The Vocab Weekly

BEGET

BEGET Beget is simply to produce children. And as an extension of the same meaning, it means to cause or produce any effect. After all, children are the final effect of a certain human activity. Our word poster above is based on the same concept. The dictionary definitions for beget are as follows: 1. To make children (in other words procreate). 2. To cause; produce as an effect. (noun)

Usage Examples for Beget: 1. All though hard work produces positive outcomes in the long terms, it does not always beget success in the short term. 2. Hollow people only beget hollow promises.

Masters Tip to remember Beget: Just remember the age old saying: Violence Begets Violence Another popular belief is: Power begets power

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

COUCH POTATO

Couch Potato

Masters Tip to remember couch potato: Potatoes lined up on a couch, lapping up the television is the image that comes to ones mind when one thinks about this word.

The dictionary definitions for couch potato are as follows: 1. An idler who spends much time on a couch (usually watching television). (noun)

We have almost all been guilty of doing this, havent we? We have spent numerous hours in front of the television, at times lapping in illogical TV entertainment just to kill time. In a way, the idiot box has made an idiot out of us. And a couch potato too, hasnt it?

Usage Examples for couch potato: 1. Times have becomes such that children these days are addicted to television and have become couch potatoes. 2. Being a couch potato can only induce lethargy in an individual.

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

EFFACE

Efface

The dictionary definitions for efface are as follows: 1. To rub or wipe out; erase. 2. To make indistinct as if by rubbing. 3. To conduct (oneself) inconspicuously. Masters Tip to remember Efface: The image of an eraser should suffice:

A simple word with a simple explanation: Efface means to wipe out or erase. Either you can erase a notebook of pencil marks or you can erase ones memory of the events of the past. The choice is essentially yours.

Quote Examples for Efface: Memory is the greatest of artists, and effaces from your mind what is unnecessary. Work alone will efface the footsteps of work.

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

MAXIM

Maxim Maxim, proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia--all mean the same thing: they represent a short, easily remembered expression of a basic principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. They are essentially nuggets of wisdom served to you in a short and sweet manner. A few examples of maxims: The bigger the better" "Good things come in small packages." "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." "One man's meat is another man's poison." "Birds of a feather flock together." "Opposites attract." "Actions speak louder than words." "The pen is mightier than the sword." "You're never too old to learn." "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." "All good things come to those who wait." "Time and tide wait for no man." "Many hands make light work." "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Dictionary definition for maxim: 1. An expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one. (noun) 2. A principle or rule of conduct. (noun)

Maxim in Context: In the given context, the maxim, Judge not, lest ye be judged, means one is in a position to condemn a sinner if they are without sin themselves

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

PLEBISCITE

Origin of the word Plebiscite: This is word that comes to English through an interesting etymological tree. The word plebiscite comes from the Latin plebiscita, which originally meant a decree of the Concilium Plebis, the popular assembly of the Roman Republic. This word in turn came from the Latin word pleb+, meaning common people (as opposed to the Patricians, who are refined, rich and mannered). When the same root came to used for plebiscite, it came to mean a direct vote where people decide whether they wish to say yes to a proposal or not. It can also mean that people vote whether they wish to be independent of some foreign rule or not. Two words derived from the same source are: Pleb (s), plebs (pl) (noun forms) : Primarily a British term for an ordinary person who has low social status: "They think they are too important to waste time on plebs like us." Plebeian: Typical of someone from a low social class, rather than of someone who is from a higher social class or well educated. The dictionary definitions for PLEBISCITE are as follows: 1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite. (noun) 2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination. (noun) Usage Examples for PLEBISCITE: 1. The changes in new constitution were rejected in a plebiscite. 2. Facing pressure for change both at home and abroad, Mr. Pinochet called a plebiscite on continuing his rule in 1988, which he lost. -The Wall Street Journal: Obama Praises Chilean Democracy

Plebiscite

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

SEVER

The dictionary definitions for sever are as follows: 1. To separate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like. (verb) 2. To divide into parts, especially forcibly; cleave. (verb) 3. To break off or dissolve (ties, relations, etc.). (verb) 4. Law: to divide into parts; disunite (an estate, titles of astatute, etc.). (verb) 5. To distinguish; discriminate between. (verb)

Sever in simple terms is to cut free. Sever is used to depict any situation where one needs to show something that is being cut off or divided into parts. Like in the image above, severed ties between family members are shown. And in the image, a severed chain is depicted. Sever

Masters Tip to remember Sever: Sever and Severe These two words are almost the same. Almost: the only difference is of a single letter e. But their meanings vary vastly. We have seen the meaning of the word sever above. Now lets us have a look at severe. Severe is an adjective and means Intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality. So, if we go by usage, we would have something like this: Severed family ties can have severe outcomes for the generations to come. (the word severed is the adjective form of severe.)

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

SPUME

SPUME Made out of bubbles

The dictionary definitions for Spume are as follows: 1. Foam/ froth on a liquid, as on the sea or a glass of soft drink. (noun) 2. To eject or discharge as or like foam or froth, for example refineries and factories spume liquids into the atmosphere. (verb) Masters Tip to remember SPUME: SPUME is SPEWED by choppy SEAS! Usage Examples for SPUME: 1. Anger spumes in the weak spirited. 2. Most of the spume is the river was ejected by chemical dying factories.

Spume, in very simple terms, is froth or foam formed on top of liquids or discharged by liquids. Open a can of coke and use will be see froth all around: that is to spume bubbles.

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

Work Out Zone

Work Out 1: Match the following words with their respective meanings or synonyms. Word 1 Beget 2 Couch potato 3 Efface 4 Plebiscite 5 Sever 6 Spume 7 Maxim Meaning or Synonym A Layabout B Froth C Generate D Axiom E Vote F Obliterate G Break up

Work Out 2: Did you really understand the word? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. A maxim is a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits. Couch potatoes are lazy-daisies. Beget is to give up children. Efface means to inscribe a word. Plebiscite should never be held. Chemical factories produce spume. Severed relations are hard to mend. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no no no

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16

The Vocab Weekly

Answers: Work Out Zone

Work Out 1 1-C, 2-A, 3-F, 4-E, 5-G, 6-B, 7-D Work Out 2 1-yes, 2- yes, 3-no, 4-no, 5-no, 6-yes, 7-yes

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September 22-September 28 | issue 16