“grat”
pleasant, thank ,favor
gracious
• (adj)courteous, kind,
pleasant
• Sentence: The visitors
were very gracious
towards their host.
gracious
• Apply It: Is there a difference between
graciousness and manners?
ingratiate
• (v)to gain favor or
approval by doing or
saying things that
people like
• Sentence: She has tried
to ingratiate herself
with the student voters
by promising off
campus lunch.
ingratiate
• Apply It: Why would an ingratiating politician
make someone angry?
gratify
• (v)to make someone
happy
• Sentence: If you’ve
managed to get straight
A’s in school, it probably
felt gratifying.
gratify
• Apply It: People often use the phrase “instant
gratification.” What does that mean?
gratitude
• (n)a feeling of
appreciation or thanks
• Sentence: You should
always express sincere
gratitude for volunteers.
gratitude
• Apply It: Why is it important to have an
attitude of gratitude?
“tort”
twist; wring
extort
• (v)to get (something,
such as money)from a
person by the use of
force or threats
• Sentence: The criminals
extorted large sums of
money from their
victims.
extort
Apply It: Why is extortion a crime?
contort
• (v) to twist into an
unusual appearance or
shape
• Sentence: The boy
contorted his body to
squeeze through the
gate.
contort
Apply It: Use the word “contort” in a
sentence.
retort
• (v) to reply to
something in a quick
and often angry way
• Sentence: She retorted
angrily that the gossip
wasn’t true.
retort
• Apply It: Can a witty retort be hurtful?
contortionist
• (n) a performer who
twists his or her body
into unusual positions
• Sentence: The
contortionist has bent
her body into a dozen
back breaking positions.
contortionist
• Apply It: Where would you see a
contortionist?
tortuous
• (adj) having many twists
and turns
• Sentence: We had to
take a tortuous drive up
the side of the
mountain.
tortuous
• Apply It: Words can have multiple meanings.
“Tortuous” can also mean “crooked, tricky or a
conspiracy.”
• Can you think of some antonyms for the term
“tortuous?”