potential, discord, miscreant, vein, component: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 96. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. potential · adjective/pəˈtɛnʃəl/

   having the capacity to develop into something in the future

   The young athlete shows great potential for becoming a champion in the future.

   Synonyms: possible, likely, promising

   Origin: derived from the Latin word 'potentialis', meaning 'powerful' or 'capable of being'.

2. discord · noun/dɪsˈkɔrd/

   a lack of agreement or harmony between people or things

   The ongoing discord among the team members led to a lack of productivity and cooperation.

   Synonyms: disagreement, conflict, strife

   Origin: from Latin 'discordia,' which combines 'dis-' (apart) and 'cordis' (heart), meaning 'lack of harmony or agreement'

3. miscreant · noun/ˈmɪskriənt/

   a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law

   The police apprehended the miscreant after a series of thefts in the neighborhood.

   Synonyms: wrongdoer, offender, villain

   Origin: from Middle French 'miscriant', from 'mes' (wrong) + 'criant' (believer or follower), from Latin 'credere' (to believe)

4. vein · noun/veɪn/

   a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart

   The doctor explained that the left jugular vein is crucial for draining blood from the head and neck back to the heart.

   Synonyms: vessel, duct, vessel

   Origin: from Old French 'veine', from Latin 'vena' meaning 'a vein, the blood-vessel'

5. component · noun/kəmˈpoʊ.nənt/

   a constituent element or ingredient of a larger whole

   The main component of a healthy diet is consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables.

   Synonyms: element, part, ingredient

   Origin: from Middle French 'composant', from Latin 'componens', present participle of 'componere' meaning 'to put together'.