(Adjective)

Pronunciation: [see-'kwey-shês] Listen

Definition: (1) Inclined to follow rather than lead, conformist, following others in thought and behavior; (2) continuing in a consistent direction, as a line of reasoning.

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Usage: Since "sequacity" is too close to a sound a duck might produce, most writers today prefer "sequaciousness" as the noun for this adjective. "Sequaciously" is the adverb, available to modify verbs, as to think sequaciously.

Suggested Usage: "Sequacious" is a much lovelier and more descriptive word than "conformist," making it the perfect substitute, "The tattoo business thrives on sequacious youth." Sequacious politicians always toe their party's line. But don't forget that this word also refers to following a consistent thread or path: "Bipsy's behavior is not at all sequacious—one minute she is bubbly, the next she is moping, then she is happy again."

Etymology: Today's word derives from Latin sequax, sequac- "following, pursuing" from sequi "to follow." We have previously mentioned most of the words containing this root ("sequential," "consequence," "second," etc.) but we haven't mentioned "(to) sue," which was borrowed from the Normans after French had performed its usual magic, removing the consonants from the middle. The Proto-Indo-European root was *sekw-, and as we have seen before, every PIE word containing an [e] has an associate with an [o]. So, from *sokw- we have all the words derived from Latin socius "companion" (earlier "follower"). These words include "society," "social," and "associate."

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Word of the Day: Sequacious

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