Proficient — Set 80

Set 80 of Proficient covers 5 words: epistemology, nadir, gullibility, usurer, array. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. epistemology · noun/ɪˌpɛstəˈmɑlədʒi/

   the study of knowledge including its nature, sources, and limits

   In class, we learned about epistemology and how it helps us understand what knowledge really is.

   Synonyms: theory of knowledge, philosophy of knowledge

   Origin: from Greek 'epistēmē' meaning 'knowledge' and 'logia' meaning 'study' or 'discourse'

2. nadir · noun/ˈneɪ.dɪr/

   the lowest point in a person's fortunes or in a situation

   After losing his job, he felt that he had reached the nadir of his life.

   Synonyms: lowest point, bottom, low point

   Origin: From Arabic نَظير‎ (naḍīr) meaning 'the lowest point'.

3. gullibility · noun/ɡʌləˈbɪləti/

   easily fooled or deceived

   Her gullibility made her believe every tall tale her friends told.

   Synonyms: naivety, credulity, simplicity

   Origin: from gullible, which comes from the Middle English 'gull,' meaning to deceive, with roots in Old French 'guller' (to deceive) and the Latin 'gula' (throat, also figuratively meaning to 'gull').

4. usurer · noun/ˈjuː.ʒər/

   a person who lends money at unreasonably high interest rates

   The usurer charged the poor family very high interest rates on their loan.

   Synonyms: lender, loan shark, moneylender

   Origin: from Old French 'usurier', based on Latin 'usura', meaning 'interest' or 'usury'

5. array · noun/əˈreɪ/

   a systematic arrangement of objects, elements, or data typically in rows and columns

   The teacher showed us an array of colorful pencils arranged neatly on the desk.

   Synonyms: range, set, series

   Origin: Middle English 'arey', from Old French 'areier', meaning 'to arrange, set in order'