Lesson 7: Speaking

Let's start with words that describe the very nature of speech, from easy conversation to feelings that are beyond words.

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• The new manager was so affable that the team felt comfortable approaching her with questions.
• The view from the mountaintop at dawn had an ineffable beauty that left us all silent.

🧠Memory Trick:

• The affable guide tried to describe the ineffable joy of reaching the summit, but words failed him.

This group of words all relates to the power of speech, from a speaker's style to an official command.

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• The coach's dictum was simple: “Practice makes perfect.”
• The city council issued an edict banning fireworks to prevent fires during the dry season.

🧠Memory Trick:

• The dictatorial professor, known for his precise diction, issued a new dictum in the form of an edict that all essays must be submitted a week early.

Whether you're writing a simple song or a formal accusation, these words cover different forms of composition. Pay close attention to the homophones indict and indite!

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• The children sang a charming ditty about farm animals.
• The songwriter was inspired to indite a new ballad after a long walk in the woods.

🧠Memory Trick:

• After the grand jury chose to indict the suspect, the local musician was inspired to indite a sad ditty about the town's troubles.

These words carry the weight of the law, defining control, authority, and what is forbidden.

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• The case was dismissed because the court did not have jurisdiction in that county.
• Following a government interdiction on trade, local businesses had to find new suppliers.

🧠Memory Trick:

• The judge issued a strict interdiction on discussing the case, reminding the lawyers that it fell squarely within his jurisdiction.

Words can be used for powerful ceremonies, from wishing someone ill to bidding them a formal goodbye.

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• The retiring CEO gave a heartfelt valediction, thanking everyone for their hard work over the years.
• In the story, the defeated villain muttered a final malediction against the hero.

🧠Memory Trick:

• The valedictorian's speech was the opposite of a malediction; it was a beautiful valediction wishing the graduating class a bright future.

Let's finish with words that deal with languages themselves, from explaining difficult phrases to knowing many tongues.

Key Words

📝Example Usage:

• Being a polyglot is a great advantage for a diplomat who travels the world.
• The textbook included a gloss at the end of each chapter to define unfamiliar vocabulary.

🧠Memory Trick:

• The tour guide, a true polyglot, provided a helpful gloss for the historical terms on the museum plaque.