ribald, venial, dilatory, colloquial, diaphanous: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 197. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. ribald · adjective/ˈrɪb.əld/

   referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way

   The comedian's ribald humor had the audience in fits of laughter, despite some gasps at the more risqué jokes.

   Synonyms: rude, coarse, lewd

   Origin: Middle French 'ribald', from Old French 'ribaut', meaning 'a libertine or scoundrel'

2. venial · adjective/ˈviː.njəl/

   able to be forgiven or pardoned; not serious or grave

   While he made a mistake in judgment, it was a venial error that could easily be overlooked.

   Synonyms: forgivable, pardonable, excusable

   Origin: from Latin 'venialis', from 'venia' meaning 'forgiveness' or 'pardon'

3. dilatory · adjective/ˈdɪləˌtɔri/

   tending to delay or procrastinate

   His dilatory approach to completing assignments often resulted in missed deadlines.

   Synonyms: tardy, laggard, procrastinating

   Origin: from Latin 'dilatōrius', meaning 'delaying', from 'dilatare' meaning 'to postpone'

4. colloquial · adjective/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/

   characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation

   In her speech, she avoided formal language and instead used colloquial expressions that resonated with the audience.

   Synonyms: informal, conversational, everyday

   Origin: from Latin 'colloquialis', from 'colloquium' meaning 'conversation' or 'discussion'

5. diaphanous · adjective/daɪˈæf.ən.əs/

   very light and delicate almost transparent

   She wore a diaphanous blouse that fluttered gracefully in the breeze, almost revealing her silhouette underneath.

   Synonyms: sheer, translucent, gauzy

   Origin: The word 'diaphanous' originates from the Greek word 'diaphanēs', which means 'transparent' or 'clear', derived from 'dia-' meaning 'through' and 'phanai' meaning 'to show'.