posterity, incubus, exegesis, palliative, braggart: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient Plus set 52. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. posterity · noun/pɑˈstɛr.ɪ.ti/

   all future generations of people

   The leaders wanted to create a better world for posterity.

   Synonyms: descendants, future generations, offspring

   Origin: from Latin 'posteritas', meaning 'future, descendants'

2. incubus · noun/ˈɪnkjəˌbəs/

   a male demon believed to lie upon sleeping women to engage in sexual intercourse

   She woke up in the middle of the night, feeling as if an incubus had been laying on her chest.

   Synonyms: demon, ghost, spirit

   Origin: from Latin 'incubus', meaning 'to lie upon'

3. exegesis · noun/ˌɛksɪˈdʒisɪs/

   critical interpretation or explanation of a text, especially a religious scripture

   The teacher gave a clear exegesis of the Bible passage, helping us understand its meaning better.

   Synonyms: interpretation, explanation, analysis

   Origin: from the Greek word 'exēgēsis', meaning 'to lead out' or 'explanation'

4. palliative · adjective/ˈpæl.i.eɪ.tɪv/

   relieving pain without dealing with the cause of the condition

   The doctor prescribed palliative care to help manage her pain during the illness.

   Synonyms: soothing, comforting, alleviating

   Origin: from Latin 'palliativus', meaning 'to cloak or cover' (from 'pallium', meaning 'a cloak')

5. braggart · noun/ˈbræɡ.ɚt/

   a person who boasts about achievements or possessions

   He is such a braggart that he always talks about his new car and fancy clothes.

   Synonyms: boaster, show-off, swaggerer

   Origin: The origin of 'braggart' is Middle English 'braggart', from the verb 'brag', which comes from Old Norse 'bragga', meaning 'to boast'.