1. From Old French, adversarie, or Latin, adversarius, meaning opposed or opponent. 2. -ary 3. One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute. 4. Your rival in a conflict. 5. These debaters are rivals, or adversaries.
Advocate
1. ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French avocat, from Latin advocatus, past participle (used as a noun) of advocare ‘call (to one's aid),’ from ad- ‘to’ + vocare ‘to call.’ 2. -ate 3. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy 4. A supporter or fan of a cause or law. 5. This man is a supporter of stopping the war against immigrants, a particular cause.
Agenda
1. ORIGIN early 17th cent. (in the sense [things to be done] ): from Latin, neuter plural of agendum, gerund of agere ‘do.’ 2. none 3. A list or program of things to be done or problems to be addressed. 4. Things someone has planned to do or take care of. 5. This is a list of what someone has to do at a meeting.
Bias
1. ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (in the sense [oblique line] ; also as an adjective meaning [oblique] ): from French biais, from Provençal, perhaps based on Greek epikarsios ‘oblique.’ 2. none 3. Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. 4. Someone prefers one person or thing over another to the extreme. 5. The media is prefering one point of view over the whole true story.
Bipartisan
1. 1905–10; bi-1 + partisan1 2. bi- 3. Of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies 4. Two politcal parties that are usually at odds, working together. 5. Democrats and Republicans, the biggest rivals in the U.S., are working together on something.
Communism
1. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French communisme, from commun 2. -ism 3. a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. 4. A type of government where people are under the strict thumb of the government and can't think for themselves. 5. The places in the world where communism are still strong.
Conservative
1. ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [aiming to preserve] ): from late Latin conservativus, from conservat- ‘conserved,’ from the verb conservare (see conserve ). Current senses date from the mid 19th century onward. 2. con-, -ive 3. a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics. 4. Someone who prefers the traditional way of doing it rather than a new and better way. 5. A lot of Indian tribes prefer to do things the traditional way whether or not the new way is better.
Democrat
1.ORIGIN late 18th cent. (originally denoting an opponent of the aristocrats in the French Revolution of 1790): from French démocrate, on the pattern of aristocrate ‘aristocrat.’ 2. demo-, -crat 3. an advocate or supporter of democracy. 4. Someone who believes in the democratic republic. 5. The symbol of the United States Democrat Political Party.
Democracy
1. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French démocratie, via late Latin from Greek dēmokratia, from dēmos ‘the people’ + -kratia ‘power, rule.’ 2.demo-, -cracy 3. a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives 4. A type of government where people chose people to make decisions for them. 5. The people are choosing their representatives to make decisions for them.
Dichotomy
1. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek dikhotomia, from dikho- ‘in two, apart’ + -tomia (see -tomy ). 2. di-, -tomy 3. a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different 4. The difference between two completely opposite things. 5. Creation and Evolution are two completely different ideas in their purest forms.
Economy
1. ORIGIN late 15th cent. (in the sense [management of material resources] ): from French économie, or via Latin from Greek oikonomia ‘household management,’ based on oikos ‘house’ + nemein ‘manage.’ Current senses date from the 17th cent. 2. -nomy 3. the wealth and resources of a country or region, esp. in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. 4. The money and things a country has as a whole. 5. The household economy of the United States since 1946.
Ethics
1. ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting ethics or moral philosophy; also used attributively): from Old French éthique, from Latin ethice, from Greek (hē) ēthikē (tekhnē) ‘(the science of) morals,’ based on ēthos (see ethos ) 2. -ics 3. a set of moral principles, esp. ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct 4. Morals that are related to a specific set of beliefs. 5. The biggest thing, right vs. wrong.
Ethnic
1. ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting a person not of the Christian or Jewish faith): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek ethnikos ‘heathen,’ from ethnos ‘nation.’ Current senses date from the 19th cent. 2. -nic 3. of or relating to a population subgroup (within a larger or dominant national or cultural group) with a common national or cultural tradition 4. Someone who comes from a different background then most in the area. 5. Different ethnics come together.
Genocide
1. ORIGIN 1940s: from Greek genos ‘race’ + -cide . 2. -cide 3.the deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation. 4. A mass murdering of people of a certain background. 5. The Jewish Concentration Camps are a prime example of genocide.
Glass Ceiling
1. The earliest citation in print that we can find is from an article by Nora Frenkiel about magazine editor, Gay Bryant - "The Up-and-Comers; Bryant Takes Aim At the Settlers-In.", Adweek Special Report; Magazine World, March, 1984: "Women have reached a certain point -- I call it the glass ceiling. They're in the top of middle management and they're stopping and getting stuck. There isn't enough room for all those women at the top. Some are going into business for themselves. Others are going out and raising families." 2.-ing 3. an unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, esp. affecting women and members of minorities. 4. The barrier to advancement in a job, particularly affecting women and minorities. 5. A women trying to get through the glass ceiling blocking her from advancing.
Globalization
1. The historical origins of globalization remain subject to debate. Though in common usage it refers to the period beginning in the 1970s, some scholars regard it as having an ancient history that encompasses all international activity. 2. -ation 3.development so as to make possible international influence or operation 4. The process of allowing work to be done around the world by one group or vice versus. 5. United Nations is trying to help nations around the world.
Global Market
1. It is unknown when the term global market was first used. 2. -al 3. the branch of economics that studies the dynamics of exchange rates, foreign investment, and how these affect international trade. 4. The world's trade and economy. 5. This is the economic value by region.
Government
1. ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French governement, from governer (see govern ). 2. -ment 3. the governing body of a nation, state, or community 4. The rulers of a specific region. 5. The basis of our government.
Hypocrisy
1. ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French ypocrisie, via ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek hupokrisis ‘acting of a theatrical part,’ from hupokrinesthai ‘play a part, pretend,’ from hupo ‘under’ + krinein ‘decide, judge. 2. -crisy 3. the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense. 4. Pretending to have one set of beliefs, but not following through. 5. The definition of hypocrisy.
Ideology
1. ORIGIN late 18th cent. (sense 2) : from French idéologie, from Greek idea ‘form, pattern’ + -logos (denoting discourse or compilation). 2. -ology 3. a system of ideas and ideals, esp. one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy 4. The ideas that form a basis for a religion or political theory. 5. The basis of the Nazi political party.
Irony
1. ORIGIN early 16th cent. (also denoting Socratic irony): via Latin from Greek eirōneia ‘simulated ignorance,’ from eirōn ‘dissembler.’ 2. -y 3. a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result 4. The opposite of what one expects to happen during an event. 5. It is ironic that a truck with flames painted on it will catch on fire.
Juxtaposition
1. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French juxtaposer, from Latin juxta ‘next’ + French poser ‘to place.’ 2. none 3. place or deal with close together for contrasting effect 4. two things placed side-by-side 5. These two things were placed side-by-side, but are completely opposite.
Liberal
1. ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from Latin liberalis, from liber ‘free (man).’ The original sense was [suitable for a free man,] hence [suitable for a gentleman] (one not tied to a trade), surviving in liberal arts. Another early sense [generous] ( compare with sense 4) gave rise to an obsolete meaning [free from restraint,] leading to sense 1 (late 18th cent.). 2. -al 3. a person favoring maximum individual liberty in political and social reform 4. Someone who believes in not punishing their children and everyone should be free without rules 5. The definition of a liberal. Honestly, the only kind one I could find.
Moderate
1. ORIGIN late Middle English : from Latin moderat- ‘reduced, controlled,’ from the verb moderare; related to modest . 2. -ate 3.a person who holds moderate views, esp. in politics. 4. A person that doesn't have any one set of views 5. The moderate Islam is a whole lot calmer about it.
Partisan
1. ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from French, via Italian dialect from Italian partigiano, from parte ‘part’ (from Latin pars, part-). 2. none 3. a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person. 4. Someone who strongly believes in something specific 5. This man is raising support for Kenya's new constitution.
Political Party
1. 1700's with the American and French Revolutions 2. none 3. a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. 4. A group of people who want control of the government. 5. The two biggest political parties of America.
Parliament
1. ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French parlement ‘speaking,’ from the verb parler. 2. -ment 3.(in the UK) the highest legislature, consisting of the sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons 4. The highest senate in a government 5. The Parliament of U.K.
Prejudice
1. ORIGIN Middle English (sense 2 of the noun) : from Old French, from Latin praejudicium, from prae ‘in advance’ + judicium ‘judgment.’ 2. pre-, -ice 3. preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience 4. An opinion of someone or something that is influenced by others, not by your own experience. 5. The truth about prejudice.
Racism
1. The term racist has been around since 1936. The concept has been in the English language since 1907. It appears that the conflict between Hitler's Germany and the Jewish culture was the catalyst for the predominance of the term racist. I say Jewish culture, because there are three racial groupings within the Jewish community: Hebrew, mixed-breed Hebrews, and non-Hebrews. This is an established fact within the Jewish community and in their written records, including the scriptures (torah.) It was considered to be a problem in Jewish society, to have other races or gentiles in ones bloodline. 2. -ism 3. the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. 4. The belief that a certain group of people are better than another group simply because of religion, background, or skin color 5. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech against racism.
Relevant
1. ORIGIN early 16th cent. (as a Scots legal term meaning [legally pertinent] ): from medieval Latin relevant- ‘raising up,’ from Latin relevare. 2. -ant 3.closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand 4. Important to a conversation or the situation 5. This hedgehog is finding things important to his interests.
Religion
1. ORIGIN Middle English (originally in the sense [life under monastic vows] ): from Old French, or from Latin religio(n-) ‘obligation, bond, reverence,’ perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind.’ 2. -ion 3. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods 4. Ones belief system 5. Different types of world religions.
Republic
1. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French république, from Latin respublica, from res ‘concern’ + publicus ‘of the people, public.’ 2.-ic 3. a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch. 4. A country where the rule is of the people, sometimes with representatives above them. Similar to a democracy. 5. People are voting for rulers and laws.
Republican
1. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1856, announcing the birth of the Republican Party as a unified political force. 2. -ic, -an 3. (of a form of government, constitution, etc.) belonging to, or characteristic of a republic. 4. Someone who believes in what the republic government stands for. 5. The symbol of the Republican party.
Satire
1. ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin satira, later form of satura ‘poetic medley.’ 2. none 3. the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. 4. The use of comedy and irony to point out other peoples flaws 5. This is talking about the slowness of the news giving us information.
Slant
1. ORIGIN late Middle English : variant of dialect slent, of Scandinavian origin, probably influenced by aslant . 2. none 3. present or view (information) from a particular angle, esp. in a biased or unfair way 4. Showing info from a certain view or a biased way 5. The New York Times shows us information from such a certain point of view with very little facts, it is considered fiction in this picture.
Socialism
1. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French socialisme, from social (see social ). 2. -ism 3. a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. 4. The community as a whole decides what to do for the economy of the state. 5. The belief of several about socialism.
Stonewall
1. The term came to be used in Parliament for the blocking of legislation by long-winded procedures that were not meaningful or responsive. 2. none 3. delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, esp. in politics 4. Blocking questions or refusing to answer them 5. Politicians often don't answer questions posed to them, because the answer would put them in a bad light.
Stratify
1. New Latin stratificare, from stratum + Latin -ificare -ify First Known Use: 1661 2. -ify 3. form or arrange into strata 4. To seperate according to social status or wealth or education 5. The social status of ancient Egypt.
Subliminal
1. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from sub- [below] + Latin limen, limin- ‘threshold’ + -al . 2. sub-, -al 3. (of a stimulus or mental process) below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it. 4. Something that influences you without you realizing it. 5. This guy doesn't realize that the sign is influencing him to do something.
Substantiate
1. ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin substantiat- ‘given substance,’ from the verb substantiare. 2. sub-, -ate 3. provide evidence to support or prove the truth of 4. To show proof of the truth of a certain debate 5. Evidence for a case, police or courtroom.
Tolerant
1. ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from French tolérant, present participle of tolérer, from Latin tolerare (see tolerate ). Compare with earlier intolerant . 2. -ant 3. showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with 4. Not minding people doing or saying things they don't agree with 5. This cat is very tolerant to have the baby pull on him like this.
Technology
1. ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek tekhnologia ‘systematic treatment,’ from tekhnē ‘art, craft’ + -logia (see -logy ). 2. -nology 3. the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, esp. in industry 4. New equipment not around two hundred years ago, used to speed up processes and find information 5. Computers, phones, TV, etc.