Vocabulary Mnemonics

July 6, 2024

Matt’s words

Yankee Doodle (n): foolish or silly person; hick; classless

“Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a pony. Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni.”

Mnemonic: Doodle has a double O. So does “fool.”

Spangle (n): small, glittery object, typically used on clothing; sequin

Spangled (v): to cover something in spangles

The star-spangled banner…

“Taylor Swift’s silver-spangled outfit dazzled the crowd.”

Mnemonic: The national anthem is often sung by a spangled singer. Think of Taylor Swift singing the Star-Spangled Banner in a sparkly outfit.

Usurp (v): To seize and hold by force; take control (with having the right).

Usurp the throne…

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” (From the Declaration of Independence)

Mnemonic (usurpation): Imagine living in a police state. You’re walking down the street and the police say, “You, sir!” Then they give you a pat down, all without cause.

Enfranchise (v): give the right to vote to; to set free

“The movement to enfranchise felons is controversial in many states.”

Disenfranchise: This new law will disenfranchise the poor…

Mnemonic: Focus on “franchise.” Franchise is normally used with fast food franchises today.

Imagine going to vote at a McDonald’s.

Jingoism (n): extreme patriotism, especially referring to foreign policy.

“A wave of jingoism swept the nation…”

“The fanatic’s car was covered with jingoistic bumper stickers.”

Mnemonic: “Jingo” sounds like “jingle.” Turn it into a Pavlov’s dog situation. Every time the bell jingles, “Jingo’s” the person responds with jingoism.

Dr. Mom’s words

Hegemony: (n) leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others

“India was under British hegemony for many years.”

Mnemonic: Break the word down into “He has gems and money.” You imagine this being the person/country in leadership or dominating position over others.

Sovereign: (n) one possessing supreme political power

                   (adj) of the most exalted kind; supreme; superlative in quality

“The sovereign of the island nation was assumed, by extension, to have sovereign virtue in almost every respect.”

Mnemonic #1: “Reign” is at the end of the word, which reminds you that the sovereign is the one who reigns, the supreme leader.

Mnemonic #2: The beginning of the word is “so-ver,” which could look like “so very.” Think of something being “so very _________,” meaning it is the epitome of something, the superlative case.

Abdicate: (v) to relinquish something—usually sovereign power—formally; to cast off

“The camp leader abdicated her responsibility for the campers when she left them alone to go into town.”

Mnemonic: “Ab” means away, off, or from (think “absent”), and dicate sounds and looks like dictate. Combine these to think of an absent dictator/leader.

Magnanimity: (n) the fact or condition of being magnanimous (meaning generous, charitable, benevolent)

“Though deliberations took quite some time, both sides in the dispute made an effort to show magnanimity.”

Mnemonic: The word begins with “mag,” as in magnet. What draws you to another person? If a person is friendly, or displays “amity,” which is almost how the word ends. So magnanimity is the “magnetic amity,” or the attraction you feel toward another due to their friendliness.

Fealty: (n) the intense fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord, or in general; loyalty, faithfulness

“Sports fans often exhibit intense fealty to their favorite hometown teams.”

Mnemonic: “I feel you to a tee.” Think of feeling such a closeness with someone that you’re almost the same person. You would be completely loyal to this person.

BIG sentence:

The oft-spangled queen, accused of being a Yankee Doodle, jingoistic, hegemonic, disenfranchising, and usurping sovereign by her detractors, decided in a magnanimous gesture, and out of fealty to her subjects, to abdicate her throne, subtly whistling “Yankee Doodle” on her way out.