impinge, mortify, prate, wane, whiff: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 42. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. impinge · verb/ɪmˈpɪndʒ/

   to have an effect or impact on something

   The loud music can impinge on my ability to study.

   Synonyms: influence, affect, touch

   Origin: from Latin 'impingere', meaning 'to strike against'

2. mortify · verb/ˈmɔr.tə.faɪ/

   to cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed

   She felt mortified when she realized she had forgotten her friend's birthday.

   Synonyms: humiliate, embarrass, shame

   Origin: from Middle French 'mortifier', from Latin 'mortificare', meaning 'to kill or subdue'

3. prate · verb/preɪt/

   to talk excessively or pointlessly

   The children prated about their day at school for hours, never stopping to take a breath.

   Synonyms: babble, chatter, ramble

   Origin: From Middle English 'praten', related to Old English 'prætian', meaning 'to talk' or 'to chatter'.

4. wane · verb/weɪn/

   to decrease in size, amount, or intensity

   As the sun began to set, the light started to wane, making the sky darker.

   Synonyms: diminish, decrease, shrink

   Origin: Old English 'wanian', meaning to lessen

5. whiff · noun/wɪf/

   a brief or faint smell or sensation of something

   I caught a whiff of fresh bread as I walked past the bakery.

   Synonyms: smell, scent, aroma

   Origin: The word 'whiff' originated in the early 19th century, likely derived from the verb 'whiff' meaning to take a quick puff or inhalation.