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5.1 - Academic Vocabulary

Terms in this set (20)

Abhorrent ~ He was careful about the precedent he was establishing and did his best to set a good example, but as a product of his time, he acted on the assumptions and prejudices that we find abhorrent today.
adjective ~ morally very bad
Aloofness ~ George Washington carried himself with a grave dignity often described as aloofness.
adjective, adverb ~ not taking part in things, especially in a way that seems unfriendly
Camaraderie ~ A central part of his personality included strong self-control that avoided excessive camaraderie.
noun ~ a friendly feeling toward people with whom you share an experience
Charismatic ~ Washington's leading knowledge of frontier conditions and enormous personal energy had made him a charismatic figure.
adjective ~ charming in a way that makes others want to be around you
Consequential ~ These Founding Fathers were all important, but perhaps none was more consequential than George Washington.
adjective ~ important; significant
Debilitate ~ The new taxes debilitated this crucial economic resource for many frontier settlers from New York to Georgia.
verb ~ to make someone or something weak
Dogged ~ John Adams doggedly fought the political battles to bring the motion for independence into being.
adjective ~ determined to do something, even if it is very difficult
Honorific ~ This is an honorific employed in many countries and even in the United States loosely applied to many of the other men who helped Washington create the United States.
adjective ~ a nickname or title to show respect
Invocation ~ While the invocation of the slavery metaphor was widespread, Washington went a major step further than most of his fellow slave masters.
noun ~ use of an example, or prayer
Occupational ~ Beyond freedom, those slaves who were children were to receive occupational training and to learn to read and write, while elderly slaves were to receive financial support.
adjective ~ relating to a job
Overstate ~ The significance of the first presidential administration under the Constitution is hard to overstate.
verb ~ to exaggerate something or make it seem like more than it is
Pariah ~ Why should he be the "Father of the Nation" while others are relegated to secondary or pariah status?
noun ~ an outcast, a person who is rejected by a social group
Preeminence ~ Washington's greatest contribution to the Revolutionary War, however, was his consistent acknowledgment of the preeminence of civilian leadership.
noun ~ being more important or better than others
Qualm ~ His wealth rested on the exploitation of humans as property, but he expressed no qualms about benefiting from what we now see as a fundamentally immoral institution.
noun ~ an uncomfortable feeling of doubt about whether you are doing the right thing
Rationale ~ The Address opened by offering Washington's rationale for deciding to leave office and expressed mild regret at not having been able to step down after his first term.
noun ~ the reasons for doing something
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