NYT article: Oxford's 2020 Word of the Year

NYT article: Oxford's 2020 Word of the Year

Vocabulary Lesson

protean

• adjective

  
  

  tending or able to change frequently or easily."it is difficult to comprehend the whole of this protean subject"

• Synonyms: ever-changing, variable, changeable, mutable, kaleidoscopic

Multiple Choice

A synonym for protean

is __________________.

• changeable

• ordinary

• unique

• old-fashioned

linguistic

• adjective

• relating to language

• Synonyms: semantic, verbal, lingual, rhetorical, expressive

Multiple Choice

Linguistic refers to

________________.

• spelling

• pronunciation

• language

• punctuation

zeitgeisty

• adjective (zite guysty)

• related to the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time.

• the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

• Synonyms: spirit, feeling, tone, flavor, climate

Multiple Select

Examples of 2020 zeitgeist are __________.

• lack of toilet paper

• hot rods

• rock concerts

• face masks

neologisms

• noun (nee-ol-uh-jiz-uhm )

• a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.

• a new utterance

• Synonyms: coinage, slang, buzz word

Multiple Choice

Which of the following words would qualify as a neologism?

• pandemic

• social distancing

• quarantine

• vaccine

lexicographic

• adjective

• related to the process of compiling dictionaries

Multiple Choice

Based on word parts, one can conclude "lexi" most likely means _________.

• book

• female

• word

• study

Multiple Choice

Based on word parts, one can conclude "lexi" most likely means _________.

• book

• female

• word

• study

forgone

• verb (used with object),

• to abstain or refrain from; do without.

• to give up, renounce, or resign.

• Synonyms: abandon, abstain, forsake.pass up

Multiple Select

Which sentences below use "forgone" correctly?

• We would have forgone the field trip due to rain, but we couldn't get a refund.

• The farmer has forgone this year's corn crop since it was infested with worms.

• The fast runner has forgone his opponent and won the race.

• I looked for my parents at the store, but then I realized they had forgone.

scale

• noun

• a succession or progression of steps or degrees; graduated series:

  the scale of taxation; the social scale.

• Synonyms: extent, range, scope, size

Multiple Choice

Which definition of scale best fits the context sentence below?

The scale of of the disaster was far worse than the experts predicted.

• tool for measuring weight

• a part of a fish's body

• size

• a key

scope

• noun

• extent or range of view, outlook, application, operation, effectiveness, etc.:

  an investigation of wide scope.

• Synonyms: breadth, capacity

corpus

• noun

• a large or complete collection of writings:

  the entire corpus of Old English poetry.

• Synonyms: bulk, collection, compilation

coinage

• noun

• the act or process of inventing words; neologizing.

• an invented or newly created word or phrase

• Synonyms: originate, invent

stalwart

• adjective

• firm, steadfast, or uncompromising:

  a stalwart supporter of the U.N.

• Synonyms: dependable, fearless, staunch

obscure

• adjective

• not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive

•  not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract

• Synonyms: ambiguous, complicated, confusing

collocate

• verb

• to set or place together, especially side by side.

• to arrange in proper order:

  to collocate words in a sentence

• Synonyms: to arrange, to pair. to assemble

retronym

• noun

• a term coined in modification of an original term that was used alone (as acoustic guitar instead of guitar) to distinguish it from a term referring to a later development (as electric guitar). Other examples of retronyms are snail mail and analog watch.

• Synonym: new name

nostalgia

• noun

• a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time:

  a nostalgia for his college days.

• Synonyms: longing, wistfulness, yearning

portmanteau word

• noun

• a word that combines the form and meaning of two or more other words; a blend.

Figures of Speech

• run-of-the-mill- average, commonplace, mediocre

• neck-and-neck-So close that the advantage or lead shifts from one to the other or is virtually indistinguishable

• ho-hum - dull, boring, or routine; so-so:

  a ho-hum performance.

Figures of Speech

• weight of the world - used in reference to a very heavy burden of worry or responsibility.

  "he continues to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders"