In a previous post, we used a quote from the Scottish philosopher David Hume to illustrate the vocabulary word disingenuous. However, there were other advanced vocabulary words in that quote that we didn’t define, and we received some reader feedback with questions about those words. To refresh your memory, we’ve reprinted the quote with the words in question highlighted, followed by their definitions. Be sure to let us know if there are any other words you’d like to have defined!

Disputes with men, pertinaciously obstinate in their principles, are, of all others, the most irksome; except, perhaps, those with persons, entirely disingenuous, who really do not believe the opinions they defend, but engage in the controversy, from affectation, from a spirit of opposition, or from a desire of showing wit and ingenuity, superior to the rest of mankind.

pertinacious (per-tin-AY-shuss) adjective
Definition: Stubbornly refusing to change one’s position; persistent, determined.
Example: Through its pertinacious harassing of the adult robins on the nest, the crow was able to drive them away so it could make a meal out of their eggs.

irksome (URK-sum) adjective
Definition: Tedious and/or annoying.
Example: Although Emily found writing the required weekly reports irksome, she admitted that her department’s records benefited from the regular review.

controversy (KON-truh-vur-see)* noun
Definition: A dispute or disagreement that generally happens in the public sphere and that often goes on for a long time.
Example: Despite the accumulation of verifiable scientific data, the debate over climate change continues to be a point of controversy in many peoples’ minds.

affectation (ah-feck-TAY-shun) noun
Note: The first syllable rhymes with the word CAT.
Definition: A display of emotion or a behavior that is done only for show or effect.
Example: His ritual of sniffing the cork of the wine bottle, swirling the wine, and inhaling deeply is only an affectation – I know for a fact that he can’t tell the difference between Beaujolais and beer!

ingenuity (ihn-jeh-NOO-ih-tee) noun
Definition: Inventiveness; being clever, creative, and original.
Example: The hero of that television show usually escapes from a bad situation through some unlikely plot device, such as by using his ingenuity to fashion a radio out of paper clips and string.

* The UK pronunciation is usually kuhn-TRAH-vur-see.