30th July Flashcards
incumbent
1) An incumbent is an official who holds an office.
You’ll most likely hear it today for political officials.
In a race for mayor, the incumbent mayor faces a challenger.
2) necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
It is incumbent on the department to continue space leadership through demonstrating and acknowledging responsible behavior in space.
A trio of liberal and progressive challengers, focusing on issues of equity, race, housing and homelessness, are trying to unseat incumbent Reagan Dunn on the Metropolitan King County Council.
veneer
A veneer can be anything that makes something look more elegant or attractive than it is.
You know how some furniture looks like solid oak or maple until it gets chipped and reveals itself to be nothing more than some cheap particle-board covered with a thin layer of fancy wood? That thin layer is called a veneer.
Lurking in the heart of all family men is this: A restlessness that gnaws at the thin veneer of civility they’ve hidden themselves in.
clemency
Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
consecrate
Consecrate means to make holy or to dedicate to a higher purpose.
You need to consecrate a building to turn it into a church, but you can also consecrate a week in New York City to the pursuit of the perfect bagel.
tribulation
Tribulation is suffering or trouble, usually resulting from oppression.
Something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering.
The tribulations of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space.
irascible
If you’re irascible, you get angry easily — perhaps blowing up in rage when someone brushes into you.
If you’re looking for a fight most of the time, then you’re irascible — ready for the spark that’s going to set you on fire.
Dr. Coburn saw himself as a contrarian who wore his intermittent unpopularity as a badge of honor and grew irascible when others tried to convince him that party loyalty trumped his core beliefs.
insipid
Something insipid is lacking in flavor or interest.
You’ll probably find the generic poems inside of greeting cards insipid.
Because spices and salts are left out, hospital food is usually considered insipid.
England face defeat in the series decider against New Zealand after another insipid batting performance on the third day of the second Test.
Related words -> convivial.
prevail
To be widespread in a particular area at a particular time, to be current.
During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office.
incense
Incense means both “to make angry” and a stick that burns slowly and emits a strong smell.
Make furious
Related words -> irascible
precarious
Grab for the adjective precarious when something is unstable, dangerous or difficult and likely to get worse.
Are you totally broke and the people you owe money to keep calling? You’re in a precarious financial situation!
