presentiment, philistine, trepidation, quiescence, alacrity: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 16. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. presentiment · noun/prɪˈzɛntəmənt/

   a feeling or intuition about a future event

   She had a presentiment that something bad would happen today.

   Synonyms: foreboding, intuition, premonition

   Origin: Latin 'praesentire' meaning 'to feel beforehand'

2. philistine · noun/ˈfɪlɪˌstin/

   a person who is indifferent to or disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

   He is such a philistine that he only cares about sports and never goes to the art gallery.

   Synonyms: boor, oaf, ignoramus

   Origin: The word 'philistine' comes from the ancient Philistines, a people who lived on the southwestern coast of Canaan. It was later used to describe those who are perceived as lacking appreciation for culture and the arts.

3. trepidation · noun/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/

   a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen

   She felt trepidation before giving her speech in front of the large crowd.

   Synonyms: fear, anxiety, apprehension

   Origin: from Latin 'trepidatio', meaning 'trembling' or 'fear'

4. quiescence · noun/kwɪˈɛs.əns/

   a state of inactivity or dormancy

   The plant remained in a state of quiescence during the winter, waiting for spring to grow again.

   Synonyms: inactivity, dormancy, stillness

   Origin: From Latin 'quiescentia', meaning 'rest, tranquility', from 'quiescere', meaning 'to rest, to be quiet'.

5. alacrity · noun/əˈlækrɪti/

   cheerful readiness or eagerness to do something

   She accepted the invitation with alacrity, excited to join her friends at the party.

   Synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness

   Origin: from Latin 'alacritas', meaning 'liveliness, eagerness'