Aug 21st Flashcards
Renaissance
A resurgence of excitement or interest in something is a renaissance.
My sister is hoping for a renaissance of disco — she’s been practicing her dance moves!
It’s a renewal or revival of interest in something temporarily out of favor.
The back-to-back launches amounted to yet another sign of space exploration’s modern renaissance, a movement that is being fueled not by nations but by a surging commercial space industry backed by billionaires.
This project is the demonstration of the renaissance of the British car industry,” Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s chief operating officer, told reporters at the Sunderland plant, which exports 70% of its vehicles to the EU.
superfluos
When something is so unnecessary that it could easily be done away with, like a fifth wheel on a car or a fifth person on a double date, call it superfluous.
Use it when pointing out something that could be removed without detracting from the quality of something
Of note, brain imaging studies confirm that superfluous drinking is unpleasant and requires greater muscular effort than drinking when thirsty
litigate
To litigate is to engage in some sort of legal proceedings.
If you’re litigating, you’d better have a lawyer: you’re involved in some sort of legal situation.
“We now look forward to litigating this case on its merits and proving that Ms. Powell’s statements were accurate and certainly not published with malice,” he said.
vexed
Vexed means “difficult and much debated.”
If your family is having trouble coming to an agreement about where to go on vacation next summer, your holiday trip has become a vexed issue.
When people can’t resolve an issue or find a solution, it is a vexed problem - one that’s become complicated because of differing and probably strong opinions.
anomaly | abberation
an aberration; an irregularity; a deviation
bereave (bareeve)
The verb bereave is used when death takes someone away from you, depriving you of their presence.
Conservative MP Jonny Mercer - a former soldier who served in Afghanistan - said the government must “step up and support this group of bereaved families and veterans”.
“It would be more meaningful for bereaved families to get back their loved ones’ remains when they are still alive.
connoisseur
A connoisseur is a person who, through study and interest, has a fine appreciation for something, like the connoisseur who can identify the clarinet player on a jazz recording by the sound of his inhalations alone.
A connoisseur is an authority in his field, someone who has expert knowledge and training, especially in the arts.
Although fans of the genre, as well as older dads, will certainly appreciate the films, Paramount did an enormous disservice to cinema connoisseurs by releasing the collection in the antiquated DVD format.
The auction house thinks a wine connoisseur might pay as much as $1 million to own it.
corroborate
To corroborate is to back someone else’s story.
A witness in court corroborates the testimony of others, and further experimentation can corroborate a scientific theory.
Related words : substantiate and confirm
“The female later admitted to starting the fire, which was corroborated by other evidence in the investigation.”
Investigators said they found all 11 complainants to be credible and their findings were “very well corroborated.”
frenetic
The adjective frenetic is another way to say frenzied, frantic, or totally worked up.
So it’s no surprise that a frenetic person looks absolutely crazed and super anxious.
Biggest difference: The frenetic writing is replaced with reading and video games.
synthesis
Synthesis is the act of combining elements to form something new.
feasible
“able to be done”
forbear
When you forbear, you hold yourself back from doing something.
If you’re mad at your best friend, you might forbear to return her text messages for a while.
If you forbear to giggle during your teacher’s stern lecture, that’s a good thing.
genre
A genre is a specific type of music, film, or writing.
The game depicts a soldier fighting demons on Mars, and was the pioneering First Person Shooter - the most popular gaming genre today - which paved the way for the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield.
vindicate
“To clear from all blame or suspicion”
Vindicate means to justify, prove, or reinforce an idea or to absolve from guilt.
When a physicist proves a theory that his colleagues derided, he vindicates it.
When a lawyer clears her client’s name in a trial, she vindicates him.
conciliatory
If you’re in a fight with a friend and you want to end it, you should make a conciliatory gesture, such as inviting her to a party you’re having.
Conciliatory describes things that make other people less angry.
But in their first news conference since retaking control of Afghanistan, the group presented a conciliatory tone, promising women’s rights would be respected “within the framework of Islamic law
Last year 100 members called on Ghannouchi to drop his conciliatory approach and commit to sweeping reforms, and to eventually step down
