Week 1_ vocabulary (etymology)

1)      Antithesis noun

The exact opposite

Love is the antithesis of hate.

2)      Autocracy noun

Government by a single person

The country had become an autocracy and was ripe for revolt.

3)      Autocrat noun

An absolute ruler; a domineering, self-willed person

When the autocrat took over the country, the people lost all their power.

4)      Automation noun

A system using self-operating machines

The factory introduced automation, replacing many workers with robots.

5)      Automaton noun

An apparatus that functions by itself; a robot

Because she had been stapling pages for so many hours, she felt like an automaton.

6)      Autonomic adjective

Pertaining to the autonomic nervous system, which acts according to its own (self) laws rather than through voluntary control

He was trying to learn to control the actions of his autonomic nervous system through biofeedback.

7)      Autonomous adjective

Self-governing

Released from state control, the college finally becomes autonomous.

8)      Autonomy noun

The right of self-government

Many small nations are struggling for autonomy.

9)      Autopsy noun

An examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death

The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a heart attack.

10)  Benediction noun

A blessing

After the benediction, the congregation filed out.

11)  Benefactor noun

One who gives help or financial assistance

The college owed much to its generous benefactors.

12)  Beneficence noun

Kindness; charity

The scholarships were funded through the beneficence of the alumni.

13)  Beneficial adjective

Producing benefits; advantageous

Having a study schedule is beneficial.

14)  Beneficiary noun

A person who receives benefits, as from a will or an insurance policy

He was the beneficiary of his father’s will.

15)  Benefit noun

Anything that promotes well-being; a payment to one in need

She received considerable benefits from her exercise program.

16)  Benevolence noun

An inclination to do good; a kindly or charitable act

The benevolence of the church members was shown by their generous contributions to charity.

17)  Benevolent adjective

Inclined to do good

The department manager had a benevolent attitude toward her staff, giving them days off now and then.

18)  Benign adjective

Harmless

The parents looked upon the capers of their son with benign tolerance.

19)  Bicameral adjective

Composed of two legislative chambers or branches

The United States has a bicameral legislative system composed of the Senate and the House of the Representatives.

20)  Bicentennial noun

A 200th anniversary

The U.S. celebrated its bicentennial in 1976.

21)  Bicuspid noun

A tooth having two points

A human adult has eight bicuspids.

22)  Bigamy noun

Marrying one person while legally married to another

Bigamy is against the law in this country.

23)  Bilateral adjective

Having or involving two sides; biding on both parties

According to a bilateral agreement, each of the two nations will cut armament expenditures.

24)  Bilingual adjective

Able to use two languages

In Canada, job opportunities are greater for a bilingual person.

25)  Premise noun

An idea or theory on which a statement or action is based

The basic premise of the story is that a boy meets a girl, and then they fall in love.