Adams Media - Pride: A Dictionary for The Vain

PRIDE A DICTIONARY FOR THE VAIN

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For information, please call 1-800-289-0963. An Introduction to
Pride pride (pryd) NOUN: An inordinate opinion of ones own superiority. Hubris blinds those so taken with themselves that they often fall from the heights their own vanity builds.

No matter the causebe it like Gatsbys great wealth on the West Egg or Lucifers charm in Paradise Lost the outcome never favors those only full of themselves. The desire to champion their own greatness ultimately proves to be their greatest weakness. This flaw in the self-perceived flawlessness of the prideful leaves nothing to boast about but plenty from which to learn. While pride is defined best in the reflection of any aspiring Narcissus, this impressive dictionary captures the essence of the most vainglorious sin. accentuate (ak-SEN-choo-ayt) VERB: To intensify or accent. To accentuate something is to emphasize or stress it.

To strengthen or heighten the effect of something is to accentuate it. achievement (uh-CHEEV-muhnt) NOUN: An accomplishment, something done with skill. acuity (uh-KYOO-ih-tee) NOUN: Penetrating, sharp intelligence. acumen (uh-KYOO-muhn) NOUN: Keenness of judgment. Acumen refers to an ability to make quick, accurate decisions and evaluations. ad nauseam (ad NAW-zee-uhm) NOUN: To a sickening degree. ad nauseam (ad NAW-zee-uhm) NOUN: To a sickening degree.

This Latin phrase often is invoked when someone goes on and on about something and just doesnt know when to stop. adamant (AD-uh-muhnt) NOUN: Unwilling to submit; stubborn and unyielding. Historically, adamant refers to a legendary stone of infinite hardness. (The word diamond shares the same root.) adept (uh-DEPT) NOUN: Proficient; expert; highly skilled. Adept refers to someone who is very good at performing
a given task. adhere (ad-HEER) VERB: Hold fast to, usually with a sense of honor or allegiance. adherent (ad-HEER-uhnt) ADJECTIVE: Describes one who is devoted to or strongly associated with a cause or opinion. adherent (ad-HEER-uhnt) ADJECTIVE: Describes one who is devoted to or strongly associated with a cause or opinion.

Pride is seldom delicate:
it will please itself with very mean advantages. S AMUEL J OHNSON admire (ad-MY-uhr) VERB: To feel admiration or respect for someone or something. adore (uh-DOHR) VERB: To love deeply or intensely. Narcissus ADORED in himself what he should have loved in others. adrenaline (uh-DREN-l-in) NOUN: A chemical produced in the body that gives one added strength and energy; epinephrine. adulation (AJ-uh-lay-shuhn) NOUN: Extreme praise, admiration, or flattery, especially of a servile nature. adulation (AJ-uh-lay-shuhn) NOUN: Extreme praise, admiration, or flattery, especially of a servile nature.

Adulation is generally taken to describe acclaim and admiration that is out of scope with its object. Edmund Spensers epic poem, The Faerie Queen , was an extended ADULATION that flattered Queen Elizabeth I. affection (uh-FEK-shuhn) NOUN: A positive, fond feeling. Also, the physical display of these feelings. aficionado (uh-fish-yuh-NAH-doh) NOUN: A devotee, someone who is enthralled with and supports a particular activity. aggrandize (uh-GRAN-dyz) VERB: To raise the importance of or make to appear great. aggrandize (uh-GRAN-dyz) VERB: To raise the importance of or make to appear great.

To aggrandize is to increase the prestige, influence, reputation, or power of a person or institution. airs and graces (airz and GRAY-zuhs) NOUN: Displaying superiority, often falsely. aloof (uh-LOOF) ADJECTIVE: Indifferent or uninterested; unsociable. amoral (ay-MAWR-uhl) NOUN: Without moral discretion or standards. To be amoral is to act as though the distinctions of right and wrong are nonexistent. amour propre (uh-moor PRAW-pruh) NOUN: French for self-esteem, this term means excessive self-worth. apotheosis (uh-poth-ee-OH-sis) NOUN: A perfect example; the epitome of a person, place, thing, etc. apotheosis (uh-poth-ee-OH-sis) NOUN: A perfect example; the epitome of a person, place, thing, etc.

Also, apotheosis can mean something or someone elevated to godlike status. ardent (AHR-dnt) ADJECTIVE: Intense, passionate, devoted; characterized by high emotion. Ardent people show great enthusiasm for causes and people close to them. aristocratic (uh-ris-tuh-KRAT-ik) ADJECTIVE: Grand and stylish. arrogance (AYR-uh-guhns) NOUN: A display of exaggerated self-worth. arrogant (AYR-uh-guhnt) ADJECTIVE: Having an exaggerated sense of self-worth, displaying a sense of unwarranted importance. assumption of superiority (uh-SUHMP-shuhn ov suh-peer-ee-AWR-ih-tee) PHRASE: A condescending attitude that implies disdain. assumptive (uh-SUHMP-tiv) ADJECTIVE: Excessively forward and presumptuous. assurance (uh-SHOOR-uhns) NOUN: Convincing someone of something in order to give confidence, or confidence in ones own abilities. assurance (uh-SHOOR-uhns) NOUN: Convincing someone of something in order to give confidence, or confidence in ones own abilities.

Pride is the mask of ones own faults. J EWISH P ROVERB attitude (AT-ih-tood) NOUN: Presenting oneself with self-confidence. Linden entered the room with such ATTITUDE that conversations fell to a hush. august (aw-GUHST) ADJECTIVE: Impressive, venerable. autoeroticism (aw-toh-ih-ROT-uh-siz-uhm) NOUN: Sexual excitement brought about by thinking or fantasizing about ones own body. bearing (BAYR-ing) NOUN: The way someone stands or holds themselves. benchmark (BENCH-mahrk) NOUN: A standard by which to measure; the exemplary performance or criterion. biggety (BIG-ih-tee) ADJECTIVE: Boastful or self-important. bighead (BIG-hed) NOUN: An arrogant person. bigheaded (BIG-hed-ed) ADJECTIVE: To act as though you are a self-centered person. bloated (BLOH-tid) ADJECTIVE: Swollen or enlarged. bloated (BLOH-tid) ADJECTIVE: Swollen or enlarged.

The politician had such a BLOATED ego that he could not accept his second-place finish and called for a recount. bloviate (BLOH-vee-eyt) VERB: To speak pompously and at great length. blow ones own horn (bloh wuhnz ohn hawrn) PHRASE: To imply in speech that one thinks himself above others; to show arrogance. blow ones own trumpet (bloh wuhnz ohn TRUHM-pit) PHRASE: See blow ones own horn . blowhard (BLOH-hahrd) NOUN: Someone who is boastful in an unpleasant manner. boast (bohst) VERB: As a verb this term means to show off and talk with excessive pride.