Emerson chose his words carefully, considering each word's literal meaning as well as its connotation, or emotional effect. To see this approach in action, read the passage below:
If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.
Question
What is the effect of describing the stars as having an admonishing, or gently disapproving, smile?
The word admonishing suggests that nature is wiser than human beings and that it aims to correct our false notions about reality. The stars, Emerson suggests, reproach us for ignoring their beauty and spiritual grace.
Before you read excerpts from Emerson's essays, make sure you understand the meanings of the following words. Click each tab below the chart to learn and practice recalling the meaning of each word.
| sublime | temperance |  |
| nonchalance | cumbers | |
| nonconformist | suffrage | |
| ephemeral | affinity | |
| expiation | intrinsic |
Make a Guess
Pick and Choose
Flash Forward
First, see if you already know some of the words in this lesson's list. Read each word below and guess what it means. (Say the meaning to yourself or write it down.) Then, click the word to check your answer.
| sublime | of great spiritual worth, awe-inspiring |
| temperance | moderation and self-restraint |
| nonchalance | casual indifference, lack of concern |
| cumbers | weighs down with a burden |
| nonconformist | someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards |
| suffrage | a vote given in favor of something |
| ephemeral | lasting for only a brief time |
| affinity | a natural feeling of kinship or attraction |
| expiation | atonement, making of amends |
| intrinsic | of or relating to the essential nature of a thing |
How is each of these words used in the context of a story? Read each passage below. Then, select the word that belongs in the blank. Click the Lookup button if you're not sure what any word means.
Spring this year was _______: We had only a few days of mild weather before intense summer heat set in.
- ephemeral
- nonconformist
- intrinsic
- sublime
lasting for only a brief time
someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards
of or relating to the essential nature of a thing
of great spiritual worth, awe-inspiring
Nice Job!
This word means the opposite of permanent.
Ricco's air of __________ hid his anxious feelings about the upcoming chess competition.
- affinity
- temperance
- nonchalance
- nonconformist
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
moderation and self-restraint
casual indifference, lack of concern
someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards
Nice Job!
You would show this if you didn't care about the outcome of a situation.
The Declaration of Independence asserts that everyone has the ________ right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- ephemeral
- cumbers
- intrinsic
- sublime
lasting for only a brief time
weighs down with a burden
of or relating to the essential nature of a thing
of great spiritual worth, awe-inspiring
Nice Job!
This word describes a quality that you were born with rather than one that you acquired later.
Most healthy people practice ________ in their eating habits: They don't over-indulge in junk food.
- cumbers
- temperance
- expiation
- nonconformist
weighs down with a burden
moderation and self-restraint
atonement, making of amends
someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards
Nice Job!
This is the opposite of over-indulgence.
When Lakeisha glanced upward, the _______ beauty of the clear, glittering night sky took her breath away.
- ephemeral
- affinity
- intrinsic
- sublime
lasting for only a brief time
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
of or relating to the essential nature of a thing
of great spiritual worth, awe-inspiring
Nice Job!
When you observe something awe-inspiring, you may consider it this kind of sight.
Although Carl had counted on the ________ of the entire class, few students actually voted for him.
- suffrage
- expiation
- cumbers
- affinity
a vote given in favor of something
atonement, making of amends
weighs down with a burden
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
Nice Job!
This word may also refer to the right to vote.
Emerson shared a feeling of spiritual ________ with Thoreau and other transcendentalists of his time.
- affinity
- temperance
- nonchalance
- nonconformist
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
moderation and self-restraint
casual indifference, lack of concern
someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards
Nice Job!
You probably feel this for someone who shares your interests and beliefs.
As an act of _________ for wrongdoing, the disgraced politician vowed to give half of his wealth to charity.
- suffrage
- expiation
- temperance
- affinity
a vote given in favor of something
atonement, making of amends
moderation and self-restraint
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
Nice Job!
An act of this kind implies a feeling of guilt for past behavior.
Ever the _________, Lauren wore a bright purple dress to the black-and-white themed dance.
- affinity
- temperance
- expiation
- nonconformist
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
moderation and self-restraint
atonement, making of amends
someone who refuses to conform—to follow established customs and standards
Nice Job!
This word is the negative of the Latin cōnfōrmāre, "to shape after"
If Luis ________ himself with too many commitments, he won't have time to play basketball with us on Saturday.
- expiation
- cumbers
- temperance
- affinity
atonement, making of amends
weighs down with a burden
moderation and self-restraint
a natural feeling of kinship or attraction
Nice Job!
This comes from an Old French word meaning "hindrance."
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
Think you have these words figured out? Try matching the description on each flashcard to one of the words in the box. Once you think you know the word that is described on each card, click the card to check your answer.
burdens
cumbers
casual lack of concern
nonchalance
inspiring awe
sublime
belonging to a thing by its very nature
intrinsic
a sense of kinship
affinity
self-restraint
temperance
a vote for something
suffrage
someone who doesn't behave in the expected way
nonconformist
making of amends for something
expiation
brief, fleeting
ephemeral
Summary
Correct:
Incorrect:
| sublime | temperance | nonchalance | cumbers | nonconformist |
| suffrage | ephemeral | affinity | expiation | intrinsic |
