charisma

This noun has a deep history. The word’s source can be traced to its Indo-European roots (gher-) and traced into ancient Greek (kharis, meaning favour) turning into the verb, to favour (kharizesthai) which shifted its meaning once more in the Greek [kharisma] to imply a bestowed, divine favour. It was this meaning that was embraced by ecclesiastical leaders in the 1600s.

It is currently used in two broad contexts. One usage remains close to the original source – that of a particular, rare quality in a person which enables them to influence or inspire large numbers of people. The other meaning takes on a populist quality relating to the magnetism or charm of an individual, who is able to inspire and influence others through this unique quality.

mortify

This verb means ‘to humiliate’ or ‘to cause to feel shame’.  

It can apply to individuals feeling their own humiliation or shame and to people who make others feel humiliated or shamed.

Arising from ‘mortificare’- to put to death – which is found in Church Latin during Medieval times, this is the morbid origin of the word.

fallacious (adjective) and fallacy (noun)

Let’s start with the noun – fallacy.

This is an incorrect or inaccurate idea or statement that is misleading as it is based on inaccurate facts or invalid reasoning.

The noun refers to the invalid item itself and to the tendency of an item to mislead because its basis is inaccurate.

'Fallacious' as an adjective, describes the illogical, erroneous or misleading statement, event or idea.

legion (and legions of followers)

Drawn into English from Old French in the 13 Century legere (to choose), from the Latin legio, history and longevity are inherent in this noun.

Initially, it referred to a specific Roman military unit of infantry supported with cavalry which ranged from 3 to 6 thousand men.

It expanded its meaning to apply to any large military force e.g the French Foreign Legion.

Then it shifted into being an association of ex-servicemen eg the British Legion.

Currently, but not exclusively it refers to a large mass, usually of people as in ‘a legion of followers’. 

Increasingly, I see it applied to other ‘masses’ or ‘groups’ especially as an exaggeration in humorous contexts; for instance, ‘a legion of horseflies at the Melbourne Cup’.

gentry

This noun has travelled through time to express the notion of the elite and the highest level of social status in various countries.

See its journey in the following words: patricians, lords, nobles, aristocracy, peerage and similar.

Its origins are found in 14 Century Old French genterie from gentil meaning gentle.

Be aware that while it usually refers to those of noble birth and high rank in society, it can be used as a put down in some contexts.

Make sure you understand the intention of the writer or speaker when you come across it. Are they being respectful or derogatory?

feasible

Drawn into English via Anglo-French in 15^th Century, this adjective means able to be done - possible, or likely to be done – probable.

The degree of its meaning will be made clear in the sentence’s context. Be sure your interpretation of ‘possible’ or ‘probable’ is accurate!

germane

This adjective is often followed by ‘to’. It means relevant to, pertinent to, related to, significant to…

Generally it occurs in the context of ideas, recommendations and concepts.

hyperbole

Arising from the Greek hyper (enlarge or increase) + bole (meaning to throw) this lovely word carries the meaning of intense, over-exaggeration.

Its synonyms include magnification, amplification and enlargement.

Notice that sight, sound and sensation are increased extensively to capture the exaggeration, hype and overstatement inherent in the word.

ballast - noun and verb

Here is another example of how words take on additional resonances while drawing on the central meaning of their origin. Notice the history in ‘ballast’ which is both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, this word refers to the dense, heavy material that stabilises a ship or similar seafaring vessel which is not carrying its cargo or a full load.

It is thought to have arisen from Old German (16 Century) via Old Danish or Old Swedish from bar (bare, mere) + last (load)

The word is used in building contexts where the crushed rock is used to stabilise road or rail foundations.

More recently, it is used in electronics as the name for the device that maintains current flow in a circuit.

It can be used as a verb where to ballast means to stabilise or give weight to an object.

gratuitous

A few months ago I came across this adjective in the international news pages of my local paper. It was used in the context of needless and wanton violence perpetrated by a state on its citizens.

In work contexts it can be applied to behaviours, actions and attitudes that are unjustified and unwarranted. 

If you are going to use gratuitous in this context, be able to back up your statements and observations with evidence.

perspicacity

In professional contexts this noun refers to the qualities of a person who has insight, acumen and discernment.

effete

As an adjective, this word can be applied to a person’s character or a person’s or object’s state of being.

In the context of character, effete means cowardly, weak-willed, wimpish or ineffectual.

In the context of a state of being, it means worn-out, spent or wasted. It can also refer to a sterile, barren, unproductive state.

nepotism

A favourite of some journalists, nepotism means just that – the favouritism shown to members of their family (or their friends) by people in positions of power and influence.

Historically, the use of the word can be traced to 17 Century Italian and the former papal practice of bestowing special favours to nephews and other relatives.

It arises from the Italian nepotismo derived from nepote meaning nephew.

transform

This verb means to change or be changed radically in form or function, as an object or process.

 The same verb can apply to people whose thoughts, deeds and emotions have been radically changed by themselves or others.

Use the word wisely, as it holds within it the concept of depth and breadth in change and the changes being made.

constraint

This noun refers to a mechanism, physical or emotional, that prevents a person from taking action due to threatened violence or damage to themselves or their property.

The word can be applied to the situation of being restricted, the person doing the restriction or the person being affected by the restriction.

Plan your sentence with care in order to position the word accurately and demonstrate its meaning in the sentence.

bombast, the noun and bombastic, the adjective

In a most particular sense, bombast (the noun) and the resulting adjective, bombastic, refer to pompous and grandiloquent use of language.

Its meaning has expanded to include people being pretentious, flamboyant or boastful in social contexts.

The history of word has little to do with its current use. The now obsolete meaning refers to material used for padding, from the Medieval ‘bombax’ – cotton. 

In this context, look at bombacaceous – a family of tropical trees eg kapok (from which ancient tribes sourced a type of cotton – West Africa, South East Asia and Indonesia) and baobab with very thick stems that have water-storage capacity.

The adjective bombastic arises from the same source…. Just love the picture – a person as full of words as the baobab tree is full to bursting with water!

flamboyant

This vivid adjective captures a theatrical, showy, extravagant, striking way of being in gesture, clothing and physical presentation.

Use it with care as it can carry positive and negative connotations which will be attached to the use of the word in its unique context.

violate

Also a verb, this word means to break, disregard or infringe an agreement or the law.

In particular contexts, it means to sexually assault or rape a person and, in relation to places of worship and memorials, to break in upon and disturb a sanctuary.

It arises from 15 Century Latin violare which means to use strength to do violence to someone or something.

vindicate

In the majority of sentences, this verb means to clear from guilt, accusation or blame by means of evidence or argument.

Also, it can be used to provide justification for a particular quality in a person.

In addition, it is used in the context of upholding, maintaining or defending a cause or a a principle.

atrium

Originally, the main central court of a Roman house which was open to the air, this word has several, specific meanings.

It is the central, glass-roofed hall that can extend through several storeys in a building such as a shopping centre or hotel.

Atrium also referred to a court in front of an early Christian or medieval church, especially those flanked by colonnades.

In medical contexts, it refers to a cavity or chamber in the body such as the chambers of the heart.