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neophyte

noun/ˈniəˌfaɪt/

a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief

As a neophyte in digital marketing, she spent hours learning about SEO and social media strategies.

novicebeginnernewcomer
word origin — from Greek 'neophytos', meaning 'newly planted', from 'neo-' meaning 'new' + 'phyto' meaning 'to plant'

GRE Vocabulary — Set 20

Set 20 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: neophyte, alacrity, euphemism, invective, hedonist. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. neophyte · noun/ˈniəˌfaɪt/

    a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief

    As a neophyte in digital marketing, she spent hours learning about SEO and social media strategies.

    Synonyms: novice, beginner, newcomer

    Origin: from Greek 'neophytos', meaning 'newly planted', from 'neo-' meaning 'new' + 'phyto' meaning 'to plant'

  2. alacrity · noun/əˈlækrɪti/

    cheerful readiness or eagerness to act

    She accepted the invitation with alacrity, eager to reconnect with old friends.

    Synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness

    Origin: Derived from the Latin word 'alacritas', meaning 'cheerfulness' or 'eagerness'.

  3. euphemism · noun/ˈjuːfəmɪzəm/

    a mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one considered to be harsh or blunt

    She used a euphemism for death, referring to it as 'passing away' to make the conversation less uncomfortable.

    Synonyms: substitute, alternative, softening expression

    Origin: The word 'euphemism' is derived from the Greek 'euphemia', meaning 'the use of a favorable expression,' from 'eu-' meaning 'good' and 'pheme' meaning 'speaking' or 'to speak.'

  4. invective · noun/ɪnˈvɛktɪv/

    insulting or abusive language used to express strong disapproval

    His speech was filled with invective, as he unleashed a torrent of insults against his political opponents.

    Synonyms: abuse, vitriol, contumely

    Origin: From Latin 'invectivus', meaning 'abusive or railing', from 'invehere' meaning 'to carry in, bring in'.

  5. hedonist · noun/ˈhɛd.ən.ɪst/

    a person who seeks pleasure and avoids pain as the highest good

    As a self-proclaimed hedonist, she embraced every opportunity to indulge in luxurious experiences and gourmet dining.

    Synonyms: pleasure-seeker, sensualist, gratifier

    Origin: From the Greek word 'hēdonē', meaning 'pleasure'.