Spanish Vocabulary: An Etymological Approach

Annex D. 4,500 Relatively Easy Words

ANNEX D , Relatively Easy Words The large majority of these words—either collectively or as members of a group—have easily remembered etymological correspondences in English. (Such correspondences are italicized only in cases where they might not be immediately obvious or to call attention to the relationship). abandonar (to) abandon —abandono —abandon, abandonment abatir (to) bring down (sails, enemy aircraft, spirits) [abate] —abatido (p.p.) —dejected, downcast abominable abominable —abominar —(to) abominate —abominación —abomination aborto abortion, miscarriage —abortar —(to) abort, (to) miscarry —abortivo —abortive abrupto steep, craggy, abrupt absceso abscess absoluto absolute —en absoluto —absolutely not —absolutamente —absolutely (negative sense also possible) absorbente absorbent —absorber —(to) absorb —absorto —absorbed or engrossed (in) (old p.p.) —sorber —(to) suck, (to) sip, (to) soak up —sorbo —sip, gulp —sorbete —sherbet ( Arabic) abundancia abundance —abundante —abundant, plentiful —abundar —(to) abound abuso abuse —abusar —(to) abuse —abusivo —abusive, excessive (price) académico academic, academician (adj. & n.) —academia —academy, private school ácido (adj. & n.) acidic, sour, acid —acidez —acidity, sourness T4311.indb 507 T4311.indb 507 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM  ANNEX D acrimonia acrimony, bitterness —acre () —acrid, tart, acrimonious [eager] —acritud acridity, acrimony [† acritude] —acerbo acerbic (sour or bitter tasting; biting) —exacerbar —(to) exacerbate (ex  acerb-) —agrio —sour, acid, citrus fruits (pl.) —agriar —(to) sour, (to) embitter —acre () ( Eng.) —acre acróbata (m./f.) acrobat —acrobacia —acrobatics —acrobático —acrobatic actual present, current, actual —actualidad —present (time), current situation [actuality] —actualizar —(to) update ( poner al día) [actualize] —actualización —updating [actualization] adecuado (p.p.) appropriate, suitable [adequate] —adecuar —(to) adapt, (to) make suitable —inadecuado —unsuitable, inadequate aderezar (to) season (cooking), (to) dress (salad, appearance) —aderezo —seasoning, (salad) dressing —enderezar —(to) straighten, (to) straighten out [direct, dress] adornar (to) adorn —adorno —adornment —ornamento —ornament adverso adverse —adversidad —adversity —adversario —adversary adyacente adjacent (“lying near”) —yacer —(to) lie (at rest) —yacimiento —(mineral) deposit, (fossil) bed [joist, gite] afable affable afecto (adj.) affected (with illness), attached (partial to) —afecto (n.) —affection, fondness, affect (feeling or emotion) —afectuoso —affectionate —afectivo —affective (emotional) —afectar () —(to) affect (influence, act on the emotions) —afectar () —(to) affect (simulate, take the nature of) —afectado () —affected (acted upon, emotionally stirred, afflicted)  In English, affect is generally considered to be two distinct verbs, reflecting their derivations from separate (albeit related) Latin verbs. By contrast, Spanish afectar is generally considered to be a single verb. T4311.indb 508 T4311.indb 508 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM , RELATIVELY EASY WORDS  —afectado () —affected (feigned or simulated) —afectación —affectation —afección —affection (“disease”; less freq. “fondness”, “emotion”) —afición —fondness, inclination, hobby, enthusiasts or fans —aficionado —aficionado, amateur afinidad affinity (incl. “relationship by marriage”) —afín —kindred, related, affined —afinar —(to) refine (argument, mineral), (to) tune aflicción affliction, grief, sorrow —afligir —(to) afflict, (to) distress, (to) grieve afluente affluent (stream or river that flows into a larger one), tributary —afluencia —influx, affluence (great quantity, abundance) África Africa —africano —African agilidad agility —ágil —agile agitación agitation, turmoil —agitar —(to) agitate, (to) shake —agitador —agitator (person or apparatus) agrario agrarian —agro —(cultivated) land, agricultural sector [acre ] —agronomía —agronomy —agrónomo —agronomist agravación aggravation —agravar —(to) aggravate —agravante —aggravating, aggravating factor (adj. & n.) or circumstance —agraviar —(to) offend, (to) insult [aggrieve] —agravio —offense, insult, injury (legal) [grievance] —agravio —injustice, (unfair) discrimination comparativo agregar (to) add, (to) attach (person to an office) [aggregate] —agregado (p.p.) —aggregate, attaché (military, etc.) —agregación —aggregation agricultura agriculture, farming —agricultor —agricultur(al)ist, farmer —agrícola —agricultural ajustar (to) adjust, (to) fit (transitive)  Latin ager (source of Spanish agro) and Germanic acre come from the same Indo-European root. T4311.indb 509 T4311.indb 509 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM 8/31/07 6:45:07 AM  ANNEX D —ajustado (p.p.) —just (fair), tight, close-fitting —ajuste —adjustment, fit, agreement —ajuste de cuentas —settling of accounts, vengeance álamo poplar tree, alamo —alameda —poplar grove, alameda (tree-shaded promenade) albino albino —albo (“poetic”) —white —alba —dawn, alb (ecclesiastical vestment) —alborada —dawn, reveille, aubade —alborear —(to) dawn ( amanecer) albores (pl.) dawn (fig.), beginning álbum album aleatorio aleatory (dependent on chance or luck) (Lat. alea, “a die”) alergia allergy —alérgico —allergic alerta alert, on the alert (adv.) —alertar —(to) alert alfabeto alphabet —alfabetizar —(to) alphabetize, (to) teach literacy —analfabeto —illiterate, analphabetic —analfabetismo —illiteracy alga, algas (pl.) alga, algae, seaweed alianza alliance...