Latin #4

Latin root #4: VER

Meaning: truth

Words:

1. Veracious (adj) (-acious = having quality of): quality of being truthful, honest 

Sometimes, it would be nice if my sons were slightly less veracious in nature. My eldest recently told me, “Mom, I seriously doubt starving people would want your casserole.” He was so totally right, incidentally, but still.

Instead of choosing the veracious route, like my eldest, my youngest chose to flee the scene of the crime (yes, the casserole recipe, obtained from an otherwise credible source, I’ll have you know, was so bad that it should indeed be outlawed), before she could possibly be cajoled into eating more than her obligatory three bites.

2. Verity (n) (-ity = quality, condition): quality of being truthful

The other day, my middle child said, “Mom, I just don’t think you’re really cool enough to do surfing like Dad.” Irritatingly, the verity of that statement won’t be questioned by anyone, ever.

3. Verisimilitude (n) (simil = likeness, pretense): having the appearance of truth, often used to describe realism in art, literature, etc.

I have difficulty watching most movies about teachers because, in my humble opinion as a former teacher, they tend to be lacking in verisimilitude. That being said, I still have fantasies about someday pulling an ex-military martial arts move like Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds, or recreating any number of Robin Williams’ moments in Dead Poets Society.