Something that brings about change by its mere presence is a “catalyst”. In general, the word refers to “change for the better.” The catalytic converter on your car transforms harmful emissions into non-toxic forms; a new CEO can be the catalyst for change in a corporation.

Example:  “The new lead singer for the Blackbirds was the catalyst the band needed to take their music from ‘pretty’ to ‘powerful’ and make them a worldwide sensation.”

A “zenith” is the highest point. If you’re speaking of something measured in terms of time, it’s the culmination of that timeline. You’ll also hear the word used in astronomy: the zenith is the point directly above any particular location on Earth, from the perspective of someone standing on the ground looking straight overhead.

Example:  “Investment in internet start-ups during the dot-com craze reached its zenith in the late 1990s, when a new business was going public every few days.”

Your curriculum vitae is place to list your skills and accomplishments. Someone who is highly skilled at something is called a “virtuoso.” This word is often used to refer to artists and musicians, but there are virtuoso computer programmers and chefs as well. You’re considered a virtuoso if you have mastered a skill beyond mere capability and into the realm of brilliance. You’re a whiz, a genius, a wizard, a superstar.

Example:  “Virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman is known for his performances of the Brahms trio sonatas.”

“Prestigious” means “having a good reputation” and “held in high esteem.” The word also has the meaning of something that has influence because of its high position, and that the influence and esteem will spread to those who are connected to it.

Example:  “Many students apply to prestigious universities such as Harvard or Yale so that they will have an impressive curriculum vitae to show future employers.”

“Propitious” has the same root as “propel” and the same meaning of “moving forward.” It also refers to a favorable or advantageous situation. Something that is propitious moves you forward toward your goals; something auspicious smoothes the path in front of you.

Example:  “The captain of the Australian yacht took advantage of the propitious winds to increase his lead in the race.”

All the signs point towards your success now that you’re learning how to use these Ultimate Vocabulary words. And the first two words in this section refer to favorable circumstances: auspicious and propitious. They both mean favorable, advantageous, boding well, a good omen. Usually, you’ll use “auspicious” when you want to communicate the sense that the advantage or good fortune is due to an outside influence. The Latin root originally referred to divination, the art of reading signs in the natural world to decipher the will of the gods.

Example:  “It seemed auspicious that all of the traffic lights were green as she drove to her job interview.”

“Latent” means present but hidden, ready to come out of hiding if the circumstances are right.

Example:  “We didn’t realize Jane was so musical until a neighbor gave us their old piano; her latent talent emerged once she started playing, and now she’s a soloist with the local orchestra.”

To “proliferate” means to spread rapidly, or to increase.

Example:  “The wild rabbit was introduced into Australia in the 1850s to provide hunting sport, but no-one expected the population to proliferate as much as it did, and rabbits quickly became pests in many areas of the country.”

“Contiguous” means connected, touching, or adjacent, without any break.

Example:  “Although the atlas shows lines dividing the countries at their borders, when you’re walking across the land, it’s a contiguous whole, and the borders seem irrelevant.”