tenet, peril, alleviation, egalitarianism, xenophobia: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient Plus set 15. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. tenet · noun/ˈtɛn.ɪt/

   a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy

   One important tenet of Buddhism is to be kind to all living things.

   Synonyms: principle, belief, doctrine

   Origin: from Latin 'tenet', meaning 'heshe holds'

2. peril · noun/ˈpɛrəl/

   serious and immediate danger

   The hikers were in great peril when the storm hit the mountain unexpectedly.

   Synonyms: danger, risk, hazard

   Origin: Middle English from Old French 'peril' and Latin 'periculum' meaning danger or risk.

3. alleviation · noun/əˌliː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/

   the act of making something less severe or more bearable

   The doctor provided relief for her pain, leading to a wonderful alleviation of her suffering.

   Synonyms: relief, easing, mitigation

   Origin: from Latin 'alleviatio', from 'alleviare' meaning 'to lighten or support', combining 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'levare' meaning 'to raise or lift'.

4. egalitarianism · noun/ɪˌɡælɪˈtɛriənɪzəm/

   the belief in the equality of all people, emphasizing equal rights and opportunities

   Egalitarianism is important because it supports equal rights for everyone in society.

   Synonyms: fairness, equality, justice

   Origin: from 'egalitaire' in French, meaning equal, from 'a' (equal) and 'gal' (to be equal or similar)

5. xenophobia · noun/ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/

   fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners

   Many people refused to help the refugees because of their xenophobia towards foreigners.

   Synonyms: bias, intolerance, prejudice

   Origin: From Greek 'xenos' meaning 'foreigner' and 'phobos' meaning 'fear'