DidacticDidactic

They said it [my speech] should be something suitable to youth-something didactic, instructive, or something in the nature of good advice.

-Mark Twain

DidacticDidactic

Definition: Definition: intending to teach a intending to teach a lesson lesson (on back)(on back)Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Didacticadvisory, edifying, enlightening, instructive, pedagogic, pedantic, preceptive, sermonic, teacherly

didakt (Grk)—instructiveic (Grk-L-Fr)—forms adjectives

I imagined writing a didactic novel that would change the hearts and minds of men and women.

BeseechBeseech

Definition: Definition: to beg or implore to beg or implore (on back)(on back)

Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Beseechappeal, ask, entreat, implore, importune, invoke, petition, plead, pray, solicit, sue, supplicate

bi (M.E.)—to begsecen (M.E.)—to seek

She wept and earnestly beseeched the driver to stop.

TemperateTemperate

Definition: Definition: moderate; not extreme (on back)(on back)Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Temperateagreeable, balmy, conservative, dispassionate, fair, modest, regulated, restrained, self-controlled, self-restrained, sober, unexcessive, unextreme

temper (M.E.)—restraintate (L)—suffix to make adjectives

I knew he was a temperate man when he did not respond to the yelling woman.

DiligenceDiligence

Definition: Definition: constant and earnest effort (on back)(on back)

Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Diligenceactivity, alertness, assiduity, assiduousness, attentiveness, constancy, heedfulness, intent, keenness, laboriousness, pertinacity

diligent (L)—attentiveence (L)—suffix to make nouns

The diligence of her study habits resulted in her being named class valedictorian.

EminenceEminence

Definition: Definition: high station or rank (on (on back)back)Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Eminencecelebrated, conspicuous, distinguished, dominant, elevated, esteemed, exalted, famed, illustrious, leonine, lofty, notable, paramount, prestigious, prominent, renowned, superior

eminent (L)—to stand outence (L)—noun suffix

Largely self-taught, the musician achieved great eminence in the musical world.

TediousTedious

Definition: Definition: long and tiresome (on (on back)back)Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Tediousannoying, banal, boring, bromidic, exhausting, fatiguing, insipid, laborious, lifeless, monotonous, prosaic, soporific, unexciting, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome

Tedius (L)—weariness, disgustous (L)—suffix forming adjective

I must confess, I did find the last few chapters of the book rather tedious.

MaximMaxim

Hunger never saw bad bread.

Whate’er’s begun in anger ends in shame.

Poverty wants some things,

luxury many things, avarice

all things.

Definition: Definition: a general truth (on back)(on back)

Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Maximadage, aphorism, axiom, belief, device, dictum, epithet, formula, law, moral, motto, platitude, precept, proverb, rule, tenet, theorem, truism

maxima (LFr.)—proposition

When spending money quickly, we should remember the maxim “buyer beware”.

PreposterousPreposterous

Definition: Definition: contrary to reason (on (on back)back)Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Preposterousabsurd, asinine, excessive, extravagant, extreme, fantastic, incredible, irrational, ludicrous, nonsensical, outrageous, senseless, unreasonable,

pre (L)-beforePosterus (L)-behind

(cart before the horse—contrary to sense)

My husband made the preposterous suggestion that the children babysit themselves!

ConspicuousConspicuous

DefinitionDefinition: easily seen or : easily seen or noticednoticedPicture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

Conspicuous

.

con (L)—with spec (L)—to see ous (L)—adjective suffix

apparent, clear, discernible, distinct, evident, manifest, perceptible, visible

The pink Lotus was conspicuous among the parked limousines.

DogmaDogma

Definition: Definition: a a belief (on back)(on back)

Picture Sentence

Synonym Morphemes

DogmaDogmatos (Grk)--opinion

canon, conviction, credenda, credo, creed, doctrine, gospel, opinion, persuasion, precept, principle, rule, tenet, view

Congress is gridlocked over the economy because each side is so dogmatic in its requirements.