A trilingual dictionary
Luca, 1
A Tri-lingual
Ultimate EnglishGerman-Romanian
Dictionary of False
Friends and English
Difficult AdjectivesForeword
The logical syntax of language is making it difficult to use words in an elaborate and nonredundant manner of expressing the most interesting thoughts. Language remains thus
fascinating and very much attractive to use on a higher metaphorical level.
This dictionary represents a source for private instruction and a book for precious
inspiration gained as a further step in semantics learning and language acquisition. It
could be regarded as a tool for linguistic enrichment and a source of inspiration against
illiteracy. The usage of certain expressions thus taken seriously, the user of this guide will
be able to avoid language slips of tongue and other unfortunate linguistic situations of
lingo.
The contents of this wordy guide places the interlocutor or addressee to the limits of speech
where the boundaries of a specific mother tongue are, and must therefore be overcome and
exceeded.
The presented structured body of material is an extract of the whole descriptive enterprise.Table of Contents
1. A Resumative Collection of False Friends and Homophones...............................4
2. A handy Elaborated List of Synonyms and partial Synonyms…………...……..7
3. Several Grammar Exercises for Enhancing the Resolving of various Usage of
Adjectives correctly……………………………………………………………….10
4. Key to the Exercises………………………………………………………………..13
5. Index/Glossary of difficult Terms…………………………………………………..
1. A Resumative Collection of False Friends and Homophones
A.
absonous : unharmonisch
acumen – acuity
aid - aide
anime - manga
amend - emend
aka - a.k.a.
averse - adverse
anyway - anyways
alter - altar
altogether - all together
avocation – vocation
aww - awe
B.
be > bye
blatant - flagrant
brief - debrief
brung - brought
broach - brooch
blimp - zeppelin
buck-naked - butt-naked
C.
carmel- caramel
catsup - ketchup
crayfish - crawfish
coca - cocoa
consignor - consignee
D.
defendant - plaintiffdefuse - diffuse
disperse - disburse (to pay off)
E.
height - heighth
half-mast - half-staff
F.
faze - phase
founder - flounder
flutist - flautist
funner - funnier
G.
gage - gauge
H.
a hold- a hould
hillbilly > redneck
himself > hisself
height > height
hoard > hord
hoorah - hooray
historic - historical
hitch – snag, glitch-------------------Nagel, Hindernis
I.
impostor > imposter
instill >instill
instillation > installation
inter > intra
J.
jibe >jive______Jubel
K.
know > new
L.
lessee>lesson________________Lektion, lecṭie
lead> lede--------------------------Führung
leapt - leap--------------------------Schritt
leery> leary……argwöhnisch, misstrauisch, schlau
lent> lended
lite - light
linchpin > lynchpin
literally > figuratively-----------buchstäblich, ro.:literal )
loathe > loath-----hassen, Hass
log in > log on_____einloggenM.
mantel - mantle
moniesc > moneys
N.
naval – navel______marin, meergehörend
nee – neigh-----------------Wiehenrn
O.
oars - ores
obedience - obedients
ode-owed
od-odd
oracle - auricle
oral - aural
P.
opossum - possum
peal > peel
polygamy > polygyny
prone > supine
Q.
quad - quod
quaff - coif
quay - key
qubit - cubit
R.
repression > suppression
recur - reoccur
role - roll
roof > roves
S.
segway > segue
shoo-in > shoe-in
shudder > shutterhurray
scared > scarred
serigraph - litograph
sherbet - sherbert
story - storey
skeleton > luge
sore > soar
spatter > splatter
speciality > specialty
stank - stunk
to steer - to drive
to stear - clear
stent - stint
summery - summarysupersede - supersed
supposedly - supposable
T.
talk to - talk with
tenants - tenets
tough - tuff
trawling - trolling
U.
unitary - unitarian
V.
verbage - verbiage
W.
waive - waver
wack – whack
whoa- woah
Y.
y’all - ya’ll
Z.
zee - zed1. Handy, elaborated Synonyms and partial Synonyms listed in alphabetical
order:
1) adamant: unyielding, stubborn.
a. hartnäckig, eigensinnig, stur. b. încăpățânat, reticient.
2) amatory: sexual.
a. sexuell, sensual. b. sexual, hedonistic.
3) animistic: quality of recurrence or reversion to earlier form,
recoiling.
a. zurückdrehbar, elastisch, animistisch. b. elastic, involuat, recular,
repulsiv.
4) antic : clownish, frolicsome.
a. clownartig, verzerrt. b. clovnesc, distorsionat, grotesc,
contorsionat, cabotinic, bufonic.
5) arcadian: serene.
a. ruhig, seren. b. liniștit, cumpătat, echilibrat, moderat.
6) baleful=deadly, foreboding.
a. ermahnend. b. amenințător, agasant.
7) bellicose=quarrelsome.
a. streitsüchtig. b. certăreț.
8) bilious: unpleasant, peevish, crude, insensitive, boorish.
a. unempfindlich, grob, herzlos, ungeschliffen. b. neplăcut, iritant.
9) calamitous : disastrous.
a. zerstörerisch, zerstört widerlich, unglückselig, unheilvoll, elend,
verhängnisvoll. b. dezastros, calamitat, periculos.
10) caustic : corrosive, sarcastic, a corrosive substance
a. sarkastisch, korrosiv, porös. b. coroziv.
11) cerulean=sky blue.
a. himmelsblau, bläulich. b. albăstrui.
12) comely=attractive.
a. attraktiv, gutaussehend. b. atractiv.
13) concomitant = accompanying.
a. begleitend, mitgehend. b. acompaniind.
14) contumacious = rebellious.
a. rebellig, aufgeweckt, aufsässig, widerspenstig b. rebel,
nonconformist15) corpulent=obese.
a. korpolent, massiv. b. obez, corpulent, masiv.
16) crapulous : immoderate in appetite.
a. unersotten, hungrig b. înfometat, cu foame de lup, bulimic.
17.) deprecated: rather shabby and old
a. missbilligt,, überholt ,
abgelehnt,b.refuzat, depreciat.
18.) defamatory : causing delay, tardy, maliciously misrepresenting.
a.. verspätet, unsynchronisiert. b. întârziat, imprompt.
19.) dowdy : shabby, old-fashioned, an unkempt woman.
a. schäbig, unraffiniert, altmodisch, uralt, eine ungekämmte Frau b.
nerafinat, demodat.
20.) smug : very arrogant and conceited
a. dünkelhaft. b. arogant, încrezut.
21.) effulgent : brilliantly radiant.
a. brisant, strahlend b. strălucitor, radiant.
22.) egregious : conspicuous, flagrant.
a. aufdringlich, flagrant. b. pregnant, intens, protuberant, bulbucat,
persistent.
23.) endemic : prevalent, native, peculiar to an area.
a. prevalent, überhandnehmend b. prevalent, neaos, specific unei
zone.
24.) equanimous : even, balanced.
a. ausgewogen, harmonisiert. b. armonizat, balansat.
25.) execrable : wretched, detestable.
a. unausstehlich. b. insuportabil explained : cleared.
26.) explained : cleared.
a. gerodet, aufgeklärt.
b. relevant, edificat.
27.) fastidious: meticulous, overly delicate
a. delikat, ausgesprochen zärtlich, pingelig, heikel, geschmeidig, mäkelig, akribisch
finuț, delicat.
28.) feckless: weak, irresponsible.
a. schwach, unverantwortlich. b. slab, iresponsabil.
29.) fecund: prolific, inventive.
a. fruchtbar, gedeihend. b. fecund, fructifer, prolific, inventiv.
31.) friable: brittle, rotten.
30.) frugal: poor.
a. armselig, arm, bescheiden, sparsam, genügsam. b. sărăcăcios.
31.) fulsome : abundant, overdone, effusive.
a. mannigfaltig, entwickelt. b. variat, îndestulat.
32.) fussy : not easily
satisfied, unsatisfied.
a. streitsüchtig, strittig, wählerisch, übereifrig, heikel, zimperlich. b. certăreț.
33.) garrulous : wordy, talkative.
a. sprachgewandt, unverantwortlich volubel b. vorbăreț, volubil, limbut, locvace.
34.) guileless : naive.
a. schuldlos, unerfahren b. neinițiat, naiv, nevinovat, iresponsabil.35.) gustatory =having to do with taste.
a. geschmacklich, lecker b. gustativ.
36.) heuristic : learning through trial-and-error or problem solving.
a. euristisch, experimental, experimentell. b. euristic, mental, experimental.
37.) histrionic : affected, theatrical.
a. histrionisch, affektiert, theatralisch, pathetisch. b. afectat.
38.) fallow : uncultivated.
a. brach, dürr, trocken. b. uscat.
39.) fecund: inventive, prolific.
a. gedeihend. b. fecund.
40.) friable : rotten
a. verschlechtert, verrotten b. alterat, stricat.
41.) incendiary : inflammatory, combustible, hot
a. entzündlich b. inflamator
42) indomitable : unyielding, unconquerable
a.unerlässlich, unerrobbar b. rezistent.
a. entzündlich. b. inflamabil.
43.) incremental : step by step
a. stufenweise. b. treptat, zunehmend
44.)insolent : impudent, contemptuous.
a. unhöflich, frech, unverschämt, überheblich. b. obraznic, calomnios, disprețu
45.) inveterate : habitual, persistent.
a. behaarend, aufsässig, eingefleischt, unverbesserlich, unüberwindbar, hasserfüllt. b
46.) insidious: subtle, seductive, treacherous.
a. subtil, verführerisch, heimtückisch, hinterhältig, tückisch, schleichend, hinterlisti
47.) intransigent: uncompromising.
a. kompromisslos, unversöhnlich, unbeugsam, uneinsichtig, hartleibig, intransigent
unerschütterlich, unnachgiebig.
b. nonconformist, radical.
48.) invidious : resentful, envious, obnoxious.
a. neidisch. b. invidios.
49.) irksome : annoying, obtrusively loud.
a. irritierend. b. iritant, enervant.
50.) irrecoverable : given up for lost
a. unrettbar b. pierdut, irecuperabil (cu primul înțeles : de pierdut))
51.) jejune : dull, puerile.
a. langweilig. b. plictisitor.
52.) jocular : jesting, playful.
a.a.spielerisch. b. jucăuș.
53.) lachrymose: tearful, whorish, superficially appealing.
a. lachrimös, herzzerrerisch. b. lacrimogen, plângăcios.
54.)5mannered : artificial, stilted.
a. leugnerisch, verspielt b.ultimativ, deceptive, înșelător.
55.)mordant : biting, excessively pudent.
a. frech.b.obraznic
56.) munificent: lavish, generous.
a. grosszügig b. generos, risipitor, darnic, somptuos.57.)nefarious : wicked.
a. schlecht, gemein b. rău, rău intenționat.
58.) noxious: harmful, corrupting.
a. schlecht. b. nociv.
59.)0obtuse : blunt, stupid, imbecile.
a. bekloppt. b. stupid, limitat.
60.) stealthy : behaving in a rather furtive manner
a. heimlich, verstohlen, schleichend b. secretos, misterios
61.) stead : very true and respectable
a. sehr treu und respektiert b. foarte fidel și respectat
62.) staunch : very steadfast
a. treu b. fidel
63.) stodgy: hard to be digested.
a. langweilig, trübselig, schwer verdaulich, schwerfällig.b.greoi
64.) stocky : very under-posited , subjective.
a. untersetzt, subjektiv b. subiectiv.
6 65.) sturdy : balanced
a. ausgewogen. b. echilibrat, consecvent. gedrungen b. Sup
66.) sundry : various.verschieden, allerlei.
a. andersartig. b. diferit.
67.) tenous : thin
a. dünn, fragil. b. fragil , subțire.
68.)) ubristic : proud, excessively self-confident.
a. eitel, stolz. b. mândru.
69.)unswerving : relentless, hard to be destroyed
a. unerschütterlich, unbeirrbar, unentwegt, unzerstörbar, unumstritten b. indestruc
70.) uxorious : inordinately affectionate or compliant with a wife.
a. zärtlich, affektiert, zart, delikat, ausgesprochen zärtlich, pingelig, heikel,
geschmeidig, mäkelig, akribisch wählerisch. b. pedant, finuț, delicat, RRa3. Various Grammar Exercises for Resolving disparate Usages of Adjectives correctly
1. Please correct the mistakes in the exercises below and mark the difference in
meaning simultaneously:
1. das verbindliche Angebot/the mandatory offer
2. das befristete Angebot/the limited offer
3. verlassene Siedlungsräume/forlorn colonisation domains
4. der gesundheitliche Zustand/ the state of health
5. völlige Neubebauung/ completely new build-up
1.0. Build up similar phrases with the adjectives mentioned at chapter 2 and use
a couple of them in a specific context.
1. 1. Find Synonyms in Romanian to the English and to the German adjectival
nouns:
o ausgehandelte Verträge ~ ein erteilter Auftrag ~ a rendered mission
o bedeutende Rolle ~ an important role
o der treue Kunde ~ the loial client, customer
o drittelparitätische Mitbestimmung ~ co-determination with third parties
o der ausstehende Betrag ~ the receivable pending, the pending amount
o ein gerichtliches Verfahren ~ a judicious procedure
o höchster Zuspruch ~ highest acceptance
o tiefster Gang ~ deepest emerge
o die eingesandte Probe ~ sent proof
o kampagnienfähige Mitgliederpartei ~ campaignable member party
o kundiger Staatsmann ~ knowledgeable statesman
o die zeitweilige Lähmung ~ temporary numbness
o ein totaler Bruch ~ total leek, total break
o der bisherige Präsident ~ the previous president
o ein redlicher Mensch ~ an honest man
o fremde Bezugszeichen ~ strange referential signs
o geheime Abstimmung ~ secret vote
o geistiger Hintergrund ~ intellectual background
o gleiche Entwicklung ~ same development
o leicht verständliche und abwechslungsreiche Sätze~ easy to understand and
varied sentenceso die gezielte Anfrage ~ targeted questionairre
o gelegentlicher Handelsaustausch ~ occasional trade exchange
o die portofreie Antwortkarte ~ the postage-free reply card
o aktualisierte Hinweise ~ updated information
o die günstige Bezugsquelle ~ the convenient source of supply
o entscheidende diplomatische Forderung ~ crucial diplomatic request
o pragmatisches Handeln ~ pragmatic action
o schwülstig, hochtrabende Redewendungen~ sultry, exaggerated idioms
o reine Kontaktaufnahme ~ sole contact-intake
o rasche Erholung ~ rapid recovery
o anfängliches Verfahren ~ striding procedure
o unterschiedlicher/beliebiger Umfang ~ varying square width
o vielschichtig strukturierte Argumentationsträngen ~ multilayered and
structured layers of argument
o verlassene Siedlungsräume ~ forlorn colonisational domains
o die sprachliche Struktur ~ linguistic structure
o zahlreiche Probleme ~ numerous problems
o ein zerbröckelter Schindelturm ~ a crumbled timber-tower
o gelegentlicher Handlungsaustausch ~ occasional exchange of actions
o umittelbare Nachbarn ~ immediate neighbors
o aufstrebende Zivilisation ~ emerging civilization
o unzivilisierte Barbaren~ uncivilized barbarians1
o mächtige Barbaren ~ powerful barbarians
o mächtige Dynamik ~ powerful dynamics
o wichtige Burg ~ important castle
o wachsende Probleme ~ growing problems
o bedeutende Hauptstadt ~ important capital
o tagende Versammlungen ~ confering gatherings
o ausgebildete Juristen ~ formed/educated judiciaries
o der überwiegende Teil ~ the predominant part
o schwere Verluste ~ serious losses
o obrigkeitliche Funktionen ~ authoritative functions
o verfassungsrechtliche Gegebenheiten ~ constitutional/judicious situations
o sittliche Zwecke ~ moral purposes
o spürbare Erstarrung ~ noticeable solidification
ständische Ordnung ~ ranking order
ständige Alternative ~ constant alternative
strikte Absage ~ strict cancellation
rechtliche Einheit ~ the lawful unit
rechtmäβiger Herrscher ~ the rightful rulers
o der rege akademische Betrieb ~ the constant academic enterprise
o kriegerische Auseinandersetzung ~ bellicose conflict
o unübersehbare Ziffern ~ conspicuous chiffres, digits
o verstreute, kleine Territorien ~ scattered, small territories
o vielfältige, kulturelle Strömungen ~ sundry, cultural streams/fluxes
o weitere Distanzen ~ further distances
o paritätische Mitbestimmung ~ paritary codecison.
1 Nota bene that this is more of a pleonastic expression2.
2.1. Detect the false friends in German and English and render a correct context for
each expression in both languages:
2.1.
aktuell ~ actual
also ~ also
apart ~ apart
arm ~ arm
bald ~ bold
brav ~ brave
breit ~ bright
clever~clever
defekt ~ defekt
delikat ~ delicate
dementiert ~ demented
dezent ~ decent
eitel ~ idle
egal ~ equal
engagiert ~ engaged
eventuell ~ eventually
famos ~ famous
fast ~ fast
fatal ~ fatal
faul ~ foul
graziös~ gracious
gültig ~ guilty
massiv ~ massive
ordinär ~ ordinary
plump ~ plump
prinzipiell ~ principal
sensibel ~ sensible
seriös ~ serious
skrupellos ~ scrupulous
streng ~ strong
sympathisch ~ sympathetic
toll ~ toll
Masche ~ mash
vital ~ vital
weil ~ while
wellness ~ wellnes
2.2.
home office→in German “das Arbeitsbüro von Zuhause”
public viewing (Todesbeistand, -begleitung→ in German “ein öffentliches
Zuschauen, Visionieren”
wellness→ in German “ ein Zustand des Wohlbefindens“
shit storm→ in German “Absage, Verneinung” handy→ in German “Mobiltelefon, -funk“
3. Decide on the correct form of the Adjective in German:
veraltert ∕ veraltet
unbekannt ∕ umbekannt
bescheiden / beschieden
vergriffen ∕ umgriffen
versteuert ∕ umsteuert
behaglich ∕ behagend
redlich ∕ retlich
ratsam ∕ radsam
vergriffen / umgriffen
3.1. Decide on the right meaning of each correct form.
3.1.0. Decide on the correct form of the adjective in English:
equanimous - equanimic.
geographic - geographical.
histrionic - hystrionical.
athletic – athletical.
pathetic – pathetically.
3.1.1. Adjectives ending in –ic:
1. academic
2. artistic
3. athletic
4. Catholic
5. domestic
6. dramatic
7. emphatic
8. energetic
9. fantastic
10. linguistic
11. majestic
12. neurotic
13. pathetic
14. public15. systematic
16. tragic
Note: In older English, some of these words used to end in –ical. Examples are:
tragical and majestical.
3.1.2. Adjectives ending in –ical and -cal:
1. biological
2. chemical
3. critical
4. cynical
5. grammatical
6. logical
7. mathematical
8. mechanical
9. medical
10. musical
11. physical
12. radical
13. tactical
14. topical
Nota bene: a few adjectives can have both forms with no difference in meaning.
Examples are: arithmetic and arithmetical
egoistic a& egoistical
fanatic & fanatical
geometric & geometrical
In some cases both forms exist, but there is a difference of meaning.
Classic and classicalClassic refers to a famous example of its type.
Classical refers to the culture of ancient Greece and Rome.
It is hard to learn classical music.
Comic and comical
Comic is the regular adjective used for artistic comedy.
I like to watch comic opera.
Comical means ‘funny’.
There was a comical expression on his face.
Economic and economical
Economic refers to the science of economics. Economy means ‘not wasting money’.
The country faces many economic problems at the moment.
We are looking for an economical little car.
magic and magical
magic and magical have similar meanings, but magic is the more common word.
e.g.: a magic wand, a magic carpet etc.
Magical can mean ‘wonderful’ or ‘exciting’.
e.g.: I had a magical experience the other day.
3. 2. Variations in German
Key to the exercises:
aktuell ~ actual › FF(falscher Freund, false friend)
also ~ also ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
apart ~ apart ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
arm ~ arm ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
bald ~ bold ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
brav ~ brave teilweise ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend) › (eine
gemeinsame semantische Wurzel-a common semantical root)
breit ~ bright ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
clever ~ clever ›teilweise FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
defekt ~ defekt ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
delikat ~ delicate ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
dementiert ~ demented ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
dezent ~ decent ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend) eitel ~ idle › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
egal ~ equal › teilweise FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
engagiert ~ engaged › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
eventuell ~ eventually › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
famos ~ famous › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
fast ~ fast further distance › FF(falscher Freund, false friend)
fatal ~ fatal teilweise › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
faul ~ foul ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
graziös ~ gracious teilweise › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
gültig ~ guilty ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
massiv ~ massive ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
ordinär ~ ordinary ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
plump ~ plump ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
prinzipiell ~ principal ›FF(falscher Freund, false friend)
sensibel ~ sensible ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
seriös ~ serious ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
skrupellos ~ scrupulous ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
streng ~ strong ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
sympathisch ~ sympathetic › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
toll ~ toll ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
Masche ~ mash ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
vital ~ vital ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
weil ~ while ›FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
wellness ~ wellness › FF (falscher Freund, false friend)
V. Index/Glossary of difficult TermsBibliography:
1. ed. Monika, Schoch. Duden Oxford. Kleines Wörterbuch Englisch. Routledge :
Brockhaus & Oxford University Press. 2004.
2. ed. Hole, Georgia and Sarah Walker. Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford : Oxford
University Press. 2004.
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