reprisal, acatalepsy, borborygmus, corposant, peripeteia: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 216. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. reprisal · noun/rɪˈpraɪ.zəl/

   an act of retaliation or revenge

   The government warned that any acts of violence could provoke a harsh reprisal against the perpetrators.

   Synonyms: retaliation, revenge, retribution

   Origin: from Middle French 'reprise', meaning 'reclaiming', from Latin 'reprehendere', meaning 'to take back'

2. acatalepsy · noun/ˌɪn.kəmˌprɛhənˈsɪbɪlɪti, ɪnˈskrutəˌbility, ʌnˈɡræspəbl/

   the philosophical idea that knowledge is impossible or that things cannot be fully understood

   The ancient Greeks explored the notion of acatalepsy, debating whether true knowledge could ever be attained.

   Synonyms: incomprehensibility, inscrutability, ungraspability

   Origin: The term 'acatalepsy' comes from the Greek word 'akatalēptos', which means 'ungraspable' or 'incomprehensible'.

3. borborygmus · noun/ˌbɔrbəˈrɪɡməs/

   a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines

   After the long hike, she could hear a distinct borborygmus emanating from her stomach, signaling that it was time for lunch.

   Synonyms: stomach rumble, gurgle, intestinal noise

   Origin: from the Greek word 'borborygmus', which is an onomatopoeic term derived from 'borborygmos' referring to the sound of the intestine

4. corposant · noun/ˈkɔr.pə.sɑnt/

   a luminous electrical discharge appearing often in the vicinity of a conductor or during a lightning storm

   The sailors watched in awe as the corposant flickered around the ship's mast during the violent storm.

   Synonyms: st. Elmo's fire, luminous discharge, corona discharge

   Origin: from Middle French 'corposant', derived from Latin 'corpus sanctum' meaning 'holy body', referring to the phenomenon being considered a sign from God.

5. peripeteia · noun/ˌpɛrəpəˈteɪə/

   a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in reference to a literary work

   The protagonist experiences a dramatic peripeteia when she learns the truth about her past, leading to a complete shift in her goals.

   Synonyms: reversal, twist, turnaround

   Origin: from Greek 'peripeteia', meaning 'a turning about' or 'a sudden change'