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stoic

noun/ˈstoʊɪk/

definition

a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining

example

Despite the severe injuries he sustained in the accident, the stoic remained calm and collected, refusing to let pain show on his face.

synonyms
philosopherresilientpatience
word origin — from Greek 'stoikos', meaning 'of a porch', referring to the Stoa Poikile where Stoics met

stoic, propensity, jargon, concession, trait: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 57. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. stoic · noun/ˈstoʊɪk/

    a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining

    Despite the severe injuries he sustained in the accident, the stoic remained calm and collected, refusing to let pain show on his face.

    Synonyms: philosopher, resilient, patience

    Origin: from Greek 'stoikos', meaning 'of a porch', referring to the Stoa Poikile where Stoics met

  2. propensity · noun/prəˈpɛn.sɪ.ti/

    an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way

    She has a propensity for taking on leadership roles, often guiding her peers in group projects.

    Synonyms: tendency, inclination, leaning

    Origin: from Latin 'propensitas', from 'propens-', the present participle of 'propendere' meaning 'to hang forward, incline'.

  3. jargon · noun/ˈdʒɑrɡən/

    specialized language used by a particular profession or group

    The legal jargon used in the contract was difficult for most people to understand.

    Synonyms: terminology, lingo, argot

    Origin: from Middle French 'jargon', meaning 'chatter' or 'twitter', which is likely influenced by the Latin 'garrire', meaning 'to chatter'

  4. concession · noun/kənˈsɛʃən/

    something granted in response to a demand or compromise

    After lengthy negotiations, the management finally made a concession regarding the workers' demands for better pay.

    Synonyms: allowance, compromise

    Origin: From Latin 'concessio', from 'concedere' meaning 'to yield, grant, or give up'.

  5. trait · noun/treɪt/

    a distinguishing quality or characteristic of a person or thing

    Her ability to empathize with others is a valuable trait that makes her an excellent leader.

    Synonyms: quality, characteristic, feature

    Origin: Middle French 'trait' meaning 'attraction, draw, feature', from Latin 'tractus' meaning 'a pull, drawing'.