TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 171

Set 171 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: pertinent, disheartened, impetuous, agile, taciturn. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. pertinent · adjective/ˈpɜrtənənt/

   relevant or applicable to a particular matter

   During the meeting, she provided several **pertinent** facts that helped clarify the issue at hand.

   Synonyms: relevant, applicable, suitable

   Origin: from Latin 'pertinens', meaning 'holding to, related to'

2. disheartened · adjective/dɪsˈhɑrtnd/

   having lost confidence or enthusiasm

   After hearing the criticism of her project, she felt disheartened about her abilities as a designer.

   Synonyms: discouraged, demoralized, dispirited

   Origin: The word 'disheartened' originates from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'opposite of' or 'away from', combined with 'hearten', which comes from the Old English 'heorte' meaning 'heart'. The term suggests a loss of heart or courage.

3. impetuous · adjective/ɪmˈpɛtʃuəs/

   acting or done quickly and without thought or care

   His impetuous decision to quit his job without a backup plan left him struggling to make ends meet.

   Synonyms: rash, impulsive, hasty

   Origin: from Latin 'impetuosus', from 'impetus' meaning 'attack, assault, onset'

4. agile · adjective/ˈædʒaɪl/

   able to move quickly and easily

   The agile athlete leaped over the hurdles with remarkable ease during the competition.

   Synonyms: nimble, spry, lithe

   Origin: from Latin 'agilis', meaning 'quick, nimble', from 'agere', meaning 'to do, to act'

5. taciturn · adjective/ˈtæsɪtɜrn/

   reserved or uncommunicative in speech

   Despite his impressive knowledge, James remained taciturn during the meeting, offering only terse responses to questions.

   Synonyms: reserved, reticent, silent

   Origin: from Latin 'tacitus', meaning 'silent'.