Word Ultra — Set 227

Set 227 of Word Ultra covers 5 words: genuflect, antedate, manducate, mizzle, extirpate. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. genuflect · verb/ˈdʒɛnjuˌflɛkt/

   to bend one knee to the ground as a sign of respect or worship

   Before entering the chapel, it is customary to genuflect toward the altar as a sign of reverence.

   Synonyms: kneel,bow,curtsy

   Origin: from Latin 'genuflectere', where 'genu' means 'knee' and 'flectere' means 'to bend'

2. antedate · verb/ˌæn.tɪˈdeɪt/

   to occur or exist before a specified time or event

   The historical records antedate the founding of the city by several decades, providing insight into the region's early inhabitants.

   Synonyms: precede, predate, foredate

   Origin: from Latin 'ante' meaning 'before' + 'datum', the past participle of 'dare' meaning 'to give', thus 'to give a date before'.

3. manducate · verb/ˈmændʒəˌkeɪt/

   to chew or eat by chewing

   The elderly man loved to manducate slowly, savoring each bite of his favorite meal.

   Synonyms: masticate, chew, devour

   Origin: Derived from Latin 'manducatus', from 'manducare', meaning to chew, eat, or consume.

4. mizzle · verb/ˈmɪzl/

   to rain in very fine drops

   As we walked through the park, it began to mizzle lightly, creating a refreshing mist in the cool air.

   Synonyms: drizzle, mist, sprinkle

   Origin: The word 'mizzle' originates from the early 19th century, possibly a combination of 'mist' and 'drizzle'.

5. extirpate · verb/ˈɛkstɚpeɪt/

   to root out or eradicate completely

   The environmental group aimed to extirpate invasive plant species from the local ecosystem.

   Synonyms: eradicate, eliminate, root out

   Origin: The word extirpate comes from the Latin 'extirpatus', which is the past participle of 'extirpare', meaning to root out or destroy completely. The Latin word is formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'stirps' (root).