Proficient Plus — Set 98

Set 98 of Proficient Plus covers 5 words: fervent, eminent, esoteric, fallible, capricious. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. fervent · adjective/ˈfɝː.vənt/

   having or displaying a passionate intensity

   She is a fervent supporter of animal rights and works hard to help them.

   Synonyms: passionate, enthusiastic, intense

   Origin: from Latin 'fervent-', the present participle of 'fervēre', meaning 'to boil, bubble, or be warm'

2. eminent · adjective/ˈɛmɪnənt/

   famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession

   The eminent scientist received a special award for her discoveries in medicine.

   Synonyms: famous, respected

   Origin: from Latin 'eminens', meaning 'standing out' or 'prominent'

3. esoteric · adjective/ˌɛs.əˈtɛr.ɪk/

   intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

   The teacher gave an esoteric lecture on advanced mathematics that only a few students could follow.

   Synonyms: specialized, obscure, cryptic

   Origin: The word 'esoteric' comes from the Greek 'esoterikos', which means 'belonging to an inner circle'.

4. fallible · adjective/ˈfælɪbəl/

   capable of making mistakes or being wrong

   Everyone is fallible and can make mistakes sometimes.

   Synonyms: imperfect, flawed, error-prone

   Origin: From Latin 'fallibilis', meaning 'able to fail' or 'liable to make a mistake'

5. capricious · adjective/kəˈprɪʃəs/

   given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

   The capricious decisions of the manager made it hard for the team to plan their work.

   Synonyms: fickle, changeable, mercurial

   Origin: from Italian 'capriccioso', meaning 'whimsical', from 'capriccio' (caprice, whim) derived from 'capra' meaning 'goat' (implying the unpredictable nature of a goat)