Word Master — Set 69

Set 69 of Word Master covers 5 words: respite, malefactor, harbinger, perjury, pariah. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. respite · noun/ˈrɛspaɪt/

   a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant

   After a long week of work, I finally took a short respite to relax at the park.

   Synonyms: break, rest, pause

   Origin: from Middle English 'respit', from Old French 'respiter', from Latin 'respectare' meaning 'to look back'.

2. malefactor · noun/ˈmæl.əˌfæktər/

   a person who commits a crime or some other wrong

   The police caught the malefactor who stole the car last night.

   Synonyms: criminal, wrongdoer, offender

   Origin: From Latin 'male factorem', meaning 'doing evil'.

3. harbinger · noun/ˈhɑrbɪndʒər/

   a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

   The robin is often seen as a harbinger of spring, signaling that warmer days are coming.

   Synonyms: forerunner, precursor, omen

   Origin: from Middle English 'herbenger', from Old French 'herbergier', meaning 'to provide lodging' or 'to shelter', originally related to someone who goes ahead to arrange accommodations.

4. perjury · noun/ˈpɜrdʒəri/

   the act of swearing falsely or making false statements under oath

   She was accused of perjury after giving false answers in court.

   Synonyms: falsehood, deceit, untruth

   Origin: from Middle English 'perjurie', from Latin 'perjurium', meaning 'false oath' (from 'per' meaning 'through' and 'jurare' meaning 'to swear')

5. pariah · noun/pəˈraɪə/

   a person who is rejected or ostracized by society

   After the scandal, he became a pariah in his community and lost many friends.

   Synonyms: outcast, reject, leper

   Origin: From the Tamil word 'paraiyan', meaning drum, pertaining to an outcast or one who is not accepted by society.