Vocabulary Builder Course 6

Introduction In this lesson, you learned ten new vocabulary words. They were: conundrum, convoluted, cryptic, enigma, ineffable, labyrinth, numinous, perplex, quandary, and soluble. Go on to the Internet to learn a little about the etymology of these new words.

Destination Title: Online Etymology Dictionary

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Directions
Go to the Online Etymology Dictionary website.

• Scroll down the page and glance through the ABBREVIATIONS section.
• Go back and look up each of your vocabulary words by navigating through the appropriate letter ranges (not all vocabulary words are listed in their given forms, so you may be looking up alternate forms.)
• Answer the following questions.

1.		Conundrum used to be Oxford University slang for what?
2.		In “convolution” the roots com- and volvere mean what?
3.		“Cryptic”, meaning “hidden, occult”, was first recorded when?
4.		“Enigma” traces its root definition of “riddle” to what known language?
5.		English got its spelling of “ineffable” from what language?
6.		The Greek root of “labyrinth” referred especially to a structure built for what?
7.		According to the proper meaning of the root “numen”, divine approval is expressed how?
8.		The Latin roots per- and plexus mean what?
9.		“Quandary” as a “state of perplexity” is of what origin?
10.		“Soluble” got its contemporary spelling from what language?