Overview
Greetings and welcome back to the fifth part of our series on advanced vocabulary for effective writing. This article explores the subtleties of words like pusillanimous, quiddity, and more, providing examples and illustrations to improve your writing. A mnemonic device will also be given at the conclusion to aid the audience in learning all of these terms by heart. Overall, it is anticipated that this piece will be just as educational and captivating as the others in the series.
List of Words
The following words have been covered in this article.
Extant
Persisting in existence, especially from a previous time; enduring despite the passage of years or the potential for destruction.
Example: The only extant works of the playwright are his early comedies.
Cortege
A formal procession of people or vehicles, particularly one of a grand or elaborate nature, such as might follow a hearse at a funeral.
Example: The cortege moved slowly through the streets, followed by mourners.
Quiddity
The inherent essence or defining characteristic of a thing that captures its unique nature and distinguishes it from all others.
Example: The quiddity of her argument was that all people deserve equal rights.
Stoic
Exhibiting little to no outward emotion, particularly in difficult or challenging circumstances; maintaining a composed and unemotional demeanor.
Example: Despite the chaos around him, he remained stoic and focused.
Peregrinations
The act of traveling from place to place, especially on foot over an extended period of time, often for exploration or knowledge seeking.
Example: His peregrinations took him to remote corners of the globe.
Beguile
To charm or enchant someone in a way that is deceptive or misleading, often through flattery or amusement that cleverly clouds their judgment.
Example: She was beguiled by his smooth talk and handsome features.
Animus
Intense hostility or animosity; a deep-seated feeling of ill will or antagonism directed towards another person or group.
Example: There was a clear animus between the two rival politicians.
Degenerate
To deteriorate or decline in quality, character, or moral standards; to regress from a higher state to a lower one, often marked by corruption or decay.
Example: The conversation quickly degenerated into a heated argument.
Gelid
Bitterly or intensely cold, producing a sensation of numbness or stiffness due to the low temperature.
Example: The gelid winds of the Arctic chilled us to the bone.
Pusillanimous
Lacking courage or bravery; exhibiting cowardice or timidity in the face of danger or difficulty.
Example: The pusillanimous response to the challenge disappointed everyone.
Mnemonic Technique
Visualizing the following scenario can help you recall each word based on its place and role in the narrative.
“Elias, a stoic scholar, ventured through gelid ruins, his peregrinations driven by the quiddity of a lost civilization. A hidden passage, half-buried and extant, beguiled him. Inside, a magnificent cortege of statues depicted a vibrant society. But as he delved deeper, animus rose within him. The once-proud figures devolved into hunched, pusillanimous forms, their demise a chilling testament to becoming degenerate. The answer, an extant echo, remained hidden. Elias emerged, forever haunted by this encounter, determined to share this cautionary tale”.