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bastion

noun/ˈbæstɪən/

definition

a stronghold or fortress that provides protection or defense

example

The ancient castle, with its towering walls and deep moats, served as a bastion against invading forces.

synonyms
fortstrongholdfortress
word origin — from Middle French bastion, from Old Italian bastione, from bastire meaning 'to build'

bastion, burlesque, cabal, calumny, caprice: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 40. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. bastion · noun/ˈbæstɪən/

    a stronghold or fortress that provides protection or defense

    The ancient castle, with its towering walls and deep moats, served as a bastion against invading forces.

    Synonyms: fort, stronghold, fortress

    Origin: from Middle French bastion, from Old Italian bastione, from bastire meaning 'to build'

  2. burlesque · noun/bɜrˈlɛsk/

    a humorous or exaggerated theatrical or dramatic work that often satirizes or parodies its subject

    The theatre was filled with laughter as the cast performed a lively burlesque that poked fun at romcom clichés.

    Synonyms: parody, spoof, satire

    Origin: from French 'burlesque', from Italian 'burlesco', from 'burla' meaning 'a jest' or 'mockery'

  3. cabal · noun/kəˈbɑl/

    a secret political faction or conspiracy

    The cabal of influential politicians worked behind the scenes to manipulate the election results.

    Synonyms: clique, faction, conspiracy

    Origin: The word 'cabal' originates from the Hebrew word 'qabbālāh', meaning 'that which is received' or 'tradition'. It was used in the 17th century to describe a secret faction in the English government, especially under King Charles II.

  4. calumny · noun/ˈkæləmni/

    the making of false statements to damage someone's reputation

    The journalist was accused of spreading calumny against the politician, which led to a defamation lawsuit.

    Synonyms: slander, libel, defamation

    Origin: From Latin 'calumnia', meaning 'false accusation or slander'.

  5. caprice · noun/kəˈpriːs/

    a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior

    Her decision to cancel the trip at the last minute was just a caprice that left everyone confused.

    Synonyms: whim, inclination, fancy

    Origin: From Italian 'capriccio', meaning 'a shiver or tremor'; possibly from 'capra' (goat) + 'riccio' (curly), referring to a goat's leaps and bounds.