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Synonyms for this word include:īanal is borrowed from the French language and has a few acceptable pronunciations, the most common of which is \buh-NAL\. Ironically, adding the term banal to your college essays will make them less boring, not more so. Merriam-Webster defines banal as “boring or ordinary lacking originality or freshness.” For example, no matter how banal your professors’ lectures, it’s still advisable to pay attention if you want to pass your classes. #5: banal Official Definition: (adj.)-boring or ordinaryĪnother word you should add to your list of vocabulary words is the term banal. To imagine the word used in context, think about how opening a college acceptance letter may mark an auspicious moment in your life. Today, the word auspicious can be used to describe anything that portends success or good fortune. The word means “showing or suggesting that success in the future is likely,” and it comes from the Latin term auspex, meaning “bird seer.” In ancient times, clairvoyants used to birdwatch in order to detect patterns that could affect future events.
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Many of the important college words we’ve featured have interesting etymological roots, and auspicious is another one of these captivating terms. #4: auspicious Official Definition: (adj.)-showing or suggesting that future success is likely propitious In anger, you might comment that such students are displaying the antithesis of responsibility. To illustrate how the term antithesis can be used in everyday speech, consider how you might feel as you’re returning home from class one evening and notice that the campus has become littered outside a frat house. The term antithesis simply means “opposite,” but it makes a much better impression when used in writing and speech, especially in the classroom. #3: antithesis Official Definition: (noun)- the exact opposite of something or someoneĪs is the case for a lot of these college words, antithesis is a more sophisticated version of a term you already know. For example, the same professor may point out a particularly aesthetic technique that an artist uses when sculpting. Still, its primary usage is in the adjective form.
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In Art History, for example, your professor may engage the class in a conversation about how aesthetics in fine art has evolved over time.
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