Vocabulary Words Lesson 7 Customs and Conventions
Dec 27, 2015
Vocabulary Words
Lesson 7Customs and Conventions
Ablution
• Noun• A washing or cleansing of the body for
religious reasons
• Their ablution was performed in the sacred waters of India’s Ganges River.
Adage
• Noun• A short proverb or saying
• She repeated the adage, “Time heals all wounds.”
Ancestral
• Adjective• Pertaining to ancestors or forebears
• The old man traveled to Ireland to see his ancestral home.
Cavalcade
• Noun• A colorful, ceremonial procession usually with
horsemen or horse-drawn carriages.
• The royal couple rode to the cathedral in a cavalcade.
Commemorate
• Verb• To honor the memory of someone or
something
• The statue in the town square was erected to commemorate those who died in the Civil War.
Cultural
• Adjective• Pertaining to social, artistic, and intellectual
activities of a community or population
• He enjoyed the cultural advantages of living in an international metropolis.
Decoration
• Noun• An embellishment; an ornament
• The clothing of the Puritan settlers was completely devoid of decoration.
Devout
• Adjective• Deeply religious or pious
• The devout family attended all sacred services at their church.
Enduring
• Adjective• Lasting; continuing for a long time
• Celebrating the arrival of spring is an enduring ritual for many groups of people.
Escutcheon
• Noun• A shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms
• The escutcheon at the entrance to the palace bore the Windsor crest.
Ethnic• Adjective• Characteristic of a religious, racial, national, or
cultural group within a social system
• The Soviet Union was made up of many ethnic groups, including Lithuanians, Ukranians, and Latvians..
Fete
• Noun• A festival or feast
• The ambassador held a lavish fete each summer at his residence.
Idolatry
• Noun• A blind admiration of or devotion to
something or someone
• The people’s loyalty to their leader bordered on idolatry.
Irreverent
• Adjective• Disrespectful
• The article accurately described the ancient customs, but some of the author’s statements were irreverent.
Memento
• Noun• A reminder of the past; a keepsake or souvenir
• This scrapbook is a memento of my childhood.
Posterity
• Noun• Future generations
• The famous composer’s notes have been preserved for posterity.
Reminiscent
• Adjective• Having to do with something that recalls the
past
• That painting style is reminiscent of the Dutch school.
Reverence• Noun• A feeling of profound respect and honor
• A reverence for nature is one important aspect of Emily Dickinson’s poetry.
Sacrosanct
• Adjective• Regarded as sacred; holy
• Throughout history many cultures have believed that particular animals are sacrosanct.
Taboo
• Noun• Something forbidden from use or mention
• It is considered a taboo to speak during the ceremony.