lambast

In most circumstances now, this verb refers to a severe reprimand or a scolding.

It has its roots in physical punishment for wrongdoing where the perpetrator of an action was beaten or whipped for what they did.

ideology

This noun refers to a collection of ideas, beliefs or doctrines that a particular group, system or country refers to and uses within a society and for governance.

An ideology can be philosophical, economic, political, religious, social and a blend of all or any of the above.

impel

Contrast this verb with the previous one and you’ll find opposites at work.

Impel arises earlier, from 15 Century Latin impellere, meaning to push against, to drive forward. It means to urge or force into action, to motivate them.

Once again, we take degree into account from the context.

Be aware that ‘impel’ can be used in a negative sense to force a person into an action that they do not desire to take.

The resulting outcome (against their wellbeing) is what motivates them to take the action.

alienate

Within this verb there is ‘degree’ which, in this context, means a potentially varying amount of action in the verb itself.

The verb means to divert, to turn away, to cause someone to become indifferent, unfriendly or hostile.

The inherent ‘degree’ in the word relates to the intensity of feelings that arise from the act of alienating someone.

The degree of alienation is usually gained from the context in which the word is used.

gargoyle

Instantly associated with gothic architecture in the Middle Ages this word is the generic name for grotesque sculptures (and amusing caricatures) that abound on the high points of those buildings.

Some gargoyles perform a practical purpose as waterspouts on those buildings.

In some examples, the distorted faces and expressions of the gargoyles were created as caricatures of political and religious figures of the time.

The word arises in 15 Century from the Old French gargouille (throat) which is related to the verb gargouiller to gargle. Perhaps this recalls the sound of water gurgling down the spout…

atrophy

As a noun, this word refers to the wasting away of a plant or organ due to poor nutrition or disease.

As a verb the word captures the degeneration of an organism due to lack of use.

In current speech, I have heard it used as a metaphor in relation to the wasting away of previous practices, systems or attitudes. 

grotesque

In junior school, I was fascinated by the spelling of this word. To my eye, the meaning of the word was fulfilled in the strange look of the word itself.

It is an adjective describing an object which is bizarre, strange or fantastically distorted; even absurd and ludicrous.

It arose in the 16 Century where aspects of the human form, plants and animals were distorted or exaggerated in sculpture or art.

incite/insight

Here is yet another example of two words that have identical phonemes, very different meanings and require different emphasis in their pronunciation.

Incite, the verb, means to stir up or provoke. It arises in the 15 Century from the Latin incitare meaning to excite. To pronounce this accurately, half-stress is found on the first syllable and full stress falls on the second syllable of the word.

Insight is a noun. It refers to the ability of a person to perceive clearly or deeply; perception that is sudden, penetrating and gives significant understanding of a problem or situation. Accurate pronunciation reflects the full stress on the first syllable and half stress on the second syllable of the word.