The noun duplicity means to say different things to two people.

Synonyms are artifice, dishonesty, deceit, or hypocrisy.

The word origins from Old French (early 15th century) duplicite meaning “deceptiveness, character or practice of speaking differently of the same thing or acting differently at different times or to different persons”. It also comes from Late Latin duplicitatem (13th century) meaning “doubleness”.

She’d seen his duplicity on many occasions.

They were blamed for duplicity in their dealings with both sides.

His profession was marked by obvious duplicity.

The noun apprehension means worrying about the future, or a fear that something undesirable is going to happen.

Synonyms are foreboding, suspicion, dread, or mistrust.

The word origins from Old French (late 14th century) apreension meaning “comprehension, something learned”, ad meaning “to” plus prehendere meaning “to seize”.

It’s normal to sense a little apprehension before starting a new job.

Despite his apprehensions, he acknowledged the offer.

She felt a wave of apprehension and increased heart beat as the door unlocked.

The verb converge means to move towards the same point where lines, roads, or paths meet or connect.

Synonyms are attach, fuse, blend, or mix.

The word origins from late Latin (1690s) convergere meaning “to incline together”, from assimilated form of com- meaning “with, together” plus vergere meaning “to bend, turn, tend toward”.

In Johannesburg, most roads converge.

The child’s eyes weaken when they converge or move inward.

The delay of the train could be from an ongoing issue where all lines converge.

The noun conflagration means the large and violent fire that causes a lot of damage.

Synonyms are blaze, bonfire, inferno, or wildfire.

The word origins in 1550s. It comes from French (1650s) conflagration meaning “a large fire, the burning of a large mass of combustibles”, and directly from Latin conflagrationem. It is derived from com– plus flagrare meaning “to burn, blaze, glow”.

Henry had a hard time breathing when a conflagration broke out in his house.

The country severely suffered from a conflagration in 2020.

The survivors of the flood and followed by conflagration were very thankful to rescue teams.

The noun animosity means the strong dislike or unfriendly feeling to something or someone.

Synonyms are antagonism, bitterness, hate, or ill will.

The word origins from Old French (early 15th century) animosité meaning “vigor, bravery”, directly from Latin animositatem meaning “boldness, vehemence”. The sense of “active hostile feeling” was first recorded in the Latin 1600s.

She has no animosity towards her haters despite their negative comments.

The strong influence of the British on the Nile provoked the animosity of the French.

It is not easy to be happy for them when all we can feel is animosity.

The verb expedite means to make something happen more quickly.

Synonyms are accelerate, hasten, promote, or speed.

The word origins from Latin (1610) expeditus meaning “to remove impediments to the movement or progress of, accelerate the motion or progress of, hasten, quicken”. It is a past-participle of expediere meaning “extricate, disengage, liberate, make ready, make fit”, literally meaning “free the feet from fetters”. It is derived from ex meaning “out” plus pedis meaning “fetter, chair for the feet”.

I am willing to pay an extra fee to expedite the shipping of the package.

The client can use social media platforms to expedite the hiring process.

They are currently using the machine to expedite the production of supplies.

The verb disparage means to criticize someone or something with a lack of respect.

Synonyms are belittle, degrade, underrate, or slander.

The word origins in late 14th century. It comes from Anglo-French and Old French desparagier meaning “reduce in rank, degrade, devalue, depreciate”, originally meaning “to marry unequally, marry to one of inferior condition or rank”. It is derived from des- meaning “away” plus parage meaning “rank, lineage”.

The professor made some remarks to disparage the student’s work in the class.

Some people want to disparage this amazing study.

You should not disparage the products that we are always using.

The verb condone means to accept or allow the wrong behaviour.

Synonyms are excuse, forget, forgive, or ignore.

The word origins in 1857. It comes from Latin condonare meaning “to give up, remit, permit”. It is derived from com- plus donare meaning “give as a gift”. It was attested as a dictionary word from 1620s.

The school principal will never condone their excessive consumption of alcohol.

Parents who condone violence to their children remained a major problem.

The museum does not condone too much noise in the area.

The adjective robust means something that is strong and unlikely to break or fail.

Synonyms are powerful, sturdy, tough, or vigorous.

The word origins from French (14th century) robuste and from Latin robustus meaning “strong and hardy”, literally means “as strong as oak”, originally means “oaken” from the word robur. It also comes from robus meaning “a special kind of oak”.

Mary gave each of us a robust hug as soon as she saw us.

Foreign investors were amazed by the robust economy that our country has.

His robust bragging ended when his friend called him.

The noun discount means a reduction in the usual price of something.

Synonyms are allowance, concession, decrease, or premium.

The word origins from Middle French (16th century) descompte, and Medieval Latin discomputus, from discomputare. It comes from dis- plus computare meaning “to count”. Its commercial meaning “deduction for early or prompt payment” is from 1680s. The meaning “a reduction in the price of goods” was attested by 1837.

The rate of discount was 20% throughout the whole of the month.

Full-time staff will get a 50% discount.

A large discount has therefore to be made from the agreements between them.