The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

26 Chapter 1 Words About People22. gauche (adjective) gòshawkward; lacking in social graces and mannersAt her wedding, the gauche bride complained about her gifts.The gauche man wiped his mouth on his sleeve.Right Is RightIn many languages, words that refer to the right side are positive, and wordsthat refer to the left side are negative. Two words in this chapter have roots inthe concepts of “right” or “left.” In French, à droit means “to the right,” and inboth French and English, adroit is a positive word meaning “skillful.” Gauche,French for “left,” means “socially awkward” or “clumsy” in English.23. novice (noun) nŏv˘sbeginner; person in a new situationThe expert chef patiently taught the novice how to make sauces.NOTES: (1) Novice can be used as an adjective: Novice skaters oftenfall on the ice. (2) A novice can be a person who has entered a religiousorder but has not taken final vows.24. stoic (adjective, noun) stò˘ka. not showing the effects of pain or pleasure (adjective)The stoic child bore the painful medical procedures withoutcomplaining.Skilled card players maintain stoic expressions and do notreveal how good—or bad—their hands are.b. a person not showing the effects of pain or pleasure (noun)The stoic never talked about her disability. Related Wordstoicism (noun) (stòß-s˘zßm) Workers accepted the low payand harsh working conditions with stoicism.NOTE: In modern English usage, stoic is usually associated withpain or misfortune, so it often means “uncomplaining,” or calmlyaccepting what is bad or painful.A Philosophical PorchA Stoic was a follower of an ancient Greek school of philosophical thought thatoriginated in 308 BCE (before common era). The philosopher Zeno taught thatbecause gods had made the world, it was perfect. Therefore, human beingsmust accept their fates without expressing sorrow or joy. The word stoic istaken from the covered porch (stoa in Greek) where Zeno taught.Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.