blandishment, aberration, penchant, assent, bellicosity: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 117. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. blandishment · noun/ˈblændɪʃmənt/

   a flattering statement or action designed to persuade someone to do something

   Despite his attempts at blandishments, she remained firm in her decision to leave the company.

   Synonyms: flattery, praise, adulation

   Origin: From Latin 'blandimenta', meaning 'soothing or flattering words', derived from 'blandidus', meaning 'charming or pleasing'.

2. aberration · noun/ˌæbəˈreɪʃən/

   a departure from what is normal or expected

   The sudden drop in temperature during summer was an aberration that puzzled meteorologists.

   Synonyms: anomaly, deviation, irregularity

   Origin: from Latin 'aberratio', meaning 'a wandering away'

3. penchant · noun/ˈpɛnʃənt/

   a strong inclination or liking for something

   She has a penchant for classical music, often spending her weekends attending concerts.

   Synonyms: fondness, inclination, affinity

   Origin: French, from 'pencher' meaning 'to incline' or 'to lean'

4. assent · noun/əˈsɛnt/

   agreement or approval of a proposal or idea

   The committee reached a consensus and gave their assent to the proposed changes in policy.

   Synonyms: agreement, approval, consent

   Origin: from Old French 'assentir', derived from Latin 'assentire', from 'ad-' (to) + 'sentire' (to feel)

5. bellicosity · noun/ˌbɛlɪˈkɑsɪti/

   the tendency to argue or engage in conflict

   His bellicosity towards opposing views often led to heated arguments during debate club meetings.

   Synonyms: aggressiveness, belligerence, pugnacity

   Origin: from Latin 'bellicosus', from 'bellum' meaning 'war'