His servile attitude toward his boss made it clear he would do anything to please her, even at the expense of his own dignity.
synonyms
subservientobsequioussycophantic
word origin — from Latin 'servilis', meaning 'of a slave', from 'servus' meaning 'slave'
servile, cognizant, meticulous, deficient, opulent: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 10. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
servile · adjective/ˈsɜr.vaɪl/
excessively willing to serve or please others
His servile attitude toward his boss made it clear he would do anything to please her, even at the expense of his own dignity.
Synonyms: subservient, obsequious, sycophantic
Origin: from Latin 'servilis', meaning 'of a slave', from 'servus' meaning 'slave'
cognizant · adjective/ˈkɑɡ.nɪ.zənt/
having knowledge or awareness of something
The manager was cognizant of the team's concerns regarding the new policy changes.
Synonyms: aware, conscious, informed
Origin: from Middle English 'cognizant', derived from the Latin 'cognizans', present participle of 'cognoscere', meaning 'to become acquainted with, to know'.
meticulous · adjective/məˈtɪkjələs/
showing great attention to detail and precision
The artist was meticulous in her craftsmanship, ensuring that every brushstroke was perfectly placed.
Synonyms: thorough, detailed, careful
Origin: from Latin 'meticulosus', which means 'fearful' or 'timid'; derived from 'metus' meaning 'fear'.
deficient · adjective/dɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/
lacking in some necessary quality or element
The student's understanding of the material was deficient, which impacted their performance on the exam.
Synonyms: lacking, inadequate, insufficient
Origin: from Middle English, from Latin 'deficientem', meaning 'failing, lacking', which is the present participle of 'deficere', meaning 'to fail, to lack'.
opulent · adjective/ˈɑːpjələnt/
characterized by wealth and luxury
The opulent surroundings of the five-star hotel made every guest feel like royalty.
Synonyms: luxurious, sumptuous, lavish
Origin: from Latin 'opulentus', meaning 'wealthy, rich', derived from 'opus', meaning 'work, wealth'