A special thank you to Charlotte Gerstein, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Castleton University for sharing this wonderful glossary/dictionary that she assembled to help her students.
About the glossaryThis glossary was created with English language learners in mind, but is a resource for all students. Definitions offered are intended to help students understand the use of these words by the author in this book. Most definitions are from, or adapted from:
esp. = especially |
Some terms used throughout the book:
humanism = a system of thought that focuses on humans and their values, capacities, and worth
humanities = those branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, literature, and art, that are concerned with human thought and culture
innovative = new and different
liberal arts = study directed towards a general broadening of the mind; directed towards the cultivation of the mind for its own sake...not restricted to technical or professional education
professions = occupations, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
trades = occupations, esp. one requiring skilled labor; craft: e.g., the building trades
vocational = relating to training in a special skill to be pursued in a trade or vocation
Page 15
coding = writing computer code, programming computers
take it public = make a company public by selling stocks in the company that can be traded in an open market
electrical engineering = the branch of engineering that deals with the technology of electricity, especially the design and application of circuitry and equipment for power generation and distribution, machine control, and communications
liberal arts = study directed towards a general broadening of the mind; directed towards the cultivation of the mind for its own sake...not restricted to technical or professional education
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classic = serving as the established model or standard
conservatives = those with a certain political orientation, believing in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society
liberals = those with a certain political orientation favoring reform, less bound by traditional thinking, believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change
For more of an understanding of conservatism and liberalism in the U.S, see
Basic: Liberalism vs. Conservatism from Student News Daily
Basic: Political Ideology from an online political science course
Advanced:
Encyclopedia of American Studies from John Hopkins University Press (2016)
(Look for link to "Translate Entry" into 60 different languages)
elitist = antidemocratic, as if a certain privileged group is more deserving
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trade school = preparing students for occupations, especially one requiring skilled labor; craft: e.g., the building trades
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job market = the number of jobs that are available in a particular place or for a particular type of work
technical training = training for skills, especially in the manual trades, health care, computer technology, etc. Of or relating to the practical, mechanical, or industrial arts or to the applied sciences
scientific literacy = basic knowledge of science
engineering = the application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical structures, machines, processes, and systems
humanities = those branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, literature, and art, that are concerned with human thought and culture
rhetoric = the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively, speech
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subsidize = to assist or support financially
private sector = part of the economy that is controlled by individuals or private organizations and is not funded by the government
manufacturing = the business of producing goods in factories
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independents = those people not belonging to a political party
irrelevance = quality of being unrelated to a topic
bipartisan = supported by members of two parties, especially two major political parties
proponents = those in favor of something, for it
virtues = positive qualities
opponents = those opposed or against something
counterproductive = not productive, unhelpful
professions = occupations
apprenticeships = programs to learn a trade or occupation directly from someone practicing that occupation
Page 21
trades = occupations, especially one requiring skilled labor; craft: e.g., the building trades
guilds = an association of persons of the same trade or pursuits, formed to protect mutual interests and maintain standards
per capita = per head or per person
Page 22
mystical = spiritual
Fabian = relating to cautious and gradual change, after Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus
humanistic = focusing on humans and their values, capacities, and worth
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commerce = business
trajectory = path
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prestigious = respected and admired, important
domestic = of the home or home nation
legacy = something that is a result of events in the past
the raj = British rule over India, from raja, Sanskrit for king
receivership = a situation in which a company (or country) is controlled by the receiver because it has no money
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specialize = to spend most of your time studying one particular subject or doing one type of work
blitzkrieg = in war, sudden attacks by air and land
Page 26
barrister = word for lawyer in the UK and India
missionary = a person who has been sent to a place, usually a foreign country, to teach a religion to the people who live there
Page 28
aptitude = natural ability or talent
novel = new and original; not like anything seen before
Page 29
apprehensive = concerned
malaise = a general feeling of bad health or lack of energy in a person, group, or society
boom = a period of sudden economic growth
Great Depression = in the U.S, a period of decrease in wealth, industrial production, and employment from 1929 until the start of World War II
Vietnam = a long military conflict (1954–1975) between South Vietnam, supported by United States forces, and Communist North Vietnam. The war resulted in a North Vietnamese victory and unification of Vietnam under Communist rule
Watergate = a series of scandals involving the U.S. President Nixon
Page 30
decay = damage, or a state that becomes gradually worse; rot
lax = lacking care, attention, or control; weak
Page 31
imperialism = the attempt of one country to control another country, especially. by political and economic methods
hegemony = (especially of countries) the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others
populist = a person or a politician who is mainly interested in the problems and needs of ordinary people
CIA = U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Page 34
unadulterated= not spoiled or made weaker by the addition of other things
bootlegged = made illegally or copied
samizdat = government-banned literature in the former Soviet Union
Page 35
classic = having lasting significance or worth; enduring
expats = expatriates, someone who does not live in his or her own country
merit scholarships = scholarships based on demonstrated ability or achievement (rather than need)
Page 37
Western = relating to countries in the west part of the world, especially North America and countries in the west of Europe
Page 38
gusto = eager enjoyment experienced when doing something
Page 39
Henry Kissinger = German-born American diplomat who was national security adviser (1969–1975) and U.S. secretary of state (1973–1977) under Presidents Nixon and Ford
Page 41
Homeric = relating to Homer, Ancient Greek poet, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey
sustenance = the maintaining of someone or something in life or existence; sustaining
Page 42
orator = public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled
dialectic = a way of discovering what is true by considering opposite theories
instrumental = important in causing something to happen
Page 43
rationale = set of reasons for a course of action or a particular belief
mutually exclusive = unable to exist or be true if something else exists or is true
abstract = existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
courtiers = people who attend a royal court as a companion or adviser
Page 44
logic = a formal, scientific method of examining or thinking about ideas
statesmen = skilled, experienced, and respected political leaders or figures
demoted = lowered in rank or position
Page 45
Dark Ages = the period in western Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the high Middle Ages, around AD 500–1100, during which Germanic tribes swept through Europe and North Africa, often attacking and destroying towns and settlements.
monasteries = buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows
Cairo = city in Egypt
Baghdad = city in Iraq
Moorish Spain = Spain under the Muslims who invaded in the 8th century and established a civilization in Andalusia that lasted until the late 15th century
stagnation = lack of activity or growth
Page 46
theology = the study of religion and religious belief, or a set of beliefs about a particular religion
autonomy = freedom from external control or influence; independence
bastion = something that keeps or defends a belief or a way of life that is disappearing or threatened
taboo = something that is avoided or forbidden for religious or social reasons
scrutiny = the careful and detailed examination of something
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heretical = holding beliefs that are opposed to the official belief of a church and that the church considers wrong
speculate = to form opinions about something without having the necessary information or facts; to make guesses
clergy = religious leaders
universal = existing everywhere or involving everyone
pervasive = present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place
arts and letters = arts and literature
eloquence = skill in speaking
Page 48
divinity = study of religion
benefactor = person who gives money or other help to a person or cause
endowed = gave an income or property to (a person or institution)
menial = (of work) needing little skill or education
secular = non-religious
sermon = a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible
seminaries = colleges where people are trained to become religious leaders
imposing = noticeable because of large size, appearance, or importance
Page 49
full-fledged = completely developed
residential = with people in residence, or living there
lateral = from the side or sideways movement, from peer to peer rather than from a teacher
Page 50
predecessors = things or people who came before in time
colonial = relating to the 13 British colonies that became the original United States of America
divine = connected with or like God or a god
Page 51
antiquated = old or old-fashioned, like an antique
classical = relating to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture
resonate = to evoke a feeling of shared emotion or belief, to correspond closely
Page 52
rousing = waking someone or making someone more active or excited
compounded = something bad made worse
the Continent = the mainland of Europe
Page 53
tumultuous = excited, confused, or disorderly
calling = a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation
Page 54
reform = action to improve or correct what is wrong or defective in something
spontaneous = excited, confused, or disorderly
electives = courses that are optional
Page 55
mediator = a person who tries to end a disagreement by helping the two sides to talk about and agree on a solution
imbue = filled with a quality or feeling
authenticity = the quality of being real or true
radical = affecting the fundamental nature of something
compulsory = required by law or a rule
imbue = filled with a quality or feeling
Page 56
distinctive = clearly different from others
hierarchy = a system in which people or things are put at various levels or ranks
whim = sudden desire or idea
in sync with = working well together; in agreement
dominate = to have control over a place or a person
losing its character = losing its distinctive nature
Page 57
canon = the list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality
superseded = replaced by something newer, more effective
Page 58
receded = moved back
merits = features that deserve praise
invalidate = to make something not true, or to make something unacceptable
Page 59
Socratic tradition of inquiry = a teaching technique in which a teacher does not give information directly but instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the student comes either to the desired knowledge by answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the limits of knowledge
moral authority = the people or texts that have the power to say what is right or wrong
unanimous = all in agreement
chronological = in the order the events happened in time
Page 60
advocates = people who publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy
proportionally = when considering an amount of something as a part of a whole
commiserate = to feel or express sympathy for someone’s suffering or unhappiness
collective = of or shared by every member of a group of people
Page 61
inherent = existing as a natural and permanent quality of something or someone
cultural literacy = the idea that individuals with an awareness of the history, language, and customs that make up a dominant culture will be better able to communicate with one another
cornucopia = an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind
allure = appeal or attraction
enraptured = filled with great pleasure or extremely pleased by something
Page 63
conviction = firmly held beliefs or opinions
bureaucratic = overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense
imperatives = motivation or priorities
latter = later one in the list, opposite of former which is the first in the list
trumped = beat (someone or something) by saying or doing something better
tenure = the right to keep a job permanently in the academic system
arcane = complicated or rare and therefore understood or known by only a few people
subversive = trying to undo an established order, especially to undermine or overthrow an established government
rigor = with high standards demanding hard work
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incentives = things that encourage a person to do something
Page 65
pious = very religious
devoid of = lacking
relegated = moved to an inferior or obscure place, rank, category, or condition
laypeople = non-experts
polarization = the fact of people or opinions being divided into two opposing groups
Page 66
gusto = enthusiasm, with energy
Page 67
pervades = spreads through all parts of something
trustee = member of a board in charge of directing the funds and policy of an institution
beachhead = an area of land near the sea or a river that an attacking army has taken control of and from where it can move forward into enemy country
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innovative = new and different
silo = a large structure, usually cylindrical, used for storing grain for farm animals, so a very separated structure
synergy = the combined power of a group of things when they are working together that is greater than the power achieved by each working separately
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ethics = the study of what is morally right and wrong, or a set of beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
Page 70
cliché = an idea or expression that has been used too often and is often considered a sign of bad writing or old-fashioned thinking
mandate = authority to act in a particular way given to a government or a person, esp. as a result of a vote or ruling
Page 72
extol = to praise highly
Page 73
regurgitate= vomit, or to repeat information without understanding it
Page 73
aprocryphal = probably not true although it is often told and believed by some people to have happened
Page 74
jargon = words and phrases used by particular groups of people, especially in their work, that are not generally understood
Page 75
articulate (adjective) = expressing or able to express things easily and clearly
Page 76
analyze = to examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations
Page 77
parry = to defend yourself from a weapon or an attack by pushing the weapon away or by putting something between your body and the weapon, or to manage cleverly to avoid dealing with a difficult question or some criticism
Page 78
hypothesis = an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proven
Page 81
aesthetic = relating to the enjoyment or study of beauty
lucrative = profitable
Page 82
ingenuity = the skill of thinking, performing, or using things in new ways, especially to solve problems
Page 83
anonymity = a situation in which a person is not known by or spoken of by name
eclipse = to become more important and noticeable than something, like when one celestial body moves in front of another
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amenable = willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion
vexing = annoying, worrying, or causing problems, challenging
automate = to make something operate automatically by using machines or computers
tacitly = understood without being expressed directly
Page 85
outsource = to get work done by making a contract with another company to do it, often in another country, rather than in your own company or doing it yourself
venture capitalist = a person or financial organization that invests in new businesses, especially ones that involve risk
Page 86
trajectory = the curved path an object follows after it is thrown or shot into the air, or of an object that is traveling through space
revenues = income, money earned
sector = an area, like an area of the economy
Page 88
novel (adjective) = new, innovative
quixotic = having ideas that are admirable but not practical
Page 90
speculation = the activity of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain
anecdotal evidence = based on reports or things someone saw rather than on proven facts
Page 91
proficiency = skill or ability, competence
Page 93
entrepreneur = a person who attempts to make a profit by starting a company or by operating alone in the business world, especially when it involves taking risks
meritocracy = a social system, society, or organization in which people have power because of their abilities, not because of their money or social position
Page 96
GDP = gross domestic product: the total value of a country's annual output of goods and services
dynamism = the quality of having a lot of ideas and enthusiasm; energetic and forceful
disparity = a lack of equality and similarity, especially in a way that is not fair
Page 97
delusion = something a person believes and wants to be true, when it is actually not true
bravado = a show of bravery or defiance, often in order to make a false impression or mislead someone
writ large = if one thing is another thing writ large, it is similar to it but larger or more obvious
correlation = a connection between two or more things
labor force = all the people in a particular country who are of the right age to work
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behemoth = something that is extremely large and often extremely powerful
Page 99
ameliorate = improve, fix
diffusion = the process of spreading into a surrounding substance
emulate = to copy someone’s behavior or try to be like someone else because you admire or respect that person
Page 101
conducive = providing the right conditions for something to happen or exist
Page 102
grade inflation = the assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for the same levels of achievement
succinct = (of writing or speech) clear and short; expressing what needs to be said without unnecessary words
empirical = based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory
Page 103
cerebral = relating to the brain
Page 104
credibility = the fact that someone can be believed or trusted
trading commodities = speculating on the future direction of the price of certain physical goods
summa cum laude = "with the highest praise" or with high honors
implementation = the act of putting a plan into action or of starting to use something
Page 105
mandarins = high-ranking officials or bureaucrats
laissez-faire = in French, "to allow to do"; loose, not controlled
Page 106
statesman = a politician or government official who is respected and experienced
statecraft = the skill of governing a country
civically engaged = active in the local community
Page 107
Yuppie= a young, successful educated person who lives in a city; short for Young Urban Professional
Page 108
frugal = careful in spending money
Page 109
seminar = a meeting of a small group of people with a teacher or expert for training, discussion, or study on a particular subject
Page 110
degenerate = to become worse
tyranny = unlimited authority or use of power, or a government which exercises such power without any control or limits
illuminate = to put light in or on something
bulwark = something serving as a defense, like a wall or embankment
erudite = having or showing a lot of knowledge
Page 112
nonsectarian = not related to a religious sect or group
chapel = a small church or an enclosed place in a large church for worship
republic = a country that is governed by elected representatives and an elected leader
hereditary = related to the natural process by which parents pass on to their children through their genes the characteristics that make them related
aristocracy = a class of people of high social rank, or a government ruled by or consisting of people of a high social class
elites = those people or organizations that are considered the best or most powerful
Page 113
libertarian = someone who believes that people should have complete freedom of thought and action
Page 115
endowment = money or property donated to an institution, individual, or group as a source of income
need-blind financial aid = a policy of promising enough financial aid to attend the school for any student who is admitted, regardless of ability to pay
Page 116
arbitrary = based on a desire or idea or chance rather than reason; random
legacy = an applicant to an educational institution who is the child of an alumna or alumnus
deviation = a difference from what is usual or expected
Page 117
recruited = actively persuaded to become a new member of an organization
Page 118
nebulous = cloudy or unclear (118)
intangible = not able to be seen or physically felt
subjective = influenced by or based on personal beliefs or feelings, rather than based on facts
Page 119
compensate = to take the place of something useful or needed with something else of similar value
irrelevant = not related to what is being discussed or considered
Page 120
onerous = causing great difficulty or trouble, a burden
jeopardize = to risk or put something in danger
marketable = easily sold
plausible = believable
Page 121
productivity = the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work
Page 122
price insensitive = used to describe a product or service for which sales remain the same or continue to increase even if the price goes up or down by a large amount
obscure (verb) = to hide or cover up
inflation = a continuing rise in prices caused by an increase in the money supply and demand for goods
Page 125
panel = a small group of people chosen to publicly discuss their opinions
Page 126
déjà vu = the strange feeling that in some way you have already experienced what is happening now
Page 130
conveyor belt = a continuous moving strip or surface that is used for transporting objects from one place to another, used in factories
remedial = (of an activity) intended to correct or improve something, esp. skills
customized = made or changed according to the buyer's or user's needs
Page 131
scale = size (131)
inversely correlated = when one side goes up, the other goes down, an opposite relationship
Page 132
UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization: a department of the United Nations that aims to encourage peace between countries through education, science, and culture
Page 133
cohort = a group of people who share a characteristic, usually age
Chapter 5: Knowledge and Power
Page 135
Prometheus and Zeus = gods in Greek mythology
Mount Olympus = the home of the gods in Greek mythology
Page 136
Genesis = In the Bible, the first book of the Old Testament, which tells the story of Adam and Eve
Page 137
millennia = plural of millennium, a thousand years
bucolic = relating to the countryside, peaceful
Page 140
pithily = in a pithy way, using few words
posited = suggested, proposed
Page 142
stroke = a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which can result in a loss of some mental or physical abilities, or death
antidote = a chemical, esp. a drug, that acts against the bad effects of a poison to limit the harm it can do
Page 143
testament = proof of something
Page 144
the Enlightenment = the period in the 18th century in Europe when particular thinkers began to emphasize the importance of science and reason rather than religion and tradition
humanitarian = involved in or connected with improving people’s lives and reducing suffering
balk = to be unwilling to do something or let something happen
serfdom = the state of being a member of a low social class of farm workers who cannot leave the land where they work and who are ruled by the owner of the land
perverse = contrary to what is right or good or expected
Page 145
monarchs = kings or queens
rapacious = having or showing a strong wish to take things for yourself, usually using unfair methods or force
dictatorship = the rule of a country by someone who rules with complete power, has complete control over the armed forces, and destroys any political opposition
decolonization = the release of one country or territory from political control by another country
Page 146
at the helm = in control of; (the helm is the handle or wheel that controls the direction in which a ship or boat travels)
Page 147
fascism = a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control of social and economic life, and extreme pride in country and race, with no expression of political disagreement allowed
communism = an economic system based on public ownership of property and control of the methods of production, and in which no person profits from the work of others
fundamentalism = the belief that the traditional principles of a religion or set of beliefs should be maintained
ideology = a theory or set of beliefs, esp. one on which a political system, party, or organization is based
nationalism = devotion, especially excessive devotion, to the interests or culture of a particular nation-state
coercion = forcefully persuading someone to do something that he or she may not want to do
Page 148
submission = the act of accepting the power or authority of someone else
arrogance = showing pride in an unpleasant way and behaving as if you are better or more important than other people
Page 151
automaton = a machine that operates on its own without the need for human control, or a person who acts like a machine, without thinking or feeling
millennials = the generation of young people who were born around the time of the millennium, that is, around the year 2000
crew = a sport where teams of rowers race teams in other boats
Page 152
introspective = examining and considering your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings, instead of talking to other people about them
industrious = regularly working very hard
alienation = the feeling that you have no connection with the people around you
beneficent = characterized by or performing acts of kindness or charity
cynics = people whose outlook is habitually negative and who don't believe people have good motives
Page 153
bourgeois = belonging to or typical of the middle class (= the social group between the rich and the poor), esp. in supporting established customs and values or in having a strong interest in money and possessions
callow = behaving in a way that shows little experience, confidence, or judgment
jeremiad = writing or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom
Puritans = an English religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to make church ceremonies simpler and emphasized moral behavior that forbid many pleasures
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) = U.S. writer and naturalist
Page 154
plaintive = having a sad quality
reactionary = characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress
pillory = to severely criticize someone, especially in a public way
tantric = based on ancient Hindu or Buddhist texts
Hegel = German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)
Page 156
bigoted = having strong, unreasonable ideas, esp. about race or religion, and who thinks anyone who does not have the same beliefs is wrong
Page 157
caricature (verb) = to show or describe a person in a ridiculous way
Page 158
aspiration = a strong hope or wish for achievement or success
incremental = in a series of amounts
Page 158
narcissism = too much interest in and admiration for your own physical appearance and/or your own abilities
entitlement = feeling that you have a right to the good things in life without necessarily having to work for them
slothfulness = being like a sloth, slow and lazy
Page 160
self-abnegation = to not allow yourself to have something, especially something you like or want; self-denial
Page 161
in flux = in a state of change
Page 162
disenchanted = no longer believing in the value of something, esp. after having learned of the faults that it has
dysfunctional = not behaving or working normally
NGO = nongovernmental organization
nostalgia = a feeling of pleasure and sometimes slight sadness at the same time as you think about things that happened in the past
Page 163
capitalism = an economic system based on private ownership of property and business, with the goal of making the greatest possible profits for the owners
communism = an economic system based on public ownership of property and control of the methods of production, and in which no person profits from the work of others
proxy war = war where the groups or countries at war are representing or being backed by other groups or countries
Page 164
divestment = the act of selling off a business or businesses, or of no longer investing money in something
jihadist = a Muslim who is fighting for Islam, especially a radical (= someone with extreme views) who believes in using violence to achieve religious and political aims
partisanship = different political groups involving loyal support of their side and not working together
Page 165
to the barricades = to protest or go to war for something (a barricade is a large object or objects that are used to stop people from going where they want to go)
icon = a famous person or thing that represents something of importance
Page 166
wonk = one who studies an issue or topic thoroughly
Page 168
apartheid = a political system in South Africa that legally separated people of different races
Page 169
purple prose = overly elaborate writing or speech
"For it is from knowledge that oratory must derive its beauty and fullness"
--philosopher-statesman Cicero, circa 55 AD
This is why we do research in English Comp. and Effective Speaking!