

What does motive mean? Motive- cause for action Syn- reason; purpose

11. Motif (noun)

Example: The recurring father-son motif in this novel makes me wonder about the author’s relationship with his own father.

What does motif mean? Motif- a recurring theme,

subject, or idea

12. Emote (verb)

Example: My sister tended to emote more than the other members of our shy, socially awkward family.

What does emote mean? Emote- to dramatically

express emotions Syn- express; declare