waft, eddy, pedant, atavism, exacerbation: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 43. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. waft · verb/wæft/

   to pass easily or gently through the air

   The smell of fresh bread began to waft through the kitchen.

   Synonyms: drift, float, glide

   Origin: The word 'waft' originates from Old Norse 'væfa', meaning to weave or to move lightly.

2. eddy · noun/ˈɛdi/

   a circular current of water or air, especially a whirlpool or stream that flows counter to the main current

   The little boat was caught in an eddy near the rocks, spinning around in the water.

   Synonyms: whirlpool, vortex, current

   Origin: Middle English 'eddie,' from Old English 'ǣþ' meaning 'a stream or current.'

3. pedant · noun/ˈpɛd.ənt/

   a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

   The teacher was a pedant who always pointed out every small mistake in our homework.

   Synonyms: learned, scholar, formalist

   Origin: from French 'pédant', meaning 'one who shows off his learning', from Italian 'pedante', and ultimately from Latin 'paedagogans', meaning 'to teach'.

4. atavism · noun/ˈætəˌvɪzəm/

   the reappearance of a characteristic or trait from an ancestral form

   The child's love for climbing trees is an atavism, showing that humans once lived in trees like their ancestors.

   Synonyms: reversion, relapse, throwback

   Origin: from Latin 'atavus' meaning 'ancestors' and '-ism' used to denote a characteristic

5. exacerbation · noun/ɪɡˌzæb.ərˈbeɪ.ʃən/

   an increase in the severity of a problem or situation

   The exacerbation of the traffic problem made it hard for people to get to work on time.

   Synonyms: worsening, aggravation, intensification

   Origin: from Latin 'exacerbatio', meaning 'to make more harsh or severe'