Vocabulary Mnemonics

December 7, 2024

Matt’s words

Come a cropper (v): suffer a defeat or disaster

Hitler had learned the lesson of World War I – that Germany could not win a war of attrition – and his policy in the first two years of World War II had been blitzkrieg. But in the late fall of 1941 his lightning war came a cropper in Russia. – D-Day by Stephen Ambrose

Mnemonic: Cropped sounds similar to getting scalped, which happens when you’re defeated in a battle.

Vomitory (n): passage that allows people to enter or leave a stadium; entrance to amphitheater or stadium

The crowd spewed through the vomitory to get out of the stadium.

The vomitories are of the most perfect design for utility, and still remain in complete preservation, all vaulted over with admirable workmanship. – James Finn

Mnemonic: The same way vomit “spews,” crowds spew through vomitories.

Turn Turtle (v):flip over; turn upside-down

When the waves hit, I worried we would turn turtle.

(metaphorically) The evening turned turtle when my ex showed up.

Mnemonic: Think of a turtle flipped over, helpless.

Supercilious (adj): behaving like you’re superior; raising an eyebrow at someone (metaphorically)

When the peasant failed to chew her mouth during dinner, the queen gave her a supercilious stare.

Mnemonic: Think about how others look at you when you act “super silly.”

Gall and wormwood (n):strong feelings of bitterness and resentment

Use in place of “disappointing.”

Everything in German military tradition cried out for taking the offensive. But Hitler could not attack his enemies, at least not until his secret weapon came on line. It was gall and wormwood to him, but he had to stay on the defensive. – D-Day by Stephen Ambrose

The losses were gall and wormwood to the proud coach.

Mnemonic: Think of the “gall of bitterness.” Gall is bile. Wormwood is a bitter plant.

Dr. Mom’s words

Imprimatur (n): permission to do something, formal approval and support

Auntie Lulu donned her favorite Mozart t-shirt to publicly display her imprimatur for this famous musician.

Mnemonic: The word looks like “imprint” at the beginning and comes from the Latin, “Let it be printed.” It was a stamp of approval and permission for a document or piece of work.

Engender (v): to beget; to produce; to cause to exist; to generate

Auntie Lulu’s subsequent suggestion that the whole family attend a performance of Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni, that evening didn’t engender much excitement.

Mnemonic: From the Latin, engender is synonymous with generate. You produce something. You are the engine, the driver.

Pragmatic (adj): relating to what is practical as opposed to idealistic; sticking to the facts

Disappointed as she was, Lulu knew it wasn’t pragmatic for her to attempt to convince her loved ones of the merits of classic opera.

Mnemonic: Change “prag” to “prac,” as in practical. You are a prac-matic, practical person.

Acerbic (adj): tasting sour or bitter; a style of speaking which is sharp, forthright, even biting

Instead of using persuasion, Lulu, somewhat uncharacterically, let fly an acerbic comment about the family’s unsophistication.

Mnemonic: “Acerbic” begins sounding a little like “acid,” which is biting, bitter, corrosive.

Reticent (adj): inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech; reserved; restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance; reluctant

In the end, cousin Rhett was sent in to smooth things over and suggested that, as an alternate activity, they all stay at home and watch the ever-exciting “Out of Africa.”  

Mnemonic: Think of your relative Rhett, always reserved and careful in his speech. So “Rhett is sent” to keep the situation calm because he doesn’t say much.

BIG sentence:

When life comes a cropper on you at the hands of acerbic people, engendering in you a desire to just turn turtle on everything, put away the gall and wormwood, avoid those supercilious individuals and their imprimatur of superiority, and instead embrace a pragmatic reticence as you seek a better vomitory to your future.