Section 1
The Root PLICO: To Fold
Let's unfold the meanings of these words, all connected by the Latin root PLICO, meaning 'to fold'. From deceitful double-dealing to humble prayers, these words are all about folding, bending, or layering ideas and actions.
Key Words
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| complicity (n.) | Participation with another in an act that is or seems to be deceitful |
| duplicity (n.) | Deceitfulness in speech or conduct; double-dealing |
| explicate (v.) | To make clear; to explain thoroughly, often in a literary context |
| explicit (adj.) | Definite; stated in detail, leaving nothing to be guessed at; outspoken |
| exploit (n.) | A notable or heroic deed |
| exploit (v.) | To use to the greatest advantage; to make use of selfishly or unethically |
| imply (v.) | To indicate indirectly; to hint |
| ploy (n.) | A tactic intended to frustrate, embarrass, or gain an advantage over an opponent |
| ply (v.) | To use a tool or weapon vigorously; to work at a trade; to offer something persistently |
| supplicate (v.) | To ask humbly or earnestly for, as in praying; to beseech |
📝Example Usage:
- The teacher asked the student to explicate the complex themes in the novel's final chapter.
- The spy's duplicity was revealed when his own government discovered he was working for the enemy.
- Her heroic exploit involved rescuing the cat from the top of the tallest tree on the block.
🧠Memory Trick:
- To avoid accusations of complicity and duplicity, the politician gave an explicit statement to explicate his actions, which seemed to imply he used a clever ploy to exploit the system, but he continued to ply his constituents with promises and supplicate for their trust.