Vocabulary Words

Lesson 7Customs and Conventions

Ablution

• Noun• A washing or cleansing of the body for

religious reasons

• Their ablution was performed in the sacred waters of India’s Ganges River.

Adage

• Noun• A short proverb or saying

• She repeated the adage, “Time heals all wounds.”

Ancestral

• Adjective• Pertaining to ancestors or forebears

• The old man traveled to Ireland to see his ancestral home.

Cavalcade

• Noun• A colorful, ceremonial procession usually with

horsemen or horse-drawn carriages.

• The royal couple rode to the cathedral in a cavalcade.

Commemorate

• Verb• To honor the memory of someone or

something

• The statue in the town square was erected to commemorate those who died in the Civil War.

Cultural

• Adjective• Pertaining to social, artistic, and intellectual

activities of a community or population

• He enjoyed the cultural advantages of living in an international metropolis.

Decoration

• Noun• An embellishment; an ornament

• The clothing of the Puritan settlers was completely devoid of decoration.

Devout

• Adjective• Deeply religious or pious

• The devout family attended all sacred services at their church.

Enduring

• Adjective• Lasting; continuing for a long time

• Celebrating the arrival of spring is an enduring ritual for many groups of people.

Escutcheon

• Noun• A shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms

• The escutcheon at the entrance to the palace bore the Windsor crest.

Ethnic• Adjective• Characteristic of a religious, racial, national, or

cultural group within a social system

• The Soviet Union was made up of many ethnic groups, including Lithuanians, Ukranians, and Latvians..

Fete

• Noun• A festival or feast

• The ambassador held a lavish fete each summer at his residence.

Idolatry

• Noun• A blind admiration of or devotion to

something or someone

• The people’s loyalty to their leader bordered on idolatry.

Irreverent

• Adjective• Disrespectful

• The article accurately described the ancient customs, but some of the author’s statements were irreverent.

Memento

• Noun• A reminder of the past; a keepsake or souvenir

• This scrapbook is a memento of my childhood.

Posterity

• Noun• Future generations

• The famous composer’s notes have been preserved for posterity.

Reminiscent

• Adjective• Having to do with something that recalls the

past

• That painting style is reminiscent of the Dutch school.

Reverence• Noun• A feeling of profound respect and honor

• A reverence for nature is one important aspect of Emily Dickinson’s poetry.

Sacrosanct

• Adjective• Regarded as sacred; holy

• Throughout history many cultures have believed that particular animals are sacrosanct.

Taboo

• Noun• Something forbidden from use or mention

• It is considered a taboo to speak during the ceremony.