August 2014 Flashcards
Plight
A condition, state, or situation, especially an unfavourable or unfortunate one: it reflects a gathering concern about Japan’s demographic plight.
Loth
Reluctant or unwilling: Why are young Japanese so loth to procreate?
Imperil, to
To put in peril or danger; endanger. The workforce is already shrinking, imperiling future growth.
Childbearing
The act of producing or bringing forth children: In recent years governments have embarked on a plethora of schemes to encourage childbearing.
Dearth
An inadequate supply; scarcity; lack. The chief reason for the dearth of births is the decline of marriage.
Suitor
A man who courts or woos a woman. At least a third of young women aim to become full-time housewives, yet they struggle to find men who can support a traditional family. In better economic times potential suitors had permanent jobs as part of the “lifetime employment” system.
Shun, to.
To keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution. Other women shun marriage and children because Japan’s old-fashioned corporate culture, together with a dire shortage of childcare, would force them to give up their careers. Evitare.
Plummet, to.
Precipitare, cadere a piompo. Only around 2% of babies are born outside marriage (compared with 30-50% in most of the rich world), which means that as weddings plummet, so do births.
Shy, to.
To start back or aside, as in fear. So far the government of Shinzo Abe has talked about such steps, but shied away from taking them.
Peasant
A poor smallholder or agricultural labourer of low social status (the peasants were driving their cows to market); an ignorant, rude, or unsophisticated person.
Appoint, to
Assign a job or role to someone (he was appointed to the command of an entire division); determine or decide on a time or a place (they appointed a day in May for the meeting).
Hefty
Large and heavy; impressively large (of a number or amount: ‘a hefty £10 million); done with rigour or force (he aimed a hefty kick at the door).
Feeble
Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness (by now, he was too feeble to leave his room); lacking strength of character (I know it’s feeble but I’ve never been one to stand up for myself).
Standpoint
An attitude to a particular issue (she writes on religion from the standpoint of a believer; the local newspapers had stopped reporting, according to the old-fashioned and easily defensible standpoint that if you didn’t have anything to say, you said nothing); the position from which someone is able to view a scene or an object.
Fiddle, to
Touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way (Lena fiddled with her cup); tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements (he fiddled with the blind, trying to prevent the sun from shining in her eyes).
