Breaking bad some vocabulary Flashcards
propensity
a natural desire or need that makes you tend to behave in a particular way
SYNONYM inclination
propensity for something He showed a propensity for violence.
propensity for doing something her propensity for accepting a challenge
propensity to do something She has a propensity to exaggerate.
redeem
redeem somebody/something to make somebody/something seem less bad
redeem yourself to do something to improve the opinion that people have of you, especially after you have done something bad
derive
: to take, receive, or obtain especially from a specified source
chemistry : to obtain (a chemical substance) actually or theoretically from a parent substance
accrued
to increase over a period of time
accrue something to allow a sum of money or debts to grow over a period of time
recall
(not used in the progressive tenses)
to remember something
intentional
done deliberately
dedication
the hard work and effort that somebody puts into an activity or a purpose because they think it is important
merely
used meaning ‘only’ or ‘simply’ to emphasize a fact or something that you are saying
It is not merely a job, but a way of life.
He said nothing, merely smiled and watched her.
delinquent
a young person who tends to commit crimes
resent
to feel bitter or angry about something, especially because you feel it is unfair
resent something/somebody I deeply resented her criticism.
The children resented the new woman in their father’s life.
resent doing something He bitterly resents being treated like a child.
infer
to reach an opinion or decide that something is true on the basis of information that is available infer something (non-standard) to suggest indirectly that something is true
pending
while waiting for something to happen; until something happens
conceal
to hide somebody/something
conceal somebody/something The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster.
idle
(of people) not working hard
(of machines, factories, etc.) not in use
(of people) without work
[usually before noun] with no particular purpose or effect
[usually before noun] (of time) not spent doing work or something particular
lame
(of people or animals) unable to walk well because of an injury to the leg or foot
(of an excuse, explanation, etc.) weak and difficult to believe
not interesting or fun
alleviate
alleviate something to make something less severe
SYNONYM ease
to alleviate suffering
A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem.
reimburse
to pay back money to somebody which they have spent or lost
reimburse something We will reimburse any expenses incurred.
reimburse somebody (for something) You will be reimbursed for any loss or damage caused by our company.
rile
rile somebody | it riles somebody that… to annoy somebody or make them angry
SYNONYM anger
Nothing ever seemed to rile him.
She regretted at once that she had let herself become riled.
gross
[only before noun] being the total amount of something before anything is taken away
gross weight (= including the container or wrapping)
gross income/wage (= before taxes, etc. are taken away)
Investments showed a gross profit of 26 per cent.
discernible
that can be recognized or understood
that can be seen or heard, but not very clearly
inkling
a slight knowledge of something that is happening or about to happen
inferior
not good or not as good as somebody/something else
of inferior quality
inferior goods
to make somebody feel inferior
[usually before noun] (formal) of lower rank; lower
Vestiges
a small part of something that still exists after the rest of it has stopped existing
SYNONYM trace
the last vestiges of the old colonial regime
usually used in negative sentences, to say that not even a small amount of something exists
There’s not a vestige of truth in the rumour.
His report offered not a vestige of comfort.
Glaring
[usually before noun] (of something bad) very easily seen
a glaring error/omission/inconsistency/injustice
the most glaring example of this problem
(of a light) very bright and unpleasant
a glaring white light
angry; aggressive