Session 26

Hello Gyaanis
Shit... the dreaded day has arrived yet again. I better get down to business unless I end up making a hodgepodge.

This session starts on a very interesting note.
When Philip of Macedonia was storming the gates of Sparta (aka Laconia), he sent a message to the beseiged king saying, "If we capture your city we will burn it to the ground." A one-word answer came back: "If."
Ha ha ha... I think people would recollect this, does it bring back any memories?

It is from the name Laconia that we derive the word laconic - concise.
Exactly the opposite of verbose. Is the gentleman in charge of Monday listening?

Here is another reply you can use when you go to a fast-food restaurant and the guy asks you, "Will you have it here or take it with with you?".... "Both"
Ha ha ha...

Cogent - from Latin cogo (to drive together, compel, force)
A cogent argument is well put, convincing - it compels acceptance because of its logic.
Cogency shows a keen mind, an ability to think clearly and logically.


Let's Talk
Remember loquor?
We have more words such as,

Eloquent : e-, ex- (out) + loquor (speak) - speaks out; vicidly expressive, fluent, forceful or persuasive in language.
Eg. The speaker's eloquence held the audience in charm.

Magniloquent : magnus (large) + loquor
Grandiloquent : grandis (grand ) + loquor
These imply the use of grandiose and pompous language.
What we are doing day and night (commonly known as gas, or bakwaaaaas), what we aspire to do in a manager's capacity.
An example, a doctor is a member of the medical fraternity.

Verbose : from Latin verbum (word) - full of words
Voluble : from Latin volvo (to roll) - words effortlessly roll off Sharmaji's tongue.
Garrulous : from Latin garrio (to chatter) - chatters away like a monkey.
Add -ity and we have the nouns- verbosity, volubility, garrulity.

One thing here... whenever you encounter a question in a test that asks you to choose the most apt sentence... choose the one that is least verbose... If the same idea is being conveyed in fewer words, choose that one.

And you might want to read this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo


At large

More words with magnus (great):
magnanimous : magnus + animus (mind) - big-hearted, generous... Modesty prevents me from going on...
magnate - a person of great power or influence. Eg. a business magnate.
magnify : magnus + -fy, from facio (to make) - to make large.
magnificent : magnus + fic, from facio.
magnitude : magnus + -tude (noun suffix)
magnum (as of champagne or wine) - a large bottle, generally twice the size of a standard bottle.
magnum opus : magnus + Latin opus (work) - big work. Acually, the greatest work or masterpiece.

Other words from opus:
Plural of opus, opera - a musical drama containing many musical works.
The verb opero (to work) occurs in operate, co-operate, operator etc.


Words
It's only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away...

verbum - word
verbatim - word-for-word. A verbatim report.
verbiage - has 2 meanings, a) an excess of words - such 'verbiage'!
b) a style or manner of using words - medical verbiage, military verbiage, software verbiage.


Keep Rollin'
volvo - to roll
revolve - roll again
involve : in- + volvo - roll in, i.e., get invlolved.
evolve : e- + volvo - roll out, i.e., gradually develop.

I'm too lazy to write a review of etymology. Well, I guess we have stopped the practice.
Kindly refer to NL.
Phew!

Good Luck!
MV