bequest, blunder, boon, bourgeois, brevity: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 71. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. bequest · noun/bɪˈkwɛst/

   a personal property or money left to someone in a will

   She received a generous bequest from her grandmother that significantly improved her financial situation.

   Synonyms: legacy, inheritance, endowment

   Origin: Middle English, from the Old French 'bequeste', from 'bequester', meaning to bequeath, from Latin 'bi-questare' – 'to ask, inquire'.

2. blunder · noun/ˈblʌndər/

   a careless or stupid mistake

   The manager realized that his decision to ignore the data was a significant blunder that cost the company millions.

   Synonyms: mistake, error, gaffe

   Origin: from Middle English 'blunder', of uncertain origin; possibly from Scandinavian.

3. boon · noun/bʊn/

   a thing that is helpful or beneficial

   The new agricultural techniques proved to be a boon for local farmers, significantly increasing their crop yields.

   Synonyms: benefit, blessing, advantage

   Origin: The word 'boon' comes from the Old Norse word 'bón', meaning a request or favor.

4. bourgeois · noun/bɔrˈʒwɑ/

   a member of the middle class typically characterized by materialism and conventional values

   As a proud bourgeois, he often flaunted his wealth with expensive cars and lavish parties.

   Synonyms: middle class, capitalist, materialist

   Origin: French, from Old French 'burgeis', meaning 'town dweller'

5. brevity · noun/ˈbrɛv.ɪ.ti/

   the quality of being brief in duration or expression

   The speaker's brevity in delivering the message made it all the more impactful and memorable.

   Synonyms: conciseness, succinctness, terseness

   Origin: from Middle English 'brevitie', from Latin 'brevitas', from 'brevis' meaning 'short'.