Rare & Common Vocabulary

present, appearing, or found everywhere

“Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.”

Origin: Latin ubique `everywhere` from ubi `where` + -que `and`

intended for or understood by only a small number

“The esoteric subject attracted few students.”

Origin: Greek esoterikos `belonging to an inner circle` from esotero `more within` from eso `within`

understood by few; mysterious or secret

“The arcane rituals were known only to initiates.”

Origin: Latin arcanus `secret, hidden` from arca `chest, box` from arcere `to shut up`

of or occurring every day; ordinary

“She found beauty in quotidian activities like cooking.”

Origin: Latin quotidianus `daily` from quot `how many` + dies `day`

lacking interest or excitement; dull

“The mundane tasks of daily life bored him.”

Origin: Latin mundanus `of the world` from mundus `world, universe`

lacking inspiration or excitement; dull

“The pedestrian writing failed to engage readers.”

Origin: Latin pedester `going on foot` from pes, ped- `foot`

having the style of prose; lacking poetic beauty

“His prosaic description missed the magic of the moment.”

Origin: Latin prosa `straightforward discourse` from prorsus `direct` from pro- `forward` + versus `turned`

not unusual; ordinary

“Such incidents have become commonplace.”

Origin: Translation of Latin locus communis `general theme` from Greek koinos topos `common place`

widespread in a particular area or at a particular time

“Smartphones are prevalent among teenagers.”

Origin: Latin praevalent- `having greater power` from prae `before` + valere `to be strong`

spreading widely throughout an area or group

“A pervasive sense of anxiety gripped the nation.”

Origin: Latin pervasivus from pervadere `to pass through` from per- `through` + vadere `to go`

native and restricted to a certain place

“The species is endemic to this island.”

Origin: Greek endemos `native` from en `in` + demos `people, population`

little known; abstruse

“His recondite knowledge impressed the scholars.”

Origin: Latin reconditus `hidden away` from re- `again` + condere `to put together, store`

difficult to understand; obscure

“The abstruse theory confused most readers.”

Origin: Latin abstrusus `hidden, concealed` from abs- `away` + trudere `to push`

distant from the lives of ordinary people

“He moved in rarefied circles of high society.”

Origin: Latin rarefacere `to make thin` from rarus `rare, thin` + facere `to make`

unique; in a class of its own

“Her artistic style is sui generis.”

Origin: Latin sui generis `of its own kind` from sui `of one`s own` + generis `of a kind'

deviating from what is standard or normal

“The anomalous result prompted further investigation.”

Origin: Greek anomalos `uneven, irregular` from an- `not` + homalos `even`

exceptionally good or great; remarkable

“It was a singular achievement in the field.”

Origin: Latin singularis `alone of its kind` from singulus `single, one`

never done or known before

“The pandemic caused unprecedented disruption.”

Origin: From un- `not` + Latin praecedent- `going before` from prae `before` + cedere `to go`

having no parallel or equal; exceptional

“Her talent is unparalleled in the industry.”

Origin: From un- `not` + Greek parallelos `beside one another` from para `beside` + allelon `one another`

unequaled; unrivaled

“His peerless craftsmanship commanded premium prices.”

Origin: From peer `equal` from Old French per from Latin par `equal` + -less `without`

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places

“Sporadic fighting continued despite the ceasefire.”

Origin: Greek sporadikos `scattered` from sporas, sporad- `scattered` from speirein `to sow`

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady

“The intermittent rain didn't stop the parade.”

Origin: Latin intermittent- `ceasing` from inter- `between` + mittere `to send, let go`