Medieval Unit
26 words from English 12
All 26, in the order they appear on the handout.
pilgrim
n.
a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons
Same root as peregrine, the wandering falcon. A pilgrim is someone far from home on purpose.
solicitous
adj.p. 98
showing care or concern
To solicit is to ask. Someone solicitous keeps asking whether you are all right.
garnished
adj.p. 99
decorated or trimmed
The same garnish as the parsley on a plate: decoration added on top.
absolution
n.p. 100
act of freeing someone of a sin or criminal charge
Ab- means away. Absolution dissolves the guilt away. Same family as absolve.
commission
n.p. 102
authorization; act of giving authority to an individual
Think of an officer being commissioned: handed official authority to act.
sanguine
adj.p. 103
confident; cheerful
From the Latin for blood. In medieval medicine the sanguine humor made you ruddy and upbeat.
avouches
v.p. 104
asserts positively; affirms
Hear vouch inside it. To vouch for something is to swear it is true.
prevarication
n.p. 112
evasion of truth; distortion or lie
To prevaricate is to dodge the truth: hedging, twisting, or flat-out lying instead of giving a straight answer.
pallor
n.p. 146
unnatural lack of color; paleness
Pale becomes pallor. Same root as pallid.
hoary
adj.p. 146
white or gray with age
A hoar frost coats the ground white. A hoary beard does the same to a face.
prating
n.p. 146
chatter
Rhymes with grating, which is what empty talk does to you.
tarry
v.p. 148
to delay or linger
Nothing to do with tar. Tarry a while means stick around.
apothecary
n.p. 148
pharmacist; druggist
From Greek apothēkē, a storehouse: the apothecary's shop was a storeroom of powders, herbs and potions.
assay
v.p. 164
prove or test
One letter off essay, which also means to attempt. To assay gold is to test how pure it is.
feigned
v.p. 171
made a false show of; pretended
Same family as a feint in boxing: a fake move meant to fool you.
adjure
v.p. 166
request solemnly; appeal to earnestly
Jur- means oath, as in jury and perjury. To adjure is to beg someone as if under oath.
adroitly
adv.p. 172
with physical or mental skill
French droit means right, as in the right hand, the skillful one. The opposite is gauche.
largesse
n.p. 174
nobility of spirit
Large of spirit: open-handed giving by someone who has plenty.
righteous
adj.p. 177
acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right
Right plus -eous. Doing right, not merely knowing it.
entreated
v.p. 178
made an earnest appeal; pleaded
En- plus treat. To entreat is to plead: I entreat you.
peril
n.p. 179
exposure to harm or injury
At your peril means at your own risk. Same family as perilous.
enquiry
n.p. 191
question; investigation
Inquire with an E, the British spelling. An enquiry asks.
succor
v.p. 191
save; aid; relieve
Said like sucker, but it means help. From Latin succurrere: to run to someone's side.
certify
v.p. 191
declare a thing to be true or accurate; verify; attest
Make certain, plus -ify. Certify, certificate, certainty.
remnant
n.p. 191
what is left over; remainder; residue
Remain becomes remnant: the scrap of cloth left on the bolt.
asunder
adv.p. 192
into parts or pieces
To sunder is to split. Torn asunder means torn clean apart.