Vocabulary Mnemonics

July 20, 2024

Matt’s words

Mores (plural noun): customs and conventions of society;

Examples: saying thank you, not inviting yourself in, etc.

Baseball has a set of mores, which include beaning batters and brawling.

Mnemonic: If someone offers you more, you say “thank you.”

Nadir (n): The lowest point; celestially, the point opposite the zenith

The candidate hit his political nadir when he lost the presidency for the third time.

Mnemonic: Think of Ralph Nadir, also finishing the lowest of the presidential candidates.

Sedulous (adj): showing dedication and diligence

The nanny was a sedulous caregiver.

Mnemonic: In Britain they pronounce schedule sort of like the beginning of “sedulous.” A sedulous person uses a schedule. They’re diligent. They’re dedicated.

Quotidian (adj): occurring every day“““`

After finishing her quotidian tasks, Sally went to school.

Mnemonic: Think “quota,” as in hitting a daily sales quota.

Cupidity (n): inordinate desire for wealth

The main driver of the 1849 Gold Rush was cupidity.

Mnemonic: Think of a Cupid “diddy,” as in the rapper. When he shoots you, you fall in love with money.

Dr. Mom’s words

Sitzmark: (n) a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward; a dent left in the snow by one’s rump

“The skier, being a tyro in the sport, left several sitzmarks after inadvertently choosing a black diamond run.

Mnemonic: Picture a person sitting in the snow after falling, then leaving a mark after getting back up.

Shiplap: (n) boards that have been rabbeted (fitting the step-shaped recesses) together with a joint in which they overlap

                 (v) to fit boards together such that one overlaps the one below

“I love the white shiplap my daughter used on the wall surrounding her new fireplace.”

Mnemonic: Imagine the wooden slats used to create a ship. They need to overlap in grooves that don’t allow leakage.

Hiemal: (adj) of or relating to winter

“Oh, to be a bear who gets to sleep during the hiemal period of the year!”

Mnemonic: You live in the “high” country where it is almost perpetually winter, so you wear ther’mals.’

Protean: (adj) of or relating to Proteus, God of the Sea who adopted or existed in many shapes and forms; also, positive connotation of being flexible, versatile, adaptable.

“It’s nice to have a protean family which, while on vacation, is copacetic with plans changing at the last minute.”

Mnemonic #1: If you know Greek mythology, think of Proteus, one of the gods of the sea. He adapts to the environment, changing form easily from river to ocean to creek to lake, etc.

Mnemonic #2: Protean sounds—and looks—like protein, molecules foundational to the human body. Proteins perform a vast array of functions, react in many different ways, vary in structure; in a word, they are flexible.

Ambidexter: (n) one who has two contradictory or incompatible roles; a person who takes bribes from both sides. Synonyms would be a double dealer or double agent; deceitful, hypocritical

“The ambidexter thwarted both the police AND the crooks by bribing unfortunates on both sides.” 

Mnemonic: A man named Dexter is sitting at a table. He is with both his best friend and his coworker, who are in a dispute. Each thinks Dexter is on his side, but, unbeknownst to them, ambidextrous Dexter is reaching under the table taking money from both sides at once.

BIG sentence:

People living in shiplap-adorned homes in hiemal climates, where the nadir of their protean temperatures is sub-zero degrees, tend to be sedulous in following their mores according to a quotidian schedule, rarely leave sitzmarks when skiing, and most assuredly never exhibit cupidity by becoming ambidexters.