Word Ultra — Set 184

Set 184 of Word Ultra covers 5 words: prolepsis, alembic, perigee, paracme, curmudgeon. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. prolepsis · noun/proʊˈlɛpsɪs/

   the anticipation of possible future events or responses in a narrative or argument

   The author skillfully employed prolepsis to foreshadow the main character's eventual downfall, engaging readers with an understanding of future consequences.

   Synonyms: forethought, anticipation, prescience

   Origin: from Greek 'prolēpsis', meaning 'anticipation', from 'pro-' meaning 'before' + 'lambanein' meaning 'to take'.

2. alembic · noun/əˈlɛm.bɪk/

   a device used traditionally in distillation for purifying liquids

   The ancient alchemists often used an alembic to transform base metals into gold.

   Synonyms: still, distiller, evaporator

   Origin: from Latin 'alembicum', from Arabic 'al-anbīq', meaning 'the still'

3. perigee · noun/ˈpɛrɪdʒi/

   the point in the orbit of an object that is closest to the earth

   The satellite reached its perigee just before it began to ascend to a higher orbit, allowing for clearer images of the Earth's surface.

   Synonyms: perigee point, earth closest point

   Origin: The word 'perigee' originates from the Greek 'peri-' meaning 'around' and 'ge' meaning 'Earth'.

4. paracme · noun/ˈpærəˌkmi/

   a stage of decline or deterioration that follows the peak of development

   After a decade of unprecedented success, the company entered a period of paracme, struggling to maintain its market dominance.

   Synonyms: decline, downturn, degeneration

   Origin: Derived from the Greek 'parakmē' meaning 'beyond maturity', from 'para-' meaning 'beside' and 'akmē' meaning 'highest point, peak'.

5. curmudgeon · noun/kɜrˈmʌdʒ.ən/

   a bad-tempered or surly person

   Despite his grumpy demeanor, everyone knew that the old curmudgeon had a heart of gold hidden beneath his tough exterior.

   Synonyms: grump, crank, miser

   Origin: The exact origin is uncertain; possibly derived from the Middle English 'curmudgeon' or a combination of 'cur' (a worthless dog) and 'mudgeon' (a sullen person), influenced by the Scots and the Old French 'cormoillé'.