jocular, imprudent, felicitous, hoary, hermetic: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 54. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. jocular · adjective/ˈdʒɑkjələr/

   characterized by humor or joking

   His jocular demeanor made him the life of the party, as he effortlessly entertained everyone with his witty remarks.

   Synonyms: humorous, funny, jesting

   Origin: from Latin 'jocularis', meaning 'of jesting', from 'jocus', meaning 'joke'

2. imprudent · adjective/ɪmˈpruː.dənt/

   lacking discretion or caution in judgment or action

   It was imprudent (adjective) of her to invest all her savings in a single stock without doing any research.

   Synonyms: reckless, unwise, rash

   Origin: from Latin 'imprudentem' (nominative 'imprudens'), meaning 'not foreseeing, heedless' which consists of 'in-' (not) + 'prudents' (foreseeing, prudent)

3. felicitous · adjective/fəˈlɪsɪtəs/

   well chosen or suited to the circumstances

   Her felicitous remarks during the meeting helped to ease the tension among the team members.

   Synonyms: appropriate, fitting, suitable

   Origin: from Latin 'felicitous', meaning 'happy' or 'fortunate', from 'felix', meaning 'happy' or 'fortunate'

4. hoary · adjective/ˈhɔri/

   gray or white with age; ancient or venerable

   The hoary mountains loomed in the distance, their ancient peaks capped with snow that had not melted for centuries.

   Synonyms: gray, white, ancient

   Origin: Middle English 'hoary' from Old English 'hār', meaning 'gray' or 'white'.

5. hermetic · adjective/hərˈmɛtɪk/

   relating to ancient occult traditions and practices or being airtight and impervious to outside influences

   The ancient manuscript contained hermetic teachings that promised to unlock the secrets of the universe.

   Synonyms: esoteric, occult, airtight

   Origin: Derived from the name of the Greek god Hermes, often associated with wisdom and the occult.