The comedian's zany antics had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
synonyms
quirkyeccentriccomedic
word origin — The word 'zany' originated in the late 16th century from the Italian 'zani', which referred to a comic servant or fool, deriving from 'Gianduja', a stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte.
SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 66
Set 66 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: zany, pejorative, servile, combative, aseptic. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
zany · adjective/ˈzeɪ.ni/
funny in a bizarre or absurd way
The comedian's zany antics had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
Synonyms: quirky, eccentric, comedic
Origin: The word 'zany' originated in the late 16th century from the Italian 'zani', which referred to a comic servant or fool, deriving from 'Gianduja', a stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte.
pejorative · adjective/pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv/
a word or expression that conveys a negative connotation or disrespect
The term 'nerd' can often be seen as a pejorative label that implies social awkwardness and lack of popularity.
Synonyms: derogatory, disparaging, belittling
Origin: from Latin 'pejorativus', meaning 'worse', from 'pejorare' meaning 'to make worse'
servile · adjective/ˈsɜrvəl/
showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
His servile attitude towards his boss made it difficult for his colleagues to respect him.
Synonyms: submissive, obsequious, fawning
Origin: Late Middle English: from Old French 'servil', from Latin 'servilis', from 'servus' meaning 'slave'.
combative · adjective/kəmˈbæt̬.ɪv/
inclined to fight or argue
His combative attitude during the debate often alienated potential supporters.