Lesson 3 Personality Traits and Attitudes I

Lesson 3 Personality Traits and Attitudes I

Are you personable or petulant? Perfidious or punctilious? The 20 words in this chapter identify some of the characteristics that describe who we are and how we behave.

blithe (bl¯th) adj. lighthearted, casual, and carefree.

Rachel’s blithe attitude toward spending money left her penniless and in debt. 

bumptious (bump·shu˘s) adj. arrogant, conceited.

The bumptious man could not stop talking about himself or looking in the mirror.

 

capricious (ka˘·prish·u˘s) adj. impulsive, whimsical, and unpredictable. Robin

Williams, the comedian, demonstrates a most capricious nature even when he is not performing.

churlish (chur·l˘sh) adj. ill-mannered, boorish, rude.

Angelo’s churlish remarks made everyone at the table uncomfortable and ill at ease. 

circumspect (sur·ku˘m·spekt) adj. cautious, wary, watchful.

The captain was circumspect as he guided the boat through the fog.

craven (kray·ve˘n) adj. cowardly. “

This craven act of violence will not go unpunished,” remarked the police chief. 

diffident (dif·i·de˘nt) adj. lacking self-confidence; shy and timid.

Alan’s diffident nature is often misinterpreted as arrogance.

gregarious (re˘·air·i·u˘s) adj.

1. seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable.

2. tending to form a group with others of the same kind.

 

John was a gregarious fellow who always had fun at social events.

irascible (i·ras·˘·be˘l) adj. irritable, easily aroused to anger; hot tempered.

Her irascible temperament caused many problems with the staff at the office.

overweening (oh·ve˘r·wee·nin) adj.

1. presumptuously arrogant, overbearing.

2. excessive, immoderate.

I quit because I couldn’t stand to work for such an overweening boss.

perfidious (pe˘r·fid·i·u˘s) adj. treacherous, dishonest; violating good faith, disloyal.

The perfidious knight betrayed his king.

personable (pur·so˘·na˘·be˘l) adj. pleasing in appearance or manner; attractive.

Sandra is personable and well-liked by her peers.

petulant (pech·u·la˘nt) adj. peevish; unreasonably or easily irritated or annoyed.

The pouting and sulking child could only be described as petulant.

pretentious (pri·ten·shu˘s) adj. showy, pompous, putting on airs.

Hannah thinks that being pretentious will make people like her, but she is sorely mistaken.

puerile (pyoo·e˘·r˘l) adj.

1. childish, immature.

2. suitable only for children; belonging to or of childhood.

Andrew is a remarkably successful businessman for someone so puerile.

 punctilious (punk·til·i·u˘s) adj. very conscientious and precise; paying great attention to details or trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette.

Kira is as punctilious in her personal affairs as she is in the workplace.

sagacious (sa˘·ay·shu˘s) adj. having or showing sound judgment; perceptive, wise.

My sagacious uncle always gives me good, sound advice.

sanguine (san·win) adj.

1. confidently cheerful, optimistic.

2. of the color of blood; red.

People are drawn to her because of her sanguine and pleasant nature.

saturnine (sat·u˘r·n¯n) adj. gloomy, dark, or sullen.

The saturnine child sulked for hours.

surly (sur·lee) adj. bad-tempered, gruff, or unfriendly in a way that suggests menace.

Emily received a surly greeting from the normally cheerful receptionist.