gallophobia, eclogue, humectant, pathos, brachylogy: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 145. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. gallophobia · noun/ˌɡæl.əˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

   fear of France or French culture

   His gallophobia prevented him from enjoying the rich history and culture of France during his travels.

   Synonyms: Francophobia, anti-French sentiment, Francephobia

   Origin: The term originates from the combination of 'gallo-' meaning French or of France, and 'phobia,' from the Greek 'phobos' meaning fear.

2. eclogue · noun/ˈɛklɔɡ/

   a short pastoral poem, often in dialogue form

   In his collection, the poet includes a charming eclogue that captures the essence of rural life and the beauty of nature.

   Synonyms: pastoral poem, bucolic poem, dialogue poem

   Origin: from Latin 'ecloga', from Greek 'eklogē', meaning 'selection' or 'excerpt'

3. humectant · noun/hjuˈmɛk.tənt/

   a substance that helps retain moisture

   Many skincare products contain humectants such as glycerin to help retain moisture in the skin.

   Synonyms: moisturizer, dampener, hydrator

   Origin: from Latin 'humectans', the present participle of 'humectare', meaning 'to make wet' or 'moisten'.

4. pathos · noun/ˈpeɪθɔs/

   a quality that evokes pity or sadness

   The film's pathos was so palpable that it left the audience in tears by the end.

   Synonyms: emotion, pity, sadness

   Origin: Derived from the Greek word 'pathos', meaning 'suffering, feeling'.

5. brachylogy · noun/brækɪˈlɑdʒi/

   a concise or terse expression of an idea often achieved by omitting words

   The poet's use of brachylogy gave the verses a powerful impact, conveying deep emotions with just a few words.

   Synonyms: ellipsis, abbreviation, terseness

   Origin: from Greek 'brachylogos', from 'brachy-' meaning 'short' + 'logos' meaning 'speech'