Word Power Made Easy

Sessions 45-46: Personal Characteristics

Let's learn 10 new words for a variety of personal traits, all "full of" meaning.

The 10 "-ous" Words

These sessions focus on adjectives ending in "-ous," a Latin suffix meaning "full of."

Obsequious
Querulous
Supercilious
Obstreperous
Impecunious
Chivalrous
Innocuous
Bibulous
Cadaverous
Dolorous

Obsequious

(ob-SEE-kwee-us)

Overly polite, servile, and fawning.
Full of "following" (`sequor`) someone's orders.

The Root: SEQUOR

SEQUOR
(Latin: "to follow")

Obsequious

Too willing to "follow" or obey; like a sycophant.

Sequel

(SEE-kwul)

From `sequor`.
A work that "follows" another.

Sequence

(SEE-kwens)

From `sequor`.
A "following" order.

Querulous

(KWER-uh-lus)

Full of complaints; complaining in a whining manner.

The Root: QUEROR

QUEROR
(Latin: "to complain")

Querulous

Full of "complaints."

Supercilious

(soo-per-SIL-ee-us)

Haughty, snobbish, and contemptuous.
Full of raising an "eyebrow" (`cilium`).

The Roots: SUPER + CILIUM

SUPER-
(above)

+

CILIUM
(eyebrow)

Supercilious

Looking down on others with a raised "eyebrow."

Obstreperous

(ob-STREP-er-us)

Noisy, unruly, and difficult to control.
Full of "making a noise" (`strepo`) against authority.

Impecunious

(im-pih-KYOO-nee-us)

Having little or no money; poor.
"Not" (`im-`) having "cattle" (`pecus`).

The Root: PECUS

PECUS
(Latin: "cattle")

Impecunious

In ancient times, wealth was measured in "cattle." Having no cattle meant you were poor.

Pecuniary

(pih-KYOO-nee-er-ee)

From `pecus`.
Relating to or consisting of money.

Chivalrous

(SHIV-ul-rus)

Courteous and gallant, especially toward women.
Like a knight on a "horse."

The Root: CABALLUS

CABALLUS
(Latin: "horse")

Chivalrous / Cavalry / Cavalier

All relate to "horses." Knights (chevaliers) rode horses.

Cavalier

(kav-uh-LEER)

Showing a lack of proper concern; offhand.
(From the haughty attitude of a "horseman" looking down on foot soldiers.)

Cavalry

(KAV-ul-ree)

Soldiers who fight on "horseback."

Equine

(EE-kwyne)

From `equus` (another Latin root for "horse").
Relating to horses.

Innocuous

(ih-NOK-yoo-us)

Not harmful or offensive.
"Not" (`in-`) "harmful" (`nocuus`).

Noxious

(NOK-shus)

From `nocuus` (harmful).
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.

Bibulous

(BIB-yuh-lus)

Excessively fond of drinking alcohol.
From `bibo` (to drink).

Imbibe

(im-BYBE)

To drink (especially alcohol); to absorb ideas or knowledge.

Cadaverous

(kuh-DAV-er-us)

Very pale, thin, or bony; like a corpse.

The Root: CADO

CADO
(Latin: "to fall")

Cadaver / Cadaverous

A corpse is a "fallen" body.

Decadent

(DEK-uh-dunt)

From `de-` (down) + `cado` (to fall).
Characterized by a state of moral or cultural "falling down" or decline.

Dolorous

(DOH-ler-us)

Full of pain or sorrow; mournful.

The Root: DOLEO

DOLEO
(Latin: "to suffer, grieve")

Dolorous / Doleful

Full of suffering or grief.

Condolence

(kun-DOH-luns)

From `con-` (with) + `doleo` (to grieve).
An expression of sympathy; "grieving with" someone.

Sessions 45-46 Review

You've learned 10 "-ous" words ("full of"):

Obsequious: Full of following (`sequor`)
Querulous: Full of complaining (`queror`)
Supercilious: Full of raised eyebrows (`cilium`)
Obstreperous: Full of noise (`strepo`)
Impecunious: "Not" full of cattle (`pecus`)
Chivalrous: Full of horsemanship (`caballus`)
Innocuous: "Not" full of harm (`nocuus`)
Bibulous: Full of drinking (`bibo`)
Cadaverous: Like a "fallen" body (`cado`)
Dolorous: Full of grief (`doleo`)

Quiz Time: True or False

Let's test your understanding with questions from the book.

Based on what you've learned, are these statements True or False?

Quiz: True or False (1-10)

Quiz: True or False (11-15)

Quiz: Can you recall the words?

Let's test your recall from the book.

Fill in the blank with the word that fits the definition.

Quiz: Fill in the Blanks (1-5)

1. Fawning, servile, overly polite.

2. Full of complaints, nagging.

3. Haughty, snobbish, contemptuous.

4. Noisy and unruly.

5. Habitually without money, poor.

Quiz: Fill in the Blanks (6-10)

6. Gallant and courteous to women.

7. Harmless.

8. Fond of drinking alcohol.

9. Pale, gaunt, corpselike.

10. Sad, mournful, full of grief.

Quiz: Can you work with the words?

Let's match the words with their meanings.

Select the correct definition from the dropdown for each word.

Quiz: Matching (1-5)

1. obsequious

2. querulous

3. supercilious

4. obstreperous

5. impecunious

Quiz: Matching (6-10)

6. chivalrous

7. innocuous

8. bibulous

9. cadaverous

10. dolorous

Quiz: Matching Roots (1-6)

1. sequor

2. queror

3. cilium

4. strepo

5. pecus

6. caballus

Quiz: Matching Roots (7-10)

7. nocuus

8. bibo

9. cado

10. doleo

Your Quiz Score

Let's see how you did on the quizzes!

Review: The 10 Words

Obsequious: Overly servile, "following"
Querulous: "Complaining"
Supercilious: Haughty, "raised eyebrow"
Obstreperous: Noisy, unruly
Impecunious: Poor, "no cattle"
Chivalrous: Gallant, "horsemanship"
Innocuous: "Not harmful"
Bibulous: Fond of "drinking"
Cadaverous: Pale, "fallen" body
Dolorous: Sad, "grieving"

Review: Key Roots

SEQUOR: to follow
QUEROR: to complain
SUPER: above + CILIUM: eyebrow
PECUS: cattle
CABALLUS / EQUUS: horse
NOCUUS: harmful
BIBO: to drink
CADO: to fall
DOLEO: to grieve

Congratulations!

You have completed the presentation for Sessions 45-46.

Next Up: The Final Review
(Session 47)