Page 382 - Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary

6 . uxorial—pertaining to, characteristic of, or be tting, a wife, as uxorial duties,

privileges, attitudes, etc.

7. marital (MAIR′-Ə-tƏl)—etymologically, pertaining or referring to, or characteristic of, a
husband; but the meaning has changed to include the marriage relationship of both
husband and wife (don’t ever let anyone tell you that our language is not sexist!), as marital
duties, obligations, privileges, arguments, etc. Hence extramarital is literally outside the
marriage, as in extramarital a airs (hanky-panky with someone other than one’s spouse).
An d premarital (Latin pre x pre-, before) describes events that occur before a planned

marriage, as premarital sex, a premarital agreement as to the division of property, etc.

2. of cabbages and kings (without the cabbage)

Rex, regis is Latin for king. Tyrannosaurus rex was the king (i.e., the largest) of the
dinosaurs (etymologically, “king of the tyrant lizards”). Dogs are often named Rex to fool

them into thinking they are kings rather than slaves. And regal (REE′-gƏl) is royal, or t for
a king, hence magni cent, stately, imperious, splendid, etc., as in regal bearing or manner,
a regal mansion, a regal reception, etc. The noun is regality (rƏ-GAL′-Ə-tee).

Regalia (rƏ-GAYL′-yƏ), a plural noun, designated the emblems or insignia or dress of a
king, and now refers to any impressively formal clothes; or, more commonly, to the
decorations, insignia, or uniform of a rank, position, o ce, social club, etc. “The Shriners
were dressed in full regalia,” “The five-star general appeared in full regalia,” etc.

3. “madness” of all sorts

Th e monomaniac develops an abnormal obsession in respect to one particular thing
(Greek monos, one), but is otherwise normal. The obsession itself, or the obsessiveness, is
monomania (mon′-Ə-MAY′-nee-Ə), the adjective is monomaniacal (mon′-Ə-mƏ-NĪ′-Ə-kƏl).

Monomaniacal, like the adjective forms of various other manias, is tricky to pronounce—
practice carefully to make sure you can say it correctly without stuttering.
Psychology recognizes other abnormal states, all designating obsessions, and built on
Greek mania, madness.

1. dipsomania (dip′-sƏ-MAY′-nee-Ə)—morbid compulsion to keep on absorbing alcoholic
beverages (Greek dipsa, thirst). The dipsomaniac has been de ned as the person for whom

one drink is too many, a thousand not enough. Recent investigations suggest that
dipsomania, or alcoholism, may not necessarily be caused by anxieties or frustrations, but
possibly by a metabolic or physiological disorder.
Adjective: dipsomaniacal (dip′-sƏ-mƏ-NĪ′-Ə-kƏl).

2. kleptomania (klep′-tƏ-MAY′-nee-Ə)—morbid compulsion to steal, not from any economic
motive, but simply because the urge to take another’s possessions is irresistible. The

kleptomaniac (Greek klepte, thief) may be wealthy, and yet be an obsessive shoplifter. The