umbrage, cornucopia, pluck, exegesis, impropriety: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 13. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. umbrage · noun/ˈʌm.brɪdʒ/

   a feeling of annoyance or displeasure caused by someone's remarks or actions

   She took umbrage at his rude comments during the meeting.

   Synonyms: offense, annoyance, displeasure

   Origin: from the Latin 'umbra', meaning 'shade' or 'shadow'

2. cornucopia · noun/ˌkɔr.njəˈkoʊ.pi.ə/

   an abundance or overflowing supply of something

   At the farmer's market, there was a cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables.

   Synonyms: plenty, wealth, abundance

   Origin: from Latin 'cornucopia', meaning 'horn of plenty'; derived from 'cornu' (horn) and 'copia' (abundance)

3. pluck · verb/plʌk/

   to take hold of something and remove it with a quick motion

   She decided to pluck a ripe apple from the tree.

   Synonyms: pull, take, grasp

   Origin: Middle English plokken, from Old Norse plokka

4. exegesis · noun/ˌɛksɪˈdʒisɪs/

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

   The teacher taught us how to do an exegesis of the Bible to understand its deeper meanings.

   Synonyms: interpretation, explanation, analysis

   Origin: from the Greek word 'exēgēsis', meaning 'explanation' or 'interpretation'

5. impropriety · noun/ɪmprəˈpraɪədi/

   behavior that violates accepted standards of honesty, morality, or propriety

   The teacher was fired for his impropriety in the classroom, as he did not follow the rules.

   Synonyms: misconduct, wrongdoing, indiscretion

   Origin: from Latin improprius meaning 'not one's own', combining im- (not) and proprius (own, proper)