142- Flashcards
intermediary
someone who carries messages between people who are unwilling or unable to meet:
The police negotiated with the gunman through an intermediary.
The former president has agreed to act as an intermediary between the government and the rebels.
interloper
someone who becomes involved in an activity or a social group without being asked, or enters a place without permission:
Security did not prevent an interloper from getting onto the stage at the opening ceremony.
interlocutor
someone who is involved in a conversation and who is representing someone else:
Abraham was able to act as interpreter and interlocutor for our group.
intermission
A small pause, typically at the halfway point of a long theatrical
production.
interplay
the effect that two or more things have on each other:
Our personalities result from the complex interplay between our genes and our environment.
internecine
Internecine war or fighting happens between members of the same group, religion, or country:
internecine war/warfare
subservient
willing to do what other people want, or considering your wishes as less important than those of other people:
Women were expected to adopt a subservient role/position.
His other interests were subservient to his compelling passion for art.
submerge
to go below or make something go below the surface of the sea or a river or lake:
The submarine submerged when enemy planes were sighted.
She was taken to hospital after being submerged in an icy river for 45 minutes.
subsume
to include something or someone as part of a larger group:
Soldiers from many different countries have been subsumed into the United Nations peace-keeping force.
All the statistics have been subsumed under the general heading “Facts and Figures”.
subterranean
under the ground:
subterranean passages
a subterranean river
subservient
willing to do what other people want, or considering your wishes as less important than those of other people:
Women were expected to adopt a subservient role/position.
His other interests were subservient to his compelling passion for art.
subsidize
to pay part of the cost of something:
£50 would help to subsidize the training of an unemployed teenager.
The refugees live in subsidized housing provided by the authorities.
empathy
the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.
She felt empathy with her boyfriend when his dog died because she too had lost a pet.
apathy
behaviour that shows no interest or energy and shows that someone is unwilling to take action, especially over something important:
-widespread apathy among students
-voter apathy
antipathy
a feeling of strong dislike, opposition, or anger:
Despite the deep antipathies between them, the two sides have managed to negotiate an agreement.
Declarations of racial antipathy against ethnic minorities will not be tolerated.
He is a private man with a deep antipathyto/towards the press.
sociopath
a person who is completely unable or unwilling to behave in a way that is acceptable to society:
I’m telling you he’s a complete/total sociopath.
pathogen
any small organism, such as a virus or a bacterium that can cause disease:
a dangerous pathogen
pathos
the power of a person, situation, piece of writing, or work of art to cause feelings of sadness, especially because people feel sympathy:
There’s a pathos in his performance which he never lets slide into sentimentality.
pathological
(of a person) unable to control part of their behaviour; unreasonable:
I’ve got a pathological fear of heights.
Anthony’s a pathological liar.
refractory
not affected by a treatment, change, or process:
This is a chronic and disabling condition that is refractory to treatment.
fractious
easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining:
a fractious child
fragment
A small piece of something that has broken off.
Archaeologists have been able to determine from mere fragments of pottery what ancient peoples likely ate on a daily basis.
fragile
A fragile object is easily damaged or broken:
Be careful with that vase - it’s very fragile.
Some of the more fragile items are kept in a locked case.
fracture
If something hard, such as a bone, fractures, or is fractured, it breaks or cracks:
fracture someone’s skull She fractured her skull in the accident.
Two of her ribs fractured when she was thrown from her horse.
A fractured pipe at a steelworks has leaked 20 tons of oil into the Severn estuary.
belligerent
wishing to fight or argue:
a belligerent person
a belligerent gesture
Watch out! Lee’s in a belligerent mood.
bellow
to shout in a loud voice, or (of a cow or large animal) to make a loud, deep sound:
[ + speech ] “Keep quiet!” the teacher bellowed across the room.
We could hear the sergeant bellowing orders to his troops.
The bull bellowed in pain.
bellicose
wishing to fight or start a war:
The general made some bellicose statements about his country’s military strength.
belle
a beautiful and attractive woman or one who is beautifully dressed
antebellum
relating to the time before a war, especially the American Civil War:
Many homes and churches of the antebellum South can still be visited today.
carnal
relating to the physical feelings and wants of the body:
carnal desires,
the more carnal portions of the book were omitted in the movie adaptation, which had a PG-13 rating.
carnage
the violent killing of large numbers of people, especially in war:
The Battle of the Somme was a scene of dreadful carnage.
carnelian
a red or brownish-red stone used in jewellery
carnation
A pink, flesh-colored flower.
carnival
A period of intense celebration and indulgence.
-a Caribbean carnival
-There’s a real carnival atmosphere in the streets.
cognitive
connected with thinking or conscious mental processes:
cognitive function Some of her cognitive functions have been impaired.
cognitive behaviour/development
cognitive psychology
reconnaissance
the process of getting information about enemy forces or positions by sending out small groups of soldiers or by using aircraft, etc.:
Aerial reconnaissance of the enemy position showed they were ready to attack.
Before choosing a city to move its headquarters to, the corporation did some extensive reconnaissance, visiting dozens of towns.
incognito
avoiding being recognized, by changing your name or appearance:
The prince often travelled abroad incognito.
recognize
to know someone or something because you have seen or heard him or her or experienced it before:
I hadn’t seen her for 20 years, but I recognized her immediately.
Do you recognize this song?
Doctors are trained to recognize the symptoms of different diseases.
cognizant
understanding or realizing something:
We should be cognizant of the fact that every complaint is not a justified complaint.
precognition
The knowledge of something before it happens.
reconnoiter
to get information about an area or the size and position of enemy forces
minimalism
a style in art, design, and theatre that uses the smallest range of materials and colours possible, and only very simple shapes or forms:
Stripped wood floors and monochrome minimalism are all very well but we all need a bit of luxury.
Our hotel’s chic grey minimalism and amazing breakfasts are perfect for a grey day.
