Latin Words in English

Interested in increasing your vocabulary? Here are some English words from Latin directly or from Latin via French or Spanish. These words are thought to have come from newspaper articles from around 1923. One of the words on the list, mattoid, does not appear to be used any longer, so it is not included.

1. acumen - ability to make good judgments
2. agenda - list of things to be done
3. altruism - selfless concern for others
4. ambiguous - having a double meaning
5. aplomb (Fr.) - self-confidence
6. atrocity - cruel act
7. avarice - greed
8. bibulous - excessively fond of drinking alcohol
9. celibate - abstaining from sex or marriage
10. chivalrous (Fr.) - gallant
11. condign - worthy, appropriate
12. conglomerate - parts put together to form a unit while remaining separate identities
13. crepuscular - pertaining to twilight
14. cull - select from a variety of sources
15. debilitate - weaken
16. dirigible - capable of being guided
17. facsimile - exact copy
18. ferrous - made of iron
19. flux - in the process of flowing
20. futile - in vain
21. garrulity - loquaciousness
22. impecunious - poor
23. incalculable - too great to be counted
24. incommunicado (Sp.) - not in communication with others
25. indefatigability - tireless
26. insipid - lacking flavor
27. introspection - looking within at one's mental or emotional state
28. languid - slow, relaxed
29. lucubration - meditation
30. malfeasance (Fr.) - wrongdoing
31. modicum - small amount

Source: "Learn a Word Every Day" by Lillian B. Lawler. The Classical Journal, Vol. 18, No. 5. (Feb.​ 1923), pp. 299-301.