{"id":1132,"date":"2021-09-25T12:19:16","date_gmt":"2021-09-25T06:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.wizako.com\/gre-preparation\/blog\/?p=1132"},"modified":"2024-06-10T12:14:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T06:44:41","slug":"gre-word-list-14-scandinavian-loanwords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.wizako.com\/gre-preparation\/blog\/free-gre-online-preparation\/vocabulary-word-list\/gre-word-list-14-scandinavian-loanwords\/","title":{"rendered":"GRE Word List #14 – Scandinavian Loanwords"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello folks, welcome to the 14th GRE Word List Blog. This series of blogs deals with Essential Words for the GRE and helps GRE aspirants bolster their GRE Verbal Preparation, and ace the GRE Verbal section. In this blog, we will explore a few English words adapted from other languages – i.e. Loanwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t already, check out our other GRE Word List blogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scandinavia is a term that typically refers to the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. So, this week’s words are loanwords from their respective languages to English.

This week’s loanwords are Maelstrom, Gauntlet\/Take up the gauntlet, Quisling, Smorgasbord, and Berserk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us know if what other languages’ Loanwords you’d like to know more about in the comments!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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i. maelstr\u00f6m<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part of Speech<\/strong> – noun
Definition<\/strong> –
1. a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river.
2. a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil.
Loanwords’ Origins<\/strong> – from early modern Dutch (denoting a mythical whirlpool in the Arctic Ocean, west of Norway), from maalen<\/em> \u2018grind, whirl\u2019 + stroom<\/em> \u2018stream\u2019.
Synonyms<\/strong> – vortex, eddy, turbulence.
Usage<\/strong> – She was caught up in a maelstrom of emotions.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Maelstrom<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Ed, Edd, and Eddies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An eddy is a current of water running contrary to the main current, thus creating a circle\/whirlpool of water. The Moskstraumen is one such whirlpool that has formed in the Norwegian Sea. It is one of the strongest whirlpools\/maelstroms in the world. Edgar Allan Poe introduced the word maelstrom into English through his story ‘A Descent into the Maelstr\u00f6m.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another popular maelstrom is the set of Naruto whirlpools, which are off the coast of Japan. The shape of the Naruto whirlpools inspired the cured fish dish Narutomaki surimi, a staple topping\/accompaniment with most ramen dishes. This dish in turn inspired the character of Naruto Uzumaki (meaning whirlpool), in the world-famous manga\/anime of the same name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ii. gauntlet \/ take up the gauntlet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part of Speech<\/strong> – noun\/phrase
Definition<\/strong> –
1. a strong glove with a long, loose wrist.
2. accept a challenge.
Loanwords’ Origins<\/strong> – from Old French gantelet<\/em>, diminutive of gant<\/em> \u2018glove\u2019, of Germanic origin.
Synonyms<\/strong> – glove\/compete.
Usage<\/strong> – In January 2021, he took up the gauntlet of getting a perfect GRE Score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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iii. quisling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part of Speech<\/strong> – noun
Definition<\/strong> – a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying one’s country.
Loanwords’ Origins<\/strong> <\/strong> – Second World War: from the name of Major Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian army officer and diplomat who ruled Norway on behalf of the German occupying forces (1940\u201345).
Synonyms<\/strong> – turncoat, Judas, Benedict Arnold.
Usage<\/strong> – As soon as the invaders crossed the borders, the quisling soldiers defected to their armies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thirty Pieces of Kroner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian military officer, who first came to prominence as a collaborator of Nobel Peace Prize winner Fridtjof Nansen, an explorer who helped alleviate the Russian famine of 1921. He returned to Norway later and served as the Minister of Defense, representing the Farmers’ Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there on, his karmic compass takes a deep dive southward, as he quit the Farmers’ Party to start a conservative outfit, the Nasjonal Samling. When Germany invaded Norway, he tried to stage a coup d’etat and failed. He was then appointed Prime Minister of Norway and headed the country alongside a Nazi leader. His pro-Nazi puppet govt. was filled with Nasjonal ministers, and even participated in the despicable Final Solution, the genocide of Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aptly, Quisling’s name became a byword for traitor, alongside names such as Judas, and Benedict Arnold. The Times, which introduced the word to the larger English-speaking audience asserted “To writers, the word Quisling is a gift from the gods. If they had been ordered to invent a new word for traitor… they could hardly have hit upon a more brilliant combination of letters. Aurally it contrives to suggest something at once slippery and tortuous.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

iv. smorgasbord<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part of Speech<\/strong> – noun
Definition<\/strong> – a wide range of something; a variety.
Loanwords’ Origins<\/strong> <\/strong> – Swedish, from sm\u00f6rg\u00e5s<\/em> \u2018(slice of) bread and butter\u2019 (from sm\u00f6r<\/em> \u2018butter\u2019 + g\u00e5s<\/em> \u2018goose, lump of butter\u2019) + bord<\/em> \u2018table\u2019.
Synonyms<\/strong> – medley, potpourri, assortment.
Usage<\/strong> – Wizako\u2019s GRE Blogs contain a smorgasbord of GRE Words, trivia, and stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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