rue, quack, shanty, onus, duress: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 95. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. rue · verb/ruː/

   to feel remorse or regret for something

   She will rue the day she ignored my advice.

   Synonyms: regret, sorrow, repent

   Origin: Originates from Old English ' rūgan', meaning to grieve or be sorrowful.

2. quack · noun/kwæk/

   a person who pretends to have medical skills or knowledge

   The man claimed to cure diseases, but he was just a quack without real training.

   Synonyms: charlatan, fraud, pretender

   Origin: The word 'quack' comes from the Dutch word 'quacksalver', which means 'someone who boasts of medicinal skills'.

3. shanty · noun/ˈʃæn.ti/

   a small, poorly built shack or dwelling

   The family lived in a small shanty made of wood and metal.

   Synonyms: shack, hut, cabin

   Origin: The word 'shanty' comes from the French word 'chantier,' meaning 'a place for working' or 'a work site.'

4. onus · noun/ˈoʊ.nəs/

   a burden or obligation to do something

   The onus is on the teacher to help students learn.

   Synonyms: burden, responsibility, duty

   Origin: Latin onus, meaning burden

5. duress · noun/duˈrɛs/

   a situation where someone is forced to act against their will or judgment

   He signed the contract under duress because he was threatened by the other party.

   Synonyms: pressure, coercion, force

   Origin: from Middle English 'duresse', derived from Latin 'duressus', meaning 'pressed down'.