Vocabulary Mnemonics

October 19, 2024

Matt’s words

Covert (adj): concealed, secret, or disguised

In order to stay concealed, the undercover cop will wear a disguise when performing a covert operation.

Mnemonic: Think of the military. They do things under the cloak of darkness and are concealed. Think of being “covered” or under”cover.”

Plaintiff (n): a person who brings suit in a court of law

The plaintiff complained so much during the trial that the judge finally slammed down his gavel and shouted, “Stop complaining!”

Mnemonic: Put “com” in front of “plaintiff.” The “com-plaintiff” is the one with the complaint against someone.

Plaudit (n): an enthusiastic expression of approval

When the Denver Broncos won the Superbowl, they earned the plaudits of Matt and Dad. In fact, the two stood applauding in the living room for many hours after the game ended.

Mnemonic: Plaudit sounds sort of like “applaud.” We applaud/clap after something we approve of or like; i.e. a concert or game. So when you see the word plaudit, just try and see applaud in the word.

Crepuscular (adj): of, pertaining to, or resembling morning twilight

Before the sun comes up, all the crepuscular insects and bats creep around and frighten anyone who happens to be outside during those twilight hours.

Mnemonic: You can see “creep” at the beginning of the word. Think of creepy-crawly creatures that appear outside in those morning twilight hours.

Curtail (v): to cut short or cut off a part of; abridge, reduce, diminish

After a rat with a cut-off tail dashed across the stage, the president was forced to curtail his speech.

Mnemonic: Break the word into two parts: curt and tail. Curt means short, as in a curt response. So combine that with tail and think of something with a short or cut-off tail. That leaves you with curtail, which is to cut short, abridge, or cut off a part of.

Dr. Mom’s words

Euphoria (n): a state of pleasant excitement or elation

The success of the Air Jordan basketball shoes put Nike executives into a state of euphoria.

Mnemonic:  The word “euphoria” begins almost like “you” are “for” something. It’s going well. You feel pleasant excitement. You are for it!

Fracas (n): a noisy quarrel

The cacophony coming from the downstairs bedroom concerned Mom; she thought there must be a developing fracas among her lovely children.

Mnemonic: Sometimes when a child isn’t behaving well, the parent might call him/her a little “cuss.” A cuss would likely be involved in a fracas.

Ignominiuos (adj): shameful, marked by or attended with ignominy; discreditable; humiliating; an ignominious retreat

After boasting of his massive size and superhuman power, Goliath suffered an ignominious death at the hands of young David.

Mnemonic: In the middle of the word, you have “mini.” When you’re doing something wrong, you should feel ashamed and minimized, very small. You are a mini version of yourself, behaving in an ignominious way.

Chagrin (n): a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation

The coach was chagrined to learn that some of his players hated his guts.

Mnemonic: If you do feel chagrined, you wouldn’t necessarily be wearing a grin.

Inure (v): to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; to toughen or harden; to habituate to

It should be no shock to hear that people who live in northern Alaska become inured to frigid weather.

Mnemonic: The beginning sounds like “in your… .” Expand this to, “In your own way.” If you figure out a way to get used to something you’ve inured yourself by doing it in your own way.

Big sentences:

This week, you’re going to curtail your studying just a bit. Feel the euphoria of the holiday season. Don’t be chagrined; there’s nothing ignominious about causing a good-natured fracas with your family. It might even earn you plaudits in the crepuscular moments of the new year.