November 30, 2024
Matt’s words
Noblesse oblige (n): the obligation that comes with a high birth rank; “Nobility obligates”
Richard Ngo on X: For meritocracy to be sustainable, I think we’ll need to bring back a version of noblesse oblige. If you’re talented enough to be at the top, you have a duty to empower the rest of your society.
Mnemonic: The French words are close to their English counterparts – try to see the English in the French.
Contronym (n): a word with two opposite meanings
Examples:
–Peruse: to read deeply; to skim
–Bolt: to secure something; to run away
–Apology: to express remorse; to defend
Mnemonic: Think synonym but with “contra” at the front. Think “co” as in “two.”
Propitious (adj): indicating a good chance of success;
The fact that the star player arrived early, well-rested, and ready to go seemed propitious to the coach.
Mnemonic: Pro at the beginning of the word: short for “positive” and “prophetic”
Salient (adj): standing out; prominent
A salient point…
His most salient feature was the bulbous nose.
Mnemonic: Think of a sail – it stands out, even from a long ways away
Indubitable (adj): unable to doubt
From Mary Poppins – Bert says it
His testimony was indubitable.
Mnemonic: “In” means “not.” “Dub” is short for “doubt.”
Dr. Mom’s words
Regnant (adj): exercising rule; having the greatest influence, chief power; dominant
The regnant belief at the school board meeting was that cell phones don’t belong in class.
Within many of our most crucial institutions, suppositions that would have been considered the height of lunacy even a few years ago have become regnant overnight. —Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 27 June 2023
Mnemonic #1: The regent (the person who governs a kingdom in the absence of the sovereign) is the person with regnant power.
Mnemonic #2: It rhymes with and looks like pregnant. Your regnant thoughts while you’re pregnant are on your baby.
Dun (v): to persistently demand payment of a debt
Collectors will likely start dunning you a few weeks after April 15 if you haven’t paid your taxes.
Mnemonic #1: Being in debt is an awful feeling. You want to be “done” with debt so dunners don’t come dunning.
Mnemonic #2: Shortened form of Dunkirk, a port city in northern France. Privateers—private vessels licensed to attack enemy ships and collect booty, or payment—often sailed from there.
Anodyne (n): a painkilling drug or medicine; analgesic
(adj): not likely to provoke dissent or offense; bland, innocuous, neutral
She gave such anodyne responses in her testimony that nobody learned a thing.
Mnemonic: Isolate the “nodyne” part of the word and think of “no dyin’.” There’ll be no dying because you’’ve alleviated the pain you felt through the anodyne properties of the medication you’re taking. And nobody’s dyin’ because of what you said because you didn’t say anything meaningful or interesting.
Petulant (adj): moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation; sulky, moody; rude in speech or behavior; characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor; peevish
She acted like a petulant child who had been refused what she wanted.
Mnemonic: Think of being teacher’s pet by being totally agreeable and obedient. Well, when you’re petulant, “pet you ain’t,” not with that behavior.
Arcane (adj): known or knowable to only a few people; secret, mysterious, obscure
Sometimes the hardest thing about understanding math is the arcane notation.
Mnemonic: Think of Noah’s ark. The spelling is different, but you can imagine that few people can comprehend how Noah accomplished the task of pairing up animals and getting them in a boat. It’s a mystery!
BIG sentence:
The queen mistakenly believed she would have propitious results, due to her noblesse oblige and her supposed ability to comprehend contronyms and arcane facts, that she could indubitably accomplish her regnant, salient responsibilities vis a vis her petulant subjects, such as the dunning of their taxes, by droning on about anodyne projects absolutely necessary to the kingdom.
Vocabulary Mnemonics 
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